The Public Works department uses a strategized approach to improve and maintain over 53 centerline miles within the City of Ukiah. City staff use a Pavement Management System (computer program) that evaluates the health of local streets and identifies the right treatment for the street: reconstruction, overlay, or slurry seal. Based upon the amount of Measure Y and gas tax funds available, the weather, and the timing of other related projects in the area, the street rehabilitation project is then submitted to City Council for review and approval.

The City Council looks at a number of different factors when reviewing and prioritizing street rehabilitation projects. They also carefully consider the impact that fixing a particular street will have to ensure that Measure Y funds are used as efficiently as possible, and that the highest number of people will be positively impacted by the project. Due to budget and weather constraints, prioritizing these projects is critical.

When possible, street projects are coordinated and scheduled with other projects such as water, sewer, electric utility work and storm drain repair/replacement. Projects are also coordinated to take advantage of any available grant funding. The coordination of street rehabilitation projects with other projects ensures that Measure Y funds are used as efficiently as possible, disruption of traffic is minimized, and expenses are reduced.

Measure Y funds are NOT used for electric, water, or sewer utilities, or for other City projects; those projects are either funded through their associated departments or through grants.

Pavement Condition Index (PCI) Map (current as of 2019)

Rehabilitation Options

What is Measure Y Funding and how is the money spent?

Measure Y info:

Measure Y: Transaction and Use Tax

Measure Y, passed by a simple majority (50% plus 1) of Ukiah voters in November of 2016, is a general (unrestricted) transaction and use tax. A general unrestricted tax is one that can be used to fund any program, function, service, or project at the discretion of the City Council. It is not a special, restricted tax, which would require approval of two-thirds of the voting public. Measure Z, passed in conjunction with Measure Y, was a distinctly separate, advisory measure, indicating the voting public’s preference for the use of Measure Y proceeds. Language for the two ballot measures was as follows:

Ballot Measure “Y”:

Shall Ordinance No. 1165 be adopted to impose as a general tax an additional transaction (sales) and use tax of one-half of one percent within the city limits of the City of Ukiah to fund essential City services, including street repair and maintenance? Such tax increase is estimated to raise $2,470,000 annually at a rate of .5%. The duration of the tax will continue unless or until the tax is repealed by majority vote in a municipal election.

Advisory Measure “Z”:

Shall street repair and maintenance and related public infrastructure improvements be the exclusive use of the revenues from an additional ½ percent sales tax in the City of Ukiah and add to and not replace current spending for street maintenance and repair?