Jake Ours, late Santa Rosa councilman, remembered at City Hall

The Santa Rosa City Council honored the life of late Councilman Jake Ours on Tuesday, remembering the former city representative for his good humor, insight into government gained from years of public service, and commitment to making the city a better place.

Ours died June 16 of cancer at the age of 74.

Dozens of city staff, family and business leaders attended the council meeting, many wearing buttons bearing his smiling face. Ours served seven years on the city’s Housing Authority and Redevelopment Agency and a four-year term on the council, to which he was elected in 2010.

Mayor John Sawyer read a proclamation that called Ours a “devoted family man” who was “admired as an honorable friend, trusted mentor, esteemed individual, dedicated public servant and true statesman.”

Before retiring in 2001 to Sonoma County with his wife of 45 years, Nicole, the Marin County native worked for the federal government for many years and later was redevelopment manager of San Rafael, where he was instrumental in the economic revitalization of downtown.

A strong supporter of economic development, Ours was also fiercely independent.

Keith Woods, executive director of the North Coast Builder’s Exchange recalled how despite his organization’s backing, the councilman supported an increase in building fees his group strongly opposed.

When Woods chided Ours for his vote, Woods recalled that he shot back “My name is Ours, not Yours.”

Councilwoman Erin Carlstrom, just 29 when she began serving with Ours, said he she wondered what common ground they might find. She said Ours liked to remind her that he had grandchildren her age.

“Jake and I disagreed probably more often than we agreed, but he was always extraordinarily respectful about it,” she said.

Matt Martin, executive director of Social Advocates for Youth, said that when the Dream Center for at-risk young adults opens later this years, one of the apartments, thanks to an anonymous donor, will be dedicated in the late councilman’s name.

“The gift will ensure that Councilman Ours will be remembered as having made a difference in the lives of our youth,” Martin said.

Though he did it respectfully, Ours could be demanding and pushed city staff to make decisions that would move key projects forward, like the Museum on the Square project, former Santa Rosa city manager Jeff Kolin said.

“Jake was really good at seeing those opportunities and then putting together the right elements to make them move forward,” Kolin said.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @srcitybeat.