Title
Adoption of Resolution Calling for the Holding of a Consolidated Municipal Election in the City of Alameda on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 for the Submission of a Proposed Charter Amendment to Eliminate the Offices of Elected City Auditor and City Treasurer, Establishing the Policies and Procedures for Such an Election, Requesting that the County of Alameda Conduct Such an Election, and Authorizing City Councilmembers to File Written Arguments For or Against the Measure. (City Clerk 10022022)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A City of Alameda (City) Council Charter Review Subcommittee would like City Council to consider a Charter amendment measure on the upcoming November ballot that would eliminate the offices of elected City Auditor (Auditor) and City Treasurer (Treasurer). If City Council is in support of the amendment to the City Charter (Charter), City Council should adopt a resolution placing the measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot. If the measure is placed on the ballot, the resolution also authorizes the City Council, or members thereof, to submit arguments for or against the measure.
BACKGROUND
When the current Charter was first adopted in 1937, Auditor and Treasurer were included and the salary for each was fixed at $3,600. The same salary has been in place since 1937. In addition, both offices currently receive benefits. For the past 15 years, the total compensation is over $470,000 for each office.
Of the other cities in Alameda County, only two have an elected Auditor (Berkeley and Oakland) and none have an elected Treasurer. In 2018, the City of Albany voters passed a Charter amendment to remove the office of elected Treasurer.
Councilmembers Daysog and Knox White previously served as a subcommittee to review potential Charter amendments, which included a proposal to eliminate the offices of elected City Auditor and City Treasurer. That subcommittee presented a list of issues on April 2, 2019, which is attached as Exhibit 1 and available online here:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3880482&GUID=30CDB30B-83B9-4272-A6B1-60221B7B6F07&Options=&Search=>
In 2025, Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft formed a Charter Review Subcommittee. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft and Vice Mayor Pryor served on the Subcommittee to review and propose Charter amendments. The Subcommittee directed staff to proceed with bringing three proposed amendments to City Council, including eliminating the offices of elected City Auditor and City Treasurer.
DISCUSSION
Election Code Section 1415 establishes when Charter proposals may be submitted to the voters. This measure proposes amending Sections 2-1, 2-4, and 2-7, and repealing Articles IV and V to eliminate the offices of elected City Auditor and City Treasurer. The proposed ballot question and ballot measure language for the measure is being presented to City Council for approval to be submitted to the voters. Any City Council action to advance a measure to the November ballot does not equate Council support or opposition to the measure, which would be addressed through the ballot arguments discussed below. Placing the measure on the ballot provides Alameda voters the opportunity to consider and decide whether to eliminate the elected offices.
If the measure receives a majority vote of those voting on the measure, the Charter provisions in question will be amended or deleted as proposed. Each ballot question is limited to 75 words.
Ballot Title and Question:
City of Alameda Charter Amendment
Shall the measure amending Sections 2-1, 2-4, and 2-7, and repealing Articles IV and V to eliminate the offices of elected City Auditor and City Treasurer be adopted?
Text of Measure:
Section 2-1 would be amended as follows:
The following elective officers are hereby established: The Mayor and four (4) Councilmembers, who shall constitute the Council; Auditor and Treasurer.
Section 2-4 would be amended as follows:
The salary attached to the following offices shall be fixed by the Council: Auditor, Treasurer, City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk. Each Councilmember shall receive an annual salary not to exceed 30% of the salary for “All Occupations, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward Area,” payable at the time and in the manner as fixed by Council resolution.
Section 2-7 (D) would be amended as follows:
In the event that vacancies exist in a majority of the offices of Councilmember, such vacancies shall be filled by the following officers, in the order named, sufficient to constitute a Council quorum of three, to-wit, Auditor, Treasurer, and President of the Planning Board, President of the Public Utilities Board, and President of the Social Service Human Relations Board until the successor is selected at a Special Election to be held within 90 days of the date the vacancy is filled pursuant to this section. This successor shall serve the unexpired term.
Section 2-14 would be amended as follows:
No person shall be eligible for the elected office held by that person for two complete consecutive terms immediately prior to the term for which the person seeks election or appointment. This section shall not apply to the office of Auditor or Treasurer or prevent persons in office from completing their terms.
Section Article IV would be repealed in its entirety:
Auditor
Sec. 4-1. The Auditor shall have, at the time of their election, a degree in accounting or business administration or be licensed as a Certified Public Accountant and five years of accounting experience.
Sec. 4-2. The Auditor shall provide for at least annual audits of the City's financial operations, books and records to assure that the City's financial transactions, accounts and records are maintained in accordance with the requirements of the City Charter, state and federal laws and generally accepted accounting principles. Repealed.
Section Article V would be repealed in its entirety:
Treasurer
Sec. 5-1. The Treasurer shall have had, at the time of their election, five years experience in administering investment programs and be licensed as a Chartered Financial Analyst or Certified Financial Planner.
Sec. 5-2. The Treasurer shall annually recommend to Council an investment policy for City monies and monitor and report results of the City investment portfolio. Repealed.
Ballot Arguments and Impartial Analysis:
In addition, the resolution authorizes the City Council to submit arguments and rebuttals concerning the measure. Arguments and rebuttals shall be submitted in accordance with Elections Code Sections 9280-9287. The City Clerk, as the City Elections Official, has set the deadline for submitting arguments as 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2026 and rebuttals are due 5 p.m. on Monday, August 3, 2026.
If the City Council elects to prepare ballot arguments and potential rebuttals, it has the following options: 1) draft an argument as a whole body in open session and decide signers at that time; 2) authorize no more than two Councilmembers to meet as a subcommittee of the City Council to draft an argument and have the entire City Council sign; 3) authorize no more than two Councilmembers to draft an argument and decide the combination of Councilmembers and/or other signers; or 4) authorize no more than two Councilmembers to draft and sign an argument and have up to three/four other signers. The City Council could also elect not to draft an argument.
The resolution also directs the preparation of the City Attorney’s impartial analysis of the effects of the measure. The impartial analysis is due by 5 p.m. on Monday, August 3, 2026.
ALTERNATIVES
• Adopt the resolution placing the measure eliminating the offices of Auditor and Treasurer on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
• Amend and adopt the resolution placing the measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
• Direct staff to return to City Council with a revised City Charter amendment measure.
• Do not adopt a resolution placing City Charter amendment(s) on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
• City Council also has alternatives related to drafting arguments, which are outlined above.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Eliminating the offices will decrease General Fund expenditures by at least $84,000 per fiscal year going forward since the Auditor and Treasurer would no longer receive salary and benefits. If the offices are not eliminated, the rising costs of benefits could continue to increase annual expenditures.
Since the City will have an election in November 2026, there is an additional cost of approximately $40,000 to place one measure on the ballot. If two measures are placed on the ballot, it would cost approximately $20,000 more for each additional measure up to four measures. The total cost of consolidating the election could potentially double if over five measures are placed on the ballot. Funds are available in the General Fund, City Clerk’s Department (10022022).
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The City Charter is the policy document governing the City. Any amendments must be approved by the voters.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Adoption of a resolution placing a measure on the ballot is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
CLIMATE IMPACTS
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Consider adopting a resolution calling for the holding of a consolidated municipal election in the City of Alameda on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the submission of a proposed Charter amendment to eliminate the offices of elected City Auditor and City Treasurer, establishing the policies and procedures for such an election, requesting that the County of Alameda conduct such an election, and authorizing City Councilmembers to file written arguments for or against the measure.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
Ashley Zieba, Assistant City Clerk
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. April 2, 2019 List