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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11b - November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election Resolutions STAFF REPORT OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK DATE: June 2, 2026 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager By: Linda Rodriguez, City Clerk SUBJECT: RESOLUTIONS RELATING TO THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026 RESOLUTION NO. 7686 CALLING FOR A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, FOR THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN ELECTORAL DISTRICTS 2, 3, AND 5, AS REQUIRED BY THE LAWS GOVERNING CHARTER CITIES CEQA: Not a Project Recommendation: Adopt RESOLUTION NO. 7687 REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO CONSOLIDATE A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE SAME DATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 10403 OF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE CEQA: Not a Project Recommendation: Adopt RESOLUTION NO. 7688 ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATE STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026 CEQA: Not a Project Recommendation: Adopt Resolutions relating to the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election June 2, 2026 Page 2 of 4 SUMMARY Pursuant to the provisions of the City Charter and Ordinance No. 2352, the City of Arcadia will hold a General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the election of Members of the City Council in Electoral Districts 2, 3, and 5. In order to commence the election process for municipal officials, the California Elections Code requires the City Council to adopt certain resolutions. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution Nos. 7686, 7687, and 7688, calling for the Election, consolidating the election with the Statewide General Election, and adopting regulations for candidate statements. BACKGROUND City Council elections were historically administered locally by the City Clerk’s Office; however, in 2022, Arcadia’s City Council elections were transitioned from April to November in even-numbered years in response to Senate Bill 415 and policies encouraging greater voter turnout. Due to this change in State law and the growing number of cities consolidating their elections with Los Angeles County, the private firms that previously assisted with local elections have ceased operations. Therefore, it is necessary to consolidate the City’s municipal elections with the County’s efforts, providing significant cost savings and reducing City staff time. In 2012, the City transitioned to all-mail ballot elections because they are more convenient for the voters, less expensive to facilitate, and tend to increase voter turnout. While the County elections will not be an all-mail ballot, voting by mail is possible along with a variety of other voting methods (in person, drop off locations, early voting, etc.). Pursuant to Arcadia Municipal Code Section 1704 (Ordinance No. 2350, adopted on October 17, 2017, and amended by Ordinance No. 2386, adopted on April 11, 2022), members of the City Council shall be elected by-district, in five (5) single-member districts. For the 2026 General Municipal Election, Council Members from Electoral Districts 2, 3, and 5 will be elected. Resolutions relating to the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election June 2, 2026 Page 3 of 4 DISCUSSION The attached resolutions for City Council adoption pertain to the election of municipal officials, and regulations for candidate statements. The terms for Council Members from Districts 2, 3, and 5 would extend from the date the election results are certified, through November 2030. Upon the adoption of the proposed resolutions, the nomination period for this election would begin on Monday, July 13, 2026, and close Friday, August 7, 2026. Candidates will be required to provide a deposit for costs associated with printing a candidate statement (200 words or less) in the Official Sample Ballot Booklet/Voter Guide, or for a fixed fee of $279.60, online candidate statements will be published on the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s website and excluded from the Official Sample Ballot Booklet/Voter Guide. To request and receive any candidate instructions and informational paperwork during the nomination period (known as “pulling papers”), candidates must make an appointment with the City Clerk’s Office. More information can be found by visiting the City’s website at ArcadiaCA.gov/elections. It is recommended that the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election in Electoral Districts 2, 3, and 5, be consolidated with the Statewide General Election to be held on the same date, and that within the City, the precincts, polling places, voting centers, and election officers of the two elections be the same. It is also recommended that the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk canvass the returns of the General Municipal Election, and that the election be held in all respects as if there were only one election. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Resolutions relating to the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election June 2, 2026 Page 4 of 4 FISCAL IMPACT The estimated cost from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk is $112,500 for the three offices (Members of the Council for Electoral Districts 2, 3, and 5) and the associated noticing, translated statements, and candidate binders. This amount has been included in the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 Operating Budget. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and direct staff to request the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles to consolidate a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with the Statewide General Election to be held on the same date pursuant to Section 10403 of the California Elections Code; and adopt the following Resolutions relating to the conduction of a General Municipal Election in City Council Electoral Districts 2, 3, and 5: a. Adopt Resolution No. 7686 calling for a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the election of members of the City Council in Electoral Districts 2, 3, and 5, as required by the laws governing charter cities; and b. Adopt Resolution No. 7687 requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles to consolidate a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with the Statewide General Election to be held on the same date pursuant to Section 10403 of the California Elections Code; and c. Adopt Resolution No. 7688 adopting regulations for candidates for elective office pertaining to candidate statements submitted to the voters at a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Attachments: Resolution No. 7686 Resolution No. 7687 Resolution No. 7688 1 RESOLUTION NO. 7688 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATE STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT A GENERAL MUNICIPAL 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 shall adopt regulations pertaining to materials prepared by any candidate for a municipal election, including costs of the candidates’ statements. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. 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 the General Municipal Election to be held in the City of Arcadia on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, may prepare a candidate’s statement on an appropriate form provided by the Elections Official for inclusion in the voter information. The statement may include the name, age, and occupation of the candidate and a brief description of no more than two hundred (200) words of the candidate’s education and qualifications expressed by the candidate themself. 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 2 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 format 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. SECTION 2. FOREIGN LANGUAGE POLICY. A. Pursuant to the Federal Voting Rights Act, all candidates’ statements will be translated into all languages required by the County of Los Angeles. The County is required to translate candidates’ statements into the following language: Spanish. B. The County will mail separate voter information guides and candidates’ statements in Armenian, Bengali, Burmese, Cambodian/Khmer, Chinese, Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, Telugu, Thai and Vietnamese to only those voters who are on the county voter file as having requested a voter information guide in a particular language. The County will make the voter information guides and candidate statements in the required languages available at all vote centers, on the County’s website, and in the Election Official’s office. 3 SECTION 3. PAYMENT. A. Translations: 1. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of translating the candidates statement into any required foreign language as specified in subsections (A) and/or (B) of Section 2 above pursuant to Federal and/or State law. 2. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of translating the candidates statement into any foreign language that is not required as specified in subsections (A) and/or (B) of Section 2 above, pursuant to Federal and/or State law, but is requested as an option by the candidate. B. Printing: 1. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidates statement in English in the main voter information guide. 2. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidate’s statement in a foreign language required by subsection (A) of Section 2 above, in the main voter information guide. 3. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidate’s statement in a foreign language required in subsection (B) of Section 2 above, in the main voter information guide. The Elections Official shall estimate the total cost of printing, handling, 4 translating, and mailing the candidate’s statements filed pursuant to this section, including costs incurred as a result of complying with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (as amended), and require each candidate filing a statement to pay in advance to the Elections Official their estimated pro rata share as a condition of having their statement included in the voter’s pamphlet. The estimate of costs is just an approximation of the actual cost that varies from one election to another and the actual cost may ultimately be significantly more or less than the estimate, depending on the actual number of candidates filing statements. Each candidate shall be required to pay upon receipt of an invoice their prorated share of actual costs should those costs exceed the estimated amount deposited. In the event of overpayment, the Elections Official shall prorate the excess amount among the candidates and refund the excess amount paid within thirty (30) days of the election. SECTION 4. ONLINE CANDIDATE STATEMENTS Pursuant to Section 13307(c) of the California Elections Code, the governing body of the City of Arcadia authorizes the preparation of candidate statements for nonpartisan elective office for the purpose of electronic distribution. Candidates will prepare statements for electronic distribution pursuant to Section 13307(a) of the Elections Code. A statement prepared pursuant to this subdivision shall be posted on the internet website of the County Elections Official. Pursuant to Section 13307.7(a) of the Elections Code, candidates shall provide payment of the requisite 5 fee to cover the duties and procedures set forth in Sections 13307(b) and (d) of the Elections Code. SECTION 5. MISCELLANEOUS A. That all translations shall be provided by professionally certified translators as set forth in Elections Code 13307(b). B. That candidates’ statements shall comply with the formatting and submission guidelines provided by the City Clerk and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. C. That 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. SECTION 6. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS. No candidate will be permitted to include additional materials in the sample ballot or voter information guide package. SECTION 7. The Elections Official shall provide each candidate or the candidate’s representative a copy of this Resolution at the time nominating petitions are issued. SECTION 8. All previous resolutions establishing City Council policy on payment for candidates’ statements to the extent they are inconsistent herewith are deemed to be of no further force or effect.