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July 14, 2026
ITEM TITLE
Ballot Measure: Consider Placing a Charter Amendment Measure on the Nov. 2026 Ballot Related to Term Limits, Elected Official Compensation, Council Committees, Salary Setting & City Ethics Commissions, Public Contracting, Lobbying, & Binding Arbitration
Report Number: 26-0247
Location: No specific geographic location
Department: City Attorney & City Manager
G.C. § 84308 Regulations Apply: No
Environmental Notice : The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines. Therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the activity qualifies for an Exemption pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines.
Recommended Action
City Council will consider the proposed Charter amendments and provide direction as it deems appropriate.
Should City Council decide to move forward with the amendments, staff will prepare possible draft ballot language and bring the item back to the City Council for further consideration at a future City Council meeting.
SUMMARY
On June 16, 2026, the Ci ty Council received a proposed Charter amendment from a representative of Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 89, for potential placement on the November 2026 general election ballot (the “Charter Amendment”). If approved by the voters, the Charter Amendment would modify the City’s Charter related to term limits for the Mayor and City Councilmembers, compensation for all elected officials, establishing City Council committee s, establishing a Salary Setting Commission, establishing a City Ethics Commission, public contracting rules, lobbying and lobbyist registration rules, and requiring binding arbitration for labor negotiations with public safety unions.
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At the June 16, 2026, City Council meeting, a referral was made to staff to return with the proposed Charter Amendment measure for consideration at the next City Council meeting. This item is responsive to that referral.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Director of Development Servies has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a physical change in the environment.
Therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Director of Development Services has also determined that the activity qualifies for an Exemption pursuant to Section 150 61(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines. Thus, no environmental review is required.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The City is unaware of any community engagement which may have been conducted prior to the proposed Charter Amendment measure being presented to the City Council.
Due to the short time frame between receipt of the proposed Charter Amendment measure and the August 7, 2026, filing deadline with the County Registrar of Voters for placement of a measure on the November 2026 ballot, the City’s community engagement related to this item is limited to discussion at City Council meetings.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Due to the short time frame between receipt of the proposed Charter Amendment measure and the August 7, 2026, filing deadline with the County Registrar of Voters for placement of a measure on the November 2026 ballot, the City has been unable to present this item to the Charter Review Commission. A copy of the proposed Charter Amendment was distributed to members of the Charter Review Commission and the Board of Ethics in advance of tonight’s meeting.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City’s Charter operates as the City’s constitution. It establishes the basic legal framework for the structure and operations of City government and can only be amended by a vote of the people. Being a charter city in California gives the City authority over what are commonly kno wn as “municipal affairs.” Municipal affairs are areas of law where charter cities exercise primary authority to make their own rules, subject only to the requirements of the California Constitution and other matters determined to be of “statewide concern.” Typical municipal affairs include how a city finances and procures public works, enters into contracts, elects its local officials, makes land use regulations, compensates its employees, and adopts its own laws.
General law cities, by contrast, are subject to all the laws regulating local jurisdictions adopted by the State legislature. Of the 483 cities in California, approximately 120 are charter cities.
Chula Vista’s Charter was first adopted in 1949. It has since been amended on multiple occasions, wit h the most recent major update occurring in 2022. The 2022 amendment was the most recent and most P a g e | 3
comprehensive in a series of changes to the Charter identified as the “Charter Project.” The idea of the Charter Project was to engage in a systematic review of the Charter with the Charter Review Commission (“CRC”) and the City departments most governed by its rules, and to evaluate which changes would be necessary or appropriate to update the Charter and improve the efficiency of City governance and operations. Significant Charter Project updates were approved by the voters in 2014 and 2022.
Proposed Amendments
As currently drafted, the proposed amendments would, if approved by the voters, modify several sections of the City’s Charter. The proposed amendments are provided in track changes as Attachment 1 to this report.
A summary of the proposed changes by article and section is provided below.
