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APPROVED TAX MEASURE
WHY DID THE CITY COUNCIL PLACE MEASURE S ON THE BALLOT IN 2020? In response to the severe economic recession and the State redistribution of funding through the Redevelopment Dissolution, the City aggressively cut expenses, including a 28% reduction in staffing, elimination of the Recreation Department, voluntary staff salary cut of 14%, cut back or elimination of all contract services, and a general 11% reduction in General Fund expenditures. At that time, the City also was a leader in the state in establishing a new benefit and pension tier for new employees, to reduce future expenses.
In addition to the cuts in expenses, in 2009 the voters of Cotati also approved Measure A, a ½-cent sales tax for 5 years to maintain basic City services through the recession. Even with the additional revenue from Measure A and the City cuts in expenses, the unexpected loss of funding because of the State dissolution of Redevelopment, coupled with a much slower than expected economic recovery, resulted in the City being able to only maintain basic services with no capacity for non-emergency projects. As Measure A was nearing its expiration, the City was again facing the possibility of losing our locally controlled Police Department, and the very viability to continue as a city separate from Rohnert Park or the County was a deep concern.
In response, the City Council declared a State of Emergency on February 11, 2014, putting Measure G on the ballot.
On June 3, 2014, the voters of Cotati passed Measure G, the Cotati Essential City Services Measure.
At the time Measure G was placed on the ballot, the State had taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds from Cotati’s budget, which directly affected the General Fund. The General Fund supports all the basic functions of a city including police services, road maintenance, park maintenance, and other essential city services. Just like most cities in California, the economic downturn and declining property values dramatically reduced sales tax and property tax revenues in Cotati.
In 2020, with the continued economic crisis around the Covid-19 epidemic, the City once again took the same Measure to the community. This new Measure S continued existing, voter-approved locally controlled funding with no increase in tax rate. Measure S funding would continue to stay local, and none could be taken by the State.
Cotati City Hall
HOW MUCH DOES A 1-PERCENT SALES TAX COST ME?
A 1-percent sales tax adds $1 on a $100 purchase for some purchases. Purchases such as food and medicine are exempted from the sales tax. Some of the largest sales tax sources in Cotati include Lowes, Oliver’s Market, and our gas stations, collect a significant portion of their sales taxes from visitors to Cotati, which benefits our residents and the visitors who use the City services and infrastructure. The revenue from Measure S is used to protect the essential services Cotati residents rely on and assist in the implementation of key improvements desired by the community.
DO FUNDS FROM MEASURE S STAY IN COTATI?
Yes. Measure S funds stay local. Measure S Sales Tax dollars cannot be taken by the State and can only be spent for Cotati and its residents.
WHAT DOES THIS LOCAL SOURCE OF FUNDING PROVIDE FOR COTATI? The City of Cotati uses the funds from Measure S to maintain essential City services for our community. Essential City services include the core services needed to run a City, including improved community services, preserving our local police department, recreational opportunities, and maintenance of public
infrastructure, including streets and pothole repair. With the additional public safety funding, it also increases the number of officers on duty and helps maintain crime prevention and investigation services. Measure S can also be used to leverage grant funds and key infrastructure projects such as street maintenance, storm drain maintenance, and improvements to parks and other City facilities.
WHAT OVERSIGHT PROVISIONS ARE IN PLACE?
The City has established an independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee that meets annually to review expenditures for Measure S and help make sure that every penny supports voter-approved priorities. This committee is an advisory body comprised of five members that are appointed by the City Council in a public process. Their involvement will help ensure that funds will continue to be spent responsibly on services provided by the City for purposes that benefit the citizens of Cotati.
Additionally, all receipts of funds and expenditures are subject to audit by an independent auditing firm. The audited statements of revenues and uses are included within the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and the excerpted statement is included within this annual report.
Cotati Police Department
WHAT MAKES UP THE TOTAL SALES TAX RATE?
