Section 2.489 Prohibited campaign contributions by real estate dev.
Sec. 2-488. Prohibited campaign contributions by lobbyists on procurement issues.
(1) No lobbyist on a present or pending bid for goods, equipment or services or on a present or pending
award for goods, equipment or services shall solicit for or give a campaign contribution directly or indirectly to a
candidate, or to the campaign committee of a candidate, for the offices of mayor or commissioner.
(a) Commencing on the effective date of this ordinance, all proposed city contracts, as well as requests for
proposals (RFP), requests for qualifications (RFQ), requests for letters of interest (RFLI), or bids issued by the
city, shall incorporate this section so as to notify lobbyists of the proscription embodied herein.
(b) No candidate, or campaign committee of a candidate for the offices of mayor or commissioner, shall
deposit into such candidate's campaign account any campaign contribution directly or indirectly from a lobbyist
subject to the provisions of this ordinance. Candidates (or those acting on their behalf) shall ensure compliance
with this code section by confirming with the city clerk's records to verify the lobbyist status of any potential
donor.
(2) (a) A person other than a lobbyist on a procurement issue as set forth in subsection (1) above, who
directly or indirectly solicits for or makes a contribution to a candidate who is elected to the office of mayor or
commissioner shall be disqualified for a period of 12 months following the swearing in of the subject elected
official from lobbying the city commission in connection with a present or pending bid for goods, equipment or
services or on a present or pending award for goods, equipment or services.
(b) A lobbyist on a procurement issue as set forth in subsection (1) above, who directly or indirectly makes
a contribution to a candidate who is elected to the office of mayor or commissioner shall be disqualified from
lobbying the city commission in connection with a present or pending bid for goods, equipment or services or
on a present or pending award for goods, equipment or services for a period of 12 months from a final finding
of violation.
(3) A fine of up to $500.00 shall be imposed on every person who violates this section. Each act of
soliciting, giving or depositing a contribution in violation of this section shall constitute a separate violation. All
contributions received by a candidate in violation of this section shall be forfeited to the city's general revenue
fund.
(4) The term "contribution" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in F.S. ch. 106, as amended and
supplemented.
(Ord. No. 2003-3393, S 1, 2-5-03; Ord. No. 2005-3486, S 2, 6-8-05)