AGENDA
City of Monte Sereno
Monday, May 18, 2026
Special Meeting of the City Council
2:00 PM
Monte Sereno City Council Chambers - 18041 Saratoga -
Los Gatos Road, Monte Sereno, Ca 95030
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Page
CALL TO ORDER
The Mayor, or a majority of the Council by vote, may change the order of business, except for public hearings on the agenda for a set time.
ROLL CALL
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Receive an Informational Update on the Potential Police Services Parcel Tax and Provide Direction to Staff
3 - 4
Staff recommends that the City Council receive the informational update on a potential police services parcel tax and provide direction to staff.
Staff Report - SR-26-076 - Pdf
ADJOURN
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STAFF REPORT
Meeting: Special Meeting of the City Council - May 18 2026 Agenda Heading: UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Staff Contact: Diana Perkins, City Manager
Department: City Manager
Title: Receive an Informational Update on the Potential Police Services Parcel Tax and Provide Direction to Staff
Recommendation(s):
Staff recommends that the City Council receive the informational update on a potential police services parcel tax and provide direction to staff.
Background Information:
1983 Police Services Parcel Tax
Monte Sereno voters passed a parcel tax measure setting a $150 annual fee per parcel to support the cost of police services in the city at the November 8, 1983 election. As approved, the parcel tax did not allow for an inflationary adjustment. The $150 parcel tax currently results in approximately $190,000 in revenue to the City.
Historical Police Service Costs
The approximate costs of police services since the parcel tax was established has been as follows:
Monte Sereno Police Services Costs
Year Cost
1983 $103,894
1985 $96,839
1990 $166,641
1995 $218,475
2000 $232,742
2005 $331,907
2010 $521,611
2015 $711,574
2020 $973,903
2025 $1,135,514
Current – 2026 $1,458,319
Projected - 2027 $1,537,068
Potential New Police Services Parcel Tax
Due to the increasing cost of police services, the Council has been exploring a future ballot measure to increase the parcel tax paid by Monte Sereno property owners. In August 2025, the City Council discussed a potential new parcel tax to support the increasing costs of police services. The Council established a Potential Police Parcel Tax Ad Hoc Committee in August 2025 and appointed Council Members Craig and Mekechuk to the committee.
In January 2026, the Council approved a professional services agreement with CliffordMoss to conduct polling of the City’s constituents to test proposed parameters and wording for a police services ballot measure and provide a recommendation on how to proceed with a potential parcel tax.
Analysis:
A parcel tax requires two-thirds voter approval. A parcel tax measure is generally put before the voters to support various city services and may be levied for general purposes or restricted to a particular purpose.
Current research shows a police services measure on the November 2026 ballot does not have feasibility. Additional information should be provided to the community regarding the cost of police services, the impact of the City's budget, and the future consequences.
This meeting will provide an opportunity for the Council to discuss the next steps for public communications strategies and a future timeline.
California Environmental Quality Act:
This matter is not a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment (CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5)).
Fiscal Impact:
There are no unbudgeted fiscal impacts with this discussion and direction.
Public Noticing:
The City of Monte Sereno's Council meeting agenda was posted on the bulletin board outside of Monte Sereno's City Hall and the agenda with this staff report can be accessed on the City of Monte Sereno's website located at www.montesereno.org.