ACTION:
____________________________
Clerk/Secretary
Department: City Clerk Item No: C10
Prepared by: Kathy Valdez, City Clerk Meeting Date: June 23, 2026 Approved by: John Conley, City Manager Agenda Location: Consent Calendar SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 3, 2026, GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt City Council Resolution No. 2026- , calling and giving notice that a General Municipal Election will be held on November 3, 2026, for the election of certain officers, and requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego consolidate the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election to be held on the same date, pursuant to Section 10403 of the Elections Code.
CORRELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS: Routine operational item not directly corresponding to a specific City Council goal.
PRIOR ACTION: None.
STATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: Section 1.08.030 of the Vista Municipal Code requires the General Municipal Election to be held on the same date as the Statewide General Election, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, in even-numbered years.
The Mayor and two City Councilmember positions, Districts 1 and 4, will be on the ballot. The terms of Mayor Franklin, Councilmember Contreras, and Deputy Mayor O’Donnell will expire in December 2026.
Staff recommends adoption of the attached resolution, which calls and gives notice of the General Municipal Election to be held in the Chartered City of Vista, and requests that the County Board of Supervisors consolidate it with the Statewide General Election. California Elections Code Section 10403 requires that the resolution requesting consolidation must be adopted at the same time as the resolution calling the election.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Registrar of Voters estimates the cost for the election of Mayor and two City Councilmember seats to be between $60,000 and $105,000. There are currently many unknown factors that may impact the actual cost of the election as well as some direct costs to the City for required translation and noticing. A total of $100,000 have been budgeted for the November 2026 election in the City Clerk Special Department Expense account (No. 0010125.531500.00093). If the actuals costs are higher than what has been budgeted, staff will return to the City Council with a funding recommendation.
AGENDA
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT
JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY
Approved above recommendation, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-116. Vote: 4-0 (O'Donnell absent)
MEETING DATE: JUNE 23, 2026 PAGE 2
SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 3, 2026, GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
EXHIBITS:
1.City Council Resolution No. 2026- , calling and giving notice that a General Municipal Election will be held on November 3, 2026, for the election of certain officers, and requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego consolidate the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election to be held on the same date, pursuant to Section 10403 of the Elections Code 06/23/2026 C10 2 of 4
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF
VISTA, CALIFORNIA, CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE THAT A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026, FOR THE
ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS, AND REQUESTING THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO CONSOLIDATE THE
NOVEMBER 3, 2026, GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION WITH THE
STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE SAME DATE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 10403 OF THE ELECTIONS CODE
The City Council of the City of Vista does resolve as follows:
1. Findings. The City Council hereby finds and declares the following:
Under the provisions of the laws relating to cities in the State of California, and pursuant to Chapter 1.08 of the Vista Municipal Code, a General Municipal Election shall be held on November 3, 2026, for the election of Municipal Officers.
2. Action.
A. There is called and ordered to be held in the City of Vista, California, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, a General Municipal Election for the purpose of electing the Mayor and one City Council Member from District 1 and one City Council Member from District 4 for full terms of four years each.
B. Pursuant to the requirements of Section 10403 of the State Elections Code, the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego is hereby requested to consent and agree to the consolidation of a General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, to be held and conducted in the manner prescribed in Section 10418.
C. Vote Centers shall be available four to eleven days prior to and including the day of the election and shall be open from eight o’clock a.m. to five o’clock p.m. each of those days with the exception of election day. On election day, the vote centers shall be open at seven o’clock a.m. and shall remain open continuously from that time until eight o’clock p.m. the same day, when the polls shall be closed, except as provided in Section 14401 of the Elections Code.
D. The Board of Supervisors is requested to issue instructions to the County Elections Department to take any and all steps necessary for the holding of the consolidated election.
E. The County Elections Department is authorized to canvass the returns of the General Municipal Election. The election shall be held in all respects as if there were only one election, and only one form of ballot shall be used, the form and content of which shall be as required by law.
F. The City of Vista recognizes that additional costs will be incurred by the County by reason of this consolidation and agrees to reimburse the County for any costs. 06/23/2026 C10 3 of 4
EXHIBIT 1
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA
PAGE 2
G. In all particulars not recited in this resolution, the election shall be held and conducted as provided by law for holding Municipal and Special Elections.
H. The City agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County, its officers, agents and employees from expense of liability, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, as the result of an election contest arising after conduct of an election, so long as the basis for any such claim arises from the conduct of the City or as a result of the reasonable reliance by County upon information provided by City.
I. The City Clerk is hereby directed to file a certified copy of this resolution with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters at least 88 days before the date of the consolidated election.
3. Adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a meeting of the City Council of the City of Vista held on June 23, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
WALTER CHUNG, CITY ATTORNEY
By:
JOHN FRANKLIN, MAYOR
ATTEST:
KATHY VALDEZ, CITY CLERK
By:
APPROVED
Walter C. Chung
20260615093451
06/23/2026 C10 4 of 4