Agenda Item #14.3
For Council Meeting of: December 05, 2023
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: DONTÉ WATSON, DIRECTOR OF RECREATION & PARKS
SCOTT WESTROPE, FIRE CHIEF
JOHN CREGAN, POLICE CHIEF
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF FY 2022-23 MEASURE O ANNUAL REPORT, OVERSIGHT BOARD NAME CHANGE AND AMENDMENT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AGENDA ACTION: MOTION AND RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Finance, Fire, and Police departments, the Violence Prevention Partnership Program, and the Measure O Citizens Oversight Committee that the Council: 1) by motion, accept the Measure O Annual Report for FY 2022-23 and change the name of the “Measure O Citizen Oversight Committee” to the “Public Safety and Prevention Tax Citizen’s Oversight Committee”; and 2) by resolution, amend the format of the Implementation Plan for all programs to be an annual plan rather than a multi-year plan.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Ordinance 3680 added Chapter 3-26 to the Santa Rosa City Code establishing a special transaction and use tax known as Measure O. Each year an Annual Report is prepared by City staff, reviewed by the Measure O Citizen Oversight Committee, and presented to the City Council reporting on revenue, expenditures, and accomplishments during the past fiscal year. This year, staff and the Measure O Citizen Oversight Committee also recommend that Council take action to change the name of the Measure O Citizen Oversight Committee without changing the Committee’s duties and amend the format of the Implementation Plan for all programs to be an annual plan rather than a multi-year plan.
BACKGROUND
Ordinance 3680 added Chapter 3-26 to the Santa Rosa City Code establishing a special transaction and use tax. The special tax measure, known as Measure O, increased sales tax by a quarter percent to fund specific Police, Fire, and Gang Prevention/Intervention programs, as set forth in the Ordinance.
The Ordinance also established a seven-member Citizen Oversight Committee, with members appointed by the City Council, to annually review expenditures and appropriations of the tax revenues to ensure that all such revenues are spent, or appropriated, for the purposes and uses set forth in the Ordinance. Each year, an Annual Report is prepared by City staff, reviewed by the Citizen Oversight Committee, and presented to the City Council reporting on expenditures and activities during the past fiscal year.
On November 8, 2022, voters approved Measure H to extend the special tax revenue until March 31, 2045. In order to reduce confusion with other past and future tax measures, the Committee proposed to amend the name to the Public Safety and Prevention Tax Citizen’s Oversight Committee (formerly Measure O COC), or “PSAP COC.” The City Council must approve the name change.
In accordance with Chapter 3-26, the Council adopted a Transaction and Use Tax Implementation Plan on September 21, 2004, by Resolution No. 26069, which outlines the uses and purposes for which the special tax revenues may be used over time. The Implementation Plan has been revised several times since the original plan was adopted in 2004. In order to amend the Implementation Plan, the Ordinance requires six affirmative votes of the Council. The current Implementation Plan format is being amended to eliminate the ten-year model which accounts for the impending expiration and winding down of the tax measure and returns to a one-year plan outlining the year ahead.
The tax revenues generated by Measure O are split between Fire (40%), Police (40%), and Gang Prevention/Intervention Programs (20%), with these revenues, spent in accordance with an Implementation Plan which was adopted by the City Council.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
The Council has accepted annual reports on Measure O activities every year since its inception. In addition, there have been many implementation plan amendments approved since the first one was adopted in 2004.
ANALYSIS
On November 8, 2023, staff met with the Measure O Citizen’s Oversight Committee and presented three items.
First, a name change for the board was discussed, and the Measure O Citizen’s Oversight Committee proposed to amend the name of the Committee to avoid confusion after Measure H was passed to extend the special revenue tax. The proposed new name of the board will be “Public Safety and Prevention Tax Citizen’s Oversight Committee” (formerly Measure O) or “PSAP COC” for short. The Committee recommended the name change be forwarded to the City Council for approval with a vote of 4-2-1.
Next, staff presented the proposed one-year Implementation Plan to the Committee showing an annual budget. Previously, this plan had been a ten-year plan to account for the winding down of the tax measure. When Measure H renewed the tax for another 20 years, the Committee requested the plan be changed to a one-year plan since planning for many years in the future was not reasonable or helpful. The Committee has reviewed and approved the proposed changes to the format of Implementation Plan for all programs. This new format with the one-year model will be used in the spring for budget planning and updated at that time with annual budget numbers for FY 2024-5. The Committee recommended the amended format of the Implementation Plan be forwarded to the City Council for approval with a vote of 6-0-1.
Finally, staff presented the Annual Report of the revenues, expenditures, and accomplishments associated with tax revenues for FY 2022-23 to the Measure O Citizen Oversight Committee, for their review. The Committee was provided a presentation by representatives from each Measure O program area outlining their revenues, expenditures, and accomplishments during the past fiscal year. Committee members discussed the report and provided comments. The Committee recommended the report be forwarded to the City Council for approval with a vote of 6-0-1.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact from accepting the Annual Report, name change, or Implementation Plan change. Measure O funds are maintained in three special revenue funds separate from the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This action is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), and 15378 in that there is no possibility that the implementation of this action may have significant effects on the environment and no further environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The Measure O Citizen Oversight Committee recommends the Council accept the Measure O Annual Report for FY 2022-23, amend the name and Implementation Plan.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – FY 2022-23 Measure O Annual Report
Resolution/Exhibit A – Implementation Plan Update
PRESENTERS
Veronica Conner, Budget and Financial Analysis Manager, Finance John Cregan, Police Chief
Pam Lorence, Administrative Services Officer, Police
Jason Parrish, Administrative Services Officer, Recreation and Parks Jeff Tibbetts, Deputy Director of Recreation
Danielle Garduno, Program Manager - VPP
Joanna Moore, Recreation Supervisor, Recreation
Scott Westrope, Fire Chief
Sara Roberts, Administrative Analyst, Fire
ACCEPTANCE OF FY 2022-23 MEASURE O ANNUAL REPORT, OVERSIGHT BOARD NAME CHANGE AND AMENDMENT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN