CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: June 1, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
TITLE: ADOPT RESOLUTION NO.__-26 CALLING FOR A GENERAL
MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026, FOR
THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS, REQUESTING THE
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO
CONSOLIDATE THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION WITH THE
STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE CONDUCTED ON THAT
SAME DATE, AND SETTING RULES AND DEADLINES FOR
CANDIDATE’S STATEMENTS
SYNOPSIS
The California Government Code and Elections Code authorize a regularly scheduled municipal election to be conducted on November 3, 2026 and for the City Council to request the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors to consolidate this General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election being held on that same date, which permits the County Elections Official to conduct the General Municipal Election for the City of Pleasant Hill on a reimbursable basis.
The California Elections Code also permits the City Council to set forth requirements for candidate’s statements to be filed with the City Clerk. The attached Resolution provides for the above listed actions.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Pleasant Hill Municipal Code Sections 2.55.010 and 2.55.160 and the California Elections Code 1000(e) and Government Code, Section 36503 authorize a General Municipal Election to be conducted in the City of Pleasant Hill on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the election of two (2) members of the City Council to represent Electoral Districts 3 and 4 for the full term of four (4) years.
Sections 10403 and 10418 of the California Elections Code authorize the City Council to request the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to consolidate the General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election being held on the same date, thereby permitting the County Elections Official to conduct the General Municipal Election for the City on a reimbursable basis.
The County of Contra Costa has the resources to conduct an election for all local municipalities and special districts in the most cost-effective manner and has routinely provided the City with this service.
California Elections Code Sections 13307 and 13308, provide that the governing body of the local agency adopt regulations pertaining to materials prepared by any candidate for a municipal election. Therefore, candidates for each office will be entitled to prepare and file a candidate’s statement with the City Clerk including the candidate’s name, age, and occupation and a brief description, of no more than 250 words, of the candidate’s own education and qualifications for office expressed by the candidate. Such statement shall not include party affiliation of the candidate or membership or activity in partisan political organizations.
In the 2024 General election, if a candidate chose to have a Candidate’s Statement printed in the Voter Information Guide, best practice (and the practice of most other local cities) was to collect the entire cost for the statement at the time of filing. The County will provide the Candidate’s Statement cost before the nomination period begins; candidates will be informed of the cost when they pull nomination papers from the City Clerk.
The County also requires each City to confirm how tie votes will be determined. Otherwise, the Council must adopt the provisions of Elections Code 15651(b), which requires a special runoff election to be held in the event of a tie vote.
Analysis
Staff recommends the Council authorize the collection of the entire Candidate’s Statement cost from the candidate at the time of filing. Due to the cost and expertise required to conduct a special runoff election, most local cities use the lot method to resolve tie votes, which is the method staff is recommending.
The terms of two City Council members will expire upon the certification of the November 3, 2026, election, leaving two City Council seats up for election, representing Electoral Districts 3 and 4, each for a four-year term.
The attached “omnibus” resolution performs three functions: (i) officially calls the General Municipal Election for November 3, 2026, (ii) requests consolidation of the City’s General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election being held on the same date, thereby authorizing the County to conduct the election for the City and (iii) sets rules and deadlines for candidate’s statements filed in this Election, all pursuant to the California Elections Code.
The filing timeline for candidates and incumbents is as follows:
July 13 - August 7: Nomination Filing Period: Candidates (including incumbents) must pick up and file nomination papers and all required and optional documents from the City Clerk’s Office during this period. If they so choose, candidates must also file their candidate’s statement at the same time they file their nomination papers. August 12: Extended Filing Deadline: If an incumbent eligible to be re-elected does not file by August 7, the deadline for non-incumbents to file is extended to August 12.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Contra Costa County Registrar of Voters has tentatively estimated the cost of this election to be between $2.75 and $4.00 per registered voter. The average per-voter cost is based on the number of agencies participating in the consolidated election. Each agency’s specific share is calculated by the County Elections Office, based on the number of its registered voters and the number of offices and measures on the ballot. Pleasant Hill currently has 5,144 registered voters in District 3 and 5,441 registered voters in District 4. The City has budgeted $20,500 in the general fund, pending adoption of the Biennial Budget for fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028, to cover the cost of this election.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public Contact was made through posting of the City Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, and at the Pleasant Hill Police Department. The agenda and staff report are posted on the City’s web page.
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Move to adopt the Resolution calling the General Municipal Election, requesting consolidation with the Statewide Election being held on the same date, and Setting Forth Regulations for Candidate’s Statements.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Increase the Candidate’s Statement word count to an amount between 251 and 400 words at an increased (doubled) cost to the candidates.
2. Choose a Candidate’s Statement deposit amount in lieu of collecting the entire amount
ATTACHMENT(S)
Proposed Resolution
Prepared by: Lyone Conner, City Clerk and Janet Coleson, City Attorney Approved by: Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager