ATTACHMENT NO. 1ATTACHMENT NO. 1RESOLUTION NO. 2026-22
ATTACHMENT NO. 1
ATTACHMENT NO. 1
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF POMONA A BALLOT MEASURE REPEALING CHAPTER XVIII OF THE POMONA CITY CHARTER AND ADDING CHAPTER 3 TO THE POMONA MUNICIPAL CODE, TO AMEND THE POMONA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH ACT (MEASURE “Y”), AT THE MUNICIPAL PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2026; TO BE CONSOLIDATED WITH THE STATEWIDE PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD JUNE 2, 2026; DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED MEASURE AND PROVIDING FOR THE FILING OF PRIMARY AND REBUTTAL ARGUMENTS AND SETTING RULES FOR THE FILING OF WRITTEN ARGUMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MEASURE.
WHEREAS, at the November 5, 2024 General Municipal Election, Pomona voters approved a Charter amendment called Measure “Y”, also known as the “Pomona Fund for Children and Youth Act”, which added Article XVIII to the Pomona City Charter to require up to ten percent (10%) of the City’s annual unrestricted general purpose revenues be allocated to children and youth programs and services, and establishing a City Department of Children and Youth to administer said revenues, programs and services (“Measure Y”); and WHEREAS, according to City reports and projections, the funding mechanism and governance structure established by Measure Y present long-term structural financial challenges to the City’s ability to maintain City services for its residents; and WHEREAS, through the attached Measure, the City wishes to amend the Measure Y funding mechanism and governance structure to better provide long-term support to those initiatives adopted through Measure Y while maintaining City services to residents; and WHEREAS, on December 1, 2025, the City Council, by a 7-0 vote, directed staff to prepare the attached Measure for voter consideration at a future election, for the purposes above; and WHEREAS, during the months of January and February, the City held seven informational community meetings to inform and educate the public about the purpose and operation of the attached Measure; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to submit to the voters a combined City Charter amendment and voter-approved ordinance which would both repeal Article XVIII of the City Charter and enact similar Measure Y regulations in a new Chapter 3 added to the Pomona Municipal Code, to allocate ten percent (10%) of the City’s Bradley-Burns Local Sales and Use Tax revenues to children and youth programs and services, rather than a percentage of the City’s unrestricted General Fund revenues, and to simplify and streamline the administrative process to fund children and youth programs in the City; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Pomona City Charter §903, the provisions of the California Elections Code shall govern local elections, insofar as such provisions are not in conflict with the Charter or ordinance; and WHEREAS, pursuant to California Elections Code §9222, the City Council has authority to place City ordinance measures on the ballot to be considered at any succeeding regular or special election occurring not less than 88 days after the date of the order of the election; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Pomona City Charter §1601(b), California Elections Code §§1415 and 9255 and Government Code §34458, the City Council has authority, by a five-sevenths (5/7) vote of its total membership, to place City Charter amendment measures on the ballot to be considered at (i) the City’s next regularly scheduled general municipal election, or (ii) at any established statewide general or primary election, occurring not less than 88 days after the date of the order of election; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to place the Measure on the ballot to be considered by Pomona voters at the Municipal Primary Election which will coincide with the Statewide Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026; and WHEREAS, California Constitution, Article XI, Section 3, requires that, to be effective, any charter amendment must be approved by a majority of City voters voting at an election called for that purpose; and WHEREAS, California Elections Code §9222 likewise requires that, to be effective, any ordinance submitted to the voters must be approved by a majority of City voters voting at an election called for that purpose; and WHEREAS, the specific terms of the Measure are attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and by this reference made an operative part hereof, and in accordance with all applicable laws; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to consolidate the Municipal Primary Election for the Measure described herein with the Statewide Primary Election to be held on June 2, 2026; and WHEREAS, the City Council further desires to set deadlines and rules for primary and rebuttal arguments for and against the Measure.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Recitals. The City Council of the City hereby finds and determines that the foregoing recitals are true and correct, are incorporated herein and by this reference made an operative part hereof.
