Title
Certification of Responsible Housing Initiative Petition and Consideration of Council Action Options
Recommendation
a) Determine that the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(1), (2) and (3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and
b) Authorize City staff to prepare and execute a budget amendment, as needed, to implement the City Council’s selected course of action and to appropriate sufficient funds to cover associated costs based on the option approved by the City Council;
c) Accept the certification of the Orange County Registrar of Voters as to the verification of signatures of the Responsible Housing Initiative; and
d) Take one of the following actions:
(i) Order a Report Pursuant to California Elections Code Section 9215. Determine the desired scope of a report under California Elections Code Section 9212 and adopt A Resolution Ordering a Report Pursuant to California Elections Code Section 9212 Regarding an Initiative Measure to Amend the Land Use Element of the City’s General Plan; or
(ii) Adopt the Initiative Without Alteration. Adopt the initiative as submitted by the proponents, without amendment, by adopting A Resolution Adopting the Responsible Housing Initiative Pursuant to California Elections Code Section 9215, as Submitted by the Newport Beach Stewardship Association, Without Amendment; or
(iii) Call a Special Municipal Election. By motion, decide whether to submit an argument against the proposed initiative (pursuant to Elections Code Section 9282) and, if submitting such an argument, designate the authors; and then adopt the following Resolutions: (1) A Resolution Calling for and Giving Notice of a Special Municipal Election to be held on _________, 2026, to Submit to the Voters an Initiative Measure Proposing to Amend the Land Use Element of the City’s General Plan, and Requesting the Orange County Board of Supervisors Authorize the County Elections Official to Render Services Relating to the Conduct of a Special Municipal Election; (2) A Resolution Directing the City Attorney to Prepare an Impartial Analysis of an Initiative Measure to Be Submitted to the Voters at the Special Municipal Election to be Held on ______, 2026, and Providing for the Deadlines for Filing of the Impartial Analysis and Written Arguments For and Against the Initiative Measure; and (3) A Resolution Setting the Deadlines for Filing of Rebuttal Arguments in Response to Direct Arguments Filed For and Against the Initiative Measure to be Submitted to the Voters at the Special Municipal Election to be held on _____ 2026; or
(iv) Call a General Municipal Election. By motion, decide whether to submit an argument against the proposed initiative (pursuant to Elections Code Section 9282) and, if submitting such an argument, designate the authors; and then adopt the following Resolutions: (1) A Resolution Calling for and Giving Notice of a General Municipal Election to be Held on November 3, 2026, to Submit to the Voters an Initiative Measure Proposing to Amend the Land Use Element of the City’s General Plan, and Requesting the Orange County Board of Supervisors Consolidate the General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election to be Held on the Same Date; (2) A Resolution Directing the City Attorney to Prepare an Impartial Analysis of an Initiative Measure to Be Submitted to the Voters at the General Municipal Election to be Held on November 3, 2026, and Providing for the Deadlines for Filing the Impartial Analysis and Written Arguments For and Against the Initiative Measure; and (3) A Resolution Setting the Deadlines for Filing of Rebuttal Arguments in Response to Direct Arguments Filed For and Against the Initiative Measure to be Submitted to the Voters at the General Municipal Election to be Held on November 3, 2026.