HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2604-6299CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, June 08, 2026
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
3.Adoption of a Resolution Calling for a General Municipal Election to be held on November
3, 2026; CEQA Status – Not a Project
City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: June 8, 2026
Report #:2604-6299
TITLE
Adoption of a Resolution Calling for a General Municipal Election to be held on November 3,
2026; CEQA Status – Not a Project
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached Resolution calling for a General Municipal Election for three City
Councilmember seats for November 3, 2026, authorizing consolidation of the election,
and contracting for election services with Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters (ROV),
and
2. Direct the City Clerk to use the Secretary of State’s randomized alphabet drawing to
determine the order of candidates’ names on the ballot.
BACKGROUND
Attached is a Resolution calling for a General Municipal Election for three City Councilmember
seats on November 3, 2026, requesting the services of Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters
(ROV), and requesting consolidation of the General Municipal Election with any other election
called for this jurisdiction for this date.
The terms of the following Councilmembers expire on December 31, 2026 and will be on the
November ballot: Ed Lauing, Julie Lythcott-Haims, and Vicki Veenker. All three Councilmembers
have each served one full term and are eligible to seek re-election on the November 3, 2026
ballot.
The Palo Alto Charter requires that the order of candidates’ names on the ballot be determined
by lot1. The City Clerk recommends that the City Council continue prior practice and direct that
the Charter requirement be implemented by using the randomized alphabet drawing conducted
1 Palo Alto Charter, Article VII, Section 3: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0-0-
0-59473
by the California Secretary of State to determine the order in which candidates appear on the
ballot.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
Table 1: Summary of Election Costs (from ROV)
Ballot Item Estimated Cost
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
ATTACHMENTS
APPROVED BY:
1
Resolution No. ____
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Calling a General
Municipal Election of Three Council Member Seats, Requesting
the Services of the Registrar of Voters, and Requesting the
Consolidation of the General Municipal Election with the
Statewide General Election to Be Held in Santa Clara County on
November 3, 2026
R E C I T A L S
A. Article III, Section 3, of the Palo Alto City Charter requires that a general
municipal for election of council members be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
November of each even-numbered year, that is, November 3, 2026; and
B. Pursuant to Section 1001 of the Elections Code of the State of California, a
statewide general election is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026; elections in
other cities, certain school districts and special districts in Santa Clara County are also scheduled to
be held on that date; and
C. Under Part 3 of Division 10 of the Elections Code, beginning at Section 10400,
and Education Code Section 5342, elections called by various governing bodies may be partially or
completely consolidated and held on the same day as a statewide election, upon order of the City
Council.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto RESOLVES as follows:
SECTION 1. Call of Election. A statewide general election is called for the City of
Palo Alto to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the purpose of electing three (3) council
members for full terms (four years), each of whom shall be an elector and shall have been a
resident of the City of Palo Alto for at least thirty days next preceding the final filing date for
nomination papers for such office.
Title of
Office
Length of
Term
Number
of Seats
Type of
Seats
Council
Member
4-year
full-term
3 At-Large
SECTION 2. Request to Consolidate. Pursuant to Section 10403 of the Elections
Code of the State of California, the Council of the City of Palo Alto requests the governing body
of the state and any other political subdivision, or any officers otherwise authorized by law, to
partially or completely consolidate such elections and the City Council consents to such
consolidation. The Council acknowledges that the election will be held and conducted according
to procedures in the Elections Code, including Section 10418.
SECTION 3. Request for County Services. Under Section 10002 of the California
Elections Code, the Council of the City of Palo Alto requests the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara
County to permit the Registrar of Voters to render services to the City of Palo Alto relating to the
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conduct of Palo Alto’s general municipal election which is called to be held on Tuesday,
November 3, 2026, and shall reimburse the county for the costs incurred by the County of Santa
Clara Registrar of Voters in conducting the general municipal election for the City of Palo Alto.
The City requests the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors permit the County of Santa Clara
Registrar of Voters to prepare the City’s election materials. The election services to be performed
shall include the preparation, printing and mailing of official ballots and county voter information
guides; the establishment of precincts, election ballots, return mail envelopes, ballot drop boxes,
vote centers, election officers, and producing such publications as are required by law in
connection therewith; the furnishing of ballots, envelopes, and other necessary supplies and
materials for voting places; the canvassing of the returns of the election; the furnishing of the
results of such canvassing to the City Clerk; and, the performance of other election services as
may be requested by the City Clerk.
SECTION 4. Consolidation of Measures. The Council of the City of Palo Alto
requests the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County to include on the ballots and sample
ballots all qualified measures submitted by the City Council to be ratified by the qualified electors
of the City of Palo Alto.
SECTION 5. Manner of Election. That the City Council of the City of Palo Alto
requests the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara to hold and conduct the
consolidated general election in the manner prescribed in Section 10418 of the Elections Code of
the State of California, and to further provide that the Registrar of Voters canvass the returns of
the municipal election. The County of Santa Clara is hereby authorized to certify the returns of
the municipal election.
SECTION 6. Candidate Statement of Qualifications. Pursuant to Section 13307 of
the Elections Code of the State of California, each candidate for elective office may prepare a
candidate’s statement. The candidates' statements of qualifications 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. The cost of printing,
translating and distributing said statements shall be borne by the City of Palo Alto.
SECTION 7. Tie Votes. Pursuant to Section 15651 of the Elections Code of the State
of California, in the event two or more persons receive an equal and the highest number of votes
for any office, the City Council shall summon the candidates who received the tie votes, whether
upon the canvass of returns or upon recount, to appear before it and shall determine the tie by
lot.
SECTION 8. Duties of City Clerk. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Palo Alto
City Clerk shall do all things required by law to effectuate the November 3, 2026, general municipal
election, including but not limited to causing the posting, publication and printing of all notices or
other election materials under the requirements of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto and the
California Elections and Government Codes.
SECTION 9. Contract Authority. Subject to approval of the Board of Supervisors of
Santa Clara County, the City Clerk may engage the services of the Registrar of Voters of the
County of Santa Clara to aid in the conduct of the November 3, 2026, election including canvassing
the returns of that election. The Palo Alto Director of Administrative Services shall pay the cost of
3
contracted services provided that no payment shall be made for services which the Registrar of
Voters is otherwise required by law to perform.
SECTION 10. Transmittal of Resolution. The City Clerk shall submit a certified copy
of this resolution to the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara.
SECTION 11. CEQA. The Council finds that this resolution does not constitute a
project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act under Public Resources Code section
21065 or CEQA Guidelines section 15378.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
_____________________________ ____________________________City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________ ____________________________Assistant City Attorney City Manager
____________________________Director of Administrative Services