RESOLUTION NO. RES-2025-012
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA APPROVING FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR MEASURE H THE IMPROVED AND ENHANCED LOCAL FIRE PROTECTION PARAMEDIC SERVICES AND DISASTER RESPONSE TRANSACTION AND USE TAX ORDINANCE TO DISTRIBUTE, REPORT AND ADMINISTER FUNDS GENERATED BY THE MEASURE WHEREAS, on March 5, 2024, the voters of Sonoma County approved Measure H, “The Improved and Enhanced Local Fire Protection, Paramedic Services and Disaster Response Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance”, which added Article VIII to Chapter 12 of the Sonoma County Code (hereinafter “the Ordinance”); and WHEREAS, the Ordinance provides funding to achieve effective and efficient regional fire response services throughout Sonoma County; and WHEREAS, the County of Sonoma is charged with a fiduciary duty in administrating the tax proceeds generated by the Ordinance and implementation of the Ordinance is the responsibility of an Oversight Committee which reports directly to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors; and WHEREAS, Section 12-61 of the Ordinance states: “The Expenditure Plan set forth in section 12-66 is intended as a specific and legally binding and enforceable limitation on how the proceeds of the transactions and use tax imposed by this Ordinance may be spent”; and WHEREAS, as part of the Ordinance Expenditure Plan, Section 12-66(D) provides allocation percentages for entities receiving funds generated by the Ordinance (“Recipients”); and WHEREAS, as part of independent Oversight Committee and performance audit, Section 12- 67(B) of the Ordinance requires Recipients to prepare and distribute to the Oversight Committee specific information in annual reports not later than December 31st of each year; and WHEREAS, as part of the oversight and administration of the Ordinance, Section 12-68(A) of the Ordinance requires a funding agreement between the County of Sonoma and Recipients before any tax proceeds are distributed; and WHEREAS, Section 12-65 of the Ordinance requires that Ordinance proceeds shall not be used to supplant CITY’S historical proportional allocation to fire related services and establishes a baseline maintenance of effort requirement that shall not be violated; and WHEREAS, Section 12-68(A) of the Ordinance further requires that the funding agreement between the County of Sonoma and Recipients shall establish existing revenue used to fund existing personnel in order to establish the baseline for measuring compliance with the requirement that sales tax proceeds generated by the Ordinance shall only be used to pay for the purposes authorized in Section 12-66(B) and (C) of the Ordinance, which include recruitment of additional personnel, and also retention of existing personnel.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Santa Rosa approves the Funding Agreement with the County of Sonoma, in substantially the same form as Exhibit A attached hereto, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
IN COUNCIL DULY PASSED this 4th day of February, 2025.
AYES: (6) Mayor Stapp, Council Members Bañuelos, Fleming, MacDonald, Okrepkie, Rogers
NOES: (0)
ABSENT: (1) Vice Mayor Alvarez
ABSTAIN/RECUSE: (0)
ATTEST: _________________________ APPROVED: ______________________________ City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ________________________
City Attorney
Exhibit A – Funding Agreement with the County of Sonoma Reso. No. RES-2025-012
Resolution Template.doc