CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AGENDA PACKET

Page 2 of 5 2. Develop Approaches to Achieve Goals A government should have specific policies, plans, programs, and management strategies to define how it will achieve its long-term goals. 3. Develop a Budget Consistent with Approaches to Achieve Goals A financial plan and budget that moves toward achievement of goals, within the constraints of available resources, should be prepared and adopted. 4. Evaluate Performance and Make Adjustments Program and financial performance should be continually evaluated, and adjustments made, to encourage progress toward achieving goals. In early 2023, the City engaged Civic Makers, a Bay Area-based strategic consulting firm, to support community engagement efforts for the city budget and strategic planning process. The engagement activities focused on enhancing participatory governance to ensure future City budgets align with the community's needs and values. Community members were provided with various engagement opportunities, including a survey, focus groups, a virtual meeting, a town hall, and several pop-up workshops. The process focused on inclusive engagement in different formats, including bilingual focus groups in Spanish and Mandarin, to remove barriers to participation and engage with different aspects of Pleasanton’s diverse community. Overall, the City engaged with more than 1,900 community members through that process. DISCUSSION Budget Development Calendar The budget development process includes multiple key areas and deliverables as described below. Staff has prepared a budget development calendar (Attachment 1) that specifies the budget preparation timeline with key dates and milestones, including important public engagement events such as a City Council priority setting session and budget workshop. The budget calendar is a tool to keep track of deadlines and ensure public participation. Between January and June 2025, staff will develop key budget documents to present to the City Council for discussion and direction. In light of the City’s financial challenges, in-depth discussions about the City’s long-term financial sustainability and cost/service reductions will be a critical part of the upcoming two-year budget development process. Key Areas and Deliverables: • Community Engagement • Budget Advisory Committee • Commission/Committee Engagement • FY 2025-27 Baseline Budget Presentation • General Fund Long-Term Financial Forecast • FY 2025-27 Proposed Operating Budget and Capital Budget • FY 2025-27 Budget Workshop(s) • FY 2025-27 Budget Adoption Page 282 of 893