TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Sheryl L. Bratton - County Counsel
REPORT BY: Silva Darbanian - Deputy County Counsel
SUBJECT: Introduction and Intent to Adopt an Ordinance
RECOMMENDATION
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Introduction and intent to adopt an Ordinance of the Napa County Board of Supervisors, State of California, adding Sections 2.10.050, 2.12.030, and 2.48.070 to the Napa County Code relating to the timing of elections for the offices of Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, Auditor-Controller, and Treasurer-Tax Collector. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
At its regular meeting on October 21, 2025, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to return at its next regular meeting with a proposed ordinance that would affect the consolidation of the countywide offices of Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, Auditor-Controller, and Treasurer-Tax Collector to the presidential election cycle, with the next primary election on March 7, 2028, and the next general election on November 7, 2028.
The five countywide offices in Napa County controlled by California Elections Code Section 1300, which include the three offices above plus the offices of Sheriff and District Attorney, were all consolidated in the gubernatorial election cycle prior to a 2022 change in law that moved the elections of District Attorney and Sheriff to the presidential election cycle.
The proposed ordinance will reunify the countywide offices of Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, Auditor-Controller, District Attorney, Sheriff, and Treasurer-Tax Collector to the same election cycle. The one-time effect of this change will be to extend the terms of the offices of Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, Auditor-Controller, and Treasurer-Tax Collector by two years. This is the same effect as the one-time extension to the offices of the District Attorney and Sheriff when the law changed in 2022.
Requested Action:
Introduction and intent to adopt and Ordinance of the Napa County Board of Supervisors, State of California, adding Sections 2.10.050, 2.12.030, and 2.48.070 to the Napa County Code.
Procedural Requirements:
1. Open public hearing.
2. Staff report.
3. Public comments.
4. Close public hearing.
5. Motion, second, discussion, and vote on the intention to adopt the Ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If the Board chooses not to proceed with this change in ordinance, the offices of Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, Auditor-Controller, and Treasurer-Tax Collector will remain on their present cycle and finish their current terms in office in January, 2027. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: It can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the proposed action may have a significant effect on the environment and therefore CEQA is not applicable. [See Guidelines For the Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act, 14 CCR 15061(b)(3)].