SECTION 2. Submission of Ballot Measure. The City Council of the City, pursuant to its right and authority as contained in California Constitution, Art. XI, Section 3, Pomona City Charter Section 1601, California Government Code, Sections 34450 et. seq., and California Elections Code, Sections 1415, 9222 and 9255, and any other applicable requirements of the laws of the State of California relating to charter cities, by a five/sevenths (5/7) vote, hereby calls and orders to be held a Municipal Primary Election in the City of Pomona to be consolidated with the Statewide Primary Election on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, for the purpose of submitting to a vote of the qualified electors of the City of Pomona the proposed Measure, which shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit “A” to this Resolution and is incorporated by this reference as if fully set forth herein.
SECTION 3. Ballot Question. The City Council, pursuant to its right and authority, does hereby order that the ballot question for the Measure shall be presented and printed upon the ballot submitted to the qualified voters in the manner and form set forth in this Section 3. On the ballot to be submitted to the qualified voters at the election to be held at the Municipal Primary Election on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in addition to any other matters required by law, there shall be printed substantially the following:
“POMONA KIDS FIRST FUNDING AMENDMENT: Shall the measure to amend the City Charter and adopt an ordinance amending the funding for the “Pomona Children and Youth Fund” Initiative (Measure Y) to provide guaranteed, measurable funding at 10% of the City’s Bradley-Burns Local Sales and Use Tax rather than a percentage of the City’s General Fund, and updating procedures to administer the Fund under the Act, be adopted?” YES
NO
SECTION 4. Election Procedures.
A. Request for Consolidation. Pursuant to the requirements of §10403 of the Elections Code, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles is hereby requested to consent and agree to the consolidation of a Municipal Primary Election with the Statewide Primary Election on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, for the purpose of submitting to the voters the Measure.
B. Necessary Steps. The Board of Supervisors is requested to issue instructions to the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters/Elections Official to take any and all steps necessary for the holding of the consolidated election.
C. Canvass of Returns. The Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters/Elections Official is authorized to canvass the returns and perform all other proceedings incidental to and connected with the Municipal Primary Election for the Measure. The Election shall be held in all respects as if there were only one election, and only one form of ballot shall be used. Pursuant to California Elections Code Sections 10403 and 10418, the election will be held and conducted in accordance with the provisions of law regulating the Statewide Primary Election.
D. Costs. The City Council determines and declares that the City will pay to the County the reasonable and actual expenses incurred by the County by the consolidation of the Municipal Primary Election with the Statewide Primary Election. The City shall reimburse the County for services performed when the work is completed and upon presentation to the City of a properly approved bill.
E. Form of Ballot. The ballots to be used at the election shall be in the form and content as required by law.
F. City Clerk Authorized to Coordinate with County. The City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed, in coordination with the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters/Elections Official, to procure and furnish any and all official ballots, notices, printed matter and all supplies, equipment and paraphernalia that may be necessary in order to properly and lawfully conduct the election.
G. Opening and Operation of Polls, Vote Centers, Etc. The polls, vote centers and/or vote-by-mail drop-off boxes shall be open and the procedures for submitting votes-by-mail or votes at polls and vote centers shall be in accordance with those times and procedures established by the County of Los Angeles, except as otherwise provided in the Elections Code of the State of California.
H. Election to Follow Applicable Law. In all particulars not recited in this Resolution, the election shall be held and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections in the City.
I. Notice of Election. Notice of the time and place of holding the election is given and the City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to give further or additional notice of the election, in time, form, and manner as required by law.
J. Tallying of Ballots. All ballots shall be tallied at a central counting place and not at the precincts. Said central counting place shall be at a County center as designated by the Registrar of Voters.
K. Receipt of Election Results. The City Clerk of the City of Pomona shall receive the canvass as it pertains to the election on the Measure, and shall certify the results to the City Council, as required by law.
SECTION 5. Direct Arguments and City Attorney’s Analysis.
The City Council authorizes (i) the City Council or any member(s) of the City Council, (ii) any individual voter eligible to vote on the above Measure, (iii) a bona fide association of such citizens or (iv) any combination of voters and associations, to file a written argument in favor of or against the Measure, in accordance with Article 4, Chapter 3, Division 9 of the Elections Code of the State of California and may change the argument until and including March 13, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. after which no arguments for or against the Measure may be submitted to the City Clerk. Arguments in favor of or against the Measure shall each not exceed 300 words in length. Each argument shall be filed with the City Clerk, signed, and include the printed name(s) and signature(s) of the author(s) submitting it, or if submitted on behalf of an organization, the name of the organization, and the printed name and signature of at least one of its principal officers who is the author of the argument.
The City Clerk shall comply with all provisions of law establishing priority of arguments for printing and distribution to the voters, and shall take all necessary actions to cause the selected arguments to be printed and distributed to the voters.
Pursuant to Section 9280 of the Elections Code, the City Council directs the City Clerk to transmit a copy of the Charter Amendment to the City Attorney. The City Attorney shall prepare an impartial analysis of the Measure, not to exceed 500 words in length, showing the effect of the Measure on the existing law and the operation of the Measure. The City Attorney shall transmit such impartial analysis to the City Clerk, who shall cause the analysis to be published in the voter information guide along with the Measure as provided by law. The Impartial Analysis shall be filed by the deadline set for filing of primary arguments as set forth in subsection (A) above. The impartial analysis shall include a statement indicating whether the Measure was placed on the ballot by a petition signed by the requisite number of voters or by the City Council. In the event the entire text of the Measure is not printed on the ballot, nor in the voter information portion of the sample ballot, there shall be printed immediately below the Impartial Analysis, in no less than 10-font bold type, the following: “The above statement is an Impartial Analysis of Measure ____. If you desire a copy of the Measure, please call the election official’s office at (909) 620-2311 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.” SECTION 6. Rebuttals.
A. That pursuant to Section 9285 of the Elections Code of the State of California, when the Clerk has selected the arguments for and against the Measure which will be printed and distributed to the voters, the Clerk shall send copies of the argument in favor of the Measure to the authors of the argument against, and copies of the argument against to the authors of the argument in favor. The authors or persons designated by them may prepare and submit rebuttal arguments not exceeding 250 words. The rebuttal arguments shall be filed with the City Clerk not later than March 23, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Rebuttal arguments shall be printed in the same manner as the direct arguments. Each rebuttal argument shall immediately follow the direct argument which it seeks to rebut.
B. That the provisions herein shall apply only to the election to be held on June 2, 2026.
SECTION 7. Notice of Election. Notice of the election is hereby given and the City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to give further or additional notice of the election, in time, form and manner as required by law.
SECTION 8. Placement on the Ballot. The full text of the Measure shall not be printed in the voter information guide, and a statement shall be printed on the ballot pursuant to Elections Code section 9223 advising voters that they may obtain a copy of this Resolution and the Measure, at no cost, upon request made to the City Clerk.
SECTION 9. Filing with County. The City Clerk shall, not later than the 88th day prior to the Municipal Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, file with the Board of Supervisors and the County Registrar of Voters of the County of Los Angeles, State of California, a certified copy of this Resolution.
SECTION 9. Public Examination. Pursuant to Elections Code section 9295, this Measure will be available for public examination for no fewer than ten (10) calendar days prior to being submitted for printing in the voter information guide. The City Clerk shall post notice in the Clerk’s office of the specific dates that the examination period will run.
SECTION 10. CEQA. The City Council hereby finds and determines that the ballot measure relates to organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore is not a project within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) and the State CEQA Guidelines, section 15378(b)(5).
SECTION 11. Severability. The provisions of this Resolution are severable and if any provision of this Resolution is held invalid, that provision shall be severed from the Resolution and the remainder of this Resolution shall continue in full force and effect, and not be affected by such invalidity.
SECTION 12. Effective Date of Resolution. This Resolution shall become effective upon its adoption.
SECTION 13. Certification of Resolution. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
APPROVED and ADOPTED by the City Council and signed by the Mayor and attested by the City Clerk this 23rd day of February, 2026. ______________________________________
Tim Sandoval, Mayor
City of Pomona
Attest:
___________________________________
Rosalia Butler, CMC, City Clerk
Approved as to form:
___________________________________
Sonia Carvalho, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF POMONA )
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution No. 2026-22 was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Pomona at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 23rd day of February, 2026, by the following vote of Council:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS:
___________________________________
City Clerk
EXHIBIT “A”
CHARTER AMENDMENT AND VOTER-APPROVED ORDINANCE
REPEALING CHAPTER XVIII OF THE POMONA CITY CHARTER AND ADDING CHAPTER 3 TO THE POMONA MUNICIPAL CODE, TO AMEND THE POMONA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH ACT (MEASURE “Y”) [attached behind this page]
MEASURE ____
ORDINANCE NO. _______
A CHARTER AMENDMENT AND ORDINANCE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, REPEALING CHAPTER XVIII OF THE POMONA CITY CHARTER AND ADDING CHAPTER 3 TO THE POMONA MUNICIPAL CODE, TO AMEND THE POMONA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH ACT (MEASURE “Y”) Subject to the approval of a majority of the voters of the City of Pomona at the scheduled election so designated by City Council resolution placing the proposal on the ballot for such election:
THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF POMONA DO HEREBY AMEND THE CITY CHARTER AND ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: REPEAL OF ARTICLE XVIII OF CITY CHARTER.
Article XVIII of the Pomona City Charter titled "Pomona Fund for Children and Youth" is hereby repealed.
SECTION 2: AMENDMENTS TO MUNICIPAL CODE.
Chapter 3 is hereby added to the Pomona Municipal Code, and shall read as follows:
“CHAPTER 3 – POMONA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Article I. – Pomona Fund for Children and Youth
Sec. 3-1. – Fund. Beginning January 1, 2025, there is hereby established in the treasury of the City of Pomona (the "City") a special fund to expand children's services in the City, which shall be called the Pomona Fund for Children and Youth (the "Children and Youth Fund"). The Children and Youth Fund shall be maintained separate and apart from all other City funds and shall be appropriated annually at the time of the City's budget adoption, and by supplemental appropriation, when necessary as determined by the City Council.
Sec. 3-2. – Amount and Source of Funding. The City shall set aside a minimum of ten percent (10%) of the annual actual revenues generated and received by the City from Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Taxes, pursuant to Article II, Chapter 50 (Sections 50-31 through 50-44) of the Pomona Municipal Code, to be transferred to the Children and Youth Fund, for the express purpose of establishing and supporting the infrastructure of the Children and Youth Fund and the Department of Children and Youth, as described in Section 3-6, including the development of the Strategic Investment Plan, as described in Section 3-9. This set aside shall not include a percentage of any revenues generated and received by the City from Local Transactions and Use Taxes, pursuant to Article VII, Chapter 50 (Sections 50-601 through 50-653) of the Pomona Municipal Code, or from any future transactions and use taxes that are enacted in the City.
Sec. 3-3. - Goals. The goals of expenditures from the Children and Youth Fund seek:
(a) To ensure that Pomona's children, youth and young adults are physically, emotionally, mentally and socially healthy, educated, successful in school, and live in stable, safe and supported families and communities; (b) To increase safety for children, youth, young adults, their parents/guardians, families and the communities in which they live by preventing problems and enhancing the strengths of children, youth, young adults and their families using harm reduction strategies that reflect specific individual and community needs, community care models, and alternatives to policing; (c) To ensure young people, and especially Latinx, Black, Indigenous, and youth of color, queer, transgender, and non-binary youth, and youth with physical, mental, intellectual and/or sensory disabilities are provided with gender responsive, trauma-informed, population-specific and culturally-competent services; (d) To strengthen collaboration among public agencies and community-based organizations around shared outcomes among all service providers for children, youth, young adults and their parents/guardians; (e) To ensure an equitable distribution and direct community investment of resources to all of Pomona's young people in recognition of the importance of investment in their futures from birth through young adulthood; (f) To fill gaps in services and leverage other resources whenever feasible.
Sec. 3-4. – Eligible Uses.
