____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting:
Disposition:
Agenda Item No: 2.b
Meeting Date: July 20, 2026
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Department: City Clerk
Prepared by: Lindsay Lara, City Clerk City Manager Approval: ________ TOPIC: JUNE 2, 2026 SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESULTS
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION DECLARING CANVASS OF VOTES CAST AND
RESULTS OF BALLOT MEASURE K AT THE SPECIAL MUNICIPAL
ELECTION HELD ON JUNE 2, 2026
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution Declaring Canvass of Votes Cast and Results of Ballot Measure K at the Special Municipal Election Held on June 2, 2026.
BACKGROUND:
A Special Municipal Election was held in the City of San Rafael on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Sections 10262 through 10264 of the California Elections Code require that upon certification of the results of an election by the County Elections Office, the City Council shall meet to declare the results of the election. The City Council is required to adopt a resolution (Attachment 1), and the City Clerk is required to enter a statement of the results into the minutes.
On June 26, 2026, Marin County Chief Elections Officer Natalie Adona certified the results of the election, and the Official Report is included as Exhibit A to the resolution.
According to the Official Report, the qualified electors cast ballots at said election for Measure K as follows:
Election Votes In
Favor
Percentage
Measure K 14,394 78.01%
The voters of the City of San Rafael have approved Ordinance No. 2065, attached as Exhibit “B” to the resolution, by more than two-thirds of the votes cast by the electors voting on Measure K at the special municipal election held Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a Resolution Declaring Canvass of Votes Cast and Results of Ballot Measure K at the Special Municipal Election Held on June 2, 2026.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Exhibit A to Resolution: Official June 2, 2026 Election Results
3. Exhibit B to Resolution: Ordinance No. 2068 (Measure K) 4906-6571-5461 v1 Page 1 of 2
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL DECLARING
CANVASS OF VOTES CAST AND RESULTS OF BALLOT MEASURE K AT THE SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD ON JUNE 2, 2026
WHEREAS, in pursuance of law and the Charter of the City of San Rafael, the following measure was submitted to the electors of the City of San Rafael at the consolidated municipal election held on Tuesday, the 2nd day of June 2, 2026, a Special Municipal Election:
MEASURE K –
"San Rafael Library Protection Measure. To continue existing local library funding to maintain safe places for youth after school; book/digital collections; children/adult programs; library hours and technology access, shall the City of San Rafael measure extending the library services parcel tax at $74.18 per parcel (with multifamily parcels adding $12.54 per unit, to a maximum of $1,259), generating approximately $1,267,000 annually for nine years, with senior exemptions, annual inflation adjustments, resident oversight and public disclosure, be adopted?"
WHEREAS, said consolidated special municipal election was held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in accordance with law and the votes there at received and canvassed, and the returns thereof ascertained, determined and declared in all respects as required by law.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Rafael resolves as follows:
1. That the total number of ballots cast in the precincts and vote by mail ballots for the City of San Rafael was 19,102 out of 33,248 registered voters.
2. Measure K was approved by the electors of San Rafael; and
3. That the City Clerk of the City of San Rafael is hereby instructed to enter this resolution in the Minutes of the City Council as a statement of the results of said election showing 1) the whole number of votes cast in the city; 2) the number of 4906-6571-5461 v1 2
votes given regarding Measure K. These results are attached as Exhibit A to the resolution.
4. That the whole number of votes cast in favor of Measure K at said election was 19,102 votes;
5. That more than two-thirds of all the votes cast on said Measure K were in favor of said Measure (per Exhibit “A”, attached) and said Measure carried;
6. That all vote by mail ballots have been duly received and canvassed in time, form and manner as required by law;
7. That, accordingly, the City Council hereby declares that the voters of the City of San Rafael have approved Ordinance No. 2068, attached as Exhibit “B”, by more than two-thirds of the votes cast by the electors voting on Measure K at the special municipal election held Tuesday, June 2, 2026; and
8. That Ordinance No. 2068 establishing and levying a special parcel tax is hereby effective on the tenth day following adoption of this Resolution, and the tax established herein shall commence July 1, 2026 and will be collected by the Marin County Tax Collector at the same time and manner as other property taxes.
