Agenda Item #13.5
For Council Meeting of: March 18. 2025
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MEGAN BASINGER, DIRECTOR,
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE AND APPROPRIATION OF $153,987.86 BEQUEST FROM THE ESTATE OF ROSEMARY MAKI-RAMATICI TO THE HOMELESS SHELTER OPERATIONS FUND AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Housing and Community Services Department that the Council, by resolution, accept a bequest of $153,987.86 from the Estate of Rosemary Maki-Ramatici designated for homeless shelter solutions and appropriate the monies to the Homeless Shelter Operations Fund to support the implementation of the City’s Homelessness Solutions Strategic Plan (2023-2027).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City received a bequest of $153,987.86 from the Estate of Rosemary Maki-Ramatici for homeless shelter solutions. This item seeks Council approval to accept and appropriate the monies to Fund 1209 to support the implementation of the City’s Homelessness Solutions Strategic Plan (2023-2027).
BACKGROUND
On November 15, 2022, Council approved the Homelessness Solutions Strategic Plan (Strategic Plan) for the five-year period beginning January 2023 through December 2027. The Strategic Plan provides key strategies and actions that focus on bolstering the City’s response to the homelessness crises, aligning efforts with the Sonoma County Homeless Coalition (our local County Continuum of Care) to achieve the regional goal of “Functional Zero” homelessness by 2027.
The City invests approximately $5 million annually for homeless services plus one-time funds from local, state, and federal resources to augment its efforts. This includes a range of services across street outreach, emergency shelter, safe parking, housing assistance, homelessness prevention, and supportive services such as mental health & harm reduction.
On October 17, 2024, the City received a check from the executor of the Estate of Rosemary Maki-Ramatici in the amount of $153,987.86, from the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma, Case Number SPR096046 with the request that these funds go towards the City of Santa Rosa Homeless Shelter, Homeless Solutions.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
Not applicable.
ANALYSIS
Santa Rosa continues to make progress toward implementing its Strategic Plan through investments in homeless services and affordable housing and collaboration with regional partners through the Sonoma County Homeless Coalition.
Staff is seeking Council approval to appropriate the donated funds ($153,987.86) to Fund 1209 to support the continued implementation of the Strategic Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action increases the budget in Fund 1209 – Homeless Shelter Operations.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, in that acceptance and appropriation of funds does not meet CEQA's definition of a “project,” because this an organizational action by the City that does not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and moreover, any future actions that result from the Strategic Plan will require its own CEQA analysis.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
PRESENTER
Sasha Brown, Homeless Services Program Specialist II
ACCEPTANCE AND APPROPRIATION OF $153,987.86 BEQUEST FROM THE ESTATE OF ROSEMARY MAKI-RAMATICI TO THE HOMELESS SHELTER OPERATIONS FUND PAGE 4 OF 4