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Council directs city attorney to adapt model campaign‑finance ordinance for Stanton
Summary
After discussion of the Levine Act and local campaign‑finance options, the council directed the city attorney to review a model ordinance (Attachment E) proposing $1,000 contribution limits and other transparency measures and to return the draft for first reading at a future meeting.
City staff presented an overview of the Levine Act (SB 1439), subsequent amendments (SB 1243) that raised some disqualifying thresholds to $500, and AB 571 default contribution limits. Staff reported Stanton currently follows state FPPC contribution limits, and noted many California cities have enacted stricter local rules.
Councilors debated adopting a stricter local ordinance to limit influence by contributors, including prohibitions on contributions from city contractors and developers and mechanics such as fundraising windows and aggregation rules. Council Member Alice urged adopting rigorous limits as an ethical measure; Council Member 8 (Alice) and others supported using the model ordinance in Attachment E, which suggests $1,000 per donor with automatic CPI indexing.
Council Member Van moved to direct the city attorney to adapt Attachment E to Stanton's municipal code template and bring a draft for first reading at the next council meeting; Council Member Torres seconded. The motion passed with recorded affirmative votes by several council members (council recorded the item as passing). The council directed staff and the city attorney to review and prepare the ordinance for the next meeting.
