Agenda Item #13.2
For Council Meeting of: April 16, 2024
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JOHN CREGAN, CHIEF OF POLICE
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE, APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT, AND APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY OF SONOMA MEASURE O FOR THE INRESPONSE PROGRAM AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
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MACROBUTTON
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Police Department that the Council, by resolution: 1) accept funding from the County of Sonoma in the amount of $514,440 to support program operations over the past fiscal year; 2) approve and delegate authority to the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with the County and any related documents required for receiving such funds and for clarifying roles and responsibilities of County personnel participating in the inRESPONSE program; and 3) appropriate the amount of $514,440 for the County Measure O funding.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This proposed resolution authorizes the Santa Rosa Police Department to accept funds from the County of Sonoma Measure O Program for the City’s inRESPONSE program to support program operations over the past year. Staff also recommends that the Council approve and delegate authority to the City Manager to negotiate and execute an Agreement with the County in connection with receipt of the Measure O funds. The City-County agreement for Measure O funds would also provide some clarification related to roles and responsibilities for County personnel that participate in the inRESPONSE program and risk allocation between the City and the County related to program funding and operations.
These funds are specifically designated to be used for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises, including mental health crises, substance use crises, or co-occurring mental health and substance use crises and will be a critical piece of the funding needed for this program.
BACKGROUND
During the November 2020 election, voters in Sonoma County approved County Measure O, ensuring a steady and reliable source of funding to address mental health and homelessness that will expand needed services for the next 10 years. It is estimated that over the next 10 years the County will received $250 million to be spent on behavioral health and Homelessness Care Coordination, and Transitional and Permanent Supportive Housing.
In Fiscal Year 2022/2023 the Santa Rosa Police Department received the first year of funding from Sonoma County Measure O in the amount of $84,387 which assisted the inRESPONSE program in conducting bilingual outreach within the City.
The Sonoma County Department of Health Services is partnering with the cities of Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Cotati to expand access to mobile crisis services for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. The County Board of Supervisors approved the funding request that the Santa Rosa Police Department submitted for inRESPONSE funding, in the amount of $514,440 for Fiscal Year 2023/2024. These funds will be used to expand the program services with bilingual and hospital navigators.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
Not applicable.
ANALYSIS
Accepting this funding will allow the Santa Rosa Police Department to expand the highly successful inRESPONSE program to include additional staff members that will play a critical role in the outreach and services provided to the community. The inRESPONSE program is currently funded through ARPA funding, Federal Earmark funding and the prior year’s County Measure O funds.
Staff also recommends that the Council approve and delegate authority to the City Manager to negotiate and execute an Agreement with the County in connection with receipt of the Measure O funds. The City-County agreement for Measure O funds would also provide some clarification related to roles and responsibilities for County personnel that participate in the inRESPONSE program and risk allocation between the City and the County related to program funding and operations. Under the terms of the proposed agreement, the City would agree to one-way indemnity for claims that relate to funding under the agreement. The City and County would mutually indemnify each other for services either party provides under the inRESPONSE Program, which is more customary for agreements between public agencies to provide services.
FISCAL IMPACT
The acceptance of this award of $514,440 will extend the current funding available for the inRESPONSE program and lessen any future requests for funding assistance from the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution / Exhibit A (Agreement)
PRESENTER
Pam Lorence, ASO Police
HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" [email protected]
ACCEPTANCE, APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT, AND APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY OF SONOMA MEASURE O FOR THE INRESPONSE PROGRAM