(a) The City shall use monies from the Children and Youth Fund for no cost or low cost services provided to children and youth from birth to 18 years old and their caregivers, and, as defined in Section 3-4(b), disconnected transitional-aged youth from ages 18 to 24 years and, when relevant, their caregivers, or as part of programs that predominantly serve children, youth and disconnected transitional-aged young adults within those ages and their caregivers, including:
(1) Violence Prevention and Response: including restorative and transformative justice; programs that support positive communication and relationships between young people and within families; programs that train young people, adult allies and parents/guardians in de-escalation; programs that address domestic and sexual violence, including child abuse prevention; emergency relocation; programs that address homophobia, transphobia, bullying, and xenophobia. (2) Alternatives to Incarceration: including pre-arrest diversion, prevention, and re-entry programs for transitional aged youth and family members that live in a home with an eligible youth, substance use disorder services; and preventing and responding to police violence against children, youth, young adults and their caregivers. (3) Education, Job Training, and Jobs: including programs that help youth stay in school; promote academic success and college and career readiness; language services; support parents/guardians in advocating for their young people's education; assist in developing life skills and gaining work experience; provide job fairs and job training, placement, expungement services, youth employment, and youth employment know your rights workshops and job opportunities. (4) Parent/Guardian Support: including domestic violence services and co-responder models, support services for single parent/guardian led households, family strengthening programs, fostering positive child-adult and youth-adult relationships that support young people's safety, self-esteem, well-being and positive futures; childcare and family support services. (5) Media, Arts, Culture and Technology: including artistic and cultural expression and education, job and life skills development, and after school arts programs. (6) Youth and Family Leadership, Organizing and Civic Engagement: including community organizing and support that amplify the voices and engagement of children, youth and family in how Pomona prioritizes its resources; builds youth civic engagement and leadership. (7) Health and Well-Being: including physical, mental, emotional, behavioral and social health services that support health and well-being for people with disabilities and non-disabled people, reduce drug-related harm, violence and self-harm, and sexual violence and/or abuse; food security programs. (8) Environmental Health and Justice: including programs that improve the environmental health of children and youth and their right to live free of pollution, toxins and lead, and increase access to healthy food, safe and accessible outdoor and recreational spaces and other places to be physically active, with a special focus on the Pomona Industrial Zone. (9) Outdoor Education and Recreation: including sports, recreation centers, play, camps, gardening and urban agriculture; including no cost recreation programs. (10) Deportation and Immigrant Support: support for young people and their families experiencing or being threatened with deportation; legal services, and empower immigrant community members through economic, political, and social development and sustainability. (11) Housing Support: support for young people and their families experiencing or being threatened with eviction or housing insecurities; provide direct housing assistance in collaboration with the Pomona Housing Authority and relevant Pomona unhoused people programs and Pomona Housing Services for youth and disconnected transitional-aged youth; which could include developing and maintaining at least one unhoused youth shelter within the City. (b) The Children and Youth Fund will prioritize three groups of young people living in Pomona: children ages 0 to 12; youth ages 13 to 17; and Disconnected Transitional-Aged Youth ages 18 to 24, who are most impacted by harm, inequity and lack of access to support and services. The priority populations include but are not limited to: Latinx, Black, Indigenous, and youth of color, system-impacted young people; young people who have been pushed out of school; young people who themselves or whose families are unhoused or threatened by houselessness; young people living in poverty; immigrant and undocumented children, youth and families; LGBTQIA+ youth and families; teen parents and families, including single parents/guardians, especially single mothers; young people with poor physical, mental, emotional and behavioral health outcomes and disabilities; and families with children and youth who are impacted by the criminal justice system and/or who have family members who are incarcerated; and/or are involved in or transitioning from the foster care, juvenile justice, criminal justice or special education systems. (c) Entities eligible to receive funding shall be public agencies and non-profit community-based organizations, including organizations with a non-profit fiscal agent, that serve children, youth and disconnected transitional-aged young adults. In any fiscal year, public agencies shall not receive, in total, more than 20% of the funding awarded to applicants. (d) Each fiscal year, a portion of the Children and Youth Fund may be used for costs related to administering the Fund, including staff support, basic infrastructure, administrative support for the agencies administering the contracts, and overhead costs. An additional portion of the Fund may also be used to evaluate the results of how the Fund is used. (e) Entities eligible to receive funding include those (1) located outside but in close proximity to Pomona to the extent that those entities serve children, youth and disconnected transitional-aged young adults who reside in Pomona, and (2) located in Pomona that serve children, youth and disconnected transitional-aged young adults in Pomona, regardless of the residence of the children or youth.
