Report to Honorable Mayor and City Council

The City Council is being asked to consider three resolutions to submit a proposed Charter amendment measure to the City’s voters at the General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The proposed measure would amend the charter including amending Sections 301, 319, and 907, and add Section 320, as set forth in Exhibit “A” to Resolution No. 26-092 submitting the measure to the voters and requesting consolidation with the statewide general election.

The resolutions before the City Council would order submission of the proposed Charter Amendment Measure to the voters, request consolidation with the election conducted by Los Angeles County on the same date, set procedures for written arguments and impartial analysis, and provide for rebuttal arguments.

If adopted, the proposed Charter Amendment Measure will include amendment of Sections 301, 319, and 907 of, and addition of Section 320 to, the City’s Charter. The Charter Amendment Measure would propose amendments that will: (1) require campaign contribution transparency; (2) make City Charter consistent with State law on referring ballot measures for voter approval; (3) update term limits to increase voter options; and (4) clarify/clean up inconsistent/outdated language. The full text of the proposed amendments is attached as Exhibit “A” of Resolution No. 26-092 ordering submission of the measure.

TAKE the following actions:

1. WAIVE further reading and ADOPT Resolution No. 26-092 entitled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, CALLING FOR THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026 FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY A CHARTER AMENDMENT MEASURE INCLUDING AMENDMENT OF SECTIONS 301, 319, AND 907 OF, AND ADDITION OF NEW SECTION 320 TO THE CITY CHARTER, REQUESTING CONSOLIDATION WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE SAME DATE, AND REQUESTING THAT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY REGISTRAR-RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK CONDUCT ALL NECESSARY ELECTION SERVICES.”
2. WAIVE further reading and ADOPT Resolution No. 26-093 entitled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, SETTING PRIORITIES FOR FILING WRITTEN ARGUMENTS AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS REGARDING A PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT MEASURE TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026.”
3. WAIVE further reading and ADOPT Resolution No. 26-094 entitled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, PROVIDING FOR THE FILING OF REBUTTAL ARGUMENTS REGARDING THE CHARTER AMENDMENT MEASURE TO BE SUBMITTED AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026.”

TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate and that is consistent with applicable laws. 

The City of Carson is a charter city organized under the California Constitution and laws of the State of California and the City’s Charter.

California Constitution article XI, Section 3, Government Code Section 34458, and Elections Code Section 9255 authorize the City Council to propose amendments to the City Charter and submit them to the voters. Elections Code Section 9255 requires a City Council-proposed charter amendment to be submitted at an established statewide general election, provided there are at least 88 days before the election. A statewide general election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

If adopted, the proposed Charter Amendment Measure will amend the charter including Sections 301, 319, and 907, and add Section 320. The Charter Amendment Measure would propose amendments that will: (1) require campaign contribution transparency; (2) make City Charter consistent with State law on referring ballot measures for voter approval; (3) update term limits to increase voter options; and (4) clarify/clean up inconsistent/outdated language. The full text of the proposed amendments is attached as Exhibit “A” of Resolution No. 26-092 ordering submission of the measure.

If approved by a majority of the voters voting on the measure, the Charter amendment would be deemed ratified, but would not take effect until accepted and filed by the California Secretary of State pursuant to Government Code Sections 34459 and 34460.

The proposed action consists of three related resolutions:

• The first resolution calls the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election and submits the Charter Amendment Measure to the City’s qualified voters. The resolution attaches the full text of the proposed amendments as Exhibit “A,” states the applicable majority-vote approval requirement, and provides that any approved Charter amendment will be filed with the California Secretary of State as required by State law. The resolution also requests that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors consolidate the City’s election with the statewide general election to be held on the same date and authorize the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk to conduct the necessary election services, including preparation and distribution of election materials, use of a consolidated ballot, canvass of the returns, and related election administration. The resolution further provides that the City will reimburse Los Angeles County for costs incurred by reason of the consolidation.
• The second resolution authorizes written arguments for and against the Charter Amendment Measure pursuant to Elections Code Section 9282 and directs the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis pursuant to Elections Code Section 9280. Written arguments may not exceed 300 words, and the impartial analysis may not exceed 500 words.
• The third resolution authorizes rebuttal arguments pursuant to Elections Code Section 9285. Rebuttal arguments may not exceed 250 words, may not be signed by more than five persons, and must be filed within the time required by the City Clerk/City’s designated elections official.

There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the City Council’s consideration of the proposed Charter Amendment Measure itself. If the City Council adopts the measure-submission and consolidation resolution, the City will be responsible for its share of Los Angeles County’s costs to consolidate and conduct the election and provide related election services. The final amount will depend on the County’s election-cost allocation and billing.

1. Resolution No. 26-092
2. Resolution No. 26-093
3. Resolution No. 26-094