I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a meeting of the Council of said City held on Monday, the 20th day of July 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
______________________
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
Attachments:
1. Exhibit A to Resolution: Official June 2, 2026 Election Results
2. Exhibit B to Resolution: Ordinance No. 2068 (Measure K) •
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CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION
I, NATALIE ADONA, the Registrar of Voters for the County of Marin, in the State of California, do hereby attest to the completion and accuracy of the canvass of the votes cast at the
Statewide Direct Primary Election, held on June 2, 2026, for measures and contests submitted to the voters, and
that the Statement of Votes Cast is full, true, and correct.
The official record is retained with the office of the
Marin County Elections Department, and the
Official Final Results summary is provided herewith.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand and
affixed my official seal on this 26th day of June, 2026.
Registrar of Voters, County of Marin
Marin County Elections Department
Statewide Direct Primary Election
June 2, 2026 Election Results
Measure B
Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District (majority needed) Precincts Reported: 74 of 74 (100.00%)
Ballots Received / Total Registered Voters 105,152 / 173,082 60.75% Contest Total
Yes 76,332 75.91%
No 24,222 24.09%
Total Votes 100,554
Measure C
Kentfield School District (2/3 needed)
Precincts Reported: 6 of 6 (100.00%)
Ballots Received / Total Registered Voters 5,620 / 9,066 61.99% Contest Total
Yes 4,176 77.33%
No 1,224 22.67%
Total Votes 5,400
Measure D
Larkspur Corte Madera School District (55% needed)
Precincts Reported: 6 of 6 (100.00%)
Ballots Received / Total Registered Voters 6,619 / 10,902 60.71% Contest Total
Yes 4,324 68.47%
No 1,991 31.53%
Total Votes 6,315
Measure E
Mill Valley School District (2/3 needed)
Precincts Reported: 12 of 12 (100.00%)
Ballots Received / Total Registered Voters 15,210 / 23,705 64.16% Contest Total
Yes 11,055 75.21%
No 3,644 24.79%
Total Votes 14,699
Marin County Elections Department
Statewide Direct Primary Election
June 2, 2026 Election Results
Measure G
Novato Unified School District (2/3 needed)
Precincts Reported: 11 of 11 (100.00%)
Ballots Received / Total Registered Voters 23,855 / 40,150 59.41% Contest Total
Yes 15,160 66.01%
No 7,806 33.99%
Total Votes 22,966
Measure H
Ross Valley School District (2/3 needed)
Precincts Reported: 8 of 8 (100.00%)
Ballots Received / Total Registered Voters 12,794 / 18,506 69.13% Contest Total
Yes 9,334 74.91%
No 3,126 25.09%
Total Votes 12,460
Measure I
Sausalito Marin City School District (55% needed)
Precincts Reported: 3 of 3 (100.00%)
Ballots Received / Total Registered Voters 4,352 / 7,983 54.52% Contest Total
Yes 2,919 71.39%
No 1,170 28.61%
Total Votes 4,089
Marin County Elections Department
Statewide Direct Primary Election
June 2, 2026 Election Results
Measure J
Town of Fairfax (majority needed)
Precincts Reported: 2 of 2 (100.00%)
Ballots Received / Total Registered Voters 4,065 / 5,948 68.34% Contest Total
Yes 2,498 63.71%
No 1,423 36.29%
Total Votes 3,921
Measure K
City of San Rafael (2/3 needed)
Precincts Reported: 11 of 11 (100.00%)
Ballots Received / Total Registered Voters 19,102 / 33,248 57.45% Contest Total
Yes 14,394 78.01%
No 4,057 21.99%
Total Votes 18,451
Measure L
Firehouse Community Park Agency (2/3 needed)
Precincts Reported: 1 of 1 (100.00%)
Ballots Received / Total Registered Voters 643 / 898 71.60% Contest Total
Yes 483 78.03%
No 136 21.97%
Total Votes 619
Measure M
Muir Beach Community Services District (2/3 needed)
Precincts Reported: 2 of 2 (100.00%)
Ballots Received / Total Registered Voters 202 / 276 73.19% Contest Total
Yes 185 92.96%
No 14 7.04%
Total Votes 199
1 FULL TEXT OF MEASURE
ORDINANCE NO. 2068
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL REPEALING AND REPLACING CHAPTER 3.36 OF THE SAN RAFAEL MUNICIPAL CODE, EXTENDING AND
REVISING THE EXISTING SPECIAL LIBRARY SERVICES PARCEL TAX SUBJECT
TO APPROVAL OF TWO-THIRDS OF THE ELECTORS VOTING ON THE TAX MEASURE AT A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON JUNE 2, 2026 The City Council of the City of San Rafael hereby makes the following findings in connection with the adoption of this Ordinance:
DIVISION 1. FINDINGS.
