DATE: April 7, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Work Session: Potential Ballot Measure to Modernize the City of Hayward Business License Tax Ordinance
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That Council receives this report on a potential modernization of the Business License Tax (BLT) ordinance, including results of public opinion research and business engagement efforts, and provides direction on the proposed framework for returning next month for legislative action.
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SUMMARY
The City of Hayward is currently evaluating potential modernization of its BLT structure. The current structure, which has remained largely unchanged since 1978, relies primarily on flat annual fees, employee counts, and limited gross receipts categories.
As part of this effort, staff have conducted research, engaged the Hayward business community, and commissioned public opinion polling to better understand feedback on potential updates to the tax structure. At this work session, staff will present the results of the public opinion polling conducted by FM3 Research, summarize feedback received through business engagement efforts, and present a refined proposed fee framework informed by previous Council feedback at the Budget Work Session held on February 28, 2026.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Staff Report