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Michael Roush, City Attorney, said there was no opportunity for any type of reform with respect to PACs at the local level. Council could limit with certain restrictions campaign contributions to a candidate and its committee. With respect to expenditures, the Supreme Court has said that for the most part, local jurisdictions cannot limit expenditures. If a PAC expends funds for a candidate that does not directly go to the candidate or the measure, the ability to restrict it is difficult. Mr. Brozosky asked if local jurisdictions could change the law to require specific reporting requirements for PACs? Mr. Roush believed there were State regulations that were applicable and whether local jurisdictions would have the authority to regulate in this area he was uncertain. Ms. McGovern believed it would be valuable for Council to ask the City Attorney to provide Council with a report outlining what types of campaign reforms are possible, including the regulation of PACs at the local level. Mr. Sullivan did not object to the philosophy of campaign finance refonm; however, he saw the disadvantages it would present for an individual running against an incumbent. The bigger concern is "soft money" and PACs rather than direct contributions and by limiting direct contributions, he believed it would elevate it to that level. He did not want to make Campaign Financing Refonm a priority at this time. Mr. Thorne believed if Council delved into campaign financing refonm it would favor status candidates, which are not only candidates that are incumbents but also those that have been pre-selected and endorsed by those individuals currently in office. Mayor Hosterman was not interested in delving into campaign financing reform, particularly limiting contributions. If there were Council support, she would support recommending that staff provide a report outlining the laws surrounding PACs and soft money at the local level. Mr. Thorne asked for a definition of "soft money." He believed the correct definition of soft money was defined to mean when a political party spends money to promote the activities of that party. Soft money does not apply at the local level because local elections are non- partisan. Mr. Fialho said Council could direct the City Attorney to conduct an analysis and provide a report to Council related to the laws surrounding PACs and soft money at the local level. In response to an inquiry by Ms. McGovern, Mr. Roush said he could provide an overview characterizing how campaign contributions are made, by whom contributions are made, where contributions come from and what kind of regulations, if any, the local jurisdictions have and define various terms such as soft money and independent expenditures. There was Council consensus to direct the City Attorney to provide an analysis on campaign issues. City Council Priorities Workshop 19 08123/05 Minutes