WHEREAS, in 2010, the San Rafael community voted in favor of Measure C, adding Chapter 3.36 to the San Rafael Municipal Code, establishing a local special parcel tax dedicated to public library services and facilities as authorized by Government Code section 53717; and
WHEREAS, in November of 2016, the San Rafael community voted in favor of Measure D to extend the Special Library Services Parcel Tax and to increase the amount of it based on the annual consumer price index (CPI) adjustment set forth in Measure C; and
WHEREAS, the City has used these funds for several purposes, including staffing, providing, maintaining, and improving hours of operation, services, equipment, and materials at the San Rafael Public Library; providing and improving programs and materials for children, teens, adults, seniors, literacy learners, and people with disabilities at the San Rafael Public Library; and
WHEREAS, after careful evaluation of the City's financials, thorough discussions with residents, and community surveys assessing the public’s views and priorities, the City Council finds that extending the existing Special Library Services Parcel Tax for a period of nine years and submitting a measure to the voters, with a recommendation for approval, is the most prudent, reasonable, and fiscally responsible action to maintain adequate library services; and
WHEREAS, if the Special Library Services Parcel Tax set forth herein is approved by the voters at a special municipal election on June 2, 2026, the existing tax will be increased by 3.0% based on the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA, All Urban Consumer (CPI) (December to December), which is 3.036%, and will be increased annually based on the applicable CPI, not to exceed 3% per year, through June 30, 2035; and
WHEREAS, this Ordinance shall become effective ten days after the vote is declared by the City Council pursuant to Elections Code Section 9217; and 2 WHEREAS, if adopted, the Special Library Services Parcel Tax set forth herein expands the “Senior Citizen Exemption” (Section 3.36.070 C) to align with the Measure P “Senior Citizen Exemption,” codified as San Rafael Municipal Code Section
3.42.020.H, which is more inclusive and was approved by voters in November 2024; and
WHEREAS, if adopted, the City’s Voter-Approved Tax Oversight Committee, established by City Council Resolution No. 15118, will provide the resident oversight to review the collection and expenditure of tax revenues under the authority of this Chapter.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
DIVISION 2. AMENDMENT OF MUNICIPAL CODE.
Chapter 3.36 of the San Rafael Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety and replaced with the following:
CHAPTER 3.36 – SPECIAL LIBRARY SERVICES PARCEL TAX
3.36.010 -- Purposes.
This Chapter is adopted to achieve the following, among other purposes, and the City Council directs that the provisions hereof be interpreted in order to accomplish those purposes:
A. To staff, provide, and maintain hours of operation, services, equipment, and materials at the San Rafael Public Library; and
B. To provide programs and materials for children, teens, adults, seniors, literacy learners, and people with disabilities at the San Rafael Public Library.
3.36.020 -- Definitions.
As used in this Chapter:
A. “Library” means the San Rafael Public Library;
B. “Living unit” means an individual dwelling space intended for occupancy by one or more persons, and shall specifically include a manufactured home/mobile home as defined in section 20.04.020H of this Code.
C. “Parcel” means any parcel of land, vacant, or improved, and wholly or partially located within the City of San Rafael, for which the County Assessor of Marin County has assigned an assessor’s identification number for purposes of property tax collection.
D. “Single family residential parcel” means any parcel that is determined by the City of San Rafael from records on file with the County of Marin or the City of San Rafael to be used or zoned to allow for a single primary living unit, regardless whether such parcel may be designated on the rolls of the County Assessor as “subject to exemption,” and may include 3 an attached single family residence such as a condominium, townhouse or stock cooperative.
E. “Multifamily residential parcel” means any parcel used or zoned for multiple living units as determined by the City of San Rafael from records on file with the County of Marin or the City of San Rafael, and including but not limited to parcels designated on the rolls of the Marin County Assessor as used for multiple family or duplex residential use, and such parcels that may be designated for multiple manufactured homes/mobile homes, or as “subject to exemption.”
F. “Nonresidential parcel” means any parcel that is not a “single family residential parcel” or a “multifamily residential parcel” or an “other residential parcel” as defined herein.
