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Resolution No. 2026-xx Page 1 of 3
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA,
CALIFORNIA SETTING PRIORITIES FOR FILING A WRITTEN ARGUMENT
REGARDING A CITY MEASURE AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO
PREPARE AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS
WHEREAS, a General Municipal Election is to be held in the City of Costa Mesa, California, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at which there will be submitted to the voters the following measure:
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That the City Council authorizes the following member(s) of its body
( Mayor In Favor) or (Mayor Against)
( Mayor Pro Tem In Favor) or (Mayor Pro Tem Against) (Council Member In Favor) or (Council Member Against) (Council Member In Favor) or (Council Member Against) (Council Member In Favor) or (Council Member Against) (Council Member In Favor) or (Council Member Against) (Council Member In Favor) or (Council Member Against)
to file (a) written argument not exceeding 300 words regarding the City measure as specified above, accompanied by the printed names(s) and signature(s) of the author(s) submitting it, in accordance with Article 4, Chapter 3, Division 9 of the Elections Code of the State of California. The arguments may be changed or withdrawn until and including the date fixed by the City Clerk after which no arguments for or against the City measure may be submitted to the City Clerk.
Measure __: The Costa Mesa Fair Business License
Reform, Small Business Protection Measure
Response Vote
Without taxing residents, shall the measure be adopted, updating Costa Mesa’s 41-year-old business license tax, ensuring large businesses pay their proportionate share and helping fund general city services including keeping public areas safe/clean; preventing crime/burglaries; addressing homelessness; maintaining Costa Mesa’s financial stability; revising the tax rate to 50¢ per $1,000 gross receipts, with no increase for small business es; generating approximately $5,600,000 annually until ended by voters, requiring audits, spending disclosure, funds locally controlled?
Yes
No
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Resolution No. 2026-xx Page 2 of 3
The arguments shall be filed with the City Clerk, signed, with the printed name(s) and signature(s) of the author(s) submitting it, or if submitted on behalf of an organization, the name of the organization, and the printed name and signature of at least one of its principal officers who is the author of the argument. The arguments shall be accompanied by the Form of Statement To Be Filed By Author(s) of Argument.
SECTION 2. That the City Council directs the City Clerk to transmit a copy of the measure to the City Attorney, unless the organization or salaries of the office of the City Attorney are affected.
a. The City Attorney shall prepare an impartial analysis of the measur e not exceeding 500 words showing the effect of the measure on existing law and the operation of the measure. If a measure affects the organization or salaries of the office of the City Attorney, the City Clerk shall prepare the impartial analysis.
b. The analysis shall include a statement indicating whether the measure was placed on the ballot by a petition signed by the requisite number of voters or by the governing body of the city.
c. In the event the entire text of the measure is not printed on the ballot, nor in the voter information portion of the sample ballot, there shall be printed immediately below the impartial analysis, in no less than 10- point type, the following: “The above statement is an impartial analysis of Ordinance or Measure __. If you desire a copy of the ordinance or measure, please call the election official’s office at 714-754-5225 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you. d. The impartial analysis shall be filed by the date set by the City Clerk the filing of primary arguments.
SECTION 3. That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED ON JULY 21, 2026.
____________________________
John Stephens, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________ _______________________________ Brenda Green, City Clerk Kimberly Hall Barlow City Attorney
Attachment 4
Resolution No. 2026-xx Page 3 of 3
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, BRENDA GREEN, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that foregoing Resolution No. 2026-xx- was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa at a regular meeting held on the 21 st day of July, 2026, by
the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the seal of the City of Costa Mesa this 22
nd day of July, 2026.
_________________________________
BRENDA GREEN, CITY CLERK