Roseville City Councilmember
While my family is my shining light and deepest joy, my eight years of service on the Roseville City Council was definitely a highlight of my life and something I'll always be proud of.
I was first elected in a citywide election in 2016. There was a field of six candidates and the top three would win a seat. Only one (Gore) was an incumbent, and four of the six were previously on the city council in the past. I took a solid 2nd place and probably never worked so hard in my life during that campaign. I literally got sick of listening to myself speak as I knocked on thousands of doors that year. But I knew in my heart that I was going to win a seat and it was exciting.
I was easily re-elected in 2020 with 68% when we were then divided by district. It was the strangest campaign I've ever witnessed with the pandemic being at the forefront of the year and much of my time was spent leading the Roseville Volunteer Force as we helped those in need all spring and summer.
Due to term limits, I left office on December 11, 2024. My wonderful wife, Karen, easily won that election for my seat earning over 49% of the votes in a busy field of five candidates!
Roseville Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) - past Chair
I have attended EDAC since the late 2000's when I was with the Downtown Roseville Merchants, so it was an honor to lead this committee as a city council member for my two terms in office. EDAC advises and assists the City Council in creating a community environment conducive to existing businesses, attracting desirable businesses to Roseville, and promoting tourism as a key element of the local economy. One of our big accomplishments is helping guide the Economic Development Strategy document, which the City Council approved. It was important that we had top representatives in each industry seat around the table because these "seats" gave industry reports at every meeting during our roundtable. These seats included the Chamber, development, healthcare, government, and more. We also did strategic business expansion and retention visits with our biggest or key businesses throughout the city.
During the pandemic, we went virtual and recorded a few of the meetings, so if you're interested in seeing what these meetings are like, here's a link to one from 2021. It has an interesting presentation from GSEC.
Placer County Economic Development Board - past Chair
When I was first elected in 2016, I was told that no one wanted to serve on this board because it was too focused on agriculture, yet it was one of my top choices because of how EDAC operated. I envisioned it being more...and it became more!
As a four-year chair, I helped rebuild the bylaws and restructure the board so it had top industry professionals in each industry seat around the table. It also had electeds from every jurisdiction in the county. The roundtable updates became extremely interesting and valuable snapshots of the economic wins throughout the county in key industries and jurisdictions. serves as an advisory body for the Economic Development division. Board members are responsible for carrying economic development information back to the governments and organizations they represent to ensure a united effort to attract new jobs Countywide.
Greater Sacramento Economic Council (GSEC) - past board member
Represented the City of Roseville on GSEC, to be a voice for regional economic prosperity. GSEC is a public-private partnership that unites business and community leaders to create one cohesive regional economic development strategy with a focus on growth, sustainability, equity, and competitiveness.
I also went through the GSEC Champions program, designed for electeds, to learn some of the stats and be able to "talk" about key economic issues in public.
Placer County Air Pollution Control District - past Chair
I served eight years on this county board as we oversaw this department's service to the region. The various grants programs were exciting as we helped the region improve equipment and reduce pollution. These programs included the Clean Air Grant Program (helps companies fund cleaner heavy-duty engines/vehicles/equipment), CAP Incentives program (reduce public exposure in impacted communities), Wood Stove Changeout Incintive Program, Commercial Lawn & Garden Program (replaces gas/diesel lawn/garden equip with zero-emission options), TAP (Technology Assessment Program to assist development of new technology), FARMER (Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions), etc. I attended and promoted numerous public outreach events including celebrating the new electric busses for our school system.
Highway 65 JPA - past board member
Roseville was the largest city contributor to our Highway 65 expansion project and because we had yet to pass a transportation sales tax measure, The JPA couldn't get major funding matches to expand all of 65, but we did spend the biggest chunk of funds to expand what we could so we built a new bridge near the 80/65 interchange, adding a very long merge lane from 80 all the way to Pleasant Grove Blvd., and we did a major renovation of Galleria Blvd as it crossed 65 with new merge lanes and ramps while fixing the turn challenges around Costco. It was money well spent and my handprints are in a cement slab commemorating the occasion. I've served as primary and alternate for this JPA.
Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA) - past Chair
My biggest accomplishment as Roseville's representative on this JPA board was to help make the entire operation a true independent JPA instead of managed by the county. This gave our city a lot more control and autonomy over the operation of the landfill, of which Roseville was (by far) the largest contributor. I was on the board as we began rebuilding the $120M waste processing and recovery system. We're one of only two sites in the entire state that use "one big bin" and have a large, mostly automated sorting system.
Regional Water Authority (RWA) - past board member
I've served as both a primary and alternate on this regional JPA, representing Roseville among a few dozen stakeholders as we aligned the interests of regional water providers and stakeholders for the purpose of improving water supply reliability, availability, quality, and affordability.
PCWA Roseville Water Committee - past board member
This committee helps align the Placer County Water Agency with Roseville priorities as the PCWA board meets with two city council members and city staff to provide updates and education, and obtain feedback and priorities.
League of California Cities - past voting member
As a city council member, I represented Roseville as the voting member for our city in this statewide organization that defends and expands local control through advocacy efforts. We took positions as a city that defended our rights in the best interests of our residents, businesses, utilities, and city functional systems.
South Placer Wastewater Authority (SPWA) - past Chair
SPWA is a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) that comprises the City of Roseville, South Placer Municipal Utility District (SPMUD), and the County of Placer. Flow from SPMUD and portions of Placer County discharge into the City’s sewer collection system. The City of Roseville, on behalf of the regional partners, owns and operates two regional wastewater treatment facilities: the Pleasant Grove Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the older Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Additionally, the City of Roseville owns and operates the network of gravity sewers, pump stations, and force mains that serve customers within the City’s limits, including the joint (regional) facilities that convey flow from the SPWA partners. SPWA is responsible for meeting the Debt Coverage Ratio mandated by its debt indenture.
Sacramento Valley Basinwide Air Pollution Control Council - past Chair
Also known as the BCC, this organization is an elected body that coordinates air pollution control efforts across several counties in the Sacramento Valley Air Basin in California, essentially acting as a governing council to oversee air quality management across the region by collaborating with different local air pollution control districts within the basin; it is authorized by the California Health and Safety Code to manage basin-wide air quality issues. I represented all jurisdictions of Placer County on this board and chaired the board during my last year on it (2024).
Sites Project Authority (Sites Reservoir)
When I first joined the city council, we voted for Roseville to join this incredible project. I served on its board initially and then as an alternate. Once completed, this project will help keep Folsom Reservoir more full during hot years by filling up a new reservoir (Sites) during the rainy season and then using the water to help flush the delta during the hot dry times instead of using all the water from Folsom. This would keep Folsom water deeper and colder, which is important for Salmon downstream, and would provide our city a more stable water supply.
Placer County Flood Control & Water Conservation District - past Chair
I served on this board as chair and as either primary and alternate for my entire term in office. This district manages flood control and water conservation projects in Placer County, California. It builds and maintains flood control facilities, such as levees, dikes, and floodway. They work on water conservation projects. They provides information about flood risk and flood insurance. A great example of their work is the Miners Ravine Preserve which reduces pressure on the stream channel during high flooding. The basin also improves the habitat for spawning salmon. For many years Roseville had the #1 flood rating (which ensures low insurance rates) in the NATION. Only recently have a few other jurisdictions received this rating as well but the work Roseville did in the area of flood control was significant and recognized nationally.
LAFCO - past Vice Chair
The Placer Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) manages the formation of local government agencies in Placer County, California. The LAFCO's work includes reviewing boundary changes, ensuring efficient service provision, and preserving open space. From 2019 through 2022, I held a city seat position that rotated among cities and the biggest project I helped with was obtaining a new LAFCO Director who significantly helped improve the organization to be more compliant with state requirements/regulations. This made a significant improvement over the history of this agency which was heavily county-influenced instead of more neutral. I served as vice chair my last year on the commission and resigned by my own request to focus on a campaign that was going to be under new strict finance regulations which would make LAFCO service challenging.
