SAN MARCOS: The City Council has tightened the city's campaign finance ordinance, adding new requirements and making regulations clearer.
Under the revised ordinance, candidates will file an additional campaign statement that's closer to the election date than before. Previously, money raised during that period wasn't disclosed until after the election.
The City Clerk's office will be required for the first time to post campaign finance statements on the city's Web site, within three city business days after each deadline.
The ordinance also establishes a process by which independent attorneys would investigate and prosecute campaign finance violations, and it has more-restrictive rules about extensions of credit.
The ordinance was unanimously approved Tuesday night and will take effect next month. Councilman Mike Preston initiated requests to change the ordinance.–L.L.
City invites ideas for
Web site redesign
SAN MARCOS: The city is scheduled to redesign its Web site this summer and is looking for ideas from the public.
Once the work begins, it will take about six to ninth months to complete, city officials said. The existing Web site will operate until then.
A 10-question survey has been posted on the site, at www.san-marcos.net. It asks questions about how people get information about the city, how often they check the city's Web site and for suggestions to improve it. –L.L.
Urban village plan
is focus of workshop
SAN MARCOS: Partially vacant land near California State University San Marcos could become a bustling urban village with housing for students and faculty, retail stores and shops in about 10 years, according to a conceptual plan.
The plan will be presented for public input at a workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow. The meeting will be at the San Marcos Senior Center, 111 Richmar Ave.
For two months, an advisory group has been meeting to discuss plans that would create a mixed-use development on 150 acres on both sides of Twin Oaks Valley Road near the university.
The project, called University Village, would be adjacent to where the city is planning to create a downtown area of retail, commercial and housing along the San Marcos Creek.
A second workshop about University Village will be held May 31. For more information, call (760) 744-1050, ext. 3234. –L.L.
Staff writer Linda Lou compiled this report.
