Agenda Item #13.8
For Council Meeting of: February 4, 2025
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MEGAN BASINGER, DIRECTOR,
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
SUBJECT: CITY/COUNTY FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR SAMUEL L. JONES HALL HOMELESS SHELTER FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024 AND FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Housing and Community Services Department that the Council, by resolution: 1) approve Modification Number One of Agreement Between the City of Santa Rosa and the County of Sonoma for Operational Funding at the Samuel L. Jones Hall Homeless Shelter for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 (Funding Agreement) in the amount of $255,000 annually for a combined total amount of $510,000; and 2) authorize the Director of Housing and Community Services to execute the Funding Agreement for the period March 18, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff seeks approval of Modification Number One of Agreement Between the City of Santa Rosa and the County of Sonoma for Operational Funding at the Samuel L. Jones Hall Homeless Shelter for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 (Funding Agreement) in the amount of $255,000 annually for a combined total amount of $510,000. The Fiscal Year 2023/2024 agreement provided $255,000 with an option to extend for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 and Fiscal Year 2025/2026. The modification will increase the funding from the County of Sonoma (County) by $255,000 and extend the term of the agreement for Fiscal Year 2024/2025.
BACKGROUND
The Samuel L. Jones Hall Homeless Shelter (Shelter) is a City-owned facility which has been operated by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa (Catholic Charities) since it opened in November 2005. The Shelter’s Housing Focused Program provides up to 213 year-round beds that are prioritized by the Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) with beds designated for medical respite, public safety, and the City’s Encampment Team or during emergent situations.
The Annex, a separate facility constructed in 2020 to restore shelter bed capacity to pre-COVID-19 levels while maintaining social distancing requirements, is operated in conjunction with the Shelter, providing up to 60 of the total 213 beds.
On June 18, 2024, Council approved the City’s Fiscal Year 2024/2025 budget, including the following appropriation for the Shelter:
$ 255,000 – County
$ 85,100 – Community Foundation Sonoma County
$ 288,642 – City of Santa Rosa General Fund
$1,500,000 – City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds $2,128,742 – Total
The Council has previously provided the Director of Housing and Community Services with authority to execute the City’s operating agreement and subsequent extensions with Catholic Charities for a five-year period (Fiscal Year 2022/2023 through Fiscal Year 2026/2027) subject to Council’s approval of the budget. Pursuant to this authority, the Director of Housing and Community Services has executed agreements with Catholic Charities for Fiscal Years 2022/2023 through 2024/2025.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On June 18, 2024, Council approved the City’s Fiscal Year 2024/2025 budget, including an appropriation for the Shelter in the total amount of $2,128,742. This included $255,000 from the County, $85,100 from the Community Foundation, $288,642 from the City’s General Fund, and $1,500,000 from the City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
ANALYSIS
The County has supported the operation of the Shelter since opening in 2005 via annual funding agreements. The Fiscal Year 2023/2024 agreement provided $255,000 with an option to extend for Fiscal Years 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. This agreement expired on June 30, 2024, necessitating the current Funding Agreement, which provides $255,000 for shelter operations for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 in the combined total amount of $510,000 for the two-year period.
Staff is seeking Council’s approval of the Funding Agreement. The Director of Housing and Community Services will have authority to execute the Funding Agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Funding Agreement, if approved, will provide an additional $255,000 in County funding for the Shelter for a combined total of $510,000 for a two-year period (Fiscal Year 2023/2024 and Fiscal Year 2024/2025).
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, the proposed action is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. In the alternative, the proposed action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution/Exhibit A (Funding Agreement)
CONTACT
Sasha Brown
Program Specialist II
[email protected]
CITY/COUNTY FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR SAMUEL L. JONES HALL HOMELESS SHELTER PAGE 3 OF 3