Sec. 3-5. – Ineligible Uses. The Children and Youth Fund shall not fund the following services or types of expenditures:
(a) Services are not to be used by the carceral system, including but not limited to the following non-exhaustive list of agencies: the Pomona Police Department, or other law enforcement agencies, courts, the District Attorney, Public Defender, City Attorney; or the Fire Department; private and/or public detention or probation services mandated by state or federal law; (b) Any service that primarily benefits adults over 24 years; (c) Any service for which a fixed or minimum level of expenditure is mandated by state or federal law, to the extent of the fixed or minimum level of expenditure; (d) Income supports that supplant state or federal benefits or post-secondary tuition assistance; (e) Administration of other funds.
Sec. 3-6. – Creation of Department of Children and Youth. The City shall establish a Department of Children and Youth (DCY). The Office shall operate under the City Manager. The Accountability Board for the Children and Youth Fund, described in Section 3-8, shall oversee, monitor, and advise the Department. The Department shall be staffed by a Department Director who is hired and evaluated by the City, and who is an employee of the City. Other staff shall be hired by the Department Director as needed to perform the functions of the Department. The Office shall be entirely funded through the Children and Youth Fund.
Sec. 3-7. – Roles and Responsibilities of Department of Children and Youth. (a) Administer the Children and Youth Fund — The primary function of the Department shall be to oversee the implementation of the Children and Youth Fund and ensure that the Children and Youth Fund meets the goals and requirements outlined in this Article. (b) In addition to overseeing and administering the Children and Youth Fund, the Department shall provide leadership to the City on matters related to the health and well-being of children and youth and shall ensure that children and youth remain a priority for the City, by:
(1) Monitoring the health, safety and access to equal opportunity of the children and youth of Pomona and reporting findings to the public and civic leaders. (2) Promoting collaboration among public and private city agencies, including schools, to improve outcomes and ensure equity for children and youth. (3) Raising and leveraging public and private resources for services and opportunities for Pomona's children and youth. (4) Promoting youth voices in Pomona's civic life, including providing support to the Pomona Youth Commission. (5) Recommending and advocating policies that will promote equity and the well-being of children and youth. (6) A Youth and Family Impact section shall be incorporated as part of every City Council agenda to ensure elected officials take into account the potential impact of agenda items on the overall health and wellbeing of Pomona youth and families. (c) In furtherance of the objectives established in section (b), the Department of Children and Youth shall annually place an item on the Accountability Board agenda to review and provide input on a minimum of $6 million of the City’s direct youth programming expenditures. This agenda item will include participation from City staff representing Operating Departments that provide direct programming for children and youth, as outlined within the City’s annual operating budget. Department representatives will present their proposed youth expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year and solicit input from the Accountability Board and the community. This input will be incorporated into the Annual City Budget Study Session presentation for consideration by the city council. The City Council will have the discretion to recommend changes to be included in the final adopted budget. (1) This shall not replace, limit, or otherwise modify any advisory, public hearing, or budget review processes required by federal, state, local, or grant-specific law for other funding sources, including but not limited to special revenue funds, restricted funds, enterprise funds, or externally funded grant programs.
Sec. 3-8. – Administration and Accountability. The Children and Youth Fund shall be administered by staff in a City Department of Children and Youth, as described in sections 3-6 and 3-7, within the City Manager's office. Oversight of the Children and Youth Fund shall be provided by a fifteen-member Pomona Fund for Children and Youth Accountability Board (the "Accountability Board") that shall be composed as follows:
(a) Each member of the Pomona City Council shall appoint one City resident who is over 24 years of age as a member and one City resident between 15 to 24 years of age as a member. The Mayor shall appoint one additional City resident between 15 to 24 years of age as member. (b) The Mayor and City Council members shall coordinate their appointments within their respective districts so that the members of the Accountability Board be reflective of Pomona's diverse communities, including but not limited to low-income youth of color, LGBTQIA+ youth and systems impacted youth. (c) The Accountability Board shall have the following responsibilities, powers, and functions:
(1) The role of the Accountability Board will be to provide input on written policies regarding the Children and Youth Fund, monitor the Children and Youth Fund, ensure that the Children and Youth Fund is managed in a manner accountable to the community, and ensure the highest standards of care and transparency. (2) Responsibilities of the Accountability Board shall be:
