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A line of residents, past city officials and current council members delivered heartfelt goodbyes to now-former Councilmember Kathy Narum during the city’s transition meeting last week that also saw newly elected District 1 Councilmember Jeff Nibert join the dais.
Narum served almost 10 years on the City Council and another 11 years of appointed service on local and regional task forces and committees that cover a range of issues like transportation, regional development, schools, mosquito abatement and water.
“It has been just an absolute honor to have served as a member of the City Council for the past nine and a half years,” Narum said at the Dec. 20 ceremony. “Serving on the council hasn’t been a job, it’s a desire to do good, to really make a difference in the community.”
Narum was ineligible to run for more time on the council this year under the city’s term limit law, after first being elected in a special ballot in 2013 and then winning full at-large terms in 2014 and 2018.
She also served as vice mayor in 2016 and served on the Planning Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission each for five years.
“My hope is that residents take from my experience that you don’t know where community service will lead you,” Narum said. “You just don’t know what happens if you simply just put one foot in front of the other in service of doing the right thing.”
Those who spoke on Narum’s accomplishments and dedication to the city of Pleasanton ranged from high-ranking public figures such as Tri-Valley Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Livermore) and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) to current and former Pleasanton councilmembers like Jack Balch and Jerry Pentin.
“As long as I’ve known Kathy, I’ve known her to always encourage people to get involved,” Balch said as he tried to hold back tears. “Serving alongside her has been a great honor of my life. Her methodical engineering hat has been invaluable to Pleasanton as we progress through many challenges in our city … her commitment to the city and its people is inspiring.”
Pentin, a former council member who reached the term limit in 2020, also agreed with many of the points other speakers made regarding Narum’s dedication to her work at the council.
“I think we sometimes don’t recognize what somebody does until they’re done doing it,” Pentin said. “I hope that you feel in your heart that the work that you gave to this city over the years was worth it, because I feel it was worth it and I know a lot of people in this town feel it was worth it.”
Most notably, Mayor Karla Brown gifted Narum with a ceremonial key to the city in a gesture that shows how Narum will always be welcomed in the community that she has served and lived in for so long.
“Sometimes the public doesn’t realize how much work, how much time and effort goes into serving,” Councilmember Valerie Arkin said. “You’ve had a lot of passion with your work, and you do your homework on things and I know, you put a lot of thought into all of your decisions. Whether we ever agreed or not, I always knew you were always trying to do what you felt was best for Pleasanton and I always respected that.”
Narum reminisced on some of her accomplishments over the years citing things like the creation of the Sunflower Hill community at Irby Ranch, which is an affordable housing community for adults with special needs.
“Pleasanton is just truly a wonderful place to live to work to raise the family and the councils over the past nine plus years that I’ve been a part of have worked really hard to enhance that,” she said. “It’s really been an honor for me to be to play a part in that and I’m confident that this new council will continue to enhance Pleasanton and make it even better in their service to our community and again, I just thank you. It’s truly been an honor.”
Narum was referring to the new council, which officially welcomed Nibert as the first-ever District 1 representative upon the city’s conversion to district-based elections. Nibert, a now-former planning commissioner, won the District 1 seat at the ballot box last month.
After Narum’s departure, Nibert along with reelected Brown and Councilmember Julie Testa were all sworn in before they started the regular council meeting.
“I am humbled to be assuming this position of public trust on the City Council. It will be an absolute honor and a privilege to do the work of the people of Pleasanton,” Nibert told the Weekly.
“I am excited to engage with the people of our city, and I encourage everyone’s active involvement in matters coming before the council. I welcome an open exchange of ideas, so we can make Pleasanton a city that in the future our children will take pride in,” Nibert said, adding:
“I know this office will require a lot of work and present some significant challenges. But I am anxious to work together with my fellow council members and city staff so we can confront important decisions, beginning right away with critical issues regarding housing and water.”
