Sunnyvale voters will decide Measure G on Nov. 3: whether to amend City Charter Section 1309 so the City Council can use alternative ways to hire contractors for public works projects — methods California law already allows but the charter currently blocks. The measure needs a simple majority. It does not raise or cut taxes.

Sunnyvale also has two other charter measures on the same ballot, Measures H and I. Compare South Bay contests on our Bay Area Election 2026 hub, including Milpitas Measure K and Cupertino Measure L.

What the ballot asks

According to the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, the question is whether Section 1309 should be amended so the council can adopt an ordinance giving the city more options for delivering public works construction projects by authorizing any purchasing or contracting method allowed by California law, and to make clarifying wording changes that do not alter the section's meaning.

How contracting works now

City Attorney Rebecca L. Moon's impartial analysis says the charter today locks Sunnyvale into traditional "design-bid-build." The city first hires architects or engineers to design a project, then advertises the finished design and awards construction to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Price is the deciding factor once minimum requirements are met; the city cannot weigh a builder's technical experience or other qualifications.

That rule applies even when state law would allow other project-delivery methods. Two examples in the analysis are design-build, which combines design and construction in one contract and can use a qualifications-based selection, and construction manager-at-risk, in which a construction manager works under a guaranteed maximum price and covers cost overruns.

What a yes or no vote means

  • Yes: Amends the charter so the council can authorize alternative delivery methods allowed by California law and can pass ordinances regulating how those contracts are awarded, used, evaluated and approved. It also makes clarifying edits to Section 1309.
  • No: Keeps the current design-bid-build, lowest-bid system and leaves the charter wording unchanged.

The amendment takes effect if a majority of those voting on Measure G vote yes. The City Council placed the measure on the ballot on the recommendation of a Charter Review Committee of appointed Sunnyvale residents, the city attorney wrote.

Who is for and against it

The city's elections page lists filed arguments and rebuttals for Measure G. The City Council has adopted a support position on Measure G (along with Measures H and I and regional Measure RTM), according to the same page's summary of Report to Council 26-0515 from Sept. 29, 2026.

Supporters argue the lowest-bid split between design and construction can bring delays and change orders, and that design-build-style methods would let the city consider contractor qualifications while keeping competitive bidding and council oversight. Opponents warn that best-value scoring can weaken low-bid competition and independent designer oversight and raise favoritism or overrun risks. Those claims appear in the official voter-guide arguments hosted through the city clerk; readers should weigh them against the impartial analysis.

How to vote

Sunnyvale is also electing councilmembers in Districts 1, 3 and 5 on Nov. 3. Vote-by-mail ballots are out. For the regional transit tax that Sunnyvale's council also supports, see our Measure RTM explainer.