From: Adrian Covert
To: CityCouncilListPublic; City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Comment on agenda items 13.6 and 15.1 Date: Monday, July 27, 2026 5:02:07 PM
Attachments: 07.27 Tax Caritas.pdf
Greetings Councilmembers,
Please see the attached comments from Santa Rosa YIMBY in support of the Caritas item and the Measure Q increase/extension.
Best,
Adrian Covert
Santa Rosa, CA
July 27, 2026
The Honorable Mark Stapp, Mayor
Santa Rosa City Council
100 Santa Rosa Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Re: Agenda items 13.6 Caritas Homes Phase II (SUPPORT); and 15.1 Transaction and Use Tax Ballot Measure (SUPPORT)
Dear Mayor Stapp and Councilmembers,
Santa Rosa YIMBY , an all-volunteer association of Santa Rosa residents dedicated to saying “Yes-in-my-backyard” to new housing to help build Santa Rosa into an affordable, vibrant, and low-carbon city for all, respectfully requests you approve the staff resolution allowing the city to seek up to $30 million in grant support for Caritas Phase II, and to move forward replacing the city’s half cent sales tax measure with a one-cent tax on the November 2026 ballot.
Santa Rosa currently faces at least three concurrent crises: (1) a fiscal crisis that threatens essential city services; (2) a bureaucratic and demographic and crisis that’s threatening city schools with state receivership; and (3) a homelessness crisis that undermines public health, safety, and downtown revitalization efforts. Two items on tomorrow’s agenda will help address all three crises.
The first is agenda item 13.6 regarding a proposed development at 360 7th Street. This project would create an additional 64 below-market-rate homes and further advance meeting both Council Goal #5 - Plan for and Encourage Housing for All and Reduce Homelessness, and the city’s RHNA obligations.
The second item is 15.1 to increase and extend the Transaction and Use tax. Santa Rosa’s fiscal crisis is a revenue problem and a legacy spending problem: Total city staffing, including police and public safety, is today less than they were 20 years ago despite the city undergoing several annexations and adding thousands of new residents. Without additional revenues, the city will be forced to make devastating cuts to public safety that could cost lives and jeopardize the city’s economic recovery. Increasing and extending the Measure Q sales tax will close the city’s budget deficit while also providing capital resources to improve street infrastructure.
For these reasons, we respectfully request Council members follow staff recommendation and approve both item 13.6 and 15.1.
Sincerely,
Adrian Covert
Local Lead
Santa Rosa YIMBY
From: Larry
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Any tax increase
Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 1:11:52 PM
Seems that all the city council can do is hope for tax increases to fund their pet projects. I will vote NO only any tax increases on the ballot.
Sent from my iPhone