IN THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LEANDRO
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XXX
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A SPECIAL MUNCIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD JUNE 2, 2026 FOR
SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS A PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT MEASURE TO TRANSITION THE CITY’S EXISTING HYBRID ELECTION SYSTEM TO A DISTRICT-BASED ELECTION SYSTEM PURSUANT TO § 10010 OF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE; REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
THE COUNTY OF ALAMEDA CONSOLIDATE THE SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION CONSOLIDATING WITH THE STATEWIDE ELECTION ON JUNE 2, 2026; AND SETTING BALLOT MEASURE ARGUMENT
REQUIREMENTS
WHEREAS, pursuant to the City Charter, the City of San Leandro currently conducts its City Council elections using a hybrid system in which the City is divided into six districts where registered voters in each district nominate candidates to be elected on an at-large basis, while the Mayor is nominated and elected by all voters citywide; and
WHEREAS, the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) prohibits electoral systems that impair the ability of a protected class to elect candidates of its choice by employing at-large methods that may dilute minority voting strength; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has considered all information and statutory authorities related to this matter, as presented at the public meetings of the City Council, including any supporting reports by City staff, and any information provided during public meetings, including but not limited to the City Council’s adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-009, on June 16, 2025, and which established the ballot measure process for the City’s transition to a district-based election system, adopted a map describing the boundaries for each district, and determined the sequence of district elections; and
WHEREAS, the City now desires to call a Special Municipal Election for the ballot measure to amend the City’s Charter relating to its election system, thereby memorializing the City’s conversion from a hybrid election system to a district-based election system in accordance with applicable provisions of the Elections Code.
WHEREAS, it is desirable that the City’s Special Municipal Election be consolidated within the Statewide Primary Election to be held on the same date and that within the City the precincts, polling places, and election officers of the two elections be the same, and that the Alameda County Registrar of Voters canvass the returns of the Primary Election and that the election be held in all respects as if there were only one election.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council for the City of San Leandro does RESOLVE as follows:
Section 1. General.
The above recitals are true and correct and incorporated by reference herein.
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Section 2. Calling for Special Municipal Election and Request for Consolidation.
Pursuant to the San Leandro City Charter and Elections Code sections 9222 and 10403, the City Council hereby calls for a Special Municipal Election, and a request for the Special Municipal Election to be consolidated with the Statewide Primary Election to be held on June 2, 2026, for the purpose of submitting the proposed measure to convert the City’s existing election system to be a district-based election system in conformance with the California Voting Rights Act and as set forth in Ordinance No. 2025-009, which the City Council adopted on June 16, 2025.
Section 3. Request for Services and Conduct of Election.
That pursuant to the requirements of Section 10403 of the Elections Code, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Alameda is hereby requested to consent and agree to the consolidation of the Special Municipal Election with the Primary Election on June 2, 2026, for the purpose of the City’s submission of a ballot measure converting the City’s existing hybrid election system to a district-based election system pursuant to Section 10010 of the Elections Code; and to direct the Alameda County Registrar to conduct all necessary services related to said election and to bill the City of the cost of conduction said election. The Special Municipal Election will be held and conducted in accordance with Section 10418 of the Elections Code and other provisions of law regulating the Statewide Primary Election.
Section 4. Submission of Ballot Measure.
Pursuant to the City Charter and the Elections Code, the City Council hereby orders the ballot measure converting the existing election system to a district-based election system to be submitted to qualified voters of the City of San Leandro at the June 2, 2026 Special Municipal Election, subject to the approval of a majority of the voters voting on the measure at the election called by the adoption of this resolution. The full text of the ballot measure that shall be voted on is attached hereto under Section 2 of Exhibit A. If approved by the voters, Ordinance No. 2025-009 shall be in effect until repealed and amended by the voters.
Section 5. Ballot Measure Question.
That City Council hereby orders that the abbreviated form of the measure is to appear on the ballot as follows:
City of San Leandro
Shall Section 225(a) of the San Leandro City Charter be amended to the following: The Mayor shall be elected by the registered voters of the City at large. All Council Members, except the Mayor, shall be elected by the registered voters of the City by district. In conformance with the California Voting Rights Act, one Council Member shall be nominated and elected from each Council Member district only by the registered voters of that district.
Yes
No
Section 6. Impartial Analysis by the City Attorney.
The City Attorney is directed to prepare an impartial analysis of the ballot measure in accordance with Elections Code section 9280. Pursuant to the Alameda County Registrar of Voter’s DRAFT
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regulations, the impartial analysis must be adopted in conjunction with this resolution. The City Attorney’s impartial analysis is attached hereto as Exhibit B.
Section 7. Written Arguments.
The City Council authorizes the Mayor and in the absence of or refusal by the Mayor then the Vice-Mayor, and in the absence of or refusal of the Vice-Mayor then any Council Members to draft, select authors, and file the direct argument in support of or against the ballot measure, if any, pursuant to Elections Code sections 9282(b) and 9285. At the discretion of the City Council members authorized herein, the argument(s) in favor or against, if any, may be signed by bona fide associations of citizens, by individual eligible voters, by any member of the City Council, or a combination of voters and associations and must be in compliance with Elections Code sections 9282 and 9283. The deadline for submitting ballot arguments for or against the ballot measure shall be 12:00PM on February 10, 2026. The deadline for the City Clerk to select one argument in favor and one argument against the ballot measure from the set of submissions shall 4:00PM on February 10, 2026. The City Clerk shall then be directed to publish the selected arguments on 4:00PM on February 10, 2026. The deadline for submitting rebuttal arguments for and against the ballot measure shall be 4:00PM on February 20, 2026. All proposed arguments in favor or against the ballot measure shall be made and submitted in accordance with Elections Code section 9285. Any and all arguments and rebuttal arguments shall be submitted to the City Clerk.
Section 8. Notice.
Notice of the time and place of the election on the ballot measure is hereby given, and the City Clerk is authorized, instructed, and directed to give further or additional notice of the calling of the consolidation of the Special Municipal Election in the time, form, and manner required by statute.
Section 9. Majority Vote.
This measure proposes an amendment to the San Leandro City Charter and shall be approved if a majority (50% +1) of those voting on the measure approve it pursuant to Article XI of the California Constitution.
Section 10. Form of Ballot.
The ballots to be used at the election shall in be in form and content as required by law.
Section 11. Authorization of the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.
That the Alameda County Registrar of Voters is authorized to canvas the returns of the Special Municipal Election. The Special Municipal Election shall be held in all respects as if there were only one election, and only one form of ballot shall be used.
Section 12. County’s Direction for Consolidation.
That the Alameda County Board of Supervisors is requested to issue instructions to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters to take any and all steps necessary for the holding of the consolidated election.
Section 13. Filing of Resolution.
That the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution and file it within the City’s records as well as publish accordingly. Furthermore, the City Clerk is hereby directed to DRAFT
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file a certified copy of this Resolution with the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and the Alameda County Registrar of Voters forthwith, no later than March 6, 2026.
Section 14. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
This action is not a project and is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15378(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, as it concerns the submission of a ballot measure to the voters of the City.
Section 15. Effective Date.
This Resolution shall become effective upon its adoption.
Introduced by Councilmember ____________ and passed and adopted this 2nd day of February 2026 by the following vote:
AYES: ()
NOES: ()
ABSENT: ()
ATTEST:
Sarah Bunting
Acting City Clerk
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