South Placer Regional Transportation Authority (SPRTA) - board of directors
SPRTA funds transportation projects in the South Placer region and is a JPA made up of Placer County and the cities of Lincoln, Rocklin, and Roseville. They collects development fees in the South Placer region to fund transportation projects in the region in order to improve the transportation system here. Funds are collected and saved to widen roads such as Sierra College Boulevard, Highway 65, and Auburn-Folsom. Also for interchange upgrades (I-80/Douglas Blvd & I-80/Rocklin Rd), HOV lane on I-80 through Roseville, construction of Park & Ride lots, etc. I served as both primary and alternate.
Roseville City Law & Regulation Committee - past member
This city committee reviews and recommends legislation, policies, and regulations that may affect the city. The committee is an advisory group to the City Council. I have served as a primary and alternate between. We defended our city's right for more autonomy from the state regarding utilities, public safety, economics, and self-regulation. We worked with lobbying consultants at the state and national level and our policies, once approved by the full city council, were fought for in state and national committees. As a rare, full-service city, Roseville has a good reputation of being a vocal leader for good economic and community policy.
Facilities and Park Naming Subcommittee - past member
I have served as past primary and alternate council member of this subcommittee that includes specific city staff that reviews tons of public submissions for parks that have been approved for construction. Using various criteria, we narrow down the suggestions and make recommendations to the city council. We also have the right to select names that were not submitted by the public. The discussions are very interesting and a lot of care goes into the process of assigning a permanent name. I helped do a rare renaming of a park from a generic name to one named after a neighborhood leader who really made a wonderful difference in that community.
Union Pacific (Railroad) - City of Roseville Committee - past member
This committee strengthens the partnership between the City of Roseville and the Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad has been a major economic driver for the Roseville area and this committee supports the community by ensuring that the railroad's activities support the growth of the area. It also promotes economic development by ensuring that the railroad's activities support the growth of the area. It works to support the agriculture industry by ensuring that the railroad's activities support the growth of the area. It also ensures that the railroad's activities support the growth of the area without hindering it. And finally, the committee supports employment by ensuring that the railroad's activities support the growth of the area. As a councilmember, I have served as both primary and alternate.
Northern California Power Agency - past member
Roseville owns and operates its own natural gas electric power plant and is a member of the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) which buys, generates, and sells electricity to communities in Northern and Central California. NCPA's goal is to provide a reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible electricity supply. NCPA Generates electricity through a fleet of power plants that use geothermal steam, hydroelectric, and natural gas. It partners to distribute electricity to its member communities. It works to manage power and invest in conservation (which also helps meet regulations). I served as an alternate but did attend some meetings and participated in legislative activities.
Cap-to-Cap Lobbying in Washington D.C.
I participated in the annual Cap-to-Cap trips back to Washington D.C. as our city joined many others as the largest delegation that annually visits our representatives and related departments at our nation's capital to further the good of the greater Sacramento region. My feet always screamed by the time the work was done...tons of walking down long, long, long halls!
There were many different focus groups (power, water, public safety, ecDev, and many, many others). I joined groups as a primary and secondary focus and Economic Development was often my primary but I sometimes served on the Water Resources team and alternates included Air Pollution.
Besides making and strengthening relationships with other electeds and staff, two of my biggest accomplishments included participating in a water lobbying strategy with the Bureau of Reclamation (which controls Folsom Dam) that ultimately resulted in a permanent water contract. Another big accomplishment was pushing a relationship in Sutter County to help pave the way for the future widening of Baseline Road. I also observed an interesting after-closing-hours sprinkler water break inside one of the Smithsonian museums that resulted in water pouring down multiple floors. Yeah...that's all I'm going to say about that incident (of which I was not directly involved).