[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6603347,"mediaKeyId","3000358-43dad527f61f97a64a4b1b32da5d2718","parentId",3000358,"title","Santa Rosa managers lay out $20M structural shortfall, seek $13M in cuts and options to avert insolvency","audioSeconds",2511,"startMs",324000,"endMs",2835000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000358-43dad527f61f97a64a4b1b32da5d2718&start=324&end=2835","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000358-43dad527f61f97a64a4b1b32da5d2718/thumbnail_324000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6603347/Santa-Rosa-City/Sonoma-County/California/Santa-Rosa-managers-lay-out-20M-structural-shortfall-seek-13M-in-cuts-and-options-to-avert-insolvency","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603347-8a267323cbf634a2ae5dd0b9114960bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163037&Signature=bRObtbmkQc5XqnW6zLX2i-9uMmJOmavuvdFfkDnqSK53KSH6IH47kzK8RWN6AjGg27vfOSFaMZbo-~XTdDLm1R~SBj1JD1sW4BZW1S129AHlczQv7SdJ4o8JrFJp~c8ZkBdsNNugglO6O0q9xFqeXmlBY1jJurHgpPchEwNPNL7CPfc2wyul4oHHsdzt04ilbIL2nE4PfB1mMdTdfvW5ZIYgYBghN1yZWKK~5PSf7lbhKfFbDJLl8Ngn0PJXp9QqzmZmltyUDPm3wc4Khu5lnKh6P~ncluQKw4kUt6jfV8BSjAR1KlOx-Z8oYw3hluvc-7NOBNgPc9ALTbg856HV5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Santa Rosa, CA","date","2025-04-16T02:37:34.057Z","article","City staff on Tuesday presented a detailed budget study session to the Santa Rosa City Council, saying the general fund faces a structural deficit of about $19.9 million for fiscal year 2025–26 that grows in subsequent years unless the city takes substantial action. Finance staff said a major driver is weaker-than-expected sales-tax revenue and sharply higher CalPERS pension costs.

The finance director and chief financial officer walked council through: updated sales tax forecasts; an operating reserve analysis showing reserves would be exhausted within a few years at current spending levels; and a menu of reductions totaling about $13.1 million the city could adopt now to reduce the near-term gap. That package would lower the immediate deficit to roughly $6.7 million, staff said, but additional steps would still be required in later years.

Staff emphasized the drivers. The city’s sales-tax forecast was revised downward after consultant reviews and the end of pandemic-era growth; sales-tax budget for FY2025–26 was reduced by roughly $5 million. At the same time, rising employer pension payments to CalPERS accounted for much of the long-term growth in the deficit. CFO Alan Alton and Budget Manager Veronica Connor said current projections reflect proposed 4% and then 3% labor cost-of-living adjustments and other agreed labor costs.

To reduce the deficit, staff proposed a combination of actions across administrative departments and public safety. Administrative and operational reductions—vacant-position eliminations, outsourcing some finance tasks, shifting some planning staff to special-revenue funds, and cutting contracts—totaled just over $5 million and would eliminate about 14 FTEs if adopted. Staff also proposed evaluating two general-fund contracts in Housing & Community Services (legal-aid funding and immigration legal services) for possible reduction or elimination.

Public-safety proposals presented included the police department’s recommended reductions of about $2.5 million (eliminating roughly 12 FTEs in an initial proposal, with deeper reductions required to reach 8% savings) and multiple options from the fire department, including brownouts (temporary station closures while keeping staff on payroll) and blackouts (permanent decommissioning and layoffs). Staff said a fire truck company blackout plus other fire reductions would be among the options needed to approach an 8% public-safety target.

Staff also identified mandatory furloughs as a potential measure. Using a model comparable to prior recession-era furloughs, an 80-hour mandatory furlough across general-fund employees could save about $1.4 million per year (a pay reduction of roughly 3.85% for those affected). Staff characterized furloughs as temporary measures best used alongside structural changes.

Housing and homeless services were a central focus. Staff told council that ARPA funds that had been underwriting some homeless programs were fully expended, leaving the general fund to backfill costs. Direct operating costs for homeless services in FY2025–26 total roughly $5.9 million; staff said the total community cost including indirect public-safety responses could be higher (staff estimated $8–10 million when indirect costs are considered). Safe parking costs are roughly $1.0 million per year, with only $500,000 identified for FY2025–26 at the time of the presentation.

Council members repeatedly pressed staff on regional funding, calling on Sonoma County to deliver more support (Measure O/Measure H-type funding) because the city bears a disproportionate share of services and encampment responses. Housing and Community Services Director Megan Basinger and police and fire chiefs briefed council on how city programs, outreach and enforcement interact and warned that cuts to homelessness programs would increase pressure on police and fire response and on downtown services.

