CITY MANAGER' S REPORT ITEM 4. 10
JUNE 8, 2026, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
ITEM: GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 3,
2026
RECOMMENDATION: Council to Consider the Following:
1. Adopt Resolution Calling for the Holding of a
General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday,
November 3, 2026, for the Election of Certain
Officers as Required by the Provisions of the Laws
of the State of California Relating to General Law
Cities;
2. Adopt Resolution Requesting the San Joaquin
County Board of Supervisors to Consolidate a
General Municipal Election to be Held on
November 3, 2026, with the Statewide General
Election to be Held on the Same Date Pursuant To
10403 of the Elections Code; and
3. Adopt Resolution Adopting Regulations for
Candidates for Elective Office Pertaining to
Candidates Statements Submitted to the Voters at
an Election to be Held on Tuesday, November 3,
2026
SUMMARY:
The General Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the purpose of electing a Mayor for a two- year term and two ( 2) City Council Members for four- year terms. The terms currently held by Mayor Akinjo and Councilmembers Dresser and Lazard will expire in 2026.
Pursuant to State law, the City Council must take certain actions prior to the opening of the nomination period. The City Clerk, as the Elections Official, has prepared the attached resolutions for City Council consideration to: ( 1) call the election; ( 2) request consolidation of the election with San Joaquin County; and ( 3) establish the necessary election procedures and guidelines.
BACKGROUND:
Pursuant to Lathrop Municipal Code Section 1. 08. 010, the City of Lathrop conducts its General Municipal Election on the same date as the Statewide General Election, which occurs on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even - numbered year. For 2026, the election will be held on November 3, 2026. The election will be consolidated with San Joaquin County, and the Registrar of Voters will be requested to conduct the election on behalf of the City of Lathrop.
CITY MANAGER' S REPORT
JUNE 8, 2026, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION — NOVEMBER 3, 2026
PAGE 2
Election services provided by the Registrar of Voters include, but are not limited to, the printing and mailing of ballots, the establishment and operation of voting centers, the tabulation of ballots, the canvassing of election returns, and all other proceedings incidental to and connected with the City' s
General Municipal Election.
To initiate the administration of the General Municipal Election in accordance with the California Elections Code, staff is requesting City Council consideration of the attached resolutions. Upon adoption, the executed resolutions will be forwarded to the San Joaquin County Clerk of the Board for consideration and approval by the Board of Supervisors, with copies provided to the Registrar of Voters.
The resolutions are as follows:
1. Resolution Calling for the Holding of a General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 ( Attachment A)
The California Elections Code requires the City Council to adopt a resolution calling the election. Attached is a resolution calling for the holding of a General Municipal Election in the City of Lathrop on November 3, 2026, for the election of the following offices and terms:
Mayor — Full term of two ( 2) years
Two ( 2) Members of the City Council — Full terms of four ( 4) years
2. Resolution Requesting the County of San Joaquin to Consolidate the General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election Attachment B)
The California Elections Code authorizes the City Council to request that the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors permit the County Elections Official to provide specified election services related to the conduct of the municipal election. The City Clerk will coordinate with the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters for the administration of election services. The City will reimburse the County for election services upon completion of the work and receipt of an approved invoice.
3. Resolution Approving Regulations Pertaining to the Candidate Statements ( Attachment C)
The California Elections Code requires the City Council to adopt regulations governing candidate statements submitted for the General Municipal Election and to determine whether candidates will be charged the actual costs associated with the preparation, translation, printing, and mailing of those statements. Candidate statements may include the candidate' sname, age, occupation, and a brief description of the candidate' s education and qualifications, not to exceed 200 words. The City Council may authorize an increase in the word limit from 200 to 400 words.
CITY MANAGER' SREPORT
JUNE 8, 2026, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION — NOVEMBER 3, 2026
PAGE 3
Historically, the City of Lathrop has not authorized the increased word limit.
Staff recommends maintaining the 200 -word limit for the 2026 election in order to minimize additional printing and mailing costs. Staff further recommends that candidates submitting a candidate statement be responsible for the actual costs associated with the translation, printing, and mailing of the statement. Upon submission of nomination papers, candidates would be required to submit a deposit to the City Clerk, payable to the City of Lathrop, to cover these costs. This practice is consistent with past elections.
The cost estimate is prepared by the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters and is based on the number of registered voters, ballot formatting requirements, and the number of pages included in the sample ballot booklet.
The estimated cost will be provided to candidates during the nomination period. For the 2024 Election, the actual cost of candidate statement printing was approximately $ 465. Due to increased printing and mailing costs, staff anticipates the cost for the 2026 Election to be approximately $ 800 and recommends establishing the candidate deposit in that amount. Any unused portion of the deposit will be refunded to the candidate, and any additional costs incurred will be billed within 30 days following the County' s final accounting of election related expenses.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolutions related to the General Municipal Election to be held on November 3, 2026, and direct the City Clerk, as the Elections Official, to coordinate with the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters on election preparations and related activities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters has provided a preliminary cost estimate for informational purposes. A formal cost estimate will be provided prior to the opening of the nomination period. Based on current projections, the estimated cost of conducting the 2026 General Municipal Election is between $ 50, 000 and $ 70, 000.
