Underneath the aura and honor of being a Nationally Recognized Historical City– a tourist destination, the holiday celebrations and parades, Nevada City is a small city with a small budget attempting to provide all the services that go with larger cities. Its Council decisions must be carefully reviewed, influenced by community involvement and result in cost effective practices.
Let me share with you what I see are the City’s Urgent Needs and why I support Jim Khatami for City Council.
- Nevada City’s downtown has some serious unmet needs— empty and poorly maintained, fire prone buildings, some struggling small businesses. It is time for the City to shift its focus to a new marketing and occupancy approach
I am supporting Jim Khatami for City Council because he has extensive marketing experience that will be invaluable in working to re-establish a healthy downtown..
- Nevada City has another major problem: old infrastructure—some sewer lines that date back to the early 1900’s—a potable water system that needs updating…costly projects, grant funding would help. Why has the problem continued for so long?…Who will ake it on?
Jim Khatami, in his thoughtful, effective way will be a strong leader as the city explores all helpful funding sources to repair or replace major infrastructure and keep rates affordable..
- Protection from Wildfire Nevada City is responsible for management of several land parcels—Hirschman’s Pond, Sugarloaf; Pioneer Park; the old airport; water and sewer treatment plant sites; multiple small pieces of land scattered throughout the city (called slivers). Most of us like our generous residential landscaping. The city is surrounded by forested lands. Collectively we have a serious fire threat from vegetation. To address the problem, a voter approved dedicated sales tax was enacted in May 2024; it provides about $900,000 annually. Funding has been used to set up a very competent vegetation management and inspection program for residential and commercial buildings
Measure C’s funding was also intended to be used for the development of an emergency preparedness program to save lives in the event of a wildfire. Components would be warning and communication systems, a detailed evacuation plan, a safe shelter for those who don’t evacuate.
We have a very good vegetation management program.. Emergency services are yet to be developed and are needed now, not later.
I am advocating for a City Council that keeps these basic need items in high priority as they sort through the many demands on Council time. I am voting for Jim Khatami because he is my best choice for carrying a plan into action
- Partnerships We owe a tribute to our local partners who have helped extend city services: Government Agencies—With Grass Valley, our contract for fire suppression; with Nevada County OES, grant funding and management for Hazardous Fuel Reduction on Deer Creek.
And we owe so much to Community Environmental Non-profit Groups—Bear Yuba Land Trust, Yuba Watershed Institute, Sierra Streams Institute, Cement Hill Neighbors who brought grant funding/volunteer maintenance for fuels reduction, land management and trail building –these are examples of extending City services through cooperative community involvement.
Jim Khatami will value and support these partnerships for their generous contributions to the health of the City. Please join me; vote for Jim Khatami for Nevada City Council. His service in the Community and on the Planning Commission have shown us his competent leadership.
Contribution from Nancy Weber, resident of Nevada County for 36 years; the last 14 as a resident of Nevada City. I have been part of a long term effort to develop and influence public policy by electing effective government leaders. My work has been mostly boots on the ground. I was an elected Nevada Irrigation District Board member for 20 years (1998-2018) and worked to protect watersheds, preserve canals and extend water service to unserved areas—still, boots on the ground but tucked under Board table.