As of June 30, 2022, the total sales tax rate in Cotati was 9.50% and is broken by recipients as follows:
California Sales and Use Tax Rates as of April 1, 2022
State 6.000%
County Transportation Funds 0.250%
Local-City of Cotati (Bradley Burns) 1.000%
Total State-Wide Sales and Use Tax Rate 7.250%
County* 1.250%
Measure S (formally Measure G) 1.000%
Total Sales Tax Rate in Cotati 9.500%
Detail of County Special Taxes
Sonoma County Library Maintenance Restoration Enhancement Act (SCLM) 0.125% Sonoma County Parks & Safety TT (SCPS) 0.125%
Sonoma County Mental Health & Homeless Services (SOMT) 0.250% Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) 0.250%
Fractional Code - SMART in Sonoma County (SMRT) 0.250%
Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District (SAPD) 0.250% Total 1.500%
State-Sales and Use
Tax, 6.00% State-County
Transportation
Funds, 0.25%
Local-City of Cotati
(Bradley Burns),
1.00%
County-Various
Special Sales Taxes,
1.25%
Local-Measure S,
1.00%
Breakdown of Cotati Sales Tax Rate
SUMMARY OF PUBLIC BENEFIT
In 2021/22 the City received $3,170,507 in Measure S funding. The passage of Measure S continues to stabilize the City budget and allowed the City to deliver on the expectations and desires of our community. This includes enhanced services in public safety and infrastructure maintenance, as well as continuing Recreation department and all their programing, which was made possible by Measure G, and is the reason the City can make significant investments in streets repaving, traffic safety, and building and park improvements.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Without a positive sense of public safety in our community, it can be difficult to bring in new business or families.
Measure S continues to enable the City to preserve our own Police Department by funding core operations and enabling key improvements to public safety, including hiring a full-time police officer and adding a traffic officer assignment starting in FY 2014/15. The City also added a Police Services Aide and a full-time dispatcher, as well as continuing to fund ongoing departmental operations. Maintaining the local police department also opened the opportunity to provide emergency dispatch services to Sonoma State University. The revenue from this shared services agreement has also allowed the hiring and continuation of an additional police officer and a part time dispatcher since FY 2017/18.
Other elements of the public safety program are intended to improve community safety. This includes things such as street safety and lighting projects.
The City Council’s primary focus during FY 2021/22 was to continue to improve the overall level of public safety services in the City while supporting continued covid operations. The following is a summary of Measure S expenditures under the Public Safety Program:
1. The City continued to fund ongoing operations to preserve our local Police Department.
2. Completed installation of the backup emergency equipment, including updating the Civic Center generator to ensure continuous backup power during emergencies.
3. Investment in green energy by purchasing and upfitting the departments first all-electric police vehicle and related charging infrastructure to support future vehicle replacements.
4. Continued work with the California Office Of Traffic Safety and finalization of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plans and support the Engineering Department with the finalization of the Local Road Safety Plan.
5. Collaborated with Rohnert Park and Petaluma People Services to establish Specialized Assistance For Everyone (SAFE) Team services which provide emergency crisis response to our community.
6. Continued investments in traffic safety with the installation of RRFB lighting at Benson Lane at Laguna Creek, replacing the signal controller cabinet at ORH and Valparaiso which allows for a Battery Backup system with a generator hookup, as well as visual impaired features and pedestrian crossing timing safety enhancement. Additionally, we completed the install of the 4th and final video detection camera at ORH so they can detect vehicles and bicycles and advanced detection.
STREET, SIDEWALK, AND STORM DRAINAGE
The community expects and depends on well-maintained city streets, streetlights, traffic signals, sidewalks, and storm drains. Well-maintained roadways are safer and improve the visual appeal of our city. It is critical to be able to leverage available grants to bring in additional funds to benefit our community. In addition, to save money overall, it is critical to fund road maintenance early to prevent expensive repairs and reconstruction of our streets later.
