DATE:
June 9, 2026
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
City Clerk’s Office
TITLE: General Municipal Election for Three
Councilmembers—November 3, 2026
RECOMMENDATION
1. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View Calling a General Municipal Election for the purpose of Electing Three (3) Members of the City Council, Requesting the Board of Supervisors to Authorize the Registrar of Voters to Contract for Election Serv ices, Authorizing the City Clerk to Contract with the County of Santa Clara Pertaining to Services to be Performed by the County in Connection with the General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and Related Actions, to be read in title only, further reading waived (Attachment 1 to the Council report).
2. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View Adopting a 200 -Word Maximum for a Candidate’s Statement of Qualifications and Charging Each Candidate for a Fixed Share of Costs for the Printing, Handling, Translating, and Mailing for the General Municipal Election to be Held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, to be read in title only, further reading waived (Attachment 2 to the Council report).
3. Direct the City Clerk to take all necessary actions related to the conduct of the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Elections Code requires action by the City Council to call the election of three Councilmembers at the General Municipal Election of November 3 , 2026, and to request from the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors consolidation of such election with the General Statewide Election.
As part of calling the election, Council must also take action regarding the statements of the candidates that are included in the Voter Information Guide. The estim ated full cost of a candidate statement for the November 3, 2026 election is $3, 820. The attached resolutions set forth the actions required to consolidate the election and establish a 200-word limit for candidate
General Municipal Election for Three Councilmembers—November 3, 2026 June 9, 2026
statements. The resolutions conform with the City Charter, which incorporates the provisions set forth in the California Elections Code and the City Code.
Additional Election Regulations for Council Candidates
At the time of filing their nomination papers, each candidate is required to file a statement of acceptance or rejection of the voluntary expenditure limit , as set forth in Mountain View City Code Section 2.150. The voluntary expenditure limit (VEL), campaign contribution limits, and the candidate statements are interrelated. A VEL in the amount of $15,000 for each candidate for each election to City elective office was established in 2000. It provides an automatic adjustment of the expenditure ceiling at the rate of 3% per year to keep pace with changes in the cost of living. The VEL for the November 3, 2026 election is $32,352.
Pursuant to Section 2.151 of the Mountain View City Code, candidates who file a statement of acceptance of the voluntary expenditure limit and pay the first $500 for the cost of publishing the 200-word candidate statement will be eligible to have the City pay for the balance of the cost of the candidate statement subject to certain limitations. Additionally, pursuant to Section 2.171 of the Mountain View City Code, candidates who file a statement of acceptance of the voluntary expenditure limit may accept contributions totaling $1,000 per person for each single election for City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Fiscal Year 202 6-27 Recommended Budget includes $ 388,200 for the November 3 , 2026 election, based on an estimate provided by the County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters. These funds are intended to cover the City’s share of election -related costs, including, but not limited to, legal advertising expenses and the City-paid portion of candidate statement fee s for candidates who accept the VEL, depending on the level of participation.
LEVINE ACT
California Government Code Section 84308 (also known as the Levine Act) prohibits city officials from participating in any proceeding involving a “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” if the official has received a campaign contribution exceeding $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant within the last 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more General Municipal Election for Three Councilmembers—November 3, 2026 June 9, 2026
information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to- play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
Please see below for information about whether the recommended action for this agenda item is subject to or exempt from the Levine Act.
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
☒ Contract between two or more state or local government agencies ☒ General policy and legislative actions
PUBLIC NOTICING
Agenda posting.
Prepared by:
Heather Glaser
City Clerk
Approved by:
Audrey D. Seymour
Assistant City Manager
Attachments: 1. Resolution – Calling Election
2. Resolution – Candidate Statement