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RESOLUTION R-1415-63: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER THE CREATION OF THE MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE ACT AND PETITIONING THE STATE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, WHOSE CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDE NORMAN CITIZENS, FOR THE SUBMISSION OF A LEGISLATIVE BILL AMENDING STATE LAW TO ALLOW CITIES, SUCH AS NORMAN, TO ENACT LOCAL REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO LOCAL MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AND LOCAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING THAT WILL SUPPLEMENT STATE FILING REQUIREMENTS, PROVIDING CONTRIBUTION LIMITS APPROPRIATE TO THE PARTICULAR CITY, AND PROVIDING GREATER TRANSPARENCY OF CAMPAIGN DONATIONS AND EXPENDITURES.
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BACKGROUND: Pursuant to the advice of the City Attorney, City Council adopted Ordinance O-1415-23 on November 25, 2014, amending certain provisions of Chapter 7.5 of the City's Code of Ordinances to be consistent with the newly enacted state Municipal Campaign Finance and Financial Disclosure Act. Several members of City Council expressed concern about the new state law, the state's declaration that local election campaign finance and expenditure reporting is a matter of state-wide concern, and that the state law prohibits local governments from enacting local reporting requirements. Councilmembers expressed opinions that local regulation could provide greater election transparency over municipal elections and local campaign finance reports and thus could positively supplement state law reporting requirements.
City Council directed staff to prepare a resolution expressing these concerns and petitioning the state legislative delegation, who represent constituencies that include the citizens of Norman, to propose new legislation to amend this act to allow cities, such as Norman, to exercise an option to enact local reporting standards to supplement those state requirements under the recently enacted Municipal Campaign Finance and Financial Disclosure Act.
City Council also reques...
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