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DISCUSSION ON ADOPTION OF A COUNCIL POLICY RELATED TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGN CONSULTANTS WITH POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Council Legislation and Environmental Committee discuss the proposed policy related to Political Campaign Consultants and forward a recommendation to the City Council for consideration.
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Summary
Council Policy 2.10 - Political Consultant and Campaign Manager Registry (Attachment A - CPM 2.10) is presented to the Council Legislation Environmental Committee for discussion and recommendation to the City Council for consideration.
DISCUSSION
Background
In accordance with the 2023-2024 San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury recommendation, at the July 17, 2024 meeting, the Legislation and Environmental Committee received information regarding proposed new policies to strengthen election transparency and ethics.
During the September 18, 2024, Legislation and Environmental Committee meeting, staff presented information previously requested by the commission regarding ethics commissions and political consultant reporting. The committee’s determination was to take no further action, citing financial constraints.
Chair Enriquez directed staff to return on May 18, 2026, with additional information for reconsideration of the item. Recognizing that the example proposed by the San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury from the City of San Franciso was significantly different in function as a City/County government and financially in funding capability, staff sought solutions within our constraints and presented the following options.
• Creation of a Political Consultant/Campaign Manager Registry. To be included on this registry, the Political Consultant/Campaign Manager must have an active Business License with the City of Stockton, complete a short form with business information including a list of clients running for City Office, and complete orientation in order to be published to the City’s website under Elections.
• Creation of a basic orientation for political consultants, where they must review specific Stockton Municipal Codes (Political Sign Regulations, Politics in City Hall), Fair Political Practices Commission requirements, and the Candidate Handbook. This orientation will need to be completed every two years to coincide with the election schedule, as long as they continue to have clients active in the election.
• Political Consultants and Campaign Managers will be listed on the City’s website in good standing if all items are completed or Inactive if either no clients or items are incomplete. The Committee directed staff to draft a full policy with options and return to a subsequent meeting.
On July 27, 2026, the Committee reviewed the proposed policy and made recommendations to include the following:
• Registration to be mandatory
• Scalable registration fee
• Consultants and Campaign managers report quarterly activity, with late submission forms
• Client Authorization on the Registry Form
Present Situation
In accordance with Committee direction, Staff presents the updated proposed Council Policy for the Committee’s consideration and potential recommendation to the City Council.
Staff will create applicable forms and bring action before City Council to update to the City’s fee schedule following the approval of the policy.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
There would be no financial impact by taking this action.
Attachment A - CPM 2.10