Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2026-06-09_09e Resolutions for 2026 ElectionItem 9.e. MEMORANDUM TO: City Council FROM: Jessica Matson, Director of Legislative & Information Services/ City Clerk SUBJECT: Resolutions for the 2026 General Municipal Election for the Election of Certain Officers of the City DATE: June 9, 2026 RECOMMENDATION: 1) Adopt a Resolution calling for the holding of a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the election of certain officers as required by the provisions of the laws of the State of California relating to General Law cities ; 2) Adopt a Resolution requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Luis Obispo to consolidate a General Municipal Election to be held on November 3, 2026, with the Statewide General Election to be held on the same date pursuant to Section 10403 of the Elections Code; and 3) Adopt a Resolution adopting regulations for candidates for elective office pertaining to candidate statements submitted to the voters at an election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES: Funding for the November 2026 General Municipal Election has been included in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Mid-Cycle Budget Update in the amount of $80,000, based on the estimate received from the San Luis Obispo County Clerk’s office. BACKGROUND: On October 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 4949 declaring its intent to transition from at-large to district-based elections by November 2022. In 2022, after a series of public hearings and workshops, the City Council adopted Ordinance 713 (Attachment 4) establishing a by-district election system and created district boundaries. In November 2022, electors in Districts 1 and 4 voted for a City Councilmember from their district. In November 2024, electors in Districts 2 and 3 voted for a City Councilmember from their district. The Mayor continues to be elected by registered voters of the entire City (at-large). Page 69 of 427 Item 9.e. City Council Resolutions for the 2026 General Municipal Election for the Election of Certain Officers of the City June 9, 2026 Page 2 State law establishes the dates when general law cities conduct municipal elections for the purpose of electing members of the City Council. The office of Council Member is a four-year term, with terms expiring at staggered intervals (i.e., terms of office for two members of the City Council are scheduled to expire every two years). The office of Mayor is a two-year term pursuant to a voter-approved measure adopted in 1982. The California Elections Code establishes procedures and requirements for conducting a General Municipal Election. As the first step in the election process, certain Resolutions must be adopted by the City Council. ANALYSIS OF ISSUES: Pursuant to Arroyo Grande Municipal Code Section 1.08.0101, the City will conduct a General Municipal Election on the same day as, and consolidated with, the Statewide General Election. The Statewide General Election is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even numbered years. This year, the date of the Statewide General Election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The request for consolidation must be submitted to the County Board of Supervisors no later than June 16, 2026. By consolidating the election with other jurisdictions in the County, costs to the City to conduct the election are substantially reduced. Following the election, the County invoices the City for its proportional share of the costs. The estimated cost of $80,000 for the 2026 General Election has been included in the FY 2026-27 Budget. The printing of candidate statements in the sample ballot booklet is also included in the City’s election costs. Since 2008, the City has sought full cost recovery from the candidate for the publication of a candidate statement pursuant to State law, since the publication of a candidate statement is optional and not a requirement. This is a consistent practice among most California cities. It is recommended that the word count limit be set at 200 words per statement, consistent with previous elections. The City requires an initial deposit at the time a candidate files his/her nomination papers. Candidates are then either invoiced or sent a refund after the County calculates the share of costs for printing/mailing of the sample ballot booklet for each agency and candidate. In 2026, the terms of District 1 Council Member Kate Secrest, District 4 Council Member Jim Guthrie, and Mayor Caren Ray Russom are expiring. The nomination period for candidates running for a seat on the City Council for the District 1 City Council Member position, the District 4 City Council Member position, and for Mayor is Monday, July 13, 2026, through Friday, August 7, 2026. If an incumbent does not file nomination papers and qualify by the close of the nomination per iod, the filing period is extended for non-incumbents for five (5) days pursuant to State law. All candidates for 1https://library.municode.com/ca/arroyo_grande/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_TIT1GEPR_ CH1.08MUEL_1.08.010DAGEMUEL Page 70 of 427 Item 9.e. City Council Resolutions for the 2026 General Municipal Election for the Election of Certain Officers of the City June 9, 2026 Page 3 Mayor must live and be registered to vote in the city of Arroyo Grande. Candidates for the District 1 City Council Member and District 4 City Council Member seats must live and be registered to vote in the districts for which they are nominated. For candidates who own or lease property both inside and outside the City/District, candidates are advised to consult State law to determine whether they have residency to run for the particular City office they seek. ALTERNATIVES: The following alternatives are provided for the Council’s consideration: 1. Adopt the Resolutions pertaining to the 2026 Municipal Election; or 2. Provide other direction to staff. ADVANTAGES: Adoption of the proposed Resolutions will meet the provisions required by the California Elections Code for calling and giving notice of a General Municipal Election, requesting the services of the County to conduct a consolidated election, an d setting forth regulations for candidates pertaining to the filing of candidate statements. DISADVANTAGES: There are no identified disadvantages related to adoption of the proposed Resolutions, as they are required by State law in order to conduct a Co nsolidated General Municipal Election in the City. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: No environmental review is required for this item. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS: The Agenda was posted at City Hall and on the City’s website in accordance with Government Code Section 54954.2. A Notice of Election will be published in the newspaper pursuant to the timeline prescribed by the Elections Code. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution – Calling and Giving Notice of the November 3, 2026 Election 2. Resolution – Consolidation with the County 3. Resolution – Regulations for Candidate Statements 4. Ordinance 713 Page 71 of 427 ATTACHMENT 1 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA, CALLING FOR THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, FOR THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELATING TO GENERAL LAW CITIES WHEREAS, under the provisions of the laws relating to General Law Cities in the State of California, a General Municipal Election shall be held on November 3, 2026, for the election of Municipal Officers. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande as follows: 1. That pursuant to the requirements of the laws of the State of California relating to General Law Cities, there is called and ordered to be held in the City of Arroyo Grande, California, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, a General Municipal Election for the purpose of electing an at-large Mayor for the full term of two years, one Member of the City Council for District 1 for the full term of four years, and one Member of the City Council for District 4 for the full term of four years. 2. That the ballots to be used at the election shall be in form and content as required by law. 3. That the City Clerk is authorized, instructed, and directed to coordinate with the County of San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder to procure and furnish any and all official ballots, notices, printed matter and all supplies, equipment and paraphernalia that may be necessary in order to properly and lawfully conduct the election. 4. The vote center locations and hours of operations, ballot drop box locations and hours of operations, vote-by-mail procedures and timing, and election officers, and all other persons and procedures for the General Municipal Election shall be the same as those utilized by the County of San Luis Obispo and in compliance with the Elections Code of the State of California. 5. That in all particulars not recited in this Resolution, the election shall be held and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections. 6. That notice of the time and place of holding the election is given and the City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to give further or additional notice of the election, in the time, form, and manner as required by law. Page 72 of 427 RESOLUTION NO. PAGE 2 7. That in the event of a tie vote (if any two or more persons receive an equal and the highest number of votes for an office) as certified by the County of San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder, the City Council, in accordance with Election Code Section 15651(a), shall set a date, time, and place and summon the candidates who have received the tie votes to appear and will determine the tie by lot. 8. That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution and enter it into the book of original Resolutions. 