CITY OF MORRO BAY
Notice of Special Meeting of the City Council
Agenda
Wednesday, August 19, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Hall
209 Surf St., Morro Bay, CA
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Pages
1. ESTABLISH QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER
2. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
3. SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA ITEM(S)
3.a Consideration of Cancellation of the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election
1 (City Manager/City Clerk)
Recommended Action
Adopt Resolution No. 46-26 providing for the appointment of nominated candidates to the offices of the city that were to be elected on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, in lieu of holding the election.
4. ADJOURNMENT
/s/ Carla Wixom, Mayor
This agenda is subject to amendment up to 24 hours prior to the date and time set for the meeting. Please refer to the agenda posted at City Hall, 595 Harbor Street, Morro Bay, CA 93442 for any revisions or call the Clerk's office at (805) 772-6205 for further information.
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Prepared by: DS Dept Review: JC
City Manager Review: JC City Attorney Review: BS
Staff Report
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: John Craig, City Manager
Dana Swanson, City Clerk
SUBJECT: Consideration of Cancellation of the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt Resolution No. 46-26 providing for the appointment of nominated candidates to the offices of the city that were to be elected on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, in lieu of holding the election.
ALTERNATIVE(S)
Do not adopt Resolution 46-26 canceling the election; direct that the election be held.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City budgeted $30,000 in the FY 2026-27 General Fund Operating Budget to cover the estimated cost for calling and holding a general municipal election on November 3, 2026. If the election were canceled, the City would incur only minimal direct costs for setup, which are estimated to be $250.
If the election is canceled, the unspent funds can be re-programmed for another use at a future meeting.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
A Statewide General Election will be held in the State of California on November 3, 2026. On June 9, 2026, the Morro Bay City Council adopted Resolutions calling an election to be consolidated with the Statewide General Election, for the election of a Mayor (two-year term) and two Council Members (four-year term) and requesting that the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors consolidate the City’s election activities with those of the County.
The candidate nomination period opened on July 13, 2026 and closed for the office of Mayor on August 7, 2026. An incumbent for the office of Council Member did not file by the August 7 deadline, therefore the nomination period for the office of Council Member was extended to August 12, 2026.
As of the close of nominations, only one candidate for Mayor and two candidates for City Council Member had qualified for the ballot. In such circumstances where the number of nominees does not exceed the number of offices to be elected, Elections Code §10229 provides that the Council may take one of the following actions:
(1) Appoint to the office the person who has been nominated; or (2) Appoint to the office an eligible voter if no one has been nominated (does not apply); or (3) Hold the election.
AGENDA NO: 3.a
MEETING DATE: August 19, 2026
01181.0001/478309.1 CFN
Elections Code provides the City Clerk submit to the governing body of the City a certification that the number of nominees does not exceed the number of offices (Attachment 2).
If the City Council acts to appoint the nominees in lieu of holding an election, no City of Morro Bay candidates will appear in the voter pamphlet or on the ballot. The cost of pamphlet and ballot printing and other services rendered to the City by the County of San Luis Obispo varies depending on the number of nominated candidates and other factors but typically ranges from $25,000 - $30,000.
Canceling the election would greatly reduce this expenditure, in addition to conserving staff time.
If the election is canceled at this time, no write-in candidates will be eligible to be nominated or elected.
CONCLUSION
In consideration of the significant cost savings associated with canceling the election, staff recommends the Council adopt Resolution No. 46-26 (Attachment 1) canceling the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election and appointing the nominated candidates.
If the election is canceled, Morro Bay candidates will not appear in the voter information guide or on the ballot, and the appointed nominees will be sworn in and assume office in December 2026, in the same manner as if the election had been held.
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Proposed Resolution No. 46-26 appointing nominees in lieu of holding the election
2. City Clerk’s Certificate of Insufficient Nominees
RESOLUTION NO. 46-26
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA,
PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF NOMINATED CANDIDATES TO
THE OFFICES OF THIS CITY THAT WERE TO BE ELECTED ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, IN LIEU OF HOLDING THE ELECTION
THE CITY COUNCIL
City of Morro Bay, California
WHEREAS, on June 9, 2026, the City Council of the City of Morro Bay called an election to be held on November 3, 2026, consolidated with the Statewide General Election, for the election of a Mayor (two-year term) and two Council Members (four-year term); and WHEREAS, as of the close of the extended candidate nomination period on August 12, 2026, there are not more candidates than offices to be elected; and WHEREAS, pursuant to §10229 of the Elections Code of the State of California, one of the following courses of action may be taken by the City Council:
1. Appoint to the office the person who has been nominated;
2. Appoint to the office an eligible voter if no one has been nominated;
3. Hold the election if either no one or only one person has been nominated; and WHEREAS, a notice stating these facts was posted in the City Hall kiosk and the City website on August 13, 2026, and published in a newspaper of general circulation pursuant to §6061 of the Government Code of the State of California.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA, DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Pursuant to §10229(a)(1) of the Elections Code of the State of California, the following candidates are hereby appointed to the offices to which they were duly nominated and are considered to be the same as being elected, pursuant to §10229(a)(3) of the Elections Code.
Name Office Term
Mike Gerson City Council Member 4 years (ending 2030)
Robin “Zara” Landrum City Council Member 4 years (ending 2030) Carla Wixom Mayor 2 years (ending 2028)
SECTION 2. The election scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 is hereby canceled.
SECTION 3. The persons hereby appointed shall qualify, take office, and serve exactly as if elected at a municipal election for that office.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
Resolution No. 46-26
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Morro Bay at a regular meeting thereof held on the 19th day of August 2026 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
RECUSE:
______________________________
CARLA WIXOM, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
HEATHER GOODWIN, Deputy City Clerk
CITY CLERK’S CERTIFICATION THAT THERE ARE NOT MORE
CANDIDATES THAN OFFICES TO BE ELECTED
I, Dana Swanson, City Clerk of the City of Morro Bay, do hereby certify pursuant to §10229, Elections Code of the State of California, the following facts relating to the General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
As of the close of the nomination period on August 12, 2026, there are not more candidates than offices to be elected.
The person(s) so nominated are:
Name Office Term
Mike Gerson City Council Member 4 years (ending 2030)
Robin “Zara” Landrum City Council Member 4 years (ending 2030) Carla Wixom Mayor 2 years (ending 2028)
That §10229 of the Elections Code allows one of the following courses of action to be taken by the City Council:
(1) Appoint to the office the person who has been nominated. (2) Appoint to the office an eligible elector if no one has been nominated. (3) Hold the election, if either no one or only one person has been nominated A notice of these facts will be posted in the City Hall kiosk and City Website on Thursday, August 13, 2026 and published in a newspaper of general circulation in the city pursuant to §6061 of the Government Code. On August 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. the City Council will meet to either make the appointment or direct an election to be held. The person(s) appointed, if any, shall qualify and take office and serve exactly as if elected at a municipal election for that office.
If, by the 75th day before the municipal election, no person has been appointed to the office(s) pursuant to (1) or (2) above, the election shall be held.
If the City Council makes an appointment pursuant to §10229 of the Elections Code, the City Clerk shall not accept for filing any statement of write-in candidacy which is submitted after the appointment is made.
/s/ Dana Swanson,
City Clerk
Dated: August 13, 2026