Laserfiche WebLink
City Manager's Office <br />www.santa-ana.org/cm <br />Item # 8 <br />or City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />Staff Report <br />March 17, 2026 <br />TOPIC: Ballot Measure Polling Results <br />AGENDA TITLE <br />Ballot Measure Polling Results <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Direct staff to prepare public information materials, develop a November 2026 ballot <br />measure for City Council consideration, and conduct a tracking survey. <br />GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No <br />DISCUSSION <br />On November 4, 2025, City Council approved an agreement with True North Research, <br />Inc. (True North) to conduct a baseline poll to test a potential ballot measure. True <br />North has served over 120 jurisdictions in California and has a high success rate with <br />ballot measures passing. <br />In December 2025, True North completed 623 surveys of likely voters with a 3.9% <br />margin of error at a 95% confidence level. Survey methodology and results are detailed <br />in True North's detailed report (Exhibit 1). The survey included warm-up questions and <br />multiple tests of a potential ballot measure to maintain the existing 1.5% local sales tax <br />rate permanently (no increase), using wording that complies with state law. A summary <br />of survey results follows. <br />• Quality of life in Santa Ana: 50% Excellent or Good, 35% Fair <br />• Overall satisfaction with the City: 13% Very, 48% Fairly <br />• An open-ended question for desired changes: Top 3 results were: <br />o Address unhoused issues, <br />o Improve public safety, and <br />o Improve infrastructure/roads <br />• Initial ballot test: 64% definitely or probably yes <br />• After presenting positive arguments, ballot retest: 67% definitely or probably yes <br />• After presenting negative arguments, ballot retest: 63% definitely or probably yes <br />