Live Blog From Tuesday's Budget Workshop

4 p.m. City Council convenes for a special budget workshop, reviewing fiscal year 2012-13.

Mayor Jake Mackenzie issues a proclamation, declaring the week of April 22-28 national crime victims' rights wewk in the city.

4:13: Rancho Cotate High School's Virtual Enterprise Club presented to the council on their recent competition, where 61 schools vyied to develop a business strategy and product. Between the school's two classes, Rancho brought home three awards.

The businesses were dubbed "The Funny Face Place," and "Sweet Baby Cakes."

4:17 p.m. City Manager Gabe Gonzalez introduces a budget work session — a check-in at where the city is financially.

"In the past few years, much of the topic of conversation regarding the city's financial situation has been about strucutral deficits, operating cash shortage, unfunded liabilities and even the possibility of bankruptcy," he said.

Gonzalez says the city's "Strategic Plan," geared towards economic vibrancy, smart growth and maintaing city services — is one step in addressing the city's future financial situation.

Brian Masterson, the director of Public Safety, says engaging the community in budget planning and feedback is one major priority. Also looking at city service levels is a priority — such as parks, libraries, recreation and sewer and water.

Those are just a few goals of the city's longterm plan. The gist is now, the city says they'll develop a plan to live within its means and grow Rohnert Park's economy and identity in the future.

Among the develpment projects planned, the city says it'll focus on implementing planned developments, such as the University District. Also work with the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria to maximize the benefit to the city, and work on developing the City Center SMART station and former State Farm building to a more vibrant core.

Councilwoman Gina Belforte said having a "roadmap" with timelines is great. She said the city needs to work on a clearer vision of marketing the city.

"I think it's a great start," said Councilman Joe Callinan.

Councilman Amy Ahanotu agreed.

"We are using this as a way to hold us accountable," Ahanotu said.

"This might look like we're biting off more than we can chew," said Vice Mayor Pam Stafford. "But I think we can do all of this on time."

Mackenzie said he thinks it's important to make clear priorities on what he said was an ambitious plan.

4:45: Mackenzie said once the framework goes up for the first house that's planned here, the commnity will start reverberating — so, he said, we should start community outreach now.

Gonzalez presents on Measure E, the five-year half-cent sales tax that voters passed in 2010. Last year, the sales tax measure took in $2.4 million.

"That's an indication that the community understood the importance of it at the time," Gonzalez said. "I'm going to propose that we need to start talking about extending it...we're still in financial recovery."

Gonzalez in 2015 is projecting, given expenditures and revenues, a remaining $4.5 million deficit if Measure E is not extended.

Structural deficit continues on a longterm basis, Gonzelaz said.

Because of Measure E, he said, City Hall has re-opened on Fridays, the city hired a code compliance officer, parks have been maintained, graffiti removed and fire stations have remained open — to name a few.

Gonzalez said the city needs to examine the impact of losing Measure E — services such as public safety, the animal shelter or parks and street repair could suffer.

Belforte said she'd like have a discussion about extending Measure E — there are a lot of tax increases coming up, with Gov. Jerry Brown's tax increase, the schools parcel tax and competition from other retailers in surrounding cities.

5:05: "These are choppy waters we're heading in to," she said.

Callinan said something has to be done, when looking at budget figures, but said it's "daunting" to think about extending Measure E right now.

"We've got great opportunity in Rohnert Park right now," Callinan said, with housing plans, the casino and the Green Music Center. "We need to try to create some sales tax dollars."

"We have our work cut out for us," he said.

It's important to realize that we need $45 million dollars for our future budget, and right new we have 20-something million,"Ahanotu said. City services will be impacted if we don't look at how to fill that $20-plus million gap.

5:10: Ahanotu said the city should start talking about Measure E now, because the city needs that $2.4 million.

"We don't know how (the economy in the future) is going to impact us, and by how much," he said.

5:35: Gonzalez presents a financial recovery plan for the city — some proposals include fee increases, establish a minimum general fund reserve and maintaining and replacing infrasturcture such as sewer and water pipes.

6:05: The city has presented us a series of financial and city planning documents, now it's up to us to see how the city will actually deliver it in the context of the annual budget, Mackenzie said.

Meeting adjourns. Gonzalez says the next step is to adopt the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget and financial recovery plan by July 1.