CITY COUNCIL
ERRATA SHEET
CITY OF PACIFIC GROVE
300 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove, California 93950
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Sandra Kandell, City Clerk/DEI Coordinator
MEETING DATE: 08/20/2025
SUBJECT: City Council Meeting Agenda - Errata Sheet
Attached is additional information for your consideration at the August 20, 2025 City Council Meeting:
Agenda Item Information Provided/Corrected
13A
Additional language for Council's consideration regarding the estimate for placing a measure on the ballot is below. Please note this language and the cost estimate itself comes from the ROV—not the City/City Clerk’s office.
"The average cost of consolidating in these scenarios is reflected in the range. Further, other variables will also impact costs, these include but are not limited to the actual number of registered voters, printing full measure text, the length of the text, the inclusion of arguments and rebuttals, etc. The estimated range provided is based on historical costs inclusive of all variables. Considering all of the various scenarios, a jurisdiction may experience election costs under the range, within the range, or slightly above the range for any given election. Given the number of variables, the elections official can only provide the estimated range. We have also been clear, that there is not a separate additional cost for each contest within a jurisdiction. The cost for a city consolidating a measure in a general election will not double their cost in the election, the estimated range is applicable encompassing all contests (mayor, city council, measure)."
Revised Resolution - (Please see revised and redlined version attached.)
Attachments
Election Costs
Proposed Resolution and Attachments
A Guide for Districts
MONTEREY COUNTY ELECTIONS
1441 SCHILLING PLACE - NORTH BUILDING
SALINAS, CA 93901
PHONE : (831) 796-1499
FAX: (831) 755-5485
COUNTYOFMONTEREY.GOV/ELECTIONS
ELECTION COST ESTIMATES
Table of Contents
Election Cost Estimates..................................................................................................................... 2 Variables Impacting Actual Costs ....................................................................................................... 2 Calculating Election Cost Estimates ................................................................................................... 3 Election Invoices ............................................................................................................................... 3 Election Disclaimer ........................................................................................................................... 3 Election Cost Estimates
Local districts can calculate an estimated cost range based on historical election costs. These cost estimates are calculated to provide districts with the information they need to budget for an election.
These estimates are based on historical averaged election costs including all districts in the county across all election types. The estimates are provided in the following categories:
• Consolidated Election: an election in which other districts are also holding an election and costs are shared. Typically includes polling places and mail ballot. • Standalone Election, Polling Places: a special election in which no other districts share the cost of the election. This estimate includes polling places and mail ballot. • Standalone Election, All-Mail: a special election in which no other districts share the cost of the election. This estimate does not include polling places.
Variables Impacting Actual Costs
The estimated range is not a fixed fee and will differ from the actual rate billed based on variables that impact the actual cost. These variables include but are not limited to the size of the district (district registration varies from 18 voters to over 218,000 voters); the number of districts sharing the cost of the election; the number of contests and candidates the district has on the ballot; the length of candidate statements and the party responsible for candidate statements; printing full measure text, the addition of arguments, rebuttals and additional pages in the voter information guide related to the measure, the actual number of registered voters at the time of the election; as well as changes in legislation will all impact the actual cost of any election.
A district consolidating with a primary election, with fewer districts sharing the cost, will experience a higher per registered voter cost than if they consolidate with a general election in which all districts are now participating, reducing the individual district’s share of the election. Both of these scenarios are considered consolidated elections. The average cost of consolidating in these scenarios is reflected in the range.
The estimated cost range is based on historical costs inclusive of all variables and all districts.
Considering the various scenarios, a district may experience election costs well below the range, within the range, or slightly above the range for any given election. Given the number of variables, the estimated range is provided to districts to ensure the district is prepared for their potential proportional share of the election.
When calculating cost estimates, the range is based on all districts and all scenarios. The estimated range is inclusive of varying numbers of contests. The range for a district will not double in a single election with the addition of a contest.
Example: If District A is scheduled to have their board member election in the November General Election, their estimated range for that election will be the standard range for consolidated elections. If District A then adds a measure on the ballot, the estimated range for District A remains unchanged. District A will still use the standard estimated range for their district in budgeting for the election.
Calculating Election Cost Estimates
To calculate cost estimates, the district will multiply the number of registered voters in the area going to election by the dollar amount representing the average “low” of election costs and then separately for the average “high” of election costs. (Again, these are historical averages based on all districts and scenarios). For the categories of elections, these include:
• Consolidated Election: $7 to $10
• Standalone Election, Polling Places: $16 to $24
• Standalone Election, All-Mail: $14 to $22
Amounts on the range have recently been adjusted to reflect increases in costs related to staffing, printing, mailing, etc. Medium to large-sized districts may experience actual costs below the estimated range for consolidated elections during a regular scheduled general election. Each district will have record of their actual election costs.
The number of registered voters as of the last report of registration to the Secretary of State is available at Voter Registration Counts. For current registration counts, please contact [email protected].
Election Invoices
Election billing takes 4 to 5 months on average. This timeframe is needed to ensure all invoices related to the election and any potential funding sources that would off-set election costs are received and processed.
