To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrators Office and First 5 Sonoma County
Staff Name and Phone Number: 707-565-2431
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): countywide
Title:
Title
Establishment of the Sonoma County Child Care and Children's Health Community Advisory Council
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution Establishing the Sonoma County Child Care and Children's Health Community Advisory Council
end
Executive Summary:
Measure I, titled the Sonoma County Child Care and Children’s Health Initiative (“the Ordinance”), was approved by voters at the November 5, 2024 election. The Ordinance authorizes a countywide one-half-cent special transaction and use tax, known as the Sonoma County Child Care and Children’s Health Tax (“Tax”), to ensure that Sonoma County children receive the high-quality early care, education and health screening and care they need to be successful adults. The Ordinance requires that the Board of Supervisors establish a Sonoma County Child Care and Children's Health Community Advisory Council (Council) within 45 days of the effective date of the Ordinance. The deadline to establish the Council is February 3, 2025.
The First 5 Sonoma County Commission (Commission) is the Administering Agency of the Tax and shall, in part, be responsible for providing staff support for the Council. Therefore, using the County’s Board and Commissions application process, Commission staff will identify individuals for the Board of Supervisors to appoint within 90 days of the effective date of the Ordinance. The Commission will staff and ensure that all requirements for Council members are met prior to providing recommendations to the Board for appointment. The deadline to appoint Council members is no later than March 20, 2025.
Discussion:
On February 6, 2024, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 24-0035 and formally submitted Measure I, the Sonoma County Child Care and Children’s Health Initiative (“the Ordinance”), to the voters of Sonoma County at the November 2024 Election. Measure I was approved by 58.77% of voters countywide and authorizes a countywide one-half-cent special transaction and use tax, known as the Sonoma County Child Care and Children’s Health Tax, to fund childcare, preschool and early childhood education for low- and middle-income children and families in Sonoma County, and the local children’s health care safety net, until ended by the voters. The Ordinance became effective on December 20, 2024 (”Effective Date”), pursuant to Elections Code section 9122, with an operative date of April 1, 2025. Proceeds from the Sonoma County Child Care and Children’s Health Tax shall be deposited into the County treasury in a special fund entitled the Sonoma County Child Care and Children’s Health Care Fund (“Fund”), which shall be annually audited.
The Ordinance requires that the Board of Supervisors establish a Sonoma County Child Care and Children's Health Community Advisory Council (Council) within 45 days of the Effective Date. Members shall be appointed to the Council by the Board of Supervisors within 90 days of the Effective Date.
The Council shall be composed of eleven members, including: (1) Two members of the child care workforce, one of whom is a worker from an early care and education center who works in the classroom, and one of whom is a family child care provider; (2) Two parents and/or guardians of a child or children under the age of six (at the time of appointment to the Council) at least one of whom must have experience participating in a subsidized child care program or subsidy wait list; (3) One administrator and/or director of a local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency; (4) One administrator and/or director from an early care and education center participating in a state or federally subsidized child care program in Sonoma County; and (5) Five members who represent pediatric and/or perinatal health and/or mental health care systems, including but not limited to providers and administrators representing local hospitals, federally qualified health centers, community-based organizations, County Department of Health Services and other entities. Council members shall serve a four-year term, with the exception of the first class of members, five of whom shall serve a two-year term as determined by lottery at the first meeting of the Council with the remainder serving a four-year term. No member may serve on the Council for more than twelve consecutive years.
The Council shall annually review the audit of the Fund, and shall develop policy and programmatic recommendations related to the Fund and its implementation, including but not limited to: (1) Recommendations to the Administering Agency about the Plan and Annual Expenditure Plan; (2) Initiatives to improve the quality and capacity-building of service providers; (3) Initiatives to evaluate and improve access to programs, particularly including through the use of technology to streamline referral, navigation and linkage and better integration of services; and (4) Strategies to enhance community engagement in the planning and implementation of services. Finally, the Council shall promote and facilitate transparency in the administration of the Fund, including opportunities for public testimony and a community engagement process with parent, providers, early care and education organizations and other
stakeholders to receive input and support robust involvement on program development and implementation. Staff support for the Council will be provided by First 5 Sonoma County Commission, the Administering Agency of the Tax (“Administering Agency”), to develop and administer all of the programs, activities and services paid for by the Fund.
Applications for Council members can be submitted via the County’s Boards & Commissions webpage following the Board’s establishment of this Council. Appointments to the Council will take place at a later date, based on recommendations from the Administering Agency.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
December 10, 2024 - Adoption of the official canvass of the vote for the November 5, 2024 General Election (which adopted this Ordinance per Cal Elec Code 9122)
February 6, 2024 - Board adopted a Resolution formally submitting the Ordinance to the voters of Sonoma County at the November 5, 2024 election
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Resolution Establishing the Sonoma County Child Care and Children's Health Community Advisory Council
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A