Benicia News: When will your street get fixed?

Laura Lopez Gonzalez

— 2 min read
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Orange cones and a caution, workers ahead sign, on a street as crews repair road
(Adobe)

In a few months, Benicians can expect to start seeing an uptick in long-overdue road repairs, starting around Cambridge Drive. The construction ushers in a four-year plan to fix Benicia’s failing roads, overwhelmingly funded by money raised through Measure F, a half-cent sales tax approved by Benicians in 2024.

Find out if your street made the cut.

A moving gif showing projected phase of road maintenance in Benicia until 2030
The City will roll out street repairs over the next four years, completing 2 to 4 areas highlighted here annually.

In the meantime, we’re digging into a few other things, including City of Benicia proposals to modernize business license fees and ask voters to reconsider (again) whether Benicia should become a charter city. 

The move would allow the City to implement a property transfer tax to bolster the city’s coffers as it prepares to lose up to nearly $11 million in annual revenue from Valero’s exit. In 2024, about 56% of voters rejected a similar proposal, but City officials are keen to try again to secure revenue from potential upcoming sales associated with Valero’s property and with the Rose Estates development on Lake Herman Road.

City Manager Mario Giuliani’s pitch to Benicia is that this plan gives residents the opportunity to fund city services before they lose them. Councilmember Lionel Largaespada is not a fan. 

What are your thoughts or questions? Let us know by replying to this email.

Number of the week

$868,640

The monetary value of the 21,640 hours Benicia volunteers logged with city departments in 2025.

ICYMI

  • Valero contracted with Oakland-based real estate development firm Signature Development Group to create plans for the 900 acres it owns, including its now-idled refinery and surrounding land. Signature submitted preliminary plans to the City of Benicia on Friday. Read Signature’s overview here. 
  • Draft environmental impact assessments for the proposed development in Suisun City by the secretive, billionaire-backed California Forever organization are due out this fall. After dismal polling, California Forever withdrew its ballot initiative to rezone land in Solano County to build a new community. It is now working with the City of Suisun to develop land there. Find out more via The Vallejo Sun.

On the calendar:

TODAY is your last day to update your voter registration or register online to vote in the June 2 state primary election. If you miss today’s deadline, you can still do it in person at the polls. Check your voter registration status here.

TOMORROW, May 19, at 6 pm: The City Council will meet to discuss applications for access to millions in Air District funding drawn from Valero’s historic fine, whether or not to fly flags marking Juneteenth and Pride Month, and discuss details of the proposed charter city and property transfer tax ballot measures.  Agenda here

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