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Council approves ordinance introduction to allow electronic filing of campaign and Form 700 disclosures
Summary
The council introduced and approved, on a unanimous roll call, an ordinance permitting electronic filing of campaign disclosure statements and statements of economic interest using a vendor (Netfile); staff said the system will streamline filings and reduce errors.
The Atascadero City Council introduced and approved, by unanimous roll call, a draft ordinance authorizing electronic filing of campaign disclosure statements and statements of economic interest (Form 700) and directed staff to proceed with implementation.
The nut graf: City Clerk and Assistant City Manager Lara Christiansen told the council the ordinance enables the city to accept filings through a vendor called Netfile, which is the platform the FPPC and the Secretary of State use for some filings. Staff said the system will allow filers to save information across filings, reduce missing-box errors and speed the process of posting disclosures for public review.
Christiansen explained that state law and FPPC rules permit electronic filing and that the city’s ordinance is a local enabling step; candidates and treasurers will receive credentials and the clerk’s office will continue its verification and redaction work before public posting. Councilmember Tim Darris moved to introduce the ordinance and Councilmember Dennis Funk seconded; roll call was unanimous.
Council members said the change will ease filing burdens for candidates and for staff and reduce the risk of inadvertent omissions. Christiansen said implementation will include both campaign statements and the form 700 filers who submit to the city rather than directly to the FPPC.
Ending: Council approved the ordinance introduction and staff will proceed with implementation and outreach to potential filers; the ordinance enables the city to accept electronic FPPC filings via Netfile and streamline candidate and Form 700 submissions.
