G.6_Authorize Electronic or Paper Filing FPPC StatementsORDINANCE AND
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING
THE ELECTRONIC OR PAPER
FILING OF CAMPAIGN
STATEMENTS AND
STATEMENTS OF ECONOMIC
INTERESTS (FORM 700)
2030 VISION STATEMENT
Supports Our Core
Values of Open and
Inclusive Government
Goal #5, Engage in
Proactive Communication
by Developing and
Implementing a Cost
Effective Proactive
Communication Program
BACKGROUND
•Recent legislation went into effect adding GC §84615
allowing a local government agency to require by
ordinance an elected officer,candidate,committee,or
other person who is required to file statements,reports,or
other documents under the Political Reform Act to
electronically file or file online such documents.
•The system must be available free of charge
to filers and the public for viewing files and
must include a procedure for filers to comply
with the requirement that they sign statements
and reports under penalty of perjury.
•Additionally, FPPC supports and encourages
efforts to move from a paper-based
reporting system to a more transparent
electronic system. Electronic filing makes it
easier for officials to comply with reporting
obligations and provides the public with the
information in a more accessible and
consistent format.
As of January 1, 2021, legislation requires local government agencies
to post campaign statements and reports on their agency’s website,
within 72 hours of each applicable filing deadline, if they are filed in
paper format. Before posting, the local filing officer shall redact the
street name and building number of the persons or entity
representatives listed on any statement, report, or document, or any
bank account number required to be disclosed by the filer. The
reports and statements must remain on the agency’s website for at
least 4 years.
The City Clerk’s office is the
filing officer for Statement of
Economic Interest and
Campaign Finance Disclosure
forms. Posting these documents
to the City Clerk’s website,
requires staff time to manually
redact forms prior to posting.
Advantages to Requiring Electronic Filing of Disclosure Documents:
1.The public can directly access campaign statements on the City’s website.
2.Multiple prompts can be put in place to ensure timely filing.
3.Storing previous statements for user ease.
4.Permitting single filing for multiple offices.
In order to utilize an electronic filing system for Form 460s and 700s, City
Council must adopt an ordinance.
SECURE SYSTEM:
Staff contacted NetFile and Granicus to determine which vendor would work best for
the City. Both systems are approved by the Secretary of State for the filing of
campaign disclosure statements pursuant to State law requirements, including:
1.The system must ensure the integrity of the data and include safeguards against
efforts to tamper with, manipulate, alter, or subvert the data.
2.The system must only accept a filing in the standardized record format developed
by the Secretary of State and compatible with the Secretary of State’s system for
reviewing an online or electronic filing.
3.The system must be available free of charge to filers and to the public for viewing.
BENEFITS FOR PUBLIC, COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONS
Timely access to campaign finance data
Increased transparency through searchable data base and use of open data source for
higher level analytics
CANDIDATE and TREASURER BENEFITS:
Free campaign finance system to assist first-time treasurers and candidates
System design ensures that all required data is complete, reducing the need of amendments
due to errors
Data entry may take place periodically or all at once, with information saved for future
filings
Electronic delivery provides fast and convenient filing method
BENEFITS FOR THE CITY:
Generates correspondence for notifying filers
of filing deadlines and missing statements
Automates the process for posting redacted
statements online for public viewing
Provides a public portal for viewing
statements and reduces the number of requests
for information
As of April 27, 2021, FPPC has approved electronic filing
systems for 54 state agencies, 46 county agencies, 185 city
agencies, 64 special district agencies and 2 courts.
To facilitate the full transition to electronic filing, Staff will
provide detailed instruction and one-on-one training.
Staff received two (2) proposals for an electronic filing
system.
NetFile:$3,200.00/year ongoing
Granicus:$1,800.00 1st year
(with yearly increases thereafter)
After review of both proposals, staff
determined that NetFile would provide the
best economic terms and user functionality.
Additionally, NetFile accounts for well over
half of the electronic disclosure document
filings in the State of California.
RECOMMENDATION
Based upon the foregoing, the proposed ordinance and resolution
permits, but does not require, campaign statements be filed
electronically. Anyone who wishes to paper file may continue to do so.
It is therefore recommended that the City Council conduct first reading
of the attached ordinance and adopt the attached resolution.
QUESTIONS?