Meet Jeff Nibert, Candidate For Pleasanton City Council

PLEASANTON, CA — Learn more about Planning Commissioner and engineer Jeff Nibert, who is running to represent Pleasanton's District 1. Some questions have been removed to avoid redundancy.

1. Why are you running for Pleasanton City Council?

I am running for Pleasanton City Council in District 1 with the vision of a world-class city, a quality of life second to none, and a destination for visitors, residents, and businesses alike. The attributes we hold dear, like Pleasanton’s small-town character, well-planned neighborhoods, and beautiful environment, can endure with the right leadership.

But there are significant threats to our quality of life, which the next city council must face head-on: unfunded state mandates and fines, planning for a staggering housing allotment, and drinking water safety. That’s why this election is so important! We need a council member in District 1 who will fight these threats and stand up for all Pleasanton residents. That is what I will do and why I am running.

2. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your constituents?

The water that flows into our homes must always be safe to drink. In the near future, it is threatened by health hazards from “forever chemicals.” To keep drinking the city’s water and robustly operate the system, we need either to remove these chemicals or purchase other water. Either solution will be costly, but action is critical to make sure our water remains safe. The next City Council will have major decisions to make, and I am well equipped to help make those decisions.

3. How do you intend to address it?

80% of Pleasanton’s water is supplied by Zone 7 Water Agency. The other 20% comes from Pleasanton wells. Both sources are threatened with contamination by “forever chemicals” called PFAS, which through decades of use have now reached the valley’s groundwater. These chemicals pose a threat to our health because they build up in our bodies over time.

They will continue to spread in the groundwater. Pleasanton has shut down one of its main wells because of this contamination. If we are to continue drinking the city’s water and make sure the system can operate the way it should, action is needed to treat and remove these substances from the water. This means constructing a treatment plant and rehabilitating two wells. As an alternative, the city is now exploring the purchase of water from Zone 7 to replace the 20% that comes from our wells, while hitting the pause button on designing the treatment plant. But there is no assurance that Zone 7 can avoid the same problem that Pleasanton now faces.

Either solution will be costly and entail some uncertainty, but action is critical to ensure the water that we drink remains safe. And we do not have the luxury of time. If a treatment facility is chosen, the time required to order and receive major components is between one and two years. The timing requires a commitment to be made so the facility will be ready when needed.
Pleasanton must act in order to keep the problem from getting worse. If we wait, the consequences and cost will only increase while being pushed down the road. The city will need to determine how to pay for the selected solution. A bond may need to be floated in order to pay for a treatment plant. With a large capital investment, there will also be operating costs for new staff and material supplies, for example.

The devil will be in the details. It will take a lot of hard work and goodwill from all stakeholders to address this challenge. Addressing it is not only the necessary thing, but the right thing to do.

4. What should be done to solve the affordable housing crisis?

The affordable housing crisis is much larger than Pleasanton. It exists across the entire state. As the State of California defines affordable housing, it refers to below-market cost of housing for those with lower incomes. To create a below-market cost, the public or the builders or both must absorb some of the costs (that is, a public subsidy and/or less profit with more efficiency).
The State of California is trying to solve the crisis by stripping cities of local planning control and forcing cities to absorb a huge part of the costs. Many cities simply do not have the money to subsidize the number of affordable housing units that the State has told them they must get builders to build. And new laws will punish cities with monthly fines if builders don’t build them. Simply put, the State has set up cities to fail. When that happens, what will the State then do to the ability of cities to make local decisions?

The state’s approach will not work.

While this mismanagement plays out at the State level, we at the city level must do our best to comply with the new laws in good faith and refrain from placing barriers in the way (a sure way to get fined). At the local level, each city must come up with innovative efforts and redouble the approaches that have been successful in the past.

To do our part as a city, Pleasanton must attract outside investment in housing affordable to those with lower incomes. After its new draft housing plan is approved by the State, Pleasanton will need (1) non-profit builders to step forward in partnership with the city and government funding agencies to construct affordable, deed-restricted units, and (2) for-profit builders to build mixed-use projects at a density that will both produce the mandated number of affordable units and a sufficient number of market-rate units for projects to make financial sense to build.

This won’t necessarily solve the crisis in Pleasanton, but not building affordable housing is not feasible. While we must put forth a good faith effort to do what’s right (the carrot), we know the State is standing ready with the whip.