G. “Other residential parcel” means any parcel other than a “single family residential parcel” or “multifamily residential parcel” that is improved with or zoned to allow one or more living units as determined by the City of San Rafael from records on file with the County of Marin or the City of San Rafael, including but not limited to a parcel with mixed residential and other use, a parcel with a “second dwelling unit” as defined in section 14.03.030 of this Code, and a parcel that may be designated for multiple manufactured homes/mobile homes, and regardless whether such parcel may be designated on the rolls of the Marin County Assessor as “subject to exemption,” commercial, or industrial.
H. “Tax” means the Special Library Services Parcel Tax imposed under the provisions of this Chapter.
3.36.030 -- Imposition of Tax.
An annual Special Library Services Parcel Tax is hereby imposed pursuant to City Charter and Government Code section 53717 on each parcel within the City of San Rafael for the purposes set forth in this Chapter, at the following rates:
Single-family residential parcel: Seventy-four dollars and eighteen cents ($74.18) per parcel.
Multifamily residential parcel or
Other residential parcel: Seventy-four dollars and eighteen cents ($74.18) per parcel plus twelve dollars and
eighteen cents ($12.54) per living unit in excess
of one, up to a
maximum tax of $1,258.68 per year per parcel.
Nonresidential parcel: Seventy-four dollars and eighteen cents ($74.18) per parcel.
The foregoing tax rates shall be adjusted annually after the 2026-2027 fiscal year, commensurate with the annual percentage increase, if any, in the previous fiscal year to the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Price Index for All Urban Consumers (“CPI”), not to 4 exceed 3% annually. In no event shall such adjustment cause the foregoing tax rates to be adjusted downward.
3.36.040 – Term.
The Special Library Services Parcel Tax imposed by this Chapter shall be levied annually for nine (9) years commencing in fiscal year 2026-2027.
3.36.050 -- Proceeds of Tax; Accountability Measures.
All proceeds of the Special Library Services Parcel Tax imposed and levied pursuant to this Chapter shall be deposited into a separate “Special Library Services Parcel Tax” account to be used exclusively locally for the Library for the purposes set forth in this Chapter. The City’s Finance Director shall prepare an annual report pursuant to Government Code Section 50075.3.
3.36.060 – Persons Liable for Tax; Collection of Tax.
The tax imposed by this Chapter is not an ad valorem tax on property. The tax imposed by this Chapter is due from every person who is the owner of a parcel within the City of San Rafael, as reflected upon the rolls of the County Assessor of Marin County, unless that person or parcel is otherwise exempted by this Chapter. The Marin County Tax Collector shall collect the tax in the same manner and subject to the same penalties as County property taxes are collected. The full amount due under this Chapter shall constitute a debt to the City. An action for the collection of any amount due may be commenced in the name of the City in any court having jurisdiction of the cause.
3.36.070 – Exclusions and Exemptions.
A. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as imposing a tax upon any person where imposition of such tax upon that person would be in violation of either the United States Constitution or the California State Constitution or other applicable law.
B. The tax imposed by this chapter shall not be levied in any tax year upon any federal, state or local governmental entity.
C. An optional exemption (heretofore the "Senior Citizen Exemption") from the tax imposed by this chapter shall be made available annually to each individual in the City who is eligible to obtain a Senior Tax Exemption as set forth in San Rafael Municipal Code Section 3.42.020, and who applies for such exemption to the City on or before June 1st of each tax year, or during the first year of the tax at a date to be determined by the Tax Collector. Any application for such exemption must be submitted to the Tax Collector, pursuant to any rules and regulations of the Tax Collector.
3.36.080 -- Independent Resident Oversight.
The City's Voter-Approved Tax Oversight Committee, established by City Council Resolution No. 15118, and as subsequently amended, shall review the collection and expenditure of tax revenues under the authority of this Chapter. The terms of the 5 Committee members and their specific duties shall be established by resolution of the City Council.
DIVISION 3. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA).
The City Council finds that adoption of this Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the adoption of this Ordinance or its implementation would have a significant effect on the environment (14 Cal. Code Regs. Section 15061(b)(3)).
DIVISION 4. SEVERABILITY.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The Council hereby declares that it would have adopted the Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid.
It is hereby certified that this ordinance was duly adopted by the voters at the June 2, 2026 election, and that the City Council declared the results of such election in the manner required by law, at a meeting of the City Council held on the 20th day of July 2026 by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
_______________
Kate Colin, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________
Lindsay Lara, City Clerk