LAGUNA NIGUEL : City Limits Campaign Contributions, Gifts

The City Council approved two ordinances this week that will tighten controls on campaign contributions received by City Council candidates and on gifts received by council members, city employees and members of appointed boards.

By a 4-1 vote Tuesday, with council member Mark Goodman dissenting, the council approved an ordinance limiting individual campaign contributions to $350. Council candidates will have to disclose the names of individuals contributing $50 or more to their campaigns.

Saying his position was not “politically correct,” Goodman objected to the ordinance, claiming it would favor incumbents who are able to rely on their broader recognition.

“You’re making it easier for the incumbents to get the money and you’re shutting off the challengers,” Goodman said.

Under state law, there is no limit on individual contributions, and only contributions of $100 or more must be disclosed.

The campaign-financing ordinance was drawn up by a special council-appointed committee which studied similar laws adopted by other cities and Orange County government. Members of the committee were residents Elaine Gennawey, Rice Brown and Larry Porter.

The committee had proposed a $250 contribution limit but the council raised it to $350 on the recommendation of council member Patricia C. Bates.

Under the ordinance, the financing restrictions will also apply to people or groups who spend or incur costs of more than $1,000 in supporting or opposing candidates in an election year. The $1,000 figure was a reduction by the council from the committee’s recommendation of a $2,000 threshold.

In the related item, the council voted unanimously in support of an ordinance prohibiting elected and appointed officials and city employees from being involved in decisions in which a person who is doing business with the city has given them gifts valued at $100 or more.

The ordinance is stricter than the state law requirement of gifts valued at $250 or more.

City Atty. Terry Dixon said officials and employees would still be allowed to attend dinners and events sponsored by nonprofit organizations, provided that meals or other items they receive are not funded by individuals or companies doing business with the city.

In a letter to the city, Southern California Edison representative Susan K. Peterson expressed concern that the gift ordinance would restrict city officials from attending workshops the utility sponsors in and out of Orange County.

“These workshops are educational and provide community and governmental leaders with valuable information to assist in solving local and regional issues,” Peterson said.

Dixon agreed that a trip sponsored by Southern California Edison could keep a council member from voting on an issue, but he said the likelihood of the utility coming to the city for approval of an action is slim.

Violating the restrictions of the ordinance would be a misdemeanor, and failing to comply with its reporting requirements would be considered infractions on the first two offenses and a misdemeanor on subsequent offenses.

Both the campaign financing ordinance and the gift ordinance will be brought back for a final vote of the council Feb. 15.