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Resolution No. 2025-031RESOLUTION NO. 2025-031 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON, CALIFORNIA, CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF AN ALL-MAIL BALLOT GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2026, FOR THE ELECTION OF A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF VERNON SECTION 1. Recitals. A. In April 2026, the term of one Vernon City Council Member will expire. B. Pursuant to Vernon City Charter Chapter 5.1 and Chapter 3.4, the City’s general municipal elections for officers are held on the second Tuesday in April of each year. C. Under the provisions of the City of Vernon Charter, a General Municipal Election shall be held on April 14, 2026, for the election of one Municipal Officer. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby finds and determines that the above recitals are true and correct. SECTION 3. The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby, pursuant to the requirements of the State of California, and the Vernon Charter and Municipal Code, there is called and ordered to be held in the City of Vernon, California, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, a General Municipal Election conducted by all-mail ballot for the purpose of electing one (1) Member of the City Council for the full term of five (5) years. SECTION 4. The ballots to be used at the election shall be in form and content as required by law. SECTION 5. The City Clerk is authorized, instructed, and directed to procure and furnish any and all official ballots, notices, printed matter, and all supplies, equipment, and paraphernalia that may be necessary to properly and lawfully conduct the election by all-mail ballot. SECTION 6. Pursuant to the Municipal Code and Charter, the Election shall be conducted by all-mail ballot, and shall be conducted pursuant to California Elections Code Section 4100, et seq. Ballots cast in this Election shall be returned to the Office of the City Clerk no later than 8:00 p.m. on election day in order to be counted. Ballots postmarked on election day and received no later than seven (7) days following the day of the election will also be counted. Resolution No. 2025-031 Page 2 of 4 _______________________ SECTION 7. In accordance with Elections Code Section 15651(b), in the event of a tie vote (if any two or more persons receive an equal and the highest number of votes for an office) as certified by the Elections Official, a special runoff election shall be conducted to resolve the tie vote and such special runoff election is to be held on a Tuesday not less than 40 days nor more than 125 days after the administrative or judicial certification of the election which resulted in a tie vote. SECTION 8. In all particulars not recited in this resolution, the Election shall be held and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections. SECTION 9. Notice of the time and place of holding the Election is given, and the City Clerk is authorized, instructed, and directed to give further or additional notice of the election, in time, form, and manner as required by law. SECTION 10. All ballots shall be received and canvassed and the returns made and declared in the time, form and manner as required by the provisions of the Vernon City Charter and California Elections Code for the holding of elections in charter cities. SECTION 11. The City Clerk of the City of Vernon is hereby authorized to canvass the returns of the election and shall certify the results to the City Council, as required by law. SECTION 12. The City Council of the City of Vernon authorizes the City Clerk to administer said Election, and all reasonable and actual election expenses shall be paid by the City upon presentation of a properly submitted bill. SECTION 13. Severability. If any provision of this Resolution or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications, and to this end, the provisions of this Resolution are declared to be severable. / / / / / / / / / / / / Resolution No. 2025-031 Page 3 of 4 _______________________ SECTION 14. The City Clerk, or Deputy City Clerk, shall certify the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions. APPROVED AND ADOPTED November 18, 2025. ________________________ LETICIA LOPEZ, Mayor ATTEST: GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ZAYNAH MOUSSA-MILWARD, City Attorney Resolution No. 2025-031 Page 4 of 4 _______________________ CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF VERNON ) I do hereby certify that the attached is a true copy of Resolution No. 2025-031 that was passed and adopted at the Regular Meeting held on November 18, 2025, by the following vote: AYES: Larios, Merlo, Rivera, Ybarra, Lopez NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: __________________________ GENOVEVA ROCHA, City Clerk City Council Agenda Report Meeting Date:November 18, 2025 From:Genoveva Rocha, City Clerk Department:City Clerk Submitted by:Sandra Dolson, Deputy City Clerk Subject April 14, 2026, General Municipal Election Recommendation A. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-031 calling and giving notice of an all-mail ballot General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, for the election of one City Council Member as required by the provisions of the Charter of the City of Vernon; B. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-032 adopting regulations regarding candidate statements and repealing Resolution No. 2024-024 and establishing Candidate Statement regulations; and C. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-033 requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles render specified services to the City relating to the conduct of a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Background Pursuant to Vernon Charter Chapter 5.1 and Municipal Code Section 2.28.020, the City’s General Municipal Elections shall be held in the City on the second Tuesday of April in each year and the City Council can direct staff to conduct the election wholly by mail as an all-mail ballot election. Chapter 3.4 of the City Charter also specifies that the regular election of Council Members shall be held on the second Tuesday of April in each year. The City Council is required to adopt various resolutions to conduct the General Municipal Election. Resolution Calling the Election Resolution No. 2025-031 calls for the General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, for the election of one member to the City Council for a full five (5) year term. Resolution Establishing Candidate Statement Regulations On November 5, 2024, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-024, adopting regulations regarding candidate statements submitted to the voters at any General Municipal or Special Municipal Election to be held in the City. Staff is requesting that this resolution be repealed and replaced with Resolution No. 2025-032 establishing Candidate Statement regulations. Pursuant to Section 13307(b)(1) of the California Elections Code the statement of each candidate shall be printed in type of uniform size and darkness and with uniform spacing. To streamline the review process, the City Clerk prefers to limit candidate statements to block format and prohibit bolding, capitalized words, italics, and underlining. Pursuant to sections 13307 and 13308 of the California Elections Code, each candidate for nonpartisan elective office in any local agency, including any city, county, city and county, or district, may prepare a candidate statement on an appropriate form provided by the election’s official. The statement may include the name, age, and occupation of the candidate and a brief description, of no more than 200 words, the City Council may authorize an increase in the limitations on words for the statement from 200 to 400 words, of the candidate’s education and qualifications expressed by the candidate themselves. That statement shall not include the party affiliation of the candidate, nor membership or activity in the partisan political organizations. The statement shall be limited to a recitation of the candidate’s own personal background and qualifications and shall not in any way make reference to other candidates for that office or to another candidate’s qualifications, character, or activities. Resolution Requesting County Services Resolution No. 2025-033 requests that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors authorize the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk to render specified services associated with the 2026 General Municipal Election such as: provide appropriate forms, signature verification services, translation services, prepare, print, and mail official ballots and ballot materials. Ballot Drop-Off Locations In previous elections, the City has provided an additional ballot drop-off location on election day. Staff will evaluate the best options to ensure value for voters and will keep the public informed. As in the past, City Hall will accept voted ballots during regular business hours for the convenience of the community. Nomination Period The nomination period begins on Monday, December 22, 2025, candidates may schedule an appointment beginning the week prior to obtain nomination papers and required filing materials from the City Clerk Department. The last day to file nomination papers is Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Approval from the City Council will result in the scheduling of the General Municipal Election on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, for one member of the City Council. As the City’s Election Official, the City Clerk is to post or publish a public notice, which shall contain the following: (a) A list of the offices to be filled. (b) Whether the city elections official has furnished nomination papers to the incumbent for each open office. (c) Whether, due to redistricting, there is no eligible incumbent for an open office. (d) The location where nomination papers may be obtained. (e) The location, dates, and hours of operation of the office where completed nomination papers may be filed. Items (b) and (c) noted above are not applicable to the notice for the 2026 General Municipal Election as the incumbent for the Council Member seat has termed out and there is no redistricting in Vernon. Fiscal Impact The cost estimate for the General Municipal Election is $24,000. The estimate provided above is an estimate of election costs based on historical costs for comparable elections. The actual cost may be higher or lower than the estimate provided due to changes in any election factors and unanticipated increases in labor and/or operations costs. The final invoice with actual costs will be provided by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk approximately 90 days after the election. Sufficient funds are available in General Fund, City Clerk Department, Election Account No. 011-010-125-529300 for the current fiscal year. Attachments 1. Resolution No. 2025-031 – Calling and Giving Notice of Election 2. Resolution No. 2025-032 – Establishing Candidate Statement Regulations 3. Resolution No. 2025-033 – Requesting County Services