In response to recent legislation regarding the posing of campaign reporting statements and local jurisdiction’s switch to electronic filings in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vacaville City Council will consider amending city code to require paperless filings of campaign disclosure statements at its Tuesday meeting.
According to a staff report by City Clerk Michelle Thornbrugh, the item is in response to Assembly Bill 571 by Assemblyman Kevin Mullin, D-Daly City, which went into effect Jan. 1. Among other things, the legislation requires Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) election reporting statements to be posted on jurisdictions’ websites within 72 hours of each applicable filing deadline.
Currently, Thornbrugh wrote that Vacaville relies solely on paper filings for campaign disclosure forms. However, through both the pandemic and the enactment of AB 571, many cities have adopted paperless filings “as a courtesy and safety measure to their controlled committee filers, to increase staff efficiency, and to help reduce the use of paper,” Thornbrugh wrote.
Vacaville is looking to make the leap to paper filings only, and has a particular interest in NetFile, a program that allows for electronic filings of campaign disclosure forms and statements of economic interests. Thornbrugh wrote that NetFile is offering a trial program to cities using the program for the first time through June 30.
“Employing an electronic filing system will not only assist in the accurate and timely filing of required forms, but will also make it easier for officials to comply with reporting obligations and will provide the public with information in a more accessible, timely, and consistent format,” she wrote. “Implementation of an electronic filing system promotes transparency by providing 24-hour filing and viewing accessibility of campaign finance information from any computer, in any location.”
Before Vacaville can utilize the program, it will need to adopt an ordinance to implement electronic filings of FPPC statements for filers that go above the threshold of $2,000 for spending or receiving campaign funds, per the staff report. Smaller campaigns that do not exceed the $2,000 margin will be permitted to continue filing paper versions of Form 470 disclosure documents. Exceptions may also be granted in cases where “indigency or catastrophe” preclude electronic filings, and Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations may also be made.
Form 700s, or statements of economic interest, do not require an ordinance for electronic filings, although Thornbrugh wrote that staff is recommending that all such designated forms be required to be filed electronically to fully transition Vacaville to paperless filings.
“Electronic filing is a benefit to the filer as well as staff,” she wrote. “Many filers ask for an electronic filing option and it allows them to store and retrieve all their filings.”
In other business, the council will receive annual reports from the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce and Opportunity House as well as a presentation on the American Rescue Plan Act.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The Zoom link is Cov.zoom.us/s/98956232808?pwd=K3RQcm82TURNN3F0LzV5bmE5RGFuQT09, and the password for first-time users is 639925. Participants may also join by phone by dialing 267-831-0333 or 301-715-8592 or toll-free at 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499. Participants may dial *67 before the number if they wish to keep their number from being displayed on the screen.
The meeting may also be viewed on Channel 26 or online at Youtube.com/user/CityofVacaville/videos.
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October 23, 2021 at 02:41AM
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Vacaville City Council to consider switch to electronic campaign filings - Vacaville Reporter
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