Cerritos council votes 3–2 to place combined charter amendment on June 2, 2026 ballot

The Cerritos City Council voted 3–2 to send a combined charter amendment measure to the June 2, 2026 statewide primary ballot that would (1) move the city’s general municipal elections to November of even-numbered years, (2) eliminate council term limits, and (3) restore the council’s authority to appoint the city treasurer as a charter position.

City Clerk Cindy Nava told the council the report reviewed three charter topics and noted administrative timing: staff requested resolutions no later than Jan. 12, 2026 to meet county processing needs, and the county’s final deadline for consolidated measures is March 6, 2026. Nava also said an off-cycle special election would require a budget amendment because estimated election costs could range from about $200,000 to $250,000 depending on county estimates and additional outreach or legal notices. "If the city council desires to place a ballot measure or measures on the Tuesday, June 2, statewide 2026 primary election, [staff] request direction to prepare resolutions," Nava said.

The item prompted extended debate. An elected official (identified in the transcript as Unidentified Speaker 1) argued consolidating elections would substantially raise turnout and save the city six figures per election, citing the city’s own recent turnout numbers (23.81% for a standalone March 2025 municipal election versus roughly 45% in a consolidated 2020 election) to support the case for consolidation. That speaker also proposed the single-ballot approach coupling the three topics and said voters should decide the issues. "Let the voters vote," the speaker said.

Opponents warned of unintended consequences. Council members who opposed the combined measure expressed concern about shortening current terms if the election calendar changed and flagged possible reductions in local visibility for municipal contests when placed on a larger November ballot. Mayor Pro Tem Linda Johnson and others urged caution on removing term limits and on changing the appointment structure for the city treasurer, citing possible impacts on accountability and institutional checks and balances.

After debate, a substitute motion to direct staff to bring back one ballot measure that included: eliminating the council’s term limit, returning appointment of the city treasurer to the council (and designating the treasurer as a charter employee), and changing the general municipal election dates to November of even-numbered years starting in 2026 passed on a 3–2 vote.

Next steps: staff will prepare the necessary resolutions and return them to council for consideration and formal adoption by the Jan. 12, 2026 meeting so the city can meet county deadlines for consolidation. The city clerk noted the March 6 date as the absolute final deadline for county submission of resolutions.