6. What can the city do to help its downtown and small businesses?

Our downtown is the heart of Pleasanton, a place where people go to dine, shop, be entertained and socialize. Retail shops and restaurants are key to creating the special atmosphere and the foot traffic needed for our downtown to thrive. It must remain a vibrant destination and economic engine, with retail and restaurants on Main Street being key to attracting foot traffic.
A vigorous partnership between the city and the Pleasanton Downtown Association is key for both to thrive. Therefore, the city should nourish and strengthen this partnership. A vibrant cultural arts program will not only attract people downtown, but also will enrich our quality of life. In addition, we should not hesitate to make desired improvements. Special attention by the city to aesthetic and capital improvements and proper upkeep are essential.

7. What is your idea of responsible development?

There are many facets of responsible development. Responsible developers always engage with their neighbors before and during the planning process, cooperate in good faith with city agencies, and seek and obtain proper review under standard planning processes that include the Planning Commission and the City Council. In addition, responsible developers pay their share to mitigate impacts that would worsen traffic, challenge the water supply, underfund infrastructure, and crowd our schools, even when new state laws would allow some of them to pay nothing.

8. What other issues are important to you?

Quality of Life: 94% of residents rate our quality of life as good or excellent. Safety and our award-winning schools are two important reasons. Public safety will be my number one priority. And because the strong academic performance of our schools is highly valued, I want to strengthen the city’s partnership with our school district.

Environment: I am committed to protecting Pleasanton’s scenic ridgeline and hillsides, so that they remain a source of enjoyment to everyone. The city must take actions to implement Pleasanton’s Climate Action Plan and to monitor and track the results.

Pleasanton’s Small-Town Character: Pleasanton’s small-town character and historic downtown charm are what residents and visitors love about our community. I am committed to preserving them. New development must be consistent with these attributes and fit well with the city.

Stoneridge Mall redevelopment: One issue that will impact District 1 in particular is the proposed Stoneridge Mall redevelopment. As a member of the Planning Commission, I recently helped lead the first community workshop on the new Stoneridge Mall Framework, which is the first step in coming up with a comprehensive plan. The framework will be key to setting the direction for the overall project, which will include housing, retail, and commercial components, along with city amenities and infrastructure. It’s an opportunity to reimagine the mall area in a whole new way, as a destination with elements like a pedestrian plaza, green space, water features, multi-use pathways, active outdoor spaces, a pavilion with entertainment, and as a hub of activity for all seasons. To be clear, though, the new plan must address adverse impacts on traffic and safety, water supply, infrastructure, environmental quality, and on our schools.

9. If applicable, what is your political party?

Not applicable, because member of city council is a non-partisan position.

10. How long have you lived in Pleasanton?

My wife and I have lived in Pleasanton for over 30 years.

11. If you didn’t grow up there, what brought you to the city?

My wife and I moved here to start a family for the same reasons that still draw people to Pleasanton: a high-performing school district and a safe and beautiful environment.

12. What experience do you have serving the community?

As a longtime volunteer with youth, civic, and church organizations, I take to heart the public service values of being solution-centered, being a great teammate, respecting everyone, listening, and serving. I have volunteered with food preparation and distribution for local needy families; YMCA youth programs with my children; responsible positions with my church, including as a children’s Sunday school teacher for 15 years; in local observances of Memorial and Veterans’ Day with Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War; and currently at the Museum on Main. My volunteering with youth required background checks and youth protection training.

13. Of which accomplishments are you most proud?

I am most proud of raising, along with my wife, three responsible, contributing young adults who are each making their own ways in their lives.

14. What is your education?

I have B.S. and M.S. degrees in Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and University of California.

15. Tell us about your family.

As mentioned above, my wife and I raised three wonderful children, all graduates of Pleasanton schools.

16. What is the best advice you ever received?

Treat others as you wish to be treated. Listen more than you speak. Read a lot. Don’t ever stop learning and growing as a person. Live with gratitude.

17. Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets as an engineer and professional project manager at large companies my entire career. I have pledged NOT to take donations from developers so that I can make independent and unbiased decisions on major projects.

I have always been sincere and authentic, so that voters can see how I think and reach decisions. My votes as a member of the Pleasanton City Council will always be driven by well-informed thinking and discernment about what is best for Pleasanton residents. I have stressed my involvement and votes on current issues as a member of the Planning Commission, as a gauge of my experience and knowledge of the issues.

As a member of the City Council, not only would I be the better fit for Pleasanton, but also the fighter that Pleasanton needs, because our quality of life is under threat. We must fight back. This is our town and our future.

18. Please provide links to websites and social media.

• www.VoteJeffNibert.com
• Instagram: nibertforcitycouncil
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nibert