1. Article III., Mayor and City Council, Section 300., Members, Eligibility & Terms Article III., Mayor and City Council, Section 303., Vacancies Increases the number of consecutive terms that may be held by Councilmembers and the Mayor from two (2) to three (3).
Terms of office commenced before July 1, 2026, are not to be considered or counted for purposes of interpreting this section, providing for a total of up to four consecutive terms of office for current office holders (no current members of the City Council were in their second term of office as of the effective date of July 1, 2026). Conforming changes are made in Section 303.
2. Article III., Mayor and City Council., Section 302., Compensation for Councilmembers
Modifies the basis for setting compensation for Councilmembers, effective January 1, 2027.
Currently, the salary for City C ouncilmembers is set at forty percent (40%) of the salary of the Mayor.
The Mayor’s salary is set at sixty-six percent (66%) of the salary of a judge of the Superior Court of the State.
Under the proposed language, Councilmember salaries would be set by a Salary Setting Commission (to be created with this Charter Amendment). In addition, the proposed language provides a minimum City Councilmember salary of forty -five percent (45%) of the salary of a judge of the Superior Court of the State. Applying only t he proposed new minimum salary provision to the current Superior Court judge salary would result in a City Councilmember salary of $110,127, an increase of $45,519 over the current annual salary of $64,608. Actual salaries wou ld be set by the newly created Salary Setting Commission.
This estimate is based on current salaries; however, the City typically receives updated salary information from the Judicial Council of California in late summer, which may impact the final figures.
3. Article III., Mayor and City Council., Section 304., Presiding Officer, Mayor
Modifies the basis for setting compensation for the Mayor, effective January 1, 2027.
Currently, the salary for the Mayor is set at sixty-six percent (66%) of the salary of a judge of the Superior Court of the State.
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Under the proposed language, the Mayor’s salary would be set by a Salary Setting Commission (to be created with this Charter Amendment). In addition, the proposed language provides that the May or’s annual salary for the period from January 1, 2027 , through December 31, 3031 , shall not be reduced below the dollar amount in effect as of December 31, 2026.1
4. Article III., Mayor and City Council., NEW Section 313, City Council Committees
Establishes a new Charter section, Section 313, City Council Committees. Establishes a Budget, Government Accountability and Efficiency Committee and a Public and Traffic Safety Committee.
Both committees shall be composed of two Councilmembers, to be ap pointed at the first business meeting of the City Council each January and to serve for the balance of said calendar year. Each committee shall meet not less than quarterly. Each committee shall serve as a venue for the public to comment on issues under th e committee’s purview and shall conduct hearings and provide recommendations to the full City Council.
Additional language proposed confirms the City Council’s ability to establish other committees by ordinance and confirms that the committees are bound by applicable law.
5. Article V., Officers and Employees, Section 503., City Attorney: Election, Powers and Duties
Modifies the basis for setting compensation for the City Attorney, effective January 1, 2027.
Currently, the salary for the City Attorney is equivalent to the salary of a judge of the Superior Court of the State.
Under the proposed language, the City Attorney’s salary would be set by a Salary Setting Commission (to be created with this Charter Amendment).
6. Article V., Mayor and City Council, Section 506., City Council Authority to Add or Consolidate Functions
Excludes the City Ethics Commission from the City Council’s existing Charter authority to transfer or consolidate functions of the City government to or with functions of the State, Cou nty, or other city government or to make use of such other agencies to supplement or replace City functions.
7. Article VI., Appointive Boards and Commissions, Section 602., Appointments, Terms and Vacancies
Restricts the City Council’s ability to remove members of the City Ethics Commission and the Salary Setting Commission to “for cause” removals only. Clarifies that the City Council shall not be responsible for appointing or removing members of the Salary Setting Commission.
1 Proposed language includes a conflicting provision that sets the minimum salary for the Mayor at 70% of judge’s salary. This conflict must be reconciled and corrected prior to placing related language on the ballot.
