Agenda Item #13.2
For Council Meeting of: July 22, 2025
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RACHEL EDE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR - TRANSIT
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: GO SONOMA COOPERATIVE FUNDING AGREEMENT
AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Transportation and Public Works Department that the Council, by resolution: 1) approve the Measure DD (Go Sonoma) Cooperative Funding Agreement No. 51201E1 between Sonoma County Transportation Authority and Santa Rosa CityBus (Funding Agreement) providing reimbursement of Santa Rosa CityBus expenses to implement fare-free transit programs; 2) authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the Funding Agreement and any amendments, forms or documents necessary to administer or receive reimbursement funds under the terms of the Funding Agreement; and 3) authorize the Chief Financial Officer to appropriate reimbursement funds from the Funding Agreement.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2020, Sonoma County’s local transportation sales tax measure was reauthorized by voters and is now known as Go Sonoma. Go Sonoma extends the previous Measure M ¼ cent sales tax that expired March 31, 2025, with sales tax collection beginning on April 1, 2025. Like Measure M, Go Sonoma is a 20 year, ¼ cent sales tax. The measure will provide funding to repair potholes, reduce congestion, make biking and walking safer, expand local bus service, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve evacuation routes, and enhance transportation services for students and seniors. The City of Santa Rosa has previously executed Cooperative Funding Agreement No. G41200E1 to receive the portion of Go Sonoma funds allocated for Transit Services. This Cooperative Funding Agreement No. 51201E1 will allow Santa Rosa CityBus to request reimbursement for fare-free transit programs under the Go Sonoma expenditure plan.
BACKGROUND
The Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) adopted the 2024 Strategic Implementation Plan that sets forth their program and implementation policies under the 2020 Go Sonoma Act Expenditure Plan and Ordinance that was approved by the voters of Sonoma County on November 3, 2020.
Go Sonoma is a ¼ cent sales tax that began collection on April 1, 2025, replacing the previous measure, Measure M, that expired March 31, 2025.
Council previously approved the execution of the Cooperative Funding Agreements (Nos. G20600E1 and G41200E1) to receive quarterly allocated funding from Go Sonoma to support local transit service and local road maintenance related to eligible work as described in the Strategic Implementation Plan.
Additionally, pursuant to the Strategic Implementation Plan and Go Sonoma, SCTA will make available reimbursement for expenditures up to 2% of Go Sonoma funding per Santa Rosa CityBus’s formula share for Free Fare Programs, upon execution of an additional Cooperative Funding Agreement (No. 51201E1) presented at this meeting.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On July 23, 2024, the City Council, with RES-2024-120, authorized the execution of the Cooperative Funding Agreements G20600E1 and G41200E1 with SCTA to receive quarterly Go Sonoma allocation funding for local transit service and local road maintenance.
On May 13, 2025, the City Council, with RES-2025-085, extended the UR Free fare-free program for TK-12th grade youth through FY2030 in anticipation of support from Go Sonoma sales tax revenue.
ANALYSIS
In order for Santa Rosa CityBus to obtain the quarterly funding reimbursement for providing fare free transit, a cooperative agreement between the SCTA and the City of Santa Rosa must be executed.
For FY26-FY30, Santa Rosa CityBus plans to use Go Sonoma fare-free transit funds to support continuation of the UR Free fare-free program for TK-12th grade youth, as approved by Council on May 13, 2025. These funds are expected to be complemented by state funding from the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP).
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund. This approval allows CityBus to receive reimbursement funds from SCTA related to the Go Sonoma sales tax to provide fare free transit Programs.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The Council finds that 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 – Cooperative Funding Agreement No. 51201E1
PRESENTER
Shawn Sosa, Administrative Analyst
GO SONOMA COOPERATIVE FUNDING AGREEMENT
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