DATE: AUGUST 26, 2025
DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATION
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
FROM: RENÉ MENDEZ, CITY MANAGER
CHRISTOPHER A. CALLIHAN, CITY ATTORNEY
PATRICIA M. BARAJAS, CITY CLERK
ALEXIS MEJIA, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
TITLE: ACCEPTANCE OF SIGNATURE VERIFICATION;
REFERENDUM AGAINST ORDINANCE NO. 2687
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution accepting the Certificate of Signature Verification related to the Referendum Against Ordinance No. 2687 repealing four rent-related ordinances (Ordinance No. 2663, Ordinance No. 2681, Ordinance No. 2682, and Ordinance No. 2683).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On August 15, 2025, the Monterey County Registrar of Voters issued a Certificate of Signature Verification related to a Referendum Against Ordinance No. 2687 (the “Referendum”). (A copy of the City Clerk and Registrar’s Certificates of Signature Verification are attached to this Report for reference.) With the Referendum having met the minimum criteria established by Salinas Chater section 4.2 and California Elections Code, this Report and the attached Resolution meet the requirement imposed on the City Clerk by Elections Code section 9114 and 9115 to certify the results of the Registrar’s examination of the Referendum petition at the next regular meeting of the City Council following receipt of the Registrar’s Certificate of Signature Verification.
Following the City Clerk’s certification of the results to the City Council and the City Council’s approval of a Resolution accepting the Certificate of Signature Verification, as required by Elections Code section 9241, the City Council will be asked to consider and select from among two options: (1) adopt an ordinance repealing the Repeal Ordinance, or (2) submit the Repeal Ordinance to the voters of Salinas, either at the next regular municipal election or at a special election called for that purpose. It is projected that the two options will be presented to the City Council at its regular meeting on September 9, 2025, at which time an Ordinance repealing Ordinance 2687 (the “Repeal Ordinance”) and information related to the timing and the cost of a regular municipal election, and a special election will be presented to the City Council.
BACKGROUND:
Referendum Petition
On May 13, 2025, the City Council introduced an ordinance to repeal four rent-related ordinances previously adopted by the City Council (the “Repeal Ordinance”): Ordinance No. 2663 (Residential Rental Registration Program), Ordinance No. 2681 (Rent Stabilization), Ordinance No. 2682 (Tenant Protection and Just Cause Eviction), and Ordinance No. 2683 (Tenant Anti-Harassment). These four ordinances are collectively referred to in this Report as the “Ordinances.” On June 3, 2025, the City Council adopted the Repeal Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2687) and it was attested to by the City Clerk on that same date.
The Repeal Ordinance was due to become effective thirty (30) days after its adoption on July 3, 2025, pursuant to Government Code section 36937. Within the thirty (30) day period prescribed in Elections Code section 9237, “Protect Salinas Renters 2026” (the “Proponents”) submitted a referendum of the Repeal Ordinance to the City Clerk. Consistent with the obligations imposed by Elections Code sections 9239 and 9210, on July 3, 2025, the City Clerk determined that, based solely on a raw count, that the number of signatures affixed the Referendum petition was in excess of the minimum number of signatures required and accepted the Referendum petition for filing. Upon the City Clerk’s acceptance of the Referendum petition for filing, the effective date of Ordinance No. 2687 was automatically suspended by operation of law. (Elections Code section 9237) The Ordinances, therefore, became effective and remain effective.
On July 3, 2025, the City Clerk delivered the Referendum petition to the Monterey County Registrar of Voters (“Registrar”) for a full check and examination of signatures; to verify the signatures affixed to the Referendum petition were from registered voters of Salinas and otherwise met the requirements of the Elections Code. The City’s instructions to the Registrar requested examination of signatures and certification be accomplished by full check pursuant to Elections Code section 9114. Based on the Registrar’s determination that valid signatures of more than 10% of the City’s voter registration were present on the Referendum petition, on August 15, 2025 (thirty (30) days after the date of filing, excluding weekends and holidays), the Registrar issued a Certificate of Signature Verification and was received by the City Clerk on that same day. On August 15, 2025, the City Clerk forwarded the Certificate of Sufficiency to the Proponents; the City Council was also informed of the results of the Registrar’s signature verification.