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8. Article VI., Appointive Boards and Commissions, Section 606., Civil Service Commission
Expands the powers and duties of the Civil Service Commission to include appointing five (5) members of the newly established Salary Setting Commission and removing said members for cause.
Establishes the eligibility factors for appointment to the Salary Setting Commission as follows: 1) resident of Chula Vista; 2) at least 18 years of age; 3) not related by blood or marriage to any city officer or employee; 4) not employed by the City; and 5) not employed by any business, venture, or other entity which is owned, operated, managed or controlled by any elected city officer or employee.
9. Article VI., Appointive Boards and Commissions, NEW Section 608, City Ethics Commission Establishes a new City Ethics Commission (“CEC”) to supervise the investigation of, and enforce, alleged violations of any provisions of the Charter or ordinances relating to campaign finance, lobbyist registration and regulation, revolving door rules and public official gift bans, as adopted by the City Council and assigned to the commiss ion for enforcement. The CEC would also be responsible for providing ethics training to candidates for elective office and elected city officials. Th e responsibility to provide training may be expanded by ordinance of the City Council.
The proposed CEC would consist of seven (7) members. Procedures for appointment and removal are proposed to be established by ordinance of the City Council.
The CEC’s meeting schedule would include one regular meeting per quarter, and a standard regular meeting agenda is proposed (roll call, minutes, old business, new business, public comment, etc.).
The proposed eligibility factors for appointment to the CEC are as follows: 1) may not hold any other elected or appointed public office; 2) may not be an employee of any holder of an elected or appointed public office; and 3) may not be a member of a public body whose members are appointed by an elected official, or any employee of a public body.
The proposed language further provides that CEC members who desire to participate in the campaign of, or publicly support or oppose, a City candidate or elective City officer, must first resign from the CEC.
Failure to resign in advance of campaign participation would be grounds for removal from the CEC.
In addition, the proposed language provides that no person shall be appointed to the CEC (or retain their appointment) if, within 10 years of the appointment or during their appointment term, they are: 1) convicted of a felony; 2) convicted of a crime of moral turpitude; 3) committed a criminal violation of the Fair Political Practices Act; or 4) has a conflict of interest as provided in the Charter or City ordinance.
Similarly, the proposed langua ge provides that no one would be appointed to the CEC, and no CEC member would retain their membership, if they are related to an elected City official. Nor would a person serve as a CEC member if their occupation consists of providing services to candidates for elected office or elected officials, engaging in public affairs or legislative liaison services for an employer doing business with the City or with any other special district or authority that the City is a member of.
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The proposed CEC would have th e authority to issue subpoenas duces tecum for bank records of campaign accounts of City candidates, elective officeholders, and any other City political committee or in connection with compliance investigations and enforcement proceedings. A subpoena duce s tecum is a legal summons that directs an individual or entity to produce specific physical evidence, documents, or electronically stored information for a legal proceeding.
Further, the CEC would have the authority to cause an audit to be performed of City elected officers and City candidates’ campaign accounts to ensure compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
10. Article VI., Appointive Boards and Commissions, NEW Section 609., Salary Setting Commission Establishes a new Salary Setting Commission tasked with establishing salaries for the Mayor, City Councilmembers, and the City Attorney.
Establishes a salary setting process, to be undertaken between March 1 st and April 30 th every five (5) years, commencing in 2027 for the Mayor and City Council members, with the newly adopted salary effective July 1st of that year.
A similar schedule for salary setting is proposed for the City Attorney, but annual. For the City Attorney salary, comparative salaries from six similarly sized cities shall be designated by the City Council as of February of each year , to be used as a basis for determining an appropriate comparable salary for the City Attorney.
The salaries for the Mayor and City Councilmembers would be subject to cost -of-living adjustments (“COLAs”) each July 1st (unless otherwise determined as part of a five-year review). The COLAs would be calculated by applying a percentage increase to their existing salary that is equivalent to the percentage increase of the preceding calendar year’s annual average of the Consumer Price Index-Urban (CPI-U), or successor index, for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. In no event could the COLA exceed 5% per year.
