Calgary council has agreed to campaign finance reforms that limit single donations to $5,000 and encourage candidates to donate surpluses to charity.

Mayor Dave Bronconnier's motion for the limits on mayoral election campaigns was amended to include people running for alderman as well, passing Tuesday by a vote of 8-7.

Beginning in the next municipal vote, to be held Oct. 18, 2010, candidates can accept donations of no more than $5,000 from any individual, corporation or union in the three years leading up to an election.

Candidates will also be encouraged to:

• Pledge to donate campaign surpluses to charity, rather than keep them, if they don't enter a civic race again.
• Divulge campaign tallies of $100 or more on nomination day.

Previous attempts at implementing campaign limits have failed at the aldermanic committee level.

"As much as ... what happened today is far less than perfect, it at least moves us one inch in the right direction so on that basis I supported it," Ald. Ric McIver said.

Some politicians, including aldermen Druh Farrell, Joe Ceci and Brian Pincott, have self-imposed limits on how much they'll accept from donors.