Agenda Item #15.1
For Council Meeting of: January 27, 2026
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MEGAN BASINGER, DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
SCOTT WESTROPE, FIRE CHIEF, FIRE DEPARTMENT
JOHN CREGAN, POLICE CHIEF, POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREVENTION TAX ANNUAL REPORT AGENDA ACTION: MOTION
RECOMMENDATION
The Finance, Fire, Police, and Housing and Community Services Departments, and the Public Safety and Prevention Citizen’s Oversight Committee recommend that the Council, by motion, accept the Public Safety and Prevention Tax Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024-25. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Ordinance 3680 added Chapter 3-26 to the Santa Rosa City Code establishing a special transaction and use tax known as Public Safety and Prevention Tax (PSAP). Each year an Annual Report is prepared by City staff, reviewed by the PSAP Citizen Oversight Committee, and presented to the City Council reporting on revenue, expenditures and accomplishments during the past fiscal year.
GOAL
This item relates to Council Goal #1 - Achieve and Maintain Budgeting Excellence and Fiscal Stability by ensuring that PSAP funds uses and purposes as set forth in Section 3-26.120 of Santa Rosa City Code.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR COUNCIL REVIEW
Ordinance 3680 added Chapter 3-26 to the Santa Rosa City Code establishing a special transaction and use tax. The special tax measure, known as Measure O, increased sales tax by a quarter percent to fund specific Police, Fire, and Gang Prevention and Youth Programs, as set forth in the Ordinance.
The Ordinance also established a seven-member Citizen Oversight Committee (COC), with members appointed by the City Council, to annually review expenditures and appropriations of the tax revenues to ensure that all such revenues are spent or appropriate for the purposes and uses set forth in the Ordinance. Each year, an Annual Report is prepared by City staff, reviewed by the COC, and presented to the City Council reporting on expenditures and activities during the past fiscal year.
The tax revenues generated by PSAP Tax are split among Fire (40%), Police (40%), and Gang Prevention and Youth Programs (20%). Revenues are spent in accordance with an Implementation Plan that was adopted by the City Council.
ANALYSIS
On October 23, 2025, staff presented the annual report of revenues, expenditures, and accomplishments associated with tax revenues for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 to the PSAP Citizen Oversight committee for their review. The Committee was provided with a presentation by representatives from each PSAP program area outlining their revenues, expenditures, and accomplishments during the past fiscal year. Committee members discussed the report and provided comments. The Committee recommended with a vote of 6-0-0 that the report be forwarded to the City Council for approval.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, the recommended 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 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
The Public Safety and Prevention Tax Oversight Committee recommends the Council by motion formally accept the Public Safety and Prevention Tax Annual Report for FY 2024-25.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – FY 2024 -25 Public Safety and Prevention Annual Report
PRESENTER(S)
Danielle Ronshausen-Pena, Program Manager – Violence Prevention Partnership Scott Westrope, Fire Chief
John Cregan, Police Chief
PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREVENTION TAX ANNUAL REPORT
PAGE 3 OF 3