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Steve Nilssen, a Lodi mortgage broker, appointed to LAFCO
Steve Nilssen, 55, an employee of Summit Funding, a mortgage and banking brokering company, has been appointed to San Joaquin County's Local Agency Formation Commission.
A Lodi resident for 27 years, Nilssen had been an alternate "public" commission member for more than six years. He replaces Gerard Machado of Tracy, who left the commission due to term limits. Pat Stockar of Acampo replaces Nilssen as the public alternate.
Steve Nilssen
The commission rules on boundary changes requested by cities, counties and districts. It also reviews a report by each city on its ability to provide adequate water, sewer, police, flood and infrastructure.
The remaining LAFCO members are San Joaquin County Supervisors Ken Vogel, Victor Mow and Larry Ruhstaller, Stockton Mayor Edward Chavez, Lathrop Mayor Kristy Sayles and Manteca City Councilman Jack Snyder.
Nilssen recently spoke with News-Sentinel reporter Ross Farrow about his appointment.
Q: Do you think your appointment can give Lodi area a greater say in county planning?
A: No. The reason is that I am a public member for San Joaquin County. Everybody in San Joaquin County will have equal access to me. Although I live in Lodi, I am a Tracy High alum, so I have an emotional attachment to both ends of the county. I also lived many years in Stockton and have a business investment in Manteca.
Q: What role can LAFCO play in the greenbelt issue between Lodi and Stockton?
A: One of the charges of LAFCO (by state law) is to prevent urban sprawl.
Q: Why did you choose to serve on LAFCO?
A: I have always had an interest in the growth and development of our area. You cannot prevent growth; you can only control it. I was contacted by Gerry Machado (seven years ago), and he said there was opening. In business, I've been very fortunate. It's been very good to me, so I wanted to give something back. I've always enjoyed the field of politics.
I don't fancy myself as a politician. I don't want to run for City Council or something right now, but I want to have some political impact.
Q: What are the major issues facing LAFCO?
A: We have an interim executive director, Jim Glaser. He's done a great job for us. At some time later this year, we need to move and fill that job on a permanent basis.
In the current economic environment, I don't think we'll be dealing with a lot of annexations. The major thing we are dealing with is municipal service reviews (water, sewer, police, flood, infrastructure). We are looking at the restructuring of rural fire districts. We have a lot of rural fire districts that are struggling financially.
Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.
This story was updated at 7:25 a.m. May 14, 2008, to correct Steve Nilssen's employment status.
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sam wrote on May 9, 2008 4:51 PM:
My land is safe from Lodi. "
papercut wrote on May 9, 2008 3:11 PM:
papercut wrote on May 9, 2008 3:08 PM:
sam wrote on May 9, 2008 7:20 AM:
Reynolds Ranch IS in their jurisdiction. I suggest the CC paints the streets green to give Lodi that greenbelt feeling. And on the south side of the project put up an 8 foot high green wall. "
Comments on this story are now closed.