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1 <br />1 <br />263 <br />COUNCIL MEETING JULY 26, 1993 <br />FIRST READING, ORDINANCE NO. 93 - 12, CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS <br />REPORTING REOUIRED <br />The City Council has requested staff to draft an ordinance <br />requiring the reporting of campaign contributions. After <br />considerable research, it was determined that not many <br />municipalities have such ordinances but do follow State Statutes <br />on the matter. <br />The City of St. Paul has a lengthy ordinance regarding campaign <br />contribution reporting requirements. This ordinance was used as <br />a model in drafting the ordinance presented to the City Council <br />this evening. The basic requirement of the ordinance is that <br />when a candidate, committee, political party or political fund <br />receives contributions exceeding $25.00 or expends funds <br />exceeding $25.00, a report must be filed with the City Clerk. <br />Items included in the draft ordinance: <br />- Definition of Terms, <br />Administration, declares City Clerk will administer the <br />ordinance, prepare and distribute all forms, statements and <br />reports required, <br />- Details the reporting requirements for individual <br />candidates, committees and political funds, <br />- Outlines the consequences of violation of the ordinance, <br />- Limits campaign contributions according to current State <br />Statutes ($300.00 in an election year and $100.00 in a <br />nonelection year). <br />All recently passed state legislation is incorporated into the <br />ordinance. <br />Council Member Bergeson asked if an ordinance can be amended on <br />its second reading if something needed to be clarified, added or <br />deleted. Mrs. Anderson said yes. Council Member Bergeson said <br />he did have some comments and questions regarding this draft <br />ordinance. Mayor Reinert asked that the City Council adopt the <br />first reading and then bring comments, questions and proposed <br />changes to the Council work session. The ordinance can be <br />changed at the second reading. Mayor Reinert said this procedure <br />would allow the ordinance to proceed so that it would be in place <br />for the election this fall. He also noted that the purpose of <br />the ordinance is disclosure and not to cause a hardship for <br />anyone who is seeking office in Lino Lakes. He also noted that <br />there are a lot of changes in the City and felt that the voters <br />have the right to know who is supporting candidates for City <br />offices. <br />PAGE 11 <br />