The City Clerk budget for Fiscal Year 2026-7 includes $ 75, 000 for election consolidation and related election services provided by the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters. Therefore, no additional budget appropriation is required at this time.
Due to continued population growth, potential increases in election administration costs, and unknown number of candidates running for office, the final cost may exceed the current estimate. Should actual election expenses exceed the adopted budget, staff will return to the City Council during the Fiscal Year 2026-7 Mid -Year Budget review process to request a budget amendment from the General Fund, if necessary.
CITY MANAGER' S REPORT
JUNE 8, 2026, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 3, 2026
ATTACHMENTS:
PAGE 4
A. Resolution Calling for the Holding of a General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026
B. Resolution Requesting the County of San Joaquin to Consolidate the General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election
C. Resolution Approving Regulations Pertaining to the Candidate Statements
CITY MANAGER' SREPORT
JUNE 8, 2026, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 3, 2026
APPROVALS:
Teresa Vargas
Government Services Director
City Clerk
41. oil /NM,
PAGE 5
Date
6/ 1/ Z (F
Thomas Hedegard Date
Deputy City Manager
oZ6
Salvador Navarrete Date
City Attorney
La• Z•I.
Stephen 3. Salvatore Date
City Manager
Attachment A
RESOLUTION NO. 26-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LATHROP,
CALIFORNIA, CALLING FOR THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, FOR THE ELECTION
OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELATING TO GENERAL LAW CITIES
WHEREAS, under the provisions of the laws relating to general law cities in the State of California, a General Municipal Election shall be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the election of Municipal Officers;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LATHROP,
CALIFORNIA, DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That pursuant to the requirements of the laws of the State of California relating to General Law Cities, there is called and ordered to be held in the City of Lathrop, California, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, a General Municipal Election for the purpose of electing a Mayor for the full term of two ( 2) years beginning December 2026 and ending December 2028); and two ( 2) Members of the City Council for the full term of four ( 4) years ( beginning December 2026 and ending December 2030).
SECTION 2. That the ballots to be used at the election shall be in form and content as required by law.
SECTION 3. That the City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to coordinate with the County of San Joaquin Registrar of Voters to procure and furnish any and all official ballots, notices, printed matter and all supplies, equipment and paraphernalia that may be necessary in order to properly and lawfully conduct the election.
SECTION 4. That the vote center locations and hours of operations, ballot drop box locations and hours of operations, vote -by -mail procedures and timing, the election officers, and all other persons and procedures for the General Municipal Election shall be the same as those utilized by the County of San Joaquin Registrar of Voters and in compliance with the Elections Code of the State of California. In addition, the polls/ vote centers for the election shall be open at seven o' clock a. m. of the day of the election and shall remain open continuously from that time until eight o' clock p. m. of the same day when the polls shall be closed, pursuant to Election Code § 10242, except as provided in §§ 14212, 14401 of the Elections Code of the State of California.
SECTION 5. That in all particulars not recited in this resolution, the election shall be held and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections.
Resolution No. 26- Page 1 of 2
SECTION 6. That notice of the time and place of holding the election is given and the City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to give further or additional notice of the election, in time, form and manner as required by law.
SECTION 7. That in the event of a tie vote ( if any two or more persons receive an equal and the highest number of votes for an office) as certified by the County of San Joaquin Registrar of Voters, the City Council, in accordance with Election Code § 15651( a), shall set a date and time and place and summon the candidates who have received the tie votes to appear and will determine the tie by lot.
SECTION 8. That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original Resolutions.
SECTION 9. The City Council authorizes the City Clerk to administer said election and all reasonable and actual election expenses shall be paid by the City upon presentation of a properly submitted bill.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED ON the 8th day of June, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Paul Akinjo, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Teresa Vargas, City Clerk Salvador Navarrete, City Attorney Resolution No. 26- Page 2 of 2
Attachment B
RESOLUTION NO. 26-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LATHROP,
CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY
OF SAN JOAQUIN TO CONSOLIDATE A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026, WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE DATE PURSUANT TO § 10403 OF THE ELECTIONS CODE WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Lathrop called a General Municipal Election to be held on November 3, 2026, for the purpose of the election of a Mayor for the full term of two ( 2) years ( beginning December 2026 and ending December 2028) and two ( 2) Members of the City Council for the full term of four ( 4) years beginning December 2026 and ending December 2030); and
WHEREAS, it is desirable that the General Municipal Election be consolidated with the Statewide General Election to be held on the same date and that within the City the precincts, polling places, and election officers of the two elections be the same, and that the County Election Department / Registrar of Voters of the County of San Joaquin canvass the returns of the General Municipal Election and that the election be held in all respects as if there were only one election;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LATHROP,
CALIFORNIA, DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That pursuant to the requirements of § 10403 of the Elections Code, the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Joaquin is hereby requested to consent and agree to the consolidation of a General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the purpose of the election of a Mayor for the full term of two ( 2) years ( beginning December 2026 and ending December 2028) and two ( 2) Members of the City Council for the full term of four ( 4) years ( beginning December 2026 and ending December 2030).
