Friends and Neighbors,
I am pleased to announce that I am running for Nevada City Council in the upcoming June 2 election.
As a community activist and current member of the Nevada City Planning Commission, I am committed to protecting the small town character of our town. I will listen and work diligently to bring people together to move our town forward. Let me introduce myself:
My wife Linda and I are residents of the American Hill neighborhood. We moved here from San Francisco where we raised our 2 children and I had an enjoyable career in retail business management and training.
Hiking and mountaineering are my favorite pastimes.
Education: BA, Political Science, Columbia University
Community work:
Current Nevada City Planning Commissioner
A leader in my American Hill neighborhood’s activities
Member, South Yuba River Citizens League, Bear Yuba Land Trust, Sierra Streams Institute
Long-time school parent volunteer
I would appreciate your vote.
Please feel free to contact me with your thoughts and questions.
Thank you,
Jim Khatami
As a Council member I will work to:
Preserve our small town character and protect our residential neighborhoods.
Continue and expand the City’s all important fire safety work.
Support the business health of our historic downtown and the 7 Hills Business District
Support affordable housing that is in scale and character with our small town.
Protect and expand the City’s open spaces and trails.
Retain the quality and financial viability of our public facilities.
Experience Counts —That's why I'm supporting Jim Khatami for Nevada City Council
by Peter VanZant
I admit I have been around the block. I have been a Nevada County environmental activist for 30 years. I was a leader in the citizen participation process that gave a solid environmental base to the update of the Nevada County General Plan in the 1990s.
Later, I ran for Board of Supervisors in Nevada City area District One. I had the pleasure of serving for 2 terms including a term as the Board Chair. I am proud of the fact that I was on the Board when we voted for local support of Wild and Scenic status for the South Yuba River.
Since leaving that position I have been an organizer of the campaign to stop the NID Centennial Dam. I recently served on the Nevada City Planning Commission.
What I have learned is that experience counts. That is why I am supporting Jim Khatami for Nevada City Council.
Jim took over my seat on the Planning Commission when I resigned. It is not an easy job. Like me, I knew he would represent neighborhoods well. Jim has the experience. He was at the forefront of a 2 year neighborhood campaign to save a historic wall and path in his American Hill neighborhood from a developer proposal. His votes on neighborhood issues and his support for our historic downtown are what Nevada City needs.
Jim brings to the city a long career in retail sales and management and the needs of small businesses. I am proud of his recent vote to uphold Nevada City's retail protection ordinance that strongly encourages retail on the ground floor downtown. A successful downtown must have a continuity of retail shops and restaurants on each block. Jim had the courage to standup on this issue.
Jim is an environmentalist, a walker and a hiker. He knows the importance of our city's open space holdings. Sugarloaf, Hirschman's Pond, Deer Creek Environs, Pioneer Park. Our City public open space has made us a city of parks and trails. This land also has the potential to form a natural fuel break surrounding the city. Jim proposes to use readily available grants to acquire the two BLM parcels adjacent to the city, the remaining private land next to the City's treasured Hirschman's Pond, and other parcels to fill the gap in the circle and to ensure environmentally sound fuel reduction in these areas.
Please join me in voting for Jim Khatami for Nevada City Council.
Peter VanZant
Peter is a retired microchip engineer, former two term Nevada County Supervisor and Board Chair and a former Nevada City Planning Commissioner and Chair.
Issues I am concerned about…
Fire Safety and Open Space can work together
Strengthen Downtown and Seven Hills Business Districts
Stabilize City Staff
Maintain and Expand our Open Space and Trails
Protect the City from State & Federal Overreach
Protect our Neighborhoods
Bill Falconi, retired Nevada City City Engineer, Prospect St.
Pat Dyer, former Mayor, Goldsmith (Utopian Stone)
Nancy Weber, former Nevada Irrigation District Director, Lindley Ave.
Cathy Wilcox-Barnes, current Nevada City Public Arts Commissioner, former Nevada City Clerk, Mayor, Council member
David McKay, photographer, former Mayor, Council member, Clay St.
Chuck Teasley, former Planning Commissioner, Nimrod St
Steve Carlton, former president Sierra Streams Institute, Nevada St.
Jordan Fisher Smith, author, Gethsemane St.
Jennifer Ray, former Nevada City Mayor, Council Member, Nevada St.
Terri Andersen, former Nevada City Mayor, Council Member, Main St.
Dr. Mark Agness, retired physician, American Hill Rd.
Melisa Agness, retired owner Insight Imaging, American Hill Rd.
Karla Arens, former Nevada City Planning Commissioner
Pamela Meek, former Nevada City Planning Commissioner, Nevada St.
Gregg Schiffner, videographer, Zion St.
Sandra Miller, Psyd, former Sierra College professor, Broad St.
Some of Jim’s other endorsers:
Lee Ann Brook, Artist, Zion St.
Nancy Bleile, Giles St.
Sue Haddon, Boulder St.
Larry Meek, Zion St.
Annie Speegle, Main St.
Mary Dewitt, Lindley Ave.
Jeanne Duerst, Gold Flat
Carol Nimick, Gold Tunnel
Elaina Breen, American Hill
Douglas Bratt, Pine St.
Kelly Moreno, Searls Ave.
Gail Damske, Nile St.
Suzanne Koliche, Clay St.
Barbara DeGraw, Drummond St.
Lin Schiffner, Zion St.
Randall Frizzell, Drummond St.
Glenn Miller, American Hill
Bo Littig, Gold Flat Rd.
Greg Chapman, Main St.
Barbara Roemer, American Hill
Sam Gitchel, Giles St.
Susan Shaw, Nimrod St.
Allen Poirson, Nevada St.
Shawn Matthews, Boulder St.
Nevada Street/Willow Valley Area Neighborhood Association
How You Can Donate
Jim Khatami for Nevada City Council 2026
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Mail to: 236 American Hill Rd, Nevada City, CA 95959