9. The City Council authorizes the City Clerk to administer said election and all reasonable and actual election expenses shall be paid by the City upon presentation of a properly submitted bill. On motion of Council Member _______, seconded by Council Member ________, and on the following roll call vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted this 9th day of June, 2026. Page 73 of 427 RESOLUTION NO. PAGE 3 ____________________________________ CAREN RAY RUSSOM, MAYOR ATTEST: ____________________________________ JESSICA MATSON, CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO CONTENT: ____________________________________ MATTHEW DOWNING, CITY MANAGER APPROVED AS TO FORM: ____________________________________ ISAAC ROSEN, CITY ATTORNEY Page 74 of 427 ATTACHMENT 2 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO TO CONSOLIDATE A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026, WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE SAME DATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 10403 OF THE ELECTIONS CODE WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande called a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the purpose of the election of an at-large Mayor, one (1) Member of the City Council for District 1, and one (1) Member of the City Council for District 4; and WHEREAS, it is desirable that the General Municipal Election be consolidated with the Statewide General Election to be held on the same date and that within the City the precincts, polling places and election officers of the two elections be the same, and that the County Elections Division of the County of San Luis Obispo canvass the returns of the General Municipal Election and that the election be held in all respects as if there were only one election. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande as follows: 1. That pursuant to the requirements of Section 10403 of the Election Code, th e Board of Supervisors of the County of San Luis Obispo is hereby requested to consent and agree to the consolidation of a General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the purpose of the election of an at-large Mayor, one (1) Member of the City Council for District 1, and one (1) Member of the City Council for District 4. 2. That the Elections Division of the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office is authorized to canvass the returns of the General Municipal Ele ction. The election shall be held in all respects as if there were only one election, and only one form of ballot shall be used. The election will be held and conducted in accordance with the provisions of law regulating the Statewide election. 3. That the Board of Supervisors is requested to issue instructions to the Elections Division of the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office to take any and all steps necessary for the holding of the consolidated election. 4. That the City of Arroyo Grande recognizes that additional costs will be incurred by the County by reason of this consolidation and agrees to reimburse the County for any such additional costs. Page 75 of 427 RESOLUTION NO. PAGE 2 5. That the City Clerk is hereby directed to file a certified copy of this Resolution with the Board of Supervisors and the Elections Division of the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office. 6. That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution and enter it into the book of original Resolutions. On motion of Council Member ______, seconded by Council Member _______, and on the following roll call vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted this 9th day of June, 2026. Page 76 of 427 RESOLUTION NO. PAGE 3 __________________________________________ CAREN RAY RUSSOM, MAYOR ATTEST: __________________________________________ JESSICA MATSON, CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO CONTENT: __________________________________________ MATTHEW DOWNING, CITY MANAGER APPROVED AS TO FORM: __________________________________________ ISAAC ROSEN, CITY ATTORNEY Page 77 of 427 ATTACHMENT 3 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATE STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026 WHEREAS, Section 13307 of the Elections Code of the State of California provides that the governing body of any local agency may adopt regulations pertaining to materials prepared by any candidate for a municipal election, including costs of the candidates statement. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande as follows: 1. That the following regulations are hereby adopted regarding candidate statements for candidates for elective office in the City of Arroyo Grande: A. GENERAL PROVISIONS. That pursuant to Sections 13307 and 13308 of the Elections Code of the State of California, each candidate for elective office to be voted for at an Election to be held in the City of Arroyo Grande on November 3, 2026, may prepare a candidate’s statement on an appropriate form provided by the City Clerk. The statement may include the name, age, and occupation of the candidate and a brief description of no more than 200 words of the candidate’s education and qualifications expressed by the candidate himself or herself. The statement shall not include party affiliation of the candidate, nor membership or activity in partisan political organizations. In