The following is a summary of the signatures received, reviewed, qualified, and determined to be found not sufficient:
Signatures Submitted to City (prima facie raw count):
9,939
Signatures Required to Qualify:
6,998
Signatures Filed with Registrar (per Registrar’s Raw Count):
10,448
Signatures Verified:
10,448
Signatures Determined to be Valid:
7,156
Signatures Determined to be not Sufficient:
3,292
In accordance with Elections Code section 9114, certification of the qualified Referendum petition is presented to the City Council for acceptance.
Next Steps; Options for City Council Consideration.
With the Referendum petition having a sufficient number of valid signatures the City Council is thus presented with options as it relates to the Referendum and the Repeal Ordinance:
Repeal the Repeal Ordinance; or
Submit the Repeal Ordinance to the voters, either at the next regular municipal election occurring not less than 88 days after the order of the City Council, or at a special election called for that purpose, not less than 88 days after order of the City Council. (Elections Code section 9241) These options are not before the City Council at this time and are projected to be put before the City Council at its next regular meeting on September 9, 2025. City Administration and the City Attorney’s Office are working to determine the projected costs associated with putting the Repeal Ordinance to the voters at either the next regular municipal election or at a special election and to determine the election date options. This information is critical so that the City Council may make a fully informed decision regarding repealing the Repeal Ordinance and/or calling for an election.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(3)).
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES:
No.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
While not directly aligned with any of the goals or objectives of the City Council’s 2025 Strategic Plan, the City Council’s consideration of options related to the Referendum on the Repeal Ordinance may implicate the City Services goal as it relates to ensuring fiscal responsibility and financial management.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
The City’s Administration Department—City Manager and City Clerk—coordinated with the City Attorney on this Report.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
Fund
Appropriation
Appropriation
Name
Total Appropriation
Amount for recommendation
FY 24-25 Operating Budget Page
Last Budget Action (Date, Resolution)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
There is no impact to the City’s General Fund associated with the City Council’s acceptance of the Certificate of Signature Verification. As discussed above, information related to the estimated cost to submit the Repeal Ordinance to the voters at either a regular municipal election or a special election will be presented to the City Council on September 9, 2025.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Certificate of Signature Verification
City Clerk’s Letter of Acceptance of Referendum Petition, July 7, 2025 Monterey County Registrar of Voters’ Certificate of Signature Verification, August 15, 2025 RESOLUTION NO. ______ (N.C.S.)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL ACCEPTING THE CERTIFICATE OF SIGNATURE VERIFICATION FROM THE COUNTY OF MONTEREY, ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE REFERENDUM AGAINST ORDINANCE NO. 2687: AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 2663, ORDINANCE 2681, ORDINANCE 2682, AND ORDINANCE 2683 PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 9114 WHEREAS, pursuant to authority provided by statue, a referendum petition has been filed with the legislative body of the City of Salinas, California, signed by more than ten percent of the number of registered voters of the city to repeal Ordinance 2687; and WHEREAS, the Monterey County Registrar of Voters, on behalf of the City of Salinas, examined the records of registration (Exhibit A); and WHEREAS, the City Clerk, based on the Monterey County Registrar of Voters’ signature verification results, has ascertained that the Referendum petition is signed by the requisite number of voters (Exhibit B); and NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Salinas City Council accepts the Certification of Signature Verification from the County of Monterey, Elections Department and the sufficiency of the Referendum petition.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 26th day of August, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED:
_______________________________
Dennis Donohue, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Patricia M. Barajas, City Clerk
ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit A – Certificate of Signature Verification
Exhibit B – Certificate of Sufficiency of Referendum Petition Page | 3
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