(i) Strategic planning: (a) providing input on an initial Strategic Investment Plan as described under Section 3-9, and (b) providing input on updating the Strategic Investment Plan every three years. (ii) Reviewing applications for funding from the Children and Youth Fund through a transparent and fair application process, as developed and implemented by the Department Director and Accountability Board. (iii) Recommending to the City Council a list of grants to be awarded for each funding cycle. (iv) Facilitating an annual evaluation: working with the Department Director and a third-party, external independent evaluator to identify relevant evaluation measures and ensure that programs funded through the Children and Youth Fund are impactful and meet established outcomes. Evaluation reports shall be provided to the City Council and the Mayor's office and made available to the public. (v) Reviewing financial reports and audits to confirm that spending from the Children and Youth Fund is consistent with all provisions of this Article, and that the funds are being managed responsibly. (3) The Accountability Board shall adopt rules and regulations to govern its procedures, which shall, among other things, include the manner of calling and giving notices of meetings. The Accountability Board shall meet a minimum of six times per year. Its meetings shall be open to the public and subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act open meetings law. A majority of the regular members shall constitute a quorum. Minutes of the meetings shall be filed with the city clerk. (4) The Accountability Board shall be responsible for reporting to the public the services and outcomes supported by the Children and Youth Fund. (d) The Accountability Board members serve two-year terms, provided that members under age 24 may serve a one-year term. There shall be no limitation on the number of consecutive terms served. The terms of the initial appointees to the Accountability Board shall commence on the date of the first meeting of the Accountability Board, which may occur when at least ten members have been appointed and are present. (e) If a vacancy occurs during the term of office of any Accountability Board member, the appointing authority shall appoint a successor to complete the unexpired term in the same manner as the selection of the initial member. (f) In order to provide for staggered terms, eight members shall be chosen by lot, from among those able to serve for two years, to serve for an initial term of two years, with the remaining members to serve for an initial term of one year. Except for appointments to fill a vacancy, all subsequent appointments shall be for a term of two years, provided that members under age 24 may serve a one year term. (g) Accountability Board members shall not be a paid employee of an organization funded from the Children and Youth Fund or applying for funding from the Children and Youth Fund.
Sec. 3-9. – Strategic Investment Plan. The City may establish a Strategic Investment Plan setting forth funding priorities for a three-year period, and may set forth a plan for overseeing and evaluating the Children and Youth Fund and the programs supported by the Children and Youth Fund. The Department of Children and Youth shall work with the Accountability Board to complete the Strategic Investment Plan and conduct a community needs assessment. (a) During every third fiscal year beginning with Fiscal Year 2026-2027, the Department of Children and Youth (DCY) shall conduct a Community Needs Assessment (CNA) to identify services to receive monies from the Children and Youth Fund. The CNA should include qualitative and quantitative data sets collected through interviews, focus groups, surveys, or other outreach mechanisms to determine service gaps in programming for children, youth, and families. Subject to the budgetary and fiscal provisions of the Charter, the DCY may contract with consultants and outside experts for such services as the department may require to prepare the CNA. The DCY shall undertake a robust community process in every council district, soliciting input from a diverse cross-section of parents, youth, non-profit organizations, and other key stakeholders to develop the CNA. (1) The CNA shall include an equity analysis of services and resources for parents, children, and youth. The DCY shall develop a set of equity metrics to be used to establish a baseline of existing services and resources in low-income neighborhoods and disadvantaged communities, compared to services and resources available in the City as a whole. The outreach for the CNA shall create opportunities for parents, youth, nonprofit agencies, and other members of the public to provide input. The DCY shall provide its plan for conducting the CNA to the Accountability Board. The plan shall be a public document. (2) The DCY shall complete a draft CNA and provide this draft to the Accountability Board for review. (3) The DCY shall submit a final version of the CNA to the Accountability Board. The final version may incorporate any comments or suggestions made by the public or by the agencies that received copies of the draft CNA. (4) The Accountability Board shall provide input on, approve or disapprove the CNA. If the Accountability Board disapproves the report, DCY may modify and resubmit the report. (b) The community needs assessment shall consist of a public hearing and involve community-based organizations and community members to gather input on the service needs of various populations and review funding priorities. (c) Each new funding cycle (every three years), and beginning with Fiscal Year 2026-2027, the CNA shall be followed by a budgeting process. This process shall include a series of budget meetings to provide the opportunity for community members, experts, and volunteers to collectively brainstorm funding ideas and develop project proposals for the three-year funding period. A diligent community outreach shall be executed to ensure community members, experts, and volunteers accurately represent the City's demographic. After four weeks of collaboration, volunteers shall share the top projects/funding priorities at 2 final community hearings, one in-person and one virtual hearing, where the community shall vote on their preferred proposal that will be recommended to the Department of Children and Youth and the Accountability Board. Both the in-person and virtual community hearings must have translation available and release the hearing agenda 72 hours in advance. The virtual community hearing must have an option to submit electronic votes for the community to share their preferred proposal. This process shall repeat for the next funding cycle. (d) The funding priorities in the Strategic Investment Plan shall be based on the community needs assessment and take into consideration the project/projects with the most votes from the final community hearing. (e) The initial Strategic Investment Plan shall be approved by a majority of the Accountability Board and presented to the City Council for its review and approval. (f) Any change in an approved Strategic Investment Plan shall be based on the community needs assessment and input from the community.
