Cloverdale drivers fed up with dodging potholes on their daily runs are finally getting some relief. The City Council has signed off on a plan to repave or reconstruct ten city streets in 2027, using Measure DD sales tax money already in the bank instead of borrowing against future revenue.
According to The Press Democrat, roughly $1.2 million collected so far from the local Measure DD sales tax will cover this first batch of work. It is the opening move in a five-year effort that aims to steer at least $6 million into Cloverdale arterials. Out of 23 street segments flagged citywide, staff picked ten for full repair next year, including stretches of Cloverdale Boulevard, Commercial Street, First Street, Franklin Street and Jefferson Street.
Measure DD is a three-quarter-cent local transactions-and-use tax that took effect on April 1, 2025, and is expected to generate about $1.6 million a year for the city’s general fund, according to the City of Cloverdale. Regional pavement data back up the sense of urgency. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission's 2024 pavement condition report classified many Bay Area streets, including Cloverdale's, in the "at-risk" category, a label city officials have cited when ranking projects. You can see the full findings from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
Council Chooses Cash On Hand Over New Debt
At last Wednesday's council meeting, city leaders opted to move ahead using money already collected instead of issuing a bond, The Press Democrat reported. Vice Mayor Todd Lands said "the city needs to make decisions so the community gets their money back," arguing that residents should see visible returns on the new tax. Councilmember Andres Marquez told colleagues he was "leaning against bonding" because he did not want to saddle future councils with repayment obligations. Public Works Director Derrick Montanye laid out bond options that could have translated into between $3.9 million and $12.3 million in capital projects if the city chose to borrow, the paper added.
For now, staff say the 2027 schedule will zero in on the busiest corridors and the most obvious pavement failures so residents notice early progress. Cloverdale also landed a roughly $136,700 state grant for road and bridge work late last year, a previous Hoodline report noted, and officials plan to pair that outside money with Measure DD revenue for smaller fixes and required matching funds.
Councilmembers have asked staff to come back with a detailed project list, updated cost estimates and a public outreach plan before crews roll out next year. Those specifics will show up in future council agendas and staff reports as Cloverdale’s long-discussed road work finally moves from talk to construction.
