AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: JOY POST
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
SUBJECT: RESOLUTIONS PERTAINING TO THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026
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Summary:
The next General Municipal Election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Three separate resolutions must be adopted, calling for and giving notice of holding the election, requesting that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors render services, and documenting regulations for candidate statements.
Strategic Plan Goal(s):
Goal No. 5 High-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication, recruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of City services.
recommendation
Recommendations:
1. Adopt a resolution, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, FOR THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELATING TO CHARTER CITIES
2. Adopt a resolution, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO CONSOLIDATE A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, WITH THE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE DATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 10403 OF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE
3. Adopt a resolution, entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE PERTAINING TO CANDIDATE STATEMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026
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Fiscal Impact:
The next general municipal election is estimated to cost $40,000, and this amount has been included in the proposed FY 2026-27 City Clerk budget (100-43-5460) for anticipated election-related expenditures.
Background and Analysis:
The City will be conducting a General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the purpose of electing two members of the City Council for four-year terms, one City Clerk for a four-year term, and one City Treasurer for a four-year term. The General Municipal Election process is governed by the Signal Hill City Charter Section 800 stating the following:
“General municipal elections for the election of city councilmembers and for such other purposes as the city council may prescribe shall be held in the City on March 6, 2001, and on the first Tuesday in March in each odd numbered year through March 5, 2019, and thereafter on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each even numbered year, commencing on November 3, 2020 or such date as the state shall fix for said general election in the event the existing date shall be changed.”
The nomination period begins Monday, July 13, 2026, and ends at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026. In the event that an incumbent does not file by the August 7, 2026, deadline, the filing period is extended to Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The first resolution calls and gives notice of holding the General Municipal election on November 3, 2026 (Attachment A).
County Services
Election services for statewide elections are performed by the County. A second resolution is presented to request the County Board of Supervisors provide full, standard services for conducting the Signal Hill General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (Attachment B). The City Clerk’s office will continue to handle the candidate nomination filing process, Fair Political Practices Commission filings, and publishing of official election notices related to calling an election and nominations.
Candidate Responsibilities
The third resolution adopts regulations for the candidate statements (Attachment C). Pursuant to the City’s Uniform Schedule of Fees, each candidate must pay a fee of $750 for the estimated cost of printing a candidate’s statement in the sample ballot booklet. This fee is paid when nomination documents are filed with the City Clerk.
Pursuant to the Federal Voting Rights Act, the candidate statements will be translated into all languages required by the County of Los Angeles (County). The County is required to translate candidate’s statements in 18 languages in the sample ballot book. Sample ballot booklets will be printed and mailed to registered voters requesting a multilingual sample ballot. The following languages are targeted in the City of Signal Hill for Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Signal Hill General Municipal Election:
• Bengali
• Chinese
• Gujarati
• Hindi
• Japanese
• Khmer
• Korean
• Spanish
• Tagalog
• Thai
• Vietnamese
A candidate may choose to publish their statement in other languages at an additional cost. After the election, the City Clerk’s office may, on a pro-rata basis, bill the candidate for the actual expense or refund any excess paid. In addition to the $750 candidate statement fee, the Signal Hill Municipal Code Section 1.12.010, requires a non-refundable filing fee of $25 to be paid by each candidate for an elective office at the time the candidate’s nomination paper is filed with the City Clerk.
Runoff Election Provisions
Signal Hill Charter Section 301 states:
Ties in voting among candidates for office shall be settled by drawing by lot or by special election as the City Council shall determine by ordinance or resolution to be conducted pursuant to procedures which may be established by ordinance. City council may, by ordinance or resolution passed no later than thirty (30) days prior to election, determine whether ties in voting among candidates shall be settled by drawing by lot, by special election, or by other means.
On January 7, 1997, City Council adopted Resolution No. 97-01-4725 providing for the conduct of a Special Runoff Election for elective offices in the event of a tie vote at any municipal election. Pursuant to Elections Code section 15651, the Special Runoff Election shall be called and held not less than 40 nor more than 125 days after the certification of the election.
On June 14, 2022, City Council reviewed this process and the high cost of a stand-alone election. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-06-6684 rescinding the resolution adopted in 1997 to resolve a tie vote by lot (Attachment D).
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
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Siamlu Cox
Attachments:
A. Calling and Giving Notice Resolution
B. Requesting Full Services Resolution
C. Candidate Statement Resolution
D. Resolution No. 2022-06-6684