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Mr. Brozosky was concerned about the escatating costs of elections in Pieasanton, which makes it harder for the average citizen to run for a council or mayoral seat. He favored the City of San Ramon's aggregate voluntary campaign expenditure limit and would like for Council to discuss and consider setting a maximum contribution limit. Ms. McGovern concurred with Mayor Hosterman's comments. She believed the community needed to know that it is expensive to conduct a campaign and as the City becomes larger, it becomes harder to reach the entire community. She was comfortable with the City's current campaign disclosure requirements, but was willing to discuss possible changes. In response to an inquiry by Mr. Brozosky, Mr. Roush said that in the context of a quasi-judicatory matter such as a use permit or variance, it is good practice and policy for the decision makers to indicate whether they have spoken to the applicant or anyone else interested in the application. Likewise, it is important for the decision makers to disclose any additional information that they have learned outside the public hearing process. He clarified that the City of San Ramon's individual campaign expenditure limit is a voluntary agreement. The United States Supreme Court has said that contributions may be limited but not expenditures as it interferes with the First Amendment rights. Mr. Brozosky asked if there is a disclosure threshold that councilmembers are subject to in the instance that an applicant contributes to their campaign for local office. Mr. Roush said councilmembers are not subject to any disclosure thresholds. He noted that regional agency boardmembers are subject to campaign contribution thresholds. Mr. Sullivan said it is helpful to know who contributes to a candidate's campaign committee. He would like for Council to error on the side of requiring more open disclosure than less. He was not supportive of increasing the existing $25 disclosure threshold. He was open to discussing either a voluntary individual campaign expenditure limit or a campaign contribution limit. He believed there were other election related issues that needed to be discussed such as the accountability for collecting and spending money by Political Action Committees during and outside of an election period, how lobbyists are paid and how this influences elections, mailers and emails as they relate to an election period, and campaign signs that are stolen or destroyed. Mr. Brozosky asked if Political Action Committees are subject to the City's existing $25 disclosure threshold? Mr. Roush and Ms. Abrahamson said that local Political Action Committees are subject to the City's existing $25 disclosure threshold. Mayor Hosterman concurred with Ms. McGovern's comments. She was not interested in changing the City's existing ordinance to effectuate a campaign contribution limit. Ms. McGovern pointed out that the City would be holding a special election on June 7. She did not believe this was the appropriate time for Council to be making changes. Pleasanton City Council 15 02/15105 Minutes