Street and road maintenance continues to be a big concern.

Inadequate funding from the state has hindered cities including Ripon from properly taking care of the roadways in recent years.

Elected leaders tonight could look toward remedying that with a ‘Street and Road’ reserve policy. This ordinance, if passed, would be used to provide a new funding source dedicated to reconstructing the local streets and roads.

According to staff reports, the primary source of funding used to maintain the City of Ripon streets and roads come from state and local sources – including the gas tax – along with Measure K and the Local Transit Funds.

Of that, the state gasoline tax has historically been the largest source of funds for street and road maintenance.

Since 1994, the gas tax had been set at 18 cents per gallon without an increase.

 With the increase cost of construction, the purchasing power of the gas tax has gone down. Cities are now forced to do more with less.

Investing in a preventative maintenance program focused on extending the life of existing roads is such one option.

Staff, in fact, is recommending that the City continue to utilize the current funding sources in taking care of the streets and roads during the 7 p.m. open session in the Council Chambers, 259 N. Wilma Ave. Ripon.

“This will provide lower maintenance costs over the long term and will get the longest life out of the streets and roads,” as written in the street and road reserve policy.

Other agenda items include:

• Council could give City Clerk Lisa Roos to issue a request for proposal for the Ripon Police Department to purchase as many as 19 pieces of equipment.

• Elected leaders are scheduled to present a proclamation to the Women’s Center-Youth & Family Services, recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

• Council is also expected to adopt the ordinance of the Ripon Municipal Code pertaining to Bingo and, from another ordinance, repeal a section in it entitled ‘Gambling.’

For more information, call the Ripon City Hall at 209.559.2108 or click on to www.cityofripon.org.