Jake Parks did all he set out to accomplish during his two terms on the Ripon City Council.
“Now is a great time to step back,” he said on Thursday.
Parks, who was initially elected in 2012, opted against a third term.
As one of his final duties, he will be in attendance at Tuesday’s 6 p.m. monthly meeting in Council Chambers, 259 N. Wilma Ave.
That’s when Parks, who served as mayor for the City of Ripon for the past year, is scheduled to read out the final tally from the Nov. 3 election finals prior to certification.
He’ll happily yield his post to newcomer Tim Wheeler.
“I know Tim will do a great job,” said Parks, who also praised staff – including the current City Administrator Kevin Werner, City Attorney Tom Terpstra, Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart, Director of Public Works James Pease, City Clerk Lisa Roos, police Chief Ed Ormonde, to name a few – and colleagues on the Council for their collective efforts during the years.
One of his main goals was bringing in new businesses such as Boat Country to Ripon.
Owner Brent Lemcke moved Boat Country from Escalon to the 21,000-square-foot building near the Jack Tone Road interchange in 2018.
Another major project that Parks was thrilled to be part of was that of the North Pointe Specific Plan, which is about 310 acres of mix-used development in the northern section of town, bounded by the Mistlin Sports Park to the north, Highway 99 to the sound, Fulton Avenue to the east, and Jack Tone Road to the west. He voted for the project in 2016.
Parks is a 2001 graduate of Ripon Christian High. He has a degree in Business Marketing from California State University, Chico and a Masters in International Affairs from the University of Central Florida.
He once had a business in town – Jakes: Coffee, Tea & Sandwiches – and was on the Ripon Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
Parks currently works for a San Leandro-based logistic company, handling domestic shipping that takes goods from “here, there, and everywhere,” he said.
In addition, Parks is looking forward to his wedding day with fiancé Carrie Leighton, which has been put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