The City Council may forego any COLA otherwise payable to the Council.
Establishes that each City Councilmember that fails to attend a regular meeting of the City Council shall have their salary reduced by a sum established by the Salary Setting Commission, with exceptions for absences to conduct authorized City business, or due to their own illness or the illness of a close relative.
The proposed salary reduction would apply to each meeting missed. This provision is not proposed to apply to the Mayor.
11. Article X., Fiscal Administration, NEW Section 1013., Public Contracting Establishes a new Charter section addressing disclosures in public contracting.
The language as proposed would require every person or entity contracting with the City to make certain disclosures to the City Clerk, including the names and identities of all persons who will receive more than 10% of the contracted amount or who own more than 10% of the entity contracting with the City.
This provision is proposed to apply only to: 1) those contracts where City Council approval is required by Charter or ordinance; 3) transfers of interests in City’s real or personal property; and 3) grants or renewals of franchises. Provisions for rejection or termination of contracts if any person or entity submits false information or omits information are included.
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The proposed language also recognizes that favoritism in City contracting is prohibited, including providing or withholding information, misleading bidders, accepting materials or supplies of inferior quality, or knowingly falsifying certifications.
12. Article XII., Miscellaneous, NEW Section 1206., Lobbying and Lobbyist Registration Establishes a new Charter section requiring lobbyist registration and defining the contents of such registration.
The proposed language also establishes a “Revolving Door Prohibition” which provides that no former member of the City Council, former member of a City commission, or a former City employee employed in an unclassified service position may serve as a lobbyist with respect to the City within one year of leaving office or employment with the City.
13. NEW Article XIII., Impartial and Binding Arbitration for Police and Fire Department Employee Bargaining Unit Disputes
Establishes a new Charter article adopting impartial and binding arbitration for Police and Fire Department employees.
The proposed language recognizes that strikes by police officers and firefighters are generally prohibited as a matter of state law. The proposed language further explicitly prohibits such strikes under the authority of the City’s charter.
The proposed language also explicitly requires the City to negotiate in good faith with the bargaining groups representing sworn members of the Police and Fire Departments. The requirement to negotiate in good faith is an existing requirement, and the City does so with all employee bargaining groups.
Lastly, the proposed language establishes impasse resolution procedures for disputes which remain unresolved after good faith negotiations between the City and bargaining groups representing Police and Fire Dep artment employees. If adopted, this provision would require the issue under dispute be submitted to a three-member Board of Arbitrators, to consist of one City representative, one employee bargaining group representative, and a third neutral member to be s elected by other two representatives. Provisions for selection of the third member if the other two members cannot agree are also provided.
Next Steps
If the City Council desires to move forward with any of the proposed amendments, the next step would be to direct staff to prepare the documentation required to place them on the November 2026 ballot. Necessary documents include a resolution, the City Attorney’s Impartial Analysis, the formal Ballot Statement, and Ballot Question. In order for the item to qua lify for the November 2026 ballot, this would need to be completed, approved by the City Council, and submitted to the County registrar by no later than August 7 , 2026. With Council direction, this could be accomplished, with the work being done and presen ted to the City Council for action at either the July 21 , 2026, or July 28 , 2026, meeting, depending upon the specific direction received tonight.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
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Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the real property holdings of the City Council members do not create a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
The cost to place an average size measure (5 pages) on the November 2026 ballot is estimated to total $225,000. Funds have not been identified for this purpose. Should the City Council proceed with placing the Charter Amendment on the ballot, additional funding would need to be identified and appropriated.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
Potential ongoing fiscal impacts include increased compensation for Mayor, City Councilmembers, and the City Attorney as well as additional City staff to implement new Charter provisions, including the new lobbyist registration process, new public contracting disclosure requirements, the new City Council Committees, and the new City Ethics Commission and Salary Setting Commission.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed City Charter Amendments (redline)
Staff Contact: Tiffany Allen, City Manager
Marco A. Verdugo, City Attorney