Agenda Item #15.1
For Council Meeting of September 24, 2024
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT ALONSO, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICER
COMMUNICATIONS & INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICE
SUBJECT: SUPPORT VARIOUS STATE AND LOCAL BALLOT MEASURES ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024 BALLOT AGENDA ACTION: MOTIONS TO SUPPORT
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Office that the Council, by motion, support the following ballot measures on the general election ballot: Measure I (Sonoma County), Measure W (Sonoma County), Proposition 2 (State), Proposition 3 (State), Proposition 4 (State), and Proposition 5 (State).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On September 10, 2024, the Council held a study session to deliberate over various ballot measures on the November 5, 2024 ballot. The Council, after reaching consensus, provided direction to staff to return to the September 24 Council meeting to formally support these measures by motion: Measure I (Sonoma County), Measure W (Sonoma County), Proposition 2 (State), Proposition 3 (State), Proposition 4 (State), and Proposition 5 (State).
BACKGROUND
A study session was held at the last council meeting where 12 ballot measures were discussed and deliberated. Council asked staff to return to this meeting to formally support certain ballot measures on the November 5 ballot.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On September 10, 2024, the Council held a study session to discuss various state and local ballot measures before the electorate.
On August 20, 2024, the Council voted to oppose Measure J, a Sonoma County ballot measure.
On May 23, 2023, the Council voted again to oppose the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act.
On April 12, 2022, the Council voted to oppose a potential statewide measure known as the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act.
On June 16, 2020, the Council voted to support the Sonoma County Transportation Authority’s GoSonoma measure on the November 2020 ballot.
ANALYSIS
Based on the proposed implications of the various measures and the feedback staff received on the September 10 council meeting, these measures under consideration would do the following:
Measure I is known as Our Kids Our Future. The funds raised by the proposed tax initiative would be administered by First 5 Sonoma County. Sixty percent of the revenue each year would go to access to early childcare and education services, including the development of new education facilities and providing rate increases for child care providers and thus increasing compensation for employees of child care providers. Forty percent of the revenue would go to expand perinatal and pediatric screening, referral and treatment of trauma; implementation of programs aimed at pediatric patients and their families for health care and mental health services. The measure is expected to generate $30 million a year for these services.
Measure W would be a permanent extension of the current sales tax specific for local library services. In 2016, the voters of Sonoma County passed Measure Y, which is a one-eighth sales tax with a 10-year lifespan. This proposed measure would replace Measure Y. As of June 30, 2023, Measure Y has resulted in spending over $64 million on the local library system.
In terms of statewide propositions, the measures would do the following:
Proposition 2 would enact a $10 billion bond to support K-12 educational facilities. The funding could be used to upgrade existing facilities or develop new facilities. Funding would be awarded on a first come, first serve basis. Eighty-five percent of the available funding would be focused on K-12 schools and fifteen percent would go to community colleges. Certain monies raised with Proposition 2 could also be used for the creation of new classrooms for transitional kindergarten.
Proposition 3 would repeal the definition of marriage under the state constitution stating that marriage is only between a man and a woman -- from the 2008 passage of Proposition 8.
Proposition 4 is known as the Climate Bond, which would generate $10 billion in funding from bonds. The funding would prioritize disadvantaged communities and go towards various programs such as safe drinking water, flood mitigation, climate resilience, wildfire prevention, protection of coastal lands, clean energy and agriculture.
Proposition 5 is a constitutional amendment that would allow local bonds for affordable housing or public infrastructure to be approved by the electorate at 55 percent, rather than the current two-thirds approval threshold. The City previously supported ACA 1, which was passed by the Legislature in 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is potential impact on revenue for the City of Santa Rosa if potential grant opportunities or funding sources are available if Proposition 4 and Proposition 5 are enacted. There could be broader impacts to the City regarding economic impact if Measure I and Measure W pass. Further, if Measure I were to pass, the City would be approaching the state cap on allowable sales tax rate. Further state legislation may be needed if the Council were to consider future sales tax increases via the ballot.
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 environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Text of Measure I, Sonoma County
Attachment 2 – Background Information on Measure W, Sonoma County Library Commission Attachment 3 – Background Information on Proposition 2, Secretary of State Attachment 4 – Background Information on Proposition 3, Secretary of State Attachment 5 – Background Information on Proposition 4, Secretary of State Attachment 6 – Background Information on Proposition 5, Secretary of State
PRESENTER
Scott Alonso, Government Affairs Officer
SUPPORT VARIOUS STATE AND LOCAL BALLOT MEASURES ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024 BALLOT PAGE 3 OF 3