The City Council’s primary focus during FY 2021/22 was to complete outstanding projects while continuing to invest in new improvements, all of which benefit the City with improved levels of maintenance in the streets, sidewalks, and storm drain systems. In any given fiscal year, construction projects will often carry across fiscal years, as the June 30 fiscal year end is in the middle of the construction season. Therefore, it is expected that each year the ratio of services and capital projects/equipment will fluctuate with the timing of project construction.
The following is a summary of Measure S expenditures under the Street, Sidewalk, and Storm Drain Program:
1. Continued funding of ongoing and improved services, including the full-time civil engineer, and continuing enhanced traffic signal, streetlight, and roadway landscape maintenance.
2. Initiated design for the 2023 Street Construction and Improvement Project (Redwood Drive) to be completed in 2024.
3. Continued design and coordination with the state on the 2020 Street Construction and Improvements (Quick Strike)Project and consists of rehabilitating La Plaza and West Sierra Avenue and bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements. This project is available for grant funds due to matching contributions available due to Measure S.
4. Completed the construction on the 2022 Street Construction and Improvement Project (Birds Section) this project was the primarily the rehabilitation and street improvements on streets on either side of Myrtle Avenue, and Old Redwood Hwy between Valparaiso and Eucalyptus Avenue.
5. Completed design and started construction on the 2021 Street Construction & Improvement Project (West Side Project). This project involves roadway rehabilitation and street improvements on West Cotati Avenue, West School Street, Clifford Street, Richardson Lane, and portions of Old Redwood Highway (between Myrtle and Page), Condor Court, Robin Avenue, and John Roberts Drive.
6. Completed design for phase two Wayfinding Signage, Gateway signage program, and Mosaic Bench at Old Redwood Highway and Highway 116.
2022 Street Construction Improvement Project
2022 Construction Improvement (West Side)
Quick Strike Project
PARKS AND LANDSCAPING
The City operates and maintains many public parks, including La Plaza Park, Falletti Park, Draper Park, Kotate Park, Sunflower Park, Delano Park, Putnam Park, Mini Park, and the Santero Way Park. Parks provide key recreational opportunities for our residents, are local landmarks, and provide a venue for numerous community events.
The City Council’s focus during FY 2021/22 was to continue to improve the overall level of maintenance; improve existing facilities; and add high impact/low-cost safety improvements and amenities. The following is a summary of Measure S expenditures under the Park/Landscape Program:
1. Funded ongoing operations, including the cost of a full-time maintenance worker.
2. Implemented design work into bids for contracts for the Kotate Park playground and picnic areas, as the first of many capital projects from the Parks Capital Plan.
3. Funding Operations and Maintenance at the Veronda-Falletti Ranch.
4. Continued maintenance of parks and clearing vegetation.
5. Continued conducting of Creek Cleanups.
PUBLIC BUILDING
The City operates and maintains several public buildings to conduct public meetings and provide core services to the community, including City Hall, Ray Miller Community Center and Cotati Room, Public Works Corporation Yard, Police Department, and the Cotati Train Depot.
The City Council’s primary focus during FY 2021/21 was to continue to improve the overall level of maintenance of the City Buildings. The following is a summary of Measure S expenditures under the Public Building Program:
1. Funded ongoing building operational costs.
2. Continued to fund building official inspection services and code enforcement.
3. Funded maintenance and repairs of building equipment.
4. Finalized reroofing of the Community Center as a part of the Civic Center refurbishment project.
5. Initiated design on the window replacement project for both City Hall and the Civic Center.
RECREATION
During the recession and the ensuing budget cuts, the City’s Recreation Programs were eliminated. Since then, it has been a goal of the City Council to bring back the Recreation Department once the City was financially able to support this program. The Recreation Department includes a variety of classes, workshops, camps and events for all ages, as well as management of city facilities and parks for public use. The Recreation Department provides an opportunity to bring the public together for positive, healthy activities and provide a sense of community. The following is a summary of Measure S expenditures under Recreation for FY 2021/22:
1. Funded full-time Recreation Manager, Recreation and Facilities Coordinator as well as seasonal employment for up to six part-time camp staff to assist with special recreation programs.
