NOT YET APPROVED
159_20250527_ts24 1
Resolution No. _____
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto
Requesting Election Consolidation and Election Services for a Ballot Measure to Impose a Local Transactions and Use Tax at a Rate of 0.5%
R E
C I T A L S
A. T
he City Council, by Ordinance No. ______ , adopted at the same time as this companion resolution, formally called an election for the submission of a ballot measure to the voters of Palo Alto to impose a transactions and use tax at a rate of 0.5% for the November 3, 2026 election.
B. To
the extent a resolution is required by Elections Code sections 10002 and 10403, the City Council hereby requests consolidation of the ballot measure described above with the statewide election on November 3, 2026 and related elections services from the County of Santa Clara.
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto resolves as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings. The City Council adopts each of the findings set forth above.
S
ECTION 2. Measure. The exact form of the question shall be as follows:
City of Palo Alto Community Safety/Services Measure. To provide general city services including repairing Cubberley Community Center for current safety, earthquake,
accessibility standards; upgrading deteriorating electrical systems, wiring, plumbing; acquiring outdoor space/sites; maintaining streets, safe, clean downtown/commercial
cores; preparing for natural disasters; repairing
deteriorating community spaces, libraries, shall City of Palo Alto’s measure enacting a 0.5% (1/2¢) sales tax,
providing approximately $15,600,000 annually until ended by voters, with published financial audits, all funds used locally, be adopted?
YES
NO
T
his question requires the approval of a majority of those casting votes.
S
ECTION 3. Consolidation Request (Elections Code § 10403). The Council of the City of Palo Alto requests that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara permit the Registrar of Voters to completely consolidate the City’s Municipal Elections for November 3, 2026 and the City Council consents to such consolidation. The Council requests the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County to include on the ballots and sample ballots, all qualified measures submitted by the City Council to be considered by the qualified electors of the City of Palo Alto. The Council acknowledges that the E lection will be held and conducted according to
2 procedures in the Elections Code, including Section 10418.
SECTION 4. Request for County Services (Elections Code § 10002 and 10400 et seq.).
Pursuant to Section 10002 of the Elections Code, the Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby requests the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County to permit the Registrar of Voters to render services to the City of Palo Alto relating to the conduct of P alo Alto’s Municipal Elections which are called to be held on November 3 , 2026, and shall reimburse the county for the costs incurred by the County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters in conducting the election for the City of Palo Alto. The services shall be of the type normally performed by the Registrar of Voters in assisting the clerks of municipalities in the conduct of elections including, but not limited to, checking registrations, mailing ballots, hiring election officers and arranging for polling places, receiving absentee voter ballot applications, mailing and receiving absent voter ballots and opening and counting same, providing and distributing election supplies, and furnishing voting machines, the canvassing of the returns of the election, the furnishing of the results of such canvassing to the City Clerk, and, the performance of other election services as may be requested by the City Clerk. The City requests the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors permit the County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters to prepare the City’s election materials.
SECTION 5. Environmental Review. This ballot measure is not a project under CEQA regulation 15378(b)(4) because it creates a government funding mechanism which does not involve a commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
SECTION 6. No Conflicting Interpretations . This Resolution is intended to be a companion to Ordinance No. _______ to fulfill any legal requirement that the requests for consolidation, for election services, and the ballot question be contained in a resolution. This Resolution shall not be interpreted to conflict with Ordinance No. ______.
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3 SECTION 7. Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect upon adoption.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSENTIONS:
ATTEST:
__________________________ _____________________________ City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
__________________________ _____________________________ Assistant City Attorney City Manager