Redondo Beach Municipal Code Art. 3 Campaign Contribution Limits

It is the intent of the City Council in enacting this article to place realistic and enforceable limits on the amounts persons may contribute to political campaigns in municipal elections. The City Council finds that the provisions of this article are necessary to prevent the actuality or appearance of corruption in the election process.

(§ 1, Ord. 3184 c.s., eff. February 7, 2019)

Unless otherwise defined in this chapter, words and phrases used hereinafter shall have the same meaning as defined in the Political Reform Act of 1974 which is codified in Title 9 of the California Government Code as it now exists or may hereafter be amended.

(§ 1, Ord. 3184 c.s., eff. February 7, 2019)

For general municipal and runoff elections, no person shall make to any candidate for City Council or the controlled committee of such a candidate, and no such candidate or the candidate's controlled committee shall accept from any such person, a contribution or contributions totaling more than One Thousand Two Hundred and no/100ths ($1,200.00) Dollars for the general municipal election and One Thousand Two Hundred and no/100ths ($1,200.00) Dollars for the runoff election. The One Thousand Two Hundred and no/100ths ($1,200.00) Dollar limit specified above shall be adjusted in June of every odd numbered year commencing in 2023 for changes in the consumer price index for the Los Angeles Area, CPI-U rounded upwards or downwards to the nearest Fifty and no/100ths ($50.00) Dollars. Nothing herein shall be construed to restrict a candidate from contributing his or her own funds or assets to his or her campaign.

(§ 1, Ord. 3184 c.s., eff. February 7, 2019, as amended by § 1, Ord. 3243 c.s., eff. November 10, 2022)

For general municipal and runoff elections, no person shall make to any candidate for any of the offices of City Clerk, City Treasurer, School Board Member or Mayor or the controlled committee of such a candidate, and no such candidate or the candidate's controlled committee shall accept from any such person, a contribution or contributions totaling more than Two Thousand Seven Hundred and no/100ths ($2,700.00) Dollars for the general municipal election and Two Thousand Seven Hundred and no/100ths ($2,700.00) Dollars for the runoff election. The Two Thousand Seven Hundred and no/100ths ($2,700.00) Dollar limit specified above shall be adjusted in June of every odd numbered year commencing in 2023 for changes in the consumer price index for the Los Angeles Area, CPI-U rounded upwards or downwards to the nearest Fifty and no/100ths ($50.00) Dollars. Nothing herein shall be construed to restrict a candidate from contributing his or her own funds or assets to his or her campaign.

(§ 1, Ord. 3184 c.s., eff. February 7, 2019, as amended by § 2, Ord. 3243 c.s., eff. November 10, 2022)

(a) A loan shall be considered a contribution from the maker and the guarantor of the loan and shall be subject to the contribution limitations of this chapter.

(b) Every loan to a candidate's controlled committee shall be by written agreement.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a candidate for City Council shall not loan to his or her campaign, funds in excess of Fifteen Thousand and no/100ths ($15,000.00) Dollars in a general municipal election and Fifteen Thousand and no/100ths ($15,000.00) Dollars in a runoff election.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a candidate for Mayor shall not loan to his or her campaign, funds in excess of Twenty-Five Thousand and no/100ths ($25,000.00) Dollars in a general municipal election and Twenty-Five Thousand and no/100ths ($25,000.00) Dollars in a runoff election.

(e) Nothing herein shall be construed to restrict a candidate from contributing his or her own funds or assets to his or her campaign.

(§ 1, Ord. 3184 c.s., eff. February 7, 2019)

No candidate or the controlled committee of such a person shall accept any contribution except during the election cycle in which the candidate or officeholder intends to run for or be a write-in candidate for the office for which the contribution is made. Election cycle means that period commencing with January 1 of the even numbered year immediately preceding the general municipal election for that office, and ending three months after the general municipal election. For a special election, the election cycle commences with the declaration of a vacancy in an elective office and ends three months after the special election date.

(§ 1, Ord. 3184 c.s., eff. February 7, 2019, as amended by § 3, Ord. 3243 c.s., eff. November 10, 2022)

A contribution will not be considered to be received or accepted if it is not negotiated or deposited, and in addition it is returned to the donor within 14 days of receipt.

(§ 1, Ord. 3184 c.s., eff. February 7, 2019)

Contributions from spouses shall be treated as contributions by separate persons and shall not be aggregated. Contributions by children under the age of 18 years of age shall be treated as contributions by their parents (or legal guardians) and attributed 1/2 to each parent (or legal guardian) or the total amount to a single parent (or legal guardian).

(§ 1, Ord. 3184 c.s., eff. February 7, 2019)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Each separate offense shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding Two Thousand and no/100ths ($2,000.00) Dollars or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both.

(§ 1, Ord. 3184 c.s., eff. February 7, 2019, as amended by § 4, Ord. 3243 c.s., eff. November 10, 2022)