William &#8220BillC Nicolls was honored as the 2006 Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce citizen of the year.

The newly elected city councilman is also a former chair of the Parks, Recreation & Beautification Commission, current member of the Grover Beach Rotary Club Board of Directors and active in the community.

Of the community for which he volunteers, Nicolls said, &#8220It's a small community, everybody knows everybody. … a lot of good people. It/s just a very pleasant place to live, and I/d like to keep it that way. Our goal is to make it the best it can be.C

A retired insurance claims adjuster as of 2000, Nicolls relocated to the Central Coast that year, living in north Grover Beach after residing in Oakland.

He/s the president of his local homeowners association, an avid racquetball player at the Pismo Beach Athletic Club every Monday and Wednesday afternoon and a local parks enthusiast.

In addition, Nicolls has been actively involved in a project by the Rotary Club to donate a shade pavilion at the large group picnic area of Grover Heights Park.

The structure will eventually be known as the Rotary Pavilion after construction is complete. The project was approved by the City Council last May.

In addition, Nicolls has worked to develop plans to transform a plot of land at 13th Street and West Grand Avenue that was willed to the city into a future park site.

Nicolls was elected to the Grover Beach City Council in the Nov. 7, 2006, General Election.

Currently, Nicolls said, he is working on a proposal that would help bring streets in Grover Beach up to par in a 15-year span, a proposal that will likely come before the community and City Council in the near future.

The Nicollses have two children, Craig and Christa, and a grandson, James.

Jan. 21, 2007