addition, the statement shall be limited to a recitation of the candidate’s own personal background and qualifications and shall not in any way make reference to other candidates for that office or to another candidate’s qualifications, character, or activities. The statement shall be filed in typewritten form in the office of the City Clerk at the time the candidate’s nomination papers are filed. The statement may be withdrawn, but not changed, during the period for filing nomination papers and until 5:00 p.m. of the next working day after the close of the nomination period. B. PAYMENT. i) The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidates statement in English in the voter’s pamphlet. ii) The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of translating and printing the candidate’s statement in a foreign language requested by the candidate in the voter’s pamphlet. Page 78 of 427 RESOLUTION NO. PAGE 2 iii) The San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office shall estimate the total cost of printing, handling, translating, and mailing the candidates statements filed pursuant to this Section, and the City Clerk shall require each candidate filing a statement to pay in advance to the City his or her estimated pro rata share as a condition of having his or her statement included in the voter’s pamphlet. The estimate is just an approximation of the actual costs that varies from one election to another election and may be significantly more or less than the estimate, depending on the actual number of candidates filing statements. Accordingly, the City Clerk is not bound by the estimate and may, on a pro rata basis, bill the candidate for additional actual expense or refund any excess paid, depending on the final actual cost. In the event of underpayment, the Clerk may require the candidate to pay the balance of the cost incurred. In the event of overpayment, the City Clerk shall prorate the excess amount among the candidates and refund the excess amount paid within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the final invoice from the County. C. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS. No candidate will be permitted to include additional materials in the sample ballot package. D. All translations shall be provided by professionally-certified translators. E. The City Clerk shall comply with all recommendations and standards set forth by the California Secretary of State regarding occupational designations and other matters relating to elections. 2. That the City Clerk shall provide each candidate or the candidate’s representative a copy of this Resolution at the time nominating petitions are issued. 3. That this Resolution shall apply only to the election to be held on November 3, 2026, and shall then be repealed. 4. That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution and enter it into the book of original Resolutions. On motion of Council Member , seconded by Council Member , and on the following roll call vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted on this 9th day of June, 2026. Page 79 of 427 RESOLUTION NO. PAGE 3 _____________________________________ CAREN RAY RUSSOM, MAYOR ATTEST: _____________________________________ JESSICA MATSON, CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO CONTENT: _____________________________________ MATTHEW DOWNING, CITY MANAGER APPROVED AS TO FORM: _____________________________________ ISAAC ROSEN, CITY ATTORNEY Page 80 of 427 ATTACHMENT 4 Page 81 of 427 Page 82 of 427 Page 83 of 427 Page 84 of 427 ORDINANCE NO. 713 PAGES I · ... . . . . .. -~ • . . .... •• ••. : • .... -._;;,-~.--~ •• ·-..... , •• ••. -:~--~:••14 ::·,\ .·~ .' . •• --• :"'}, . i-:: ~ .. .-.. -·-•· -: ..... . ...... ' -:, .: ... · ... •, .. I I -~ CARENii~oR ATTEST: ssicAMATsoN, CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO CONTENT: ~ITYMANAGER TIMOTH J. CARMEL, CITY ATTORNEY . ' , . . . -.-· J 4 • • -~-~ • .. • ' - . ~• • ·• •. : - • ~ ... • • -.,· •. "' • • . • •c .. : • • • • .,. :"" .," • ,. '• • . • .--·:·_ : . •. . : '. . • ~ . ~ . ·: •· --... -· -·:,.,·, .. : •..• ... •. --·-··-. . ... ..-:;"'"' : ·.-_;·.:~.:-•: .:. _-•·· --. ___ .... -·. ,:_:·"'.··~~ _-. -·· ... _..-·_ Page 85 of 427 "I? ;:;;: -. 'ij ""' ....., ::4-1..., ~o ,oNe,~ • ""' '(fl \ I~• ,, "-~ ?.,. 3-~ 1 f c.f .,,.., ~...,_,,,...., 2>'-° "},f' James Way City of Arroyo Grande District Map ~ ,<9 § ~ c· 0 r;Y 1:: C, -,-0 o' CJ ;g ; i;f " CIJ E U) .c:," .,,o J> ·'<;' ~ /;.,~ l:{c,asna Ro b -~,;; ~ :./) 1! "" -e 3 Monte Q gusr w tf;·s '1;,7, "}-◊ )Qi s r,; GrandJ\ve 3 .,e,O '/'. t ~~,~ ~ q Maple Sr '--§ ...., " i \sh Sr Fair Oaks .'\ve ~~ 0 t:l ,-:I CL (f) ·~ (f) )- "a 5 " ~ Q '~ ;:I ;;, ::{ '§ ~ ~ ~ 5: % p .-. '"'::,"-"" '?>""<:' u' V, 'i "'o◊ 2 ~- ~◊ d' cl ~ c.l~ -~ ~{"''l \>-."e. '")~; _._,c '¢..,, I'-~ ~.b 1'v' <{: ... t>-..~e, ("'" 1 ('c-e◊-<,' ~~; 4, 7 q '\ . \Y '7. I ,. . ,, ,/., C\;,.~ 0%; ¾,. Sunrise Dr Leanna D r ©2017 CA LI PER 8 ~ ,§' "Q{J" E lection Sequ ence : 2022: District s 1 & 4 2024: District s 2 & 3 National D emogra phics Corporatio n, Ma rch 9, 2022 Page 86 of 427 Page 87 of 427