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Home My WebLink AboutStaff Report 2508-5072CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL Monday, October 06, 2025 Council Chambers & Hybrid 5:30 PM Agenda Item 11.Review of State and Local Ballot Measures Appearing on the November 4, 2025 Ballot and Consideration of Possible City Council Positions Staff Presentation City Council Staff Report From: City Manager and City Clerk Report Type: ACTION ITEMS Lead Department: City Manager Meeting Date: October 6, 2025 Report #:2508-5072 TITLE Review of State and Local Ballot Measures Appearing on the November 4, 2025 Ballot and Consideration of Possible City Council Positions RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council review state and local (City, County, and Regional) ballot measures presented to Palo Alto voters at the November 4, 2025 election and consider adoption of positions if desired by the City Council. BACKGROUND The City Council routinely reviews and considers adopting positions on state or local ballot measures appearing before Palo Alto voters in election years. This agenda item is intended to provide information to voters to consider when voting and provide a forum for City Council discussion and consideration of positions of the measures based on impacts to Palo Alto.1 This report notes when a ballot measure aligns with the City Council-approved Legislative Guidelines.2 Alignment with the Guidelines does not obligate the City Council to take a position. The City Council may opt not to take positions on some or all of the measures. There is a statewide special election on November 4, 2025. The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters will begin mailing out ballots on October 6. Ballots may be returned by mail, at a drop-off location, County elections office, or a Vote Center. Vote Center locations in Palo Alto as of the 1 California law allows local legislative bodies, acting as a body, to take a position on behalf of the city on ballot measures. This is a limited exception, recognized by California courts, to the general rule prohibiting use of public resources for political activity. The Council’s decision should be made during a regular Council meeting that is open to the public and where members of the public may express their views. League of Women Voters v. Countywide Crim. Just. Coordination Com., 203 Cal. App. 3d 529, 560 (Ct. App. 1988); Vargas v. City of Salinas, 46 Cal. 4th 1, 36 (2009). 2 City of Palo Alto’s 2025 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines: https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/city-manager/legislation/2025-legislative-guidelines.pdf publication of this report are below. These locations are subject to change, and residents are encouraged to check the County’s website for up-to-date information3. Ventura Community Center – Activity Center, 3990 Ventura Ct. Open October 25 – November 3 from 9:00am – 5:00pm. Open November 4 from 7:00am – 8:00pm Mitchell Park Community Center – El Palo Alto Room, 3700 Middlefield Rd. Open November 1 – November 3 from 9:00am – 5:00pm. Open November 4 from 7:00am – 8:00pm Palo Alto Buddhist Temple – Issei Hall, 2751 Louis Rd. Open November 1 – November 3 from 9:00am – 5:00pm. Open November 4 from 7:00am – 8:00pm ANALYSIS Proposition 50 4. Fiscal Impact: One-time costs to counties of up to a few million dollars statewide to update election materials to reflect new congressional district maps. 3 Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters November 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/elections/november-4-2025-statewide-special-election 4 California Secretary of State Official Voter Information Guide https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/ Measure A Measure A is a local measure placed on the ballot by Santa Clara County. Measure A language as it will appear on the ballot is below. Arguments for and against the measure, rebuttal arguments, and an impartial analysis are available on the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters’ website.5 To help our community address severe federal cuts enacted by the President and Congress; support critical local services such as trauma, emergency room, mental health, and public safety; and reduce the risk of hospital closures at Santa Clara Valley Healthcare and other service cuts – shall the County of Santa Clara adopt a five-eights cent (0.625%) general sales tax for 5 years, providing $330 million annually that is not available to the federal governments and is subject to independent audits/oversight? : Daniel Nelson, MD; Emiko Rivera, RN; Sara Cody, Health Dir Ret; Otto Lee, Brd Pres; Douglas Sporleder, Fire Chf Ret : None submitted. Relevant Local Legislative Guideline(s): None. There are no legislative guidelines relating to City administration of healthcare services. In previous years, the City Council has been interested in positions taken by statewide organizations. As of the writing of this report, the League of California Cities has not taken a position on Proposition 50. The League of Women Voters of California has chosen not to take a position on Proposition 50. None. The City Council is expected to hold a study session at its September 29, 2025 meeting with Santa Clara County staff regarding Measure A. The Council’s consideration of positions on state and local ballot measures is not a project under section 15378(b)(25) of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (administrative activities that will not result in direct or indirect physical change in the environment). : Ed Shikada, City Manager & Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk 5 Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters List of Local Measures: https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/list-local- measures-2 2025 Ballot Measures and Possible City Positions OCTOBER 6, 2025 PaloAlto.gov Presenters: Chantal Cotton Gaines, Deputy City Manager Christine Prior, Assistant City Clerk 1 •Purpose: o Provide information to Palo Alto voters o Provide a forum for City Council discussion and consideration of possible positions on behalf of the City •Considerations for Potential Positions: o Staff report notes when ballot measures align with City Council-approved 2025 Legislative Guidelines o Regardless of alignment with Legislative Guidelines, the City Council may choose whether to take positions PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND 2 •On the Ballot: •1 statewide proposition (Proposition 50) and •1 local ballot measure (Santa Clara County Measure A) •Key Dates and General Information: •October 6 – County begins mailing ballots •October 20 – Last day to register to vote •November 4 – Election Day •Find Vote Center locations, Ballot Drop Box locations, Information Guides and more at https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/ NOVEMBER 4, 2025 ELECTION 3 •Statewide proposition put on the ballot by the State Legislature •Ballot Language: Authorizes Temporary Changes to Congressional District Maps in Response to Texas’ Partisan Redistricting. Legislative Constitutional Amendment. Requires temporary use of new congressional district maps through 2030. Directs independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to resume enacting congressional district maps in 2031. Establishes policy supporting nonpartisan redistricting commission nationwide. Fiscal Impact: One-time costs to counties of up to a few million dollars statewide to update election materials to reflect new congressional district maps. •Relevant Palo Alto Legislative Guideline: None related to redistricting PROPOSITION 50 – STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 4 •Santa Clara County measure put on the ballot by the County Board of Supervisors •Ballot Language: To help our community address severe federal cuts enacted by the President and Congress; support critical local services such as trauma, emergency room, mental health, and public safety; and reduce the risk of hospital closures at Santa Clara Valley Healthcare and other service cuts – shall the County of Santa Clara adopt a five-eights cent (0.625%) general sales tax for 5 years, providing $330 million annually that is not available to the federal government and is subject to independent audits/oversight? •Relevant Palo Alto Legislative Guideline: None related to administration of healthcare services MEASURE A – SANTA CLARA COUNTY 5 Staff recommends that the City Council review State and Local ballot measures presented to Palo Alto voters at the November 4, 2025 election (Prop 50 and Measure A), and consider adoption of positions (if desired) by the City Council. RECOMMENDATION CHANTAL COTTON GAINES Deputy City Manager Chantal.Gaines@PaloAlto.gov (650) 329-2572 CHRISTINE PRIOR Assistant City Clerk Christine.Prior@PaloAlto.gov (650) 329-2159