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Counclimember Sullivan thought information should be available to the public quicker, better and easier than R is now and was supportive of keeping the $25 limit. Regarding the State Assembly limits, he asked that staff look into it and return with more information. Regarding public funding for local elections, Councilmember Sullivan questioned ff anyone was doing public funding for local elections in California. Ms. Seto said this was correct; no dties or counties were doing it and there are actually specific statutes that provide that public funds cannot be used. Only charter sties have been considering it, and a bill has been provided in the Assembly to modify that which currently prohibits it. So, depending upon what happens with that legislation, the Council could discuss this in the future. Mayor Hosterman recapped that there is a common theme of increasing transparency such as plating Form 460's on a website or something else, which she felt would be beneficial especially for those in the community who have an interest in watching and following individual campaigns and candidates but do not have time to devote looking into it. Regarding limiting contributions, the t:ouncil has heard from several people that the oouncll may well be pushing this off in another dired'an and she thinks it is a good idea to limit contributions et some point, but was not sure at what point that would be. She asked staff to look at State Assembly guidelines to understand what those look like regarding campaign expenditures and contributions. Regarding the idea of limiting and trying to provide this framework for campaign contributions to safeguard transparency with the public and giving candidates tools to get their name out, she feels we are moving toward providing more opportunities for the wealthy and shutting out opportunities for those with less means. Councilmember Sullivan asked about voluntary limits. Mayor Hosterman said she liked the $25 limit, which means anyone who makes a contribution of $25 or more must be disclosed on the Form 460. Counclimember McGovern noted that staff is working on a Code of Ethics and felt it went hand in hand with campaign reform as far as how the Councll conducts itself. She asked if this would be coming forward, and City Manager Fialho said this could come forward in the Went 60 days. Councilmember Sullivan said with the pledge idea, perhaps one of the statements in the pledge is that it discourages independent expenditures made on a oouncilmember's behalf. He felt this was not binding, but a description of discouragement. City Manager Fiaiho saki five ideas or concepts presented included; 1) limits on contributions; 2) modifying the filing periods for disclosure; 3) the idea of a voluntary expenditure limit; 4) whether or not the City should modify the reporting threshold from $25 to another number; and 5) the idea of better disclosure and transparency. Councllmember McGovern asked staff to bring back information from other cities on what their campaign contribution limits were, liked the idea of returning with Option One. Councilmember Cook-ICallio saki she had a Dopy of the Alameda County contribution limit by city and this could be copied for the Council. Councilmember Sullivan said he would like to look at caps on contributions from individuals, PACs, and other committees. t:ouncilmember Cook I{allio said she was in favor of k>oking at a City Council Minutes 11 October 16, 2007