Agenda Item #13.8
For Council Meeting of: September 30, 2025
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JOHN CREGAN, CHIEF OF POLICE
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE, APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT, AND APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY OF SONOMA MEASURE O SALES TAX REVENUE FOR THE INRESPONSE MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TEAM AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
The Police Department recommends that the Council, by resolution: 1) accept funding from the County of Sonoma in the amount of $3,043,114 to support the inRESPONSE Mental Health Support Team operations; 2) approve and delegate authority to the City Manager to execute an agreement with the County and any related documents required for receiving such; and 3) appropriate $3,043,114 of County Measure O Sales Tax revenue.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Police Department requires approval to receive funding from the County of Sonoma Measure O Sales Tax revenue to support the inRESPONSE Mental Health Support Team in the amount of $3,043,114.
GOAL
This item relates to Council Goal #1- Achieve and Maintain Budgeting Excellence and Fiscal Stability by providing additional funding from County taxes.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR COUNCIL REVIEW
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 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 the Fiscal Year 2023/2024 the City received $514,440 to expand the inRESPONSE Mental Health Support team to include hospital navigators. In Fiscal Year 2024/2025 the City received $1,450,000, these funds were used to continue the highly successful inRESPONSE Mental Health Support team at the 24-hour model.
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.
From January to July of 2025 the inRESPONSE Mental Health Support Team handled 3,605 calls and provided 2,190 system navigation services diverting 2,922 calls from being handled by law enforcement. 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
Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the Police Department funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4), the recommended action is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as it involves the creation of government funding mechanisms and other fiscal activities that do not involve a commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant impact on the environment. In the alternative, the recommended 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 recommended action may have a significant effect on the environment.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution / Exhibit A (Agreement)
PRESENTER(S)
John P Cregan, Chief of Police
[email protected]
ACCEPTANCE, APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT, AND APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY OF SONOMA MEASURE O SALES TAX REVENUE FOR THE INRESPONSE MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TEAM PAGE 3 OF 3