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Councilmember Cook-Kallio said the companies will provide an estimate on flyers, but will not provide an invoice, and evidence must be based on what the invoice states. Candidates would have to guess exactly right or you would commit perjury. She has had situations where costs have risen but you still must pay the bill. Councilmember Thorne asked if there was a way with electronic filing to indicate an estimated cost without putting an exact price on it, and City Clerk Diaz said the actual payment amount would need to be reported. Councilmember Cook-Kallio acknowledged the need for transparency, thought the Council might want to implement penalties. She could not imagine spending $36,700 for an election, but if someone violates the intent of the law by more than 5% or 10%, candidates could be penalized which might force people to be more transparent. In saying this, however, she said the City might be putting restrictions on itself and much of it does not have to do with the candidates but with PAC's which they have no control. Councilmember McGovern thought the City should use the November 2008 election as a dry run, said $36,700 is a lot of money and a huge expenditure limit, she suggested using the dates she spoke of as the dates before an election and did not believe anyone would meet that limit. Councilmember Sullivan suggested having a contribution cut-off 4 days before the election but have the expenditure period end 30 days after. This way, candidates have to budget their money. City Manager Fialho said staff has proposed 4 reform objectives and the Council will learn a lot over the next year or two and this may be tweaked a year later. Mayor Hosterman agreed, liked the idea of using November 2008 as a review and liked the voluntary pledge followed by the penalty. Councilmember Sullivan suggested the Council consider each item separately and asked to address the ethics pledge first. He said he supports the pledge as outlined by staff using the State language. Councilmember McGovern said the resolution has the name of committees focused on city issues and somehow it will need another section that states candidates sign it at that time and that committees, treasurers and PACs sign it any time prior to the election, which she confirmed could also be on the website. Motion: It was m/s by Sullivan/Thorne to approve Resolution No. 0&167 adopting a Voluntary Code of Fair Campaign Practices based on the California Elections Code for Candidates, Office Holders and Committees for Candidates to take the pledge the same time they file their nomination papers to include it on the campaign statement inclusive of the 200 word limit, and also ask committees and PACs to sign the pledge at any time prior to the election, all of which would be placed on the website. Motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Cook-Kallio, McGovern, Sullivan, Thorne, Mayor Hosterman Noes: None Absent: None City Council Minutes 15 January 15, 2008