Staff presented sensitivity and reserve analyses showing that, after the proposed $13.1 million cuts, the city would still face long-term deficits driven largely by pension payments. City leaders and staff described the proposed package as a way to buy time for reorganization, further efficiencies and continued negotiations with labor and regional partners; they said deeper steps or additional revenue would still be needed to close the long-term gap.

Council gave staff direction—in a 5–1 straw poll—to continue to pursue the package of reductions, engage labor on potential impacts, and return in May with more detailed materials as part of the FY2026 budget study sequence. Staff also said they would form a short-term “budget deficit advisory committee” with councilmembers, staff and community members to provide additional public engagement.

What’s next: staff will return with department-level detail for items to be included in the May study session and the June budget adoption timeline. Staff also said they will report on any county or regional funding changes that affect homeless-services costs.

Quotes (selected and attributed to speakers who appeared in the transcript): “We are unsustainable at this level of reserve in the immediate future,” Deputy Finance Director Scott Wagner said as staff described the reserve outlook. “If we were to move forward with this all, it would bring our deficit down to 6.7 million,” Budget Manager Veronica Connor said when summarizing the package of departmental reductions. Fire management and unions urged caution: Steven Del Porto, director of Santa Rosa Firefighters, told council that “browning out or blacking out a station has drastic impacts on the community.”

Ending: Council members expressed deep reluctance about cuts to public-safety staffing and widespread concern about the county’s share of homelessness funding. Staff and council agreed to pursue the initial reduction package while continuing to seek regional partners and evaluate other budget tools (pension bonds, operational reorganizations, and additional revenue options). The council directed staff to continue negotiations with labor and to return with refined, department-level proposals in May and a proposed adopted budget in June.

(For the record: staff repeatedly emphasized that the numbers presented are staff proposals and forecasts; no final policy decisions were adopted at the study session beyond direction to continue work and consult labor.)","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Santa Rosa Council Meeting April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff reported a roughly $19.9 million general-fund gap for FY2025–26 and proposed about $13.1 million of reductions—ranging from contract and position cuts to furloughs and possible fire-station brownouts—to buy time while the city seeks further savings or revenue.","taxTitle","Santa Rosa City, Sonoma County, California","taxId",3913,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603335,"Council appoints members to new Design Review & Preservation Board, renames Cultural Heritage board seat",10307,12446000,22753000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000358-43dad527f61f97a64a4b1b32da5d2718&start=12446&end=22753","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000358-43dad527f61f97a64a4b1b32da5d2718/thumbnail_12446000.jpg","/articles/6603335/Santa-Rosa-City/Sonoma-County/California/Council-appoints-members-to-new-Design-Review-Preservation-Board-renames-Cultural-Heritage-board-seat","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603335-e2686a46c718c854cb73966ad52f27dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163037&Signature=SxWHWR6aWob2YE80lRwBoYbRa7uOICgh433ROPB3d3XFkkMUsb0V6DX48Sd6WqzZA6vPJePXi~STc1gDzMrFjLV26HxTypg~zxO9SiafirTdNt5TVe-PuXmTAOkyjnDdRTvZToBZ0c7~bWLfUeycvHPF80D5KYP6bbwHGjD~6CUrEvO3zbFJM5RrtEXvF8QxreOMuXxXjlzd7PKb~WmbNOLGQmPVM~MB65EhLivKit~mUczRTRJYV6FOuxS9f9vm1jkSZ4s3Zws49mZtAvXc5CYKp9JaF1PHgb4feDuM2xhaRwTsSoObTDlgh4JzUhMe4CwU-PhTjojTe5RCOkwu0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its April 15 meeting the Santa Rosa City Council appointed seven members to the newly created Design Review & Preservation Board, the hybrid body that consolidates historic-preservation and design-review functions.

Council voted on staggered terms to ensure continuity. The council’s appointments (motions adopted by roll call) included practicing professionals and residents with local building-history experience. The new board additions include licensed architects, a landscape professional, and several at‑large community members with experience in design or historic preservation. Council also approved renaming the separate Community Services board language to “Board of Parks and Recreation” to align board naming with the Recreation & Parks Department title.

Appointments approved by council (vote recorded 5–0):
- Licensed architect seat (term ending 2028): Robert Weigel
- Licensed architect seat (term ending 2027): Mike Schwartz
- Architectural historian/historian seat (term ending 2027): Ingrid Anderson (council asked staff to confirm application documentation for this specialty)
- Licensed landscape professional (term ending 2027): Adam Sharon
- At‑large members (terms ending 2028 / 2027): Melanie Jones Carter, Cher Ennis, and Drew (surname in record: Weigel/Drew — appointed as at‑large)

Councilmembers said they sought a geographic and professional mix and staggered terms to protect institutional knowledge while adding new perspectives. Staff noted the appointments followed an open application and interview process.

