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County verifies 7,156 signatures for referendum on city rent ordinances; council accepts certificate of sufficiency
Summary
The Monterey County registrar completed a signature verification and certified 7,156 valid signatures for the referendum challenging the City Council's June repeal of four rent-related ordinances. City Clerk Patty told council the required threshold was 6,998; the council accepted the county certificate and will consider next steps Sept. 9.
The Salinas City Council on Aug. 26 accepted a certificate from the Monterey County registrar of voters showing that a referendum petition challenging the council’s repeal of four rent‑related ordinances had met the signature threshold to qualify.
City Clerk Patty told the council that the proponents submitted 10,448 signatures for verification. The registrar’s full check returned 7,156 valid signatures and 3,292 insufficient signatures. Patty said the number of required signatures to qualify was 6,998 and presented the certificate of sufficiency to the council for acceptance.
Why it matters
The certified referendum prevents the council’s repeal ordinance from taking immediate final effect and requires the council to decide whether to repeal the repeal, place the matter on the ballot or hold a special election. Patty told the council it would return to the council on Sept. 9 with the formal options to consider.
What the clerk said
“We received the registrar’s certificate of signature verification,” Patty said, summarizing the county’s count and the options the council will have in September. She noted the next meeting will present options including repealing the repeal or submitting the ordinance to the voters in either the next regular municipal election or a special election.
Public comment and community response
The public comment period on this item drew many speakers. Dozens of residents and organizations urged the council to respect the verified signatures and allow voters to decide in the November 2026 regular municipal election rather than hold a special election. Protect Salinas Renters and multiple residents emphasized turnout and urged the council to “repeal the repeal.” Other speakers, including local business and housing advocates, urged caution and asked the council to examine economic effects and housing supply implications.
Council action and next steps
Council formally accepted the county’s certificate of sufficiency by unanimous roll‑call vote. Patty explained the council will be presented with options at the Sept. 9 meeting; those options include repealing the repeal now, placing the matter on the ballot at the next regular municipal election or calling a special election no fewer than 88 days after council action if the council chooses that route.
Ending
Accepting the certificate advances a procedural step that preserves the right of the referendum proponents to pursue a ballot resolution. The council’s Sept. 9 meeting will include a staff report laying out the legal and calendar options and the potential fiscal impacts of a special election.
