Hate Potholes? Graffiti? Overgrown Trees?

OK, so let us know how this works: Rohnert Park Tuesday night launched a new website where residents can go online (from home or your smart phone) and send in real time public service requests.

It's geared towards residents reporting things like if a pothole is out of control, or if a streetlight is out, if there's graffiti at your local park, a raised sidewalk you want to see fixed or if there's trees overgrown on your block. But the system, cleverly dubbed "Reach Rohnert Park," is really a tool for anything — yes, anything — questions, complaints, compliments or service requests. And it's available 24 hours a day.

Citizens can choose from different areas, such as dead or lost animals, landscaping, storm activity, parks, utilities billing or garbage problems, for example.

"Become ambassadors to the city by submitting service requests and alerting staff to routine maintenance issues by accessing Reach Rohnert Park online or by downloading the mobile app for iPhones or Android smart phones," the city said in a news release.

Here's how you do it, a note from the city:

Creating a request is easy. From your computer go to the City’s website www.rpcity.org and select Reach Rohnert Park from the home page, click the “submit request” button at the bottom of the page, select a topic from the drop down menu and provide a brief description about the problem you are reporting.

Your request will automatically be routed to the staff member who can fix it. If you would like to be contacted or receive notifications about the status of your request enter your name and contact information when it’s created.

To submit a request using your iPhone or smart phone simply open the app, select a topic, take a picture and tap submit – the application picks up the exact location and sends the request to the right staff person. The GPS and camera features built the phones make it simple to alert City officials to a variety of maintenance issues.

The smart phone application can be downloaded by searching GoRequest in the Apple Store, on the Android Market or by going to the city’s website www.rpcity.org. The app is free to download.

"Whether you are in line at City Hall, online via our web site, or using the free mobile app, you can Reach Rohnert Park 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week to submit a variety of common maintenance requests," staff said in a news release. "This efficiency enhances the City’s ability to provide customer service with fewer staff people while saving valuable time and money."

Editor's note: Eight public works employees were issued city smart phones for the program, allowing them to be more mobile from the streets. .