What the council adopted: a set of appointments to the new board and a name change to an existing board to reflect department naming conventions. These actions set the new board composition and permit the new board to begin scheduling meetings and taking up design-review and preservation matters under consolidated rules.

Next steps: staff will confirm credential documentation (particularly for the historian/architectural‑historian seat), finalize term start dates, and schedule the inaugural board meeting.

Quotes: “I would love to see a diversity of districts represented and mix of experience,” Councilmember Rogers said while discussing slate balance.

Ending: The new board appointments and board-name change passed on roll-call votes. Staff will return with documentation and the board will begin its public schedule in coming weeks.","The Santa Rosa City Council appointed seven members to the newly consolidated Design Review & Preservation Board and approved renaming the existing Cultural Heritage board to the Board of Parks and Recreation for consistency with city department titles.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603337,"Santa Rosa council authorizes submission of 2025–26 HUD action plan to continue federal homelessness and housing programs",0,112837000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000358-43dad527f61f97a64a4b1b32da5d2718&start=112837&end=112837","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000358-43dad527f61f97a64a4b1b32da5d2718/thumbnail_112837000.jpg","/articles/6603337/Santa-Rosa-City/Sonoma-County/California/Santa-Rosa-council-authorizes-submission-of-202526-HUD-action-plan-to-continue-federal-homelessness-and-housing-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603337-3e025366690a7e952ddae7c30aa1c0a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163037&Signature=NbTo7v7PrOHtAFjPvji6nN~WvFoTa7-ywseLI2dGZtOmTLby0mdWc-yTMhy5QLc403G3fW~SN0jE802w5wSlspYhgsJUJmEmZFOJpVEcql1f2fVorVR8h8lQcoK80SdrSYkIemul4Qnx7~osUlVnaMFMK8~YObZtbadH6-3iv~2shZVeoqj3ezqdaJDyPROusEJggp9Rrjo~fDqgcLjmghcKRcW2qTmmC88a1WWB3cuNYqi3TaGoLG8dMFaskQQI6yQeVlVuHjdZJ11U0rgsz2xposjRVC7lhdoZNM6n2yUvkjq649q6mOPPcTAUQkWE-qHUSiAAEDuvjWsbEhqBFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Rosa City Council voted to authorize submission of the city’s fiscal-year 2025–26 Annual Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), confirming how the city will use CDBG, HOME and HOPWA allocations for the coming year.

Housing and Community Services staff reported that the Action Plan is the annual implementation element of the city’s consolidated plan and that HUD requires the document to receive federal entitlement funding. Estimated funding amounts presented to council (based on FY2024 allocations and program income) were: approximately $1.3 million in CDBG, about $700,000 in HOME and roughly $520,000 in HOPWA; the actual HUD formula awards will be announced in May.

Staff described program priorities and the proposed allocations by category (housing, homelessness, special needs, public services and related administration) and said the city released a Notice of Funding Availability for CDBG public‑service funds, hosted a public meeting in February, and held a 30‑day public comment period on the draft action plan. Staff said public outreach included emails to stakeholders, social media, publication notices and availability of the draft plan at City Hall annex and the central library.

Council voted 5–0 to authorize the submittal of the action plan and to delegate authority to the city manager to execute required HUD forms and agreements.

What council approved: a resolution authorizing submittal of the FY2025–26 Action Plan and authorizing the city manager to sign related HUD documents. The council’s action positions the city to receive HUD entitlement allocations and distribute CXDBG public‑service funds via a separate funding recommendation process to be brought back after the HUD allocation is announced.

Quote: “This is the second action plan of the city’s 2024–27 consolidated plan,” staff said when summarizing priorities.