Sec. 3-10. – Application Process. In order to ensure a stable, fair and effective service delivery system, the Children and Youth Fund shall be implemented as follows:
(a) There shall be three-year planning and funding cycles, with funding beginning in the 2026-27 fiscal year. (b) Funds shall be allocated through an open and fair application process administered by the Department of Children and Youth in the City Manager's office in compliance with the applicable policies. (c) Recommendations for a list of grants to be awarded shall be made by the Accountability Board to the City Council. The City Council shall review and consider the recommendations of the Accountability Board. The City Council may reject the recommendations only if it determines that one or more recommendations are inconsistent with this Article or the priorities identified in the Strategic Investment Plan. The City Council shall accept or reject the Accountability Board's recommendations in their entirety and may not partially accept or partially reject the recommendations. (d) In the event the City Council rejects the list of grants proposed by the Accountability Board, it shall set forth its rationale for such rejection and recommend revisions to the Accountability Board for its consideration and action. (e) The City Council shall review and consider the amended recommendations of the Accountability Board, provide final approval of the list of grants to be awarded, and appropriate all necessary monies from the Children and Youth Fund. All grants and appropriations shall be consistent with the provisions of this Article and the Strategic Investment Plan. Any recommendations that have been denied can be amended and brought back to the City Council for a second and final review.
Sec. 3-11. – Amendment of Article. Sections 3-1 through 3-5 of this Article may not be amended except by majority approval of Pomona voters voting at a duly called regular or special municipal election. The City Council may, by duly enacted Council ordinance, amend any other Section of this Article.
SECTION 3: APPROVAL, FILING AND RECORDATION OF CHARTER AMENDMENT.
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 34460, if approved by a majority of voters, the Mayor and City Clerk shall certify, authenticate and attest to the passage of this Charter Amendment/Measure. The City Clerk shall also (i) record one copy of this Charter Amendment/Measure with the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office, (ii) file one copy in the City’s archives and (iii) file one copy with the California Secretary of State. Each copy recorded with the County Recorder and filed in the City’s archives shall also be filed with the following:
A. Certified copies of all publications and notices required of the City by State law in connection with the calling of an election to propose the Charter Amendment/Measure.
B. Certified copies of any arguments for or against the Charter Amendment/Measure that were mailed to voters pursuant to California Elections Code Sections 9281 et. seq.
C. A certified abstract of the vote at the election at which the Charter Amendment/Measure was approved by the voters.
SECTION 4. RATIFICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE.
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 34459, this Charter Amendment/Measure shall be deemed ratified if approved by a majority of the eligible voters of the City of Pomona voting at the Municipal Primary Election of June 6, 2026. However, this Charter Amendment/Measure shall not take effect until it has been accepted and filed by the Secretary of State pursuant to Government Code Section 34460.
SECTION 5: SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Measure or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the Measure and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
I hereby certify that the foregoing Charter Amendment and Ordinance was PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the People of the City of Pomona on the 2nd day of June, 2026.
Dated: _______________________ ______________________________
TIM SANDOVAL
Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________ ______________________________ ROSALIA BUTLER SONIA R. CARVALHO
City Clerk City Attorney
City of Pomona
Resolution No. 2026-22