2. Continued expansion and support of community communication through social network services and in person community outreach.
3. Funded all services and supplies needed to support the growing programs. In Fiscal Year 2021/22 , the following is a summary of Recreation programming and events:
a. Bunny Brunch
b. Staffed Free Children’s Summer Lunch
Program
c. Cotati Candyland downtown trick or
treating event
d. Promote & support Cotati Shop & Stroll
e. Promote & support Cotati Farmers
Market
f. Bunny Grams
g. Valentine Grams
h. Counselor in Training Program
i. Community Yard Sale
j. Drive in Movies
k. Movies in the Park
l. Promote & Support National Night Out
m. Holiday Tree Lighting
n. Breakfast with Santa
o. Promote & support the bike-to-work day.
p. Contracted camps including Several
Farmster Camp Programs at Falletti
Ranch
Farmers Market
Camp Cotati Valentine Grams
Bunny Brunch
SUMMARY
In FY 2021/22 , the City undertook a total of $1,619,179 in ongoing and improved services and $1,551,328 in capital improvements and equipment. During this fiscal year, the focus was on continued preparation for continued significant capital projects for construction, as well as completion of key projects which started during fiscal year 2020/21. The City is proud of the safety improvements both planned and implemented as well as the streets revitalization investments made and in design during the fiscal year. The City looks forward to using Measure S to continue to provide many more critical infrastructure projects as well as continued improved services to our citizens.
Measure S continues to be critical for funding essential city services and infrastructure projects. The City is actively working to promote economic development within Cotati to expand and diversify the tax base to provide more longterm revenue stability. The combination of dedicated local revenue from Measure S and a growing local economy provide the local revenue to deliver the services and infrastructure that the citizens of Cotati desire.
Cotati Candyland
Compost Bucket Giveaway
Measure S
Financial Summary
FY 2014/15 FY 2015/16 FY 2016/17 FY 2017/18 FY 2018/19 FY 2019/20 FY 2020/21 FY 2021/22 Combined FY Cumulative Percentage Usage
GROSS MEASURE G/S REVENUE $ 1,344,594 $ 1,991,285 $ 2,120,557 $ 2,148,886 $ 2,557,335 $ 2,558,612 $ 2,954,366 $ 3,184,677 $ 18,860,312 100.00% Less: State Administration Fees Expense (4,650) (12,900) (14,230) (12,550) (12,670) (12,750) (11,820) $ (14,170) (95,740) 0.51% NET TOTAL REVENUES $ 1,339,944 $ 1,978,385 $ 2,106,327 $ 2,136,336 $ 2,544,665 $ 2,545,862 $ 2,942,546 $ 3,170,507 $ 18,764,572 99.49% Street, Sidewalk, and Stormdrain Program $ 492,860 $ 855,352 $ 754,349 $ 566,980 $ 834,890 $ 962,870 $ 1,061,585 $ 1,328,868 $ 6,857,754 36.43% Operations & Maintenance 144,415 121,663 152,067 324,765 262,772 78,123 137,191 154,478 1,375,475 7.31% Capital Improvements & Equipment 348,445 733,689 602,282 242,215 572,118 884,747 924,393 1,174,390 