DATE: June 3, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: City Clerk's Office
TITLE: PROPOSED BALLOT MEASURE TO AMEND THE OCEANSIDE CITY CHARTER TO CONFORM PREVAILING WAGE AND FAIR COMPETITION PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS WITH STATE LAW RELATING TO GRANT FUNDING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
RECOMMENDATION
title
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution: 1) Submitting a ballot measure to the qualified electors of the City of Oceanside for general municipal election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, proposing an amendment to the Oceanside City Charter to conform prevailing wage and fair competition provisions for public works contracts with state law; 2) Authorizing ballot arguments in favor of the measure; and 3) Directing the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis.
body
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On May 20, 2026, Mayor Sanchez and Deputy Mayor Joyce brought forward a Councilmember item to provide direction to staff regarding a potential City Charter amendment/clean-up measure for placement on the November 3, 2026 ballot, "for the purposes of ensuring state grants qualification and to be consistent with state law." The City Council voted 4-1 (Weiss - no) in support of this direction to staff. This item brings forward a draft resolution for such ballot initiative and supporting actions for the City Council's consideration (Attachment 2).
Under California law, cities are classified as either general law cities or charter cities. General law cities derive their authority from statutes enacted by the California Legislature and operate primarily under state law. Charter cities, by contrast, operate pursuant to a locally adopted charter authorized under the California Constitution's "home rule" provisions, which provide greater local control over municipal affairs, subject to applicable state law governing matters of statewide concern.
On June 8, 2010, the voters of Oceanside approved Proposition K and elected to become a ch...
Click here for full text