Agenda Item #13.1
For Council Meeting of: February 4, 2025
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JOHN CREGAN, CHIEF OF POLICE
SUBJECT: ACCEPT FUNDING, AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE FUNDING AGREEMENT, AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY OF SONOMA MEASURE O FOR THE INRESPONSE MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TEAM 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 $1,450,000 to support the inRESPONSE Mental Health Support team operations; 2) approve and delegate authority to the City Manager to negotiate and execute the Agreement Between County of Sonoma and City of Santa Rosa for Mobile Crisis Response Program Funding and any related documents required for receiving such; and 3) appropriate $1,450,000 of 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 to support the inRESPONSE Mental Health Support Team; and approves and delegates authority to the City Manager to negotiate and execute an Agreement with the County in connection with receipt of the Measure O funds.
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 the inRESPONSE Mental Health Support Team.
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 City received the first year of funding from Sonoma County Measure O in the amount of $84,387 which assisted the inRESPONSE Mental Health Support team in conducting bilingual outreach. In Fiscal Year 2023/2024 the City received $514,440 to expand the inRESPONSE Mental Health Support team to include hospital navigators. The County Board of Supervisors approved the funding request for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 of $1,450,000, these funds will be used to continue the highly successful inRESPONSE Mental Health Support team at the 24-hour model.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
Not applicable.
ANALYSIS
The inRESPONSE Mental Health Support Team responds to calls in which individuals are experiencing a mental health crisis and are unarmed. The goal is for the inRESPONSE team to handle all calls for service where mental health is the primary concern. They will also partner with the City’s Homeless Outreach Services Team to identify unsheltered community members who may be experiencing a mental health crisis.
In 2024 the inRESPONSE Mental Health Support Team handled 4,977 calls and provided 2,142 system navigation services: diverting 4,301 calls from being handled by law enforcement and 1,772 from fire and EMS. These services were provided by a team comprised of civilian, unarmed employees trained in de-escalation and social work interventions as well as physical and mental health evaluations. The team handles a variety of calls; individuals in mental health crisis, individuals or families in need of mental health resources and wrap-around services for mental health, homelessness and substance abuse.
FISCAL IMPACT
The acceptance of this award of $1,450,000 will extend the current funding available for the inRESPONSE Mental Health and Support team through August 2025 and lessen any future requests for funding assistance from the General Fund.
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 (Draft Agreement)
PRESENTER
John Cregan, Chief of Police
ACCEPTANCE, APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT, AND APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY OF SONOMA MEASURE O FOR THE INRESPONSE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUPPORT TEAM