5,482,279 29.12% Public Safety Program $ 559,443 $ 685,633 $ 729,034 $ 952,363 $ 784,420 $ 906,786 $ 1,020,913 $ 1,020,889 $ 6,659,480 35.37% Operations & Maintenance 518,426 641,610 717,556 896,550 740,094 755,849 835,908 858,950 5,964,944 31.68% Capital Improvements & Equipment 41,017 44,023 11,478 55,813 44,326 150,936 185,004 161,939 694,536 3.69% Recreation Program $ - $ 52,487 $ 123,773 $ 187,557 $ 256,079 $ 264,464 $ 278,732 $ 333,066 $ 1,496,158 7.95% Operations & Maintenance - 52,487 123,773 187,557 256,079 264,464 278,732 333,066 1,496,158 7.95% Capital Improvements & Equipment - - - - - - - - - 0.00% Park/Landscape Program $ 118,283 $ 161,271 $ 258,347 $ 232,637 $ 438,921 $ 316,228 $ 233,889 $ 176,964 $ 1,936,540 10.29% Operations & Maintenance 87,260 164,327 156,526 183,399 161,395 66,228 24,065 111,964 955,164 5.07% Capital Improvements & Equipment 31,023 6,944 101,821 49,238 277,526 250,000 209,824 65,000 991,376 5.27% Public Building Program $ 169,358 $ 213,642 $ 240,824 $ 196,799 $ 230,355 $ 62,114 $ 347,427 $ 310,720 $ 1,771,239 9.41% Operations & Maintenance 80,998 185,963 222,863 146,481 191,594 58,052 188,637 160,720 1,235,307 6.56% Capital Improvements & Equipment 88,360 27,679 17,961 50,318 38,761 4,062 158,791 150,000 535,932 2.85% TOTAL EXPENSES $ 1,344,594 $ 1,991,285 $ 2,120,557 $ 2,148,886 $ 2,557,335 $ 2,525,211 $ 2,954,366 $ 3,184,677 $ 18,826,911 100.00% Operations & Maintenance 831,099 1,166,050 1,372,785 1,738,752 1,611,934 1,222,715 1,464,534 1,619,179 11,027,048 58.57% Capital Improvements & Equipment 508,845 812,335 733,542 397,584 932,731 1,289,746 1,478,012 1,551,328 7,704,123 40.92% State Administrative Fees 4,650 12,900 14,230 12,550 12,670 12,750 11,820 14,170 95,740 0.51% Inception to Date
Essential Services & Improvements Summary
% of
Measure S*
NET TOTAL MEASURE S REVENUE $ 3,170,507 100.0%
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE EXPENSE DETAIL
Street, Sidewalk, and Stormdrain Program
Materials & Supplies 2,832 0.1%
Contract Services 23,595 0.7%
Utilities 7,835 0.2%
Repairs & Maintenance 6,153 0.2%
Salaries and Benefits 114,063 3.6%
Subtotal $ 154,478 4.9%
Public Safety Program
Materials & Supplies 3,484 0.1%
Contract Services 353,991 11.2%
Utilities 9,869 0.3%
Repairs & Maintenance 7,420 0.2%
Salaries and Benefits 484,186 15.3%
Subtotal $ 858,950 27.1%
Recreation Program
Salaries and Benefits 212,007 6.7%
Recreation Programs Expenses 121,059 3.8%
Subtotal $ 333,066 10.5%
Park/Landscape Program
Materials & Supplies 2,032 0.1%
Contract Services 22,854 0.7%
Utilities 10,441 0.3%
Repairs & Maintenance 596 0.0%
Salaries and Benefits 76,042 2.4%
Subtotal $ 111,964 3.5%
Public Building Program
Materials & Supplies 1,738 0.1%
Contract Services 76,960 2.4%
Utilities 5,262 0.2%
Repairs & Maintenance 3,059 0.1%
Salaries and Benefits 73,700 2.3%
Subtotal $ 160,720 5.1%
Total Operations and Maintenance Expenses $ 1,619,179 51.1% * Percentages rounded to the nearest 0.1%.
