To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Jennifer Solito, 707-565-4774
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Approve the Re-appointments of Edward Sheffield, Betzy Chavez, Shannon McEntee, Gregory Fearon, Shirlee Zane, Ben Ford and Kevin McDonnell to the Measure O Citizens’ Oversight Committee for a term beginning December 7, 2024 and ending December 7, 2027.
End
Executive Summary:
Per Sonoma County Local Mental Health, Addiction and Homeless Services Measure Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance No. 6316 passed by voters in November 2020 authorizing a countywide quarter-cent special transactions and use sales tax for a ten-year period to support behavioral health and homeless services. Per Ordinance No. 6316, on December 7, 2021, the Board established a seven-member Citizens’ Oversight Committee to provide public transparency and ensure fiscal accountability for these tax dollars, along with governing bylaws.
Two of the Committee members are selected by the Sonoma County City Selection Committee. Additional members must include a Hospital Representative or first responder, a business community representative, and a community member with lived experience of
mental health needs or homelessness. Committee Members serve a three-year term and are eligible to be reappointed by their appointing body. All Committee Member appointments expire December 7, 2024. The Department of Health Services (hereinafter “DHS” or “the Department”) recommends Betzy Chavez, Shannon McEntee, Gregory Fearon and Shirlee Zane to complete another term. The Hospital Council recommends Edward Sheffield to complete another term. The Sonoma County City Selection Committee recommends Ben Ford and Kevin McDonnell to complete another term.
Discussion:
On November 3, 2020, Measure O was approved by 67 percent of voters. Pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code 7285.5, the new quarter-cent sales tax became operative as of April 1, 2021. The tax term is a ten-year period, put in place in order to support behavioral health and homeless services.
Implementation of Measure O required the formation of an independent seven-member Citizens’ Oversight Committee (hereinafter “the Committee”) to provide public transparency and ensure fiscal accountability. The Board adopted a resolution creating the Committee on December 7, 2021, appointing the original Committee members, and adopting the governing bylaws for the Committee.
The role of the Committee is to review the receipt and expenditures of revenue from the Measure O transaction and use tax, including results from the County’s annual independent audit, in conjunction with the County’s budget process. The Committee also produces an annual oral or written report on its review, that is considered by your Board. This calendar year’s written report will be presented to the Board on December 10, 2024.
The Oversight Committee has been meeting since February of 2022 and the seven (7) Committee members will complete their terms on December 7, 2024, with some members completing the remainder of terms from committee members who have resigned before their term ended. Ernesto Olivares resigned early from the hospital seat in July 2023 with Ed Sheffield filling that seat starting October 3, 2023, and Orlando O’Shea resigned early from the lived experiences seat in January 2024 with Shannon McEntee filling that seat starting April 30, 2024.
The Committee members are chosen in coordination with DHS as the lead agency for Measure O dollars, the Clerk of the Board as the administrative coordinator for commission appointments, and the Sonoma County City Selection Committee. The Sonoma County City Selection Committee is a group made up of mayors from all the cities within Sonoma County. The main role of the Sonoma County City Selection Committee is to appoint representatives from the cities to serve on various regional boards and commissions, like transportation, community services or environmental agencies, this provides a means for city leaders to have a voice in county-wide decisions that impact all residents.
To support continuity of transparency and in accordance with the Committee seat terms, DHS is recommending the Board re-appoint Betzy Chavez, Shannon McEntee, Gregory Fearon and Shirlee Zane to another term. The Hospital Council recommends the Board re-appoint Edward Sheffield to another term. The Sonoma County City Selection Committee recommends the Board re-appoints Ben Ford and Kevin McDonnell to another term.
Reference: Sonoma County Local Mental Health, Addiction and Homeless Services Measure Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance
<https://library.municode.com/ca/sonoma_county/ordinances/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=1037940>
Prior Board Actions:
On December 7, 2021, the Board adopted a resolution creating the Measure O Citizens’ Oversight Committee, appointing the original seven members, and adopting the Committee governing bylaws.
On August 4, 2020 the Board A) adopted an Ordinance entitled the Sonoma County Local Mental Health, Addiction and Homeless Services Measure Transaction and Use Tax Ordinance imposing a countywide ¼ cent special transactions and use tax (sales tax) in Sonoma County for Sonoma County behavioral health and homeless services pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285.5; B) authorized the Department of Health Services to coordinate with the County Administrator to contract with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to administer the tax, if approved by voters; and C) adopted a resolution calling a special election to submit to the voters of Sonoma County a one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) sales tax measure entitled “the Sonoma County Local Mental Health, Addiction and Homeless Services Measure Transaction and Use Tax Ordinance” and ordering that the special election be consolidated with the statewide general election to be conducted on November 3, 2020.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
N/A
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Measure O Oversight Committee Membership Composition - October 2024
Attachment 2 - Committee Member Applications
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None