Election Disclaimer
Please note that calculating an estimate using the formula provided in this material is not consent or agreement to hold, consolidate or provide support services for an election. Requests from districts for any election scenario must be received in the form of an adopted resolution and considered by the Elections Department and brought to the Board of Supervisors. For more information, please contact [email protected].
4899-8584-2272 v1 1
RESOLUTION NO. 25-XXX
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFIC GROVE
DECLARING ACCEPTING THE CERTIFICATION OF SUFFICIENCY OF THE REFERENDUM AGAINST ORDINANCE 25-007 INCREASING THE
COMPENSATION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
1. On May 7, 2025, the Council considered and discussed a potential ordinance increasing the compensation of the Mayor and City Councilmembers and providing medical benefits as available to City Management Employees. The issue of medical benefits was tabled and the Council introduced and held first reading of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Pacific Grove Increasing the Compensation of the Mayor and City Councilmembers.
2. On May 21, 2025, the Council held second reading and adopted an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Pacific Grove Increasing the Compensation of the Mayor and City Councilmembers.
3. Absent the Referendum, Ordinance No. 25-007 would have become effective 30 days after adoption (Friday, June 20, 2025).
4. Article 16 of the City Charter Section 16 states, “The right of initiative and referendum is hereby preserved to the citizens of the City to be exercised in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Constitution and General Laws of this State.”
5. For a Referendum to appear on a ballot, a petition must be submitted within 30 days of Proponent's receipt of the City Attorney's approved Summary of Referendum and be signed by Pacific Grove voters equaling 10% or more of the voter registration last officially reported to the Secretary of State. On February 10, 2025, the County report of City voter registration to the State was 10,601. Ten percent of 10,601 is 1,060.
6. On May 23, 2025, Mr. Coletti presented the City Clerk's Office with a Request for Approved Summary of Referendum Against Ordinance 25-007.
7. On June 5, 2025, City Attorney transmitted an approved Summary of Referendum to the Proponent; commencing the period to circulate petitions on June 5, 2025 and concluding on Julyne 7, 2025.
8. On July 1, 2025, Mr. Coletti submitted the petition. A prima facie count was conducted by the City Clerk's office and it was established that there were 1773 signatures received. At the point the Referendum was accepted, Ordinance 25-007 was suspended pursuant to Elections Code 9237.
9. On July 2, 2025, the Referendum petition was delivered to the Monterey County Elections Department and Registrar of Voters for review of the petition signatures. 4899-8584-2272 v1 2
The City’s instructions to the County requested examination of signatures and certification be accomplished by full check pursuant to Elections Code Section 9114.
10. On August 6, 2025, the Monterey County Registrar of Voters provided the City with its Certificate of Signature Verification resolving that the number of valid signatures on said petition exceeds 10% of the registered voters in the City of Pacific Grove.
11. This action does not constitute a “Project” under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFIC GROVE DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council determines that each Finding set forth above is true and correct, and by this reference incorporates those Findings as an integral part of this Resolution.
SECTION 2. The City Council hereby accepts the City Clerk’s Certification of Sufficiency for the Referendum Against Ordinance No. 25-007, attached hereto as Exhibit A, and Tthe City Clerk hereby is hereby authorized and directed to enter upon the records of this Council sucha Certificate of Signature VerificationSufficiency, attached hereto as Exhibit A.
SECTION 43. This resolution shall take effect immediately following passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFIC GROVE this 20th day of August 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
APPROVED:
____________________________
NICK SMITH, Mayor
ATTEST:
DATED:______________________________
_____________________________________
SANDRA KANDELL, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
4899-8584-2272 v1 3
______________________________
BRIAN PIERIK, City Attorney
CERTIFICATION OF SUFFICIENCY OF
REFERENDUM PETITION AGAINST
ORDINANCE NO. 25-007
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY PACIFIC GROVE,
CALIFORNIA INCREASING THE COMPENSATION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS
I, Sandra Kandell, City Clerk of the City of Pacific Grove, California, do hereby certify:
That on July 1, 2025 proponents submitted to my office a petition for a referendum against Ordinance No. 25-007 "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY PACIFIC
GROVE, CALIFORNIA INCREASING THE COMPENSATION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS”.
That pursuant to Election Code Section 9237, it has been determined that Monterey County Registrar's last official report of registration to the Secretary of State for the City of Pacific Grove was 10, 601 registered voters and that 10% of said registration would require 1060 valid signatures to qualify the referendum petition.
That in accordance with Election Code Section 9210(b), it was determined that said petition contained sufficient signatures to be accepted (prima facie count.) Pursuant to Elections Code Section 9211, petition signatures were examined by the Monterey County Registrar as per Election Code Section 9114, and that Office has determined that 1178 signatures were deemed valid. The signature verification letter from the County dated August 6, 2025 is attached hereto.
Therefore, the referendum petition against Ordinance No. 25-007 submitted by the proponents is deemed to be sufficient.
In accordance with Elections Code Section 9114 I am providing the results of the petition to the City Council.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Pacific Grove this 20th day of August, 2025
_____________________________________________
Sandra Kandell
City Clerk, City of Pacific Grove