MEASURE S SALES TAX
REVENUE AND EXPENSES
FY 2021/22
Measure S
% of
Measure S*
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND EQUIPMENT EXPENSE DETAIL
Street, Sidewalk, and Stormdrain Improvements
Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) 11,000 0.3%
Citywide Traffic Safety 77,880 2.5%
Street Improvements 1,000,000 31.5%
Gateway Signage/Bulletin Board 20,000 0.6%
Wayfinding Signage Phase 2 50,000 1.6%
Equipment, Vehicles and Tools 15,510 0.5%
SubTotal $ 1,174,390 37.0%
Public Safety Improvements
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) 36,512 1.2%
Equipment, Furniture, Vehicle & Tools 107,056 3.4%
Civic Center Generator 18,371 0.6%
SubTotal $ 161,939 5.1%
Park/Landscape Improvements
Falletti Building Improvements 20,000 0.6%
Park Master Planning 30,000 0.9%
Kotate Park Improvements 15,000 0.5%
SubTotal $ 65,000 2.1%
Public Building Improvements
Civic Center Roof Refurb 130,000 4.1%
Civic Center Misc. Improvements 20,000 0.6%
SubTotal $ 150,000 4.7%
Total CIP and Equipment Expenses $ 1,551,328 48.9%
* Percentages rounded to the nearest 0.1%.
MEASURE S SALES TAX
REVENUE AND EXPENSES
FY 2021/22
Measure S
Measure S Program Vendor Description Funded by
Measure S
Street, Sidewalk, and Stormdrain Program
Professional Services Harris and Associates 5 Year Capital Improvement Project 19,467 Stone Creek Stormwater Management Support Services 4,128 Subtotal 23,595
Public Safety Program
Tech and Data Services Capture Tech PD Interview Room Recording Equipment Update 15,000 Sonoma County Consortium Fees and Contributions 100,000 Axon Enterprise Inc. Body Worn Camera System 12,200
KLH Consulting Dispatch Equipment Replacement* 1,515
Profesional Services Robert Smith Code Enforcement 62,900 General Services Petaluma People Services SAFE Team 92,500 City of Rohnert Park SAFE Team Program 20,000
City of Rohnert Park Animal Shelter Services 22,000
Onset Medics LLC Covid-19 Testing 7,500
United Mechanical Quarterly Systems Maintenance 6,600
Cole Pro Media Social Media and Transparency Engagement 10,276 Access Information Management Document Storage and Disposal Services 3,500 Subtotal 353,991
Park/Landscape Program
Profesional Services Ammamma Tati Inc. Veronda Falletti Programing and Maintenance 17,854 Farmster Veronda Falletti Ranch Animal Husbandry 5,000
Subtotal 22,854
Public Building Program
Professional Services Phillips Seabrook Building Inspections and Plan Checks 60,000 Robert Smith Code Enforcement 10,000
Tech and Data Services KLH Consulting Train Depot Camera Repairs 960 General Services PJM Landscape Building Landscape Services 6,000 Subtotal 76,960
SUMMARY OF FUNDED CONTRACT SERVICES
Street, Sidewalk,
and Stormdrain
$1,174,390
Public Safety
$161,939
Park/Landscape
$65,000
Public Building
$150,000
Capital Improvement and Equipment
Expenditure Detail
Street, Sidewalk,
and Stormdrain
$154,478
Public Safety
$858,950
Recreation
$333,066
Park/Landscape
$111,964
Public Building
$160,720
Operations and Maintenance
Expenditure Detail
STATEMENT OF REVENUE AND USES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
JUNE 30, 2022
The following statements are developed for presentation within the audited financial statement for the City of Cotati for the Fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. Audit fieldwork was completed by Badawi and Associates on December 20, 2022, and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report was presented for final approval by the City Council on January 10, 2023.
For more information about the City's historical financial activities, you can view the City's audited basic financial statements at City Hall or online at: https://www.cotaticity.org/195/Financial-Statements Voter Pamphlets
City Council
Resolution
Establishing the
Measure G Citizens Oversight
Committee
As Adopted September 2015