The offices to be filled are:
Name of Incumbent Mayor / Council Member Term
Paul Akinjo Mayor 2 years
Stephen Dresser Council Member 4 years
Diane Lazard Council Member 4 years
Summary of Election Details:
Election Method: At -Large
Tie Vote Resolution: By Lot
Candidate Statement Parameters: 200 words
Cost of Candidate Statement: To Be Paid By: Candidate ( per Resolution 26- ) Resolution No. 26 - Page 1 of 2
Boundary Status: The city has experienced boundary changes since the last election Exhibit A — Map of City of Lathrop City Limits)
SECTION 2. That the County Election Department / San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters is authorized to canvass the returns of the General Municipal Election. The election shall be held in all respects as if there were only one election, and only one form of ballot shall be used. The election will be held and conducted in accordance with the provisions of law regulating the statewide election.
SECTION 3. That the Board of Supervisors is requested to issue instructions to the County Election Department / San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters to take any and all steps necessary for the holding of the consolidated election.
SECTION 4. That the City of Lathrop recognizes that additional costs will be incurred by the County of San Joaquin by reason of this consolidation and agrees to reimburse the County of San Joaquin for any election related costs.
SECTION 5. That the City Clerk is hereby directed to file a certified copy of this resolution with the Board of Supervisors and the Election Department / Registrar of Voters of the County of San Joaquin.
SECTION 6. 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 the 8th day of June, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Paul Akinjo, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Teresa Vargas, City Clerk Salvador Navarrete, City Attorney Resolution No. 26- Page 2 of 2
Attachment C
RESOLUTION NO. 26-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LATHROP,
CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE
OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATE STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026 WHEREAS, § 13307 of the Elections Code of the State of California provides that the governing body of any local agency adopt regulations pertaining to materials prepared by any candidate for a municipal election, including costs of the candidates statement;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LATHROP,
CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. That pursuant to § 13307 of the Elections Code of the State of California, each candidate for elective office to be voted for at an Election to be held in the City of Lathrop on November 3, 2026, may prepare a candidate' sstatement on an appropriate form provided by the City Clerk. The statement 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 himself or herself. The statement shall not include party affiliation of the candidate, nor membership or activity in partisan political organizations. The statement shall be filed in electronically and typewritten form 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, candidate statements will be translated into all languages required by the County of San Joaquin. The County is required to translate candidate statements into Spanish.
B. The County will print and mail voter information guides and candidate statements to all voters in English and Spanish. The County will make the voter information guides and candidate statements in the required languages available at all polling places, on the County' s
website and in the Election Official' s office.
SECTION 3. PAYMENT.
A. Translations
1. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of translating the candidate' sstatement into any required foreign language as Resolution No. 26- Page 1 of 3
specified in ( A) and ( 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 candidate' sstatement into any foreign language that is not required as specified in ( A) and ( B) of Section 2 above, pursuant to Federal and/ or State law, but is required as an option by the candidate.
B. Printing
1. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidate' sstatement in English in the main voter pamphlet.
2. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidate' sstatement in a foreign language required in (A) of Section 2 above, in the main voter pamphlet.
3. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidate' s statement in a foreign language requested by the candidate per ( B) of Section 2 above, in the main voter pamphlet.
4. The candidate shall be required to pay for the cost of printing the candidate' s statement in a foreign language required by ( A) of Section 2 above, in the facsimile voter pamphlet.
The City Clerk shall estimate the total cost of printing, handling, translating and mailing the candidate 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 local agency his or her estimated pro rata share as a condition of having his or her statement included in the voter pamphlet. In the event the estimated payment is required, the estimate is just an approximation of the actual cost that varies from one election to another election and may be significantly more or less than the estimate, depending on the actual number of candidates filing statements. Accordingly, the City Clerk is not bound by the estimate and may, on a pro rata basis, bill the candidate for additional actual expense or refund any excess paid depending on the final actual cost. In the event of underpayment, the clerk may require the candidate to pay the balance of the cost incurred. In the event of overpayment, the clerk shall prorate the excess amount among the candidates and refund the excess amount paid within 30 days of the election, or the date of the final billing from the County of San Joaquin.
SECTION 4. MISCELLANEOUS.
A. All translations shall be provided by professionally - certified translations.
B. 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.
Resolution No. 26- Page 2 of 3
SECTION 5. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS. No candidate will be permitted to include additional materials in the voter information guide.
SECTION 6. That the City Clerk shall provide each candidate or the candidate' s representative a copy of this Resolution at the time nominating petitions are issued.
SECTION 7. That all previous resolutions establishing Council policy on payment for candidate statements are repealed.
SECTION 8. That this resolution shall apply only to the election to be held on November 3, 2026, and shall then be repealed.
SECTION 9. 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 the 8th day of June, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Paul Akinjo, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Teresa Vargas, City Clerk Salvador Navarrete, City Attorney Resolution No. 26- Page 3 of 3
PAGE LEFT
INTENTIONALLY
BLANK