That the City Council approve and adopt State required resolutions pertaining to the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election as follows:
A.  APPROVE AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. CC 2026-__ ENTITLED:  A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA, CALIFORNIA, CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING TWO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL;

B.  APPROVE AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. CC 2026-__ ENTITLED:  A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO CONSOLIDATE THE CITY’S TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION WITH OTHER ELECTIONS ADMINISTERED BY THE COUNTY REGISTRAR OF VOTERS ON THAT DATE; AND,

C.  APPROVE AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. CC 2026-__ ENTITLED:  A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING REGULATIONS RELATING TO CANDIDATE STATEMENTS OF CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE AT THE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026, GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

This year the General Municipal Election in the City of La Habra will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the purpose of electing two members to the City Council (two four-year terms). The current City Council terms of Mayor Jose Medrano and Mayor Pro Tem James Gomez will expire in December 2026.  

The proposed resolutions are required to be adopted pursuant to specific deadlines set forth in the State Elections Code in order to conduct the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election. The resolutions also request that the City's election be consolidated with the statewide General Election held on the same date, and that the Orange County Registrar of Voters provides professional services to conduct the election and canvass the results on behalf of the City of La Habra, as is typical in a consolidated election.
 
Each resolution does the following:  

1. Calls and gives notice of the General Municipal Election to be held on November 3, 2026, for the purpose of electing two members to the City Council for 4-year terms. This resolution also indicates the vote centers will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. (E.C. 10242, 14212). 
2. Requests the Orange County Board of Supervisors to consolidate the City of La Habra's election with the Statewide General Election to be held November 3, 2026 (E.C. 10403), and authorizes the County election department to establish precincts, appoint vote center workers, and canvass the returns of the election on behalf of the City of La Habra (E.C. 10402, 10403).
3. Adopts regulations for candidate statements that appear in the voter’s pamphlet.  Statements are restricted to no more than 400 words.  Pursuant to the federal Voting Rights Act, all statements in the County of Orange are required to be translated in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. A separate voter pamphlet will be printed in each foreign language and is available to any registered voter upon request (E.C. 13307). This resolution also states that each candidate filing a candidate statement will be required to pay, in advance, an estimated pro rata share of the costs incurred as a result of complying with the federal voting Rights Act of 1965.

The nomination period for office of Council Member opens at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, July 13, 2026, and closes at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Friday, August 7, 2026 (E.C. 10407(a)).

In the event an incumbent for the office of Council Member who is eligible for re-election does not file their declaration of candidacy by Friday, August 7, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (during special established business hours), there will be a 5-day extension allowed for any person other than the incumbent to file a declaration of candidacy for such office.  If the nomination period for the office of Council Member is extended, the filing period for that office will close at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 (E.C. 10407(b) & 10225).

The proposed 2026-2027 La Habra municipal budget includes $100,000 for the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election. This is an estimated cost for professional services that will be provided by the Orange County Registrar of Voters to administer the election, along with translation services. The final cost of the election may fluctuate depending on actual expenses incurred by the Orange County Registrar of Voters and billed to the City of La Habra for this year's election.

The cost to conduct the Municipal Election is consistent with the General Plan 2035 policy ED 9.1 (Balanced Fiscal Practices).