Next steps: HUD will announce actual grant awards in May; staff will return with final funding recommendations for CDBG public‑service awards after the city receives HUD’s formal allocation.","The council approved submission of Santa Rosa’s FY2025–26 HUD Action Plan—covering Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME and HOPWA funding—authorizing staff to send the plan to HUD and execute required forms. Public outreach and a 30‑day comment period preceded adoption.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603342,"United Soccer League signs LOI to explore pro soccer team and stadium in Santa Rosa",1217,15469000,16686000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000358-43dad527f61f97a64a4b1b32da5d2718&start=15469&end=16686","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000358-43dad527f61f97a64a4b1b32da5d2718/thumbnail_15469000.jpg","/articles/6603342/Santa-Rosa-City/Sonoma-County/California/United-Soccer-League-signs-LOI-to-explore-pro-soccer-team-and-stadium-in-Santa-Rosa","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603342-7c65c3a9e80e66af9da706030765ca83/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163037&Signature=BADgrF-1rBqbRCksQRAep3qSG7slqIez4obz8aDQPCwh9EQlNatOXvtERx6uVDkfIiYmRd4BWhj~ehjBXon3W4y1fmvCysTmZiddngqrWNEymHYmJ3A-TP4gRxvz1cIEddd-FB8CWfTVIyCgbUQ2UETVYufVN6~W3-ZxvDcIPiBcLnO9ca-zyH5-IkcX0iujTOXWTIEvsVz-sVSGLtalJG9vT1xAOO8PV-X9UjfbiRASjZgGd0IrhugmrW21cKEPt3YsQKiFZ9u0eDmxhI2pTaHJ3qzDPId8bil3FdxgX3RhVLj3HqhOmsDQg~pGEinyqqSWVJpP4GCIqyx5ZdOivA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Santa Rosa and the United Soccer League (USL) announced Tuesday that they have executed a letter of intent (LOI) giving the league an exclusive 12‑month window to negotiate expansion into Santa Rosa, including siting and financing options for a multipurpose stadium and associated development.

Gabe Osborne (Planning & Economic Development director) and Scott Adair (chief economic development officer) briefed council on USL’s recruitment interest, describing a process that would identify suitable sites, explore private and public financing, evaluate league placement (USL Championship or League One for men; USL Super League or Western league for women), and—if a deal is viable—lead to a development agreement and stadium ownership and operations framework.

USL officials said they see Santa Rosa as a favorable market because of its population, a relatively young median age, a high concentration of soccer fans in the region’s media market, and limited nearby professional competition north of the Bay Area. The LOI includes an exclusivity period to prevent USL from negotiating with competing leagues and gives the league a right of first refusal on ancillary real-estate development tied to a stadium project.

USL and state officials emphasized the potential economic impact of a stadium-anchored project and cited USL experience nationwide with stadium-focused development. State economic-development staff said the governor’s office is prepared to help with permitting, workforce and financing resources if the project advances.

Council members and public speakers voiced near‑unanimous enthusiasm for the prospect; business and hospitality leaders said the city’s downtown and tourism sectors would benefit. Several public speakers described likely youth- and community-engagement benefits and asked how youth clinics, outreach to local clubs and women’s teams would be incorporated. USL representatives said community programming and a full development pathway for boys and girls are integral to the USL model.

Next steps: staff said they will host an initial community forum on June 4, 2025 (4–6 p.m.) to explain the process, gather input on sites and impacts, and collect public questions. Staff also noted the LOI imposes no immediate fiscal commitment; the LOI is exclusively an exploratory and negotiation-phase framework. Any public land use or subsidy would require additional council review, environmental analysis and, if applicable, compliance with the Surplus Land Act.

Quotes: “USL wants to be part of this,” USL deputy CEO Justin Papadakis told council. “We’ve moved this to the top of our list and have committed the time, energy and resources to work with this council.” California Business Development Office representative Tony Gomez offered state support, saying, “We are ready to roll up our sleeves and bring all resources that we have at GO‑Biz to bear on this project.”

Why it matters: A USL franchise and a 5,000-seat stadium would create recurring sports-event traffic, hospitality demand and potential ancillary development, and could provide a regional entertainment venue that otherwise does not exist north of the Bay Area. Council gave staff direction to continue the LOI process and to return with more detailed site, fiscal and regulatory information as the exploratory work proceeds.

Sections:
Lede — The city and USL executed a letter of intent giving USL an exclusive period to explore a professional-soccer club and a minimum 5,000-seat multipurpose stadium in Santa Rosa.
Nut graf — USL executives said Santa Rosa’s demographics and lack of proximate pro-soccer competition make it an attractive market; the LOI is an exploratory step with no fiscal commitment yet.
Body – Market case, LOI terms (exclusivity, stadium sizing, possible league placements), planned community outreach (June 4 forum), and state expressions of support.
Ending — Staff will continue site evaluation, fund and permitting analysis, and public outreach. Any eventual proposal requiring public land or subsidy will return to council for full hearings and environmental review.","The United Soccer League and City of Santa Rosa signed a 12-month letter of intent to explore a USL professional club and a multipurpose 5,000-seat stadium. USL and state economic-development representatives told council they view Santa Rosa as an under-served soccer market with strong demographics and regional potential.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Santa Rosa managers lay out $20M structural shortfall, seek $13M in cuts and options to avert insolvency

Council appoints members to new Design Review & Preservation Board, renames Cultural Heritage board seat

Santa Rosa council authorizes submission of 2025–26 HUD action plan to continue federal homelessness and housing programs

United Soccer League signs LOI to explore pro soccer team and stadium in Santa Rosa