TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – January 11, 2022
1. OPENING
The Regular meeting of the Paradise Town Council was called to order by Mayor Crowder at 6:02 p.m. in the Town Council Chamber located at 5555 Skyway, Paradise, California who led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. An invocation was offered by Council Member Bolin.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Greg Bolin, Steve “Woody” Culleton, Jody Jones (via Teams), Rose Tryon and Steve Crowder, Mayor.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Town Manager Kevin Phillips (via Teams), Town Attorney Scott E.
Huber, Deputy Town Clerk Melanie Norris, Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox, Finance Director Ross Gilb, Community Development Director Susan Hartman, Community Development Director Tony Lindsey, Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson, Hazard Tree Removal Project Manager Brian Solecki, Sergeant John Alvies and Officer Dominic Vannucci.
Mayor Crowder announced that no reportable action was taken in Closed Session at the 5:00 p.m. Special Town Council Meeting.
1a. Camp Fire Recovery Updates - Written reports are included in the agenda packet:
Colette Curtis, Recovery and Economic Development Director - Recovery projects, Advocacy, Economic Recovery and Development,
Communications and Emergency Operations. (110-60-061)
Marc Mattox, Public Works Director/Town Engineer - Infrastructure and Sewer Update (110-60-061)
Tony Lindsey, CDD-Building and Code Enforcement - Code Enforcement Update (110-60-061)
1b. Business and Housing Manager by Kate Anderson, presented on the available Business and Housing Department programs and shared the positive feedback from residents who have used the program.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon, approved consent calendar items 2a through 2e with item 2d removed from the Consent Calendar by Council Member Tryon. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved minutes of the December 14, 2021 Regular Town Council meeting.
2b. Approved December 2021 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $3,671,283,14. (310-10-034)
2c. Ratified the agreement for the Town of Paradise to accept the California Resilience Challenge 2021 Grant. (510-20-334, 440-91-003) 2d. Item removed from Consent Calendar.
2e. Declared the described equipment as surplus property; and, Adopted Resolution No. 2022-02, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Declaring Certain Town Property to be Surplus and Authorizing Disposal Thereof”. (380-10-003)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
2d. Council Member Tryon asked Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson to present on this item. Ms. Anderson shared that this resolution would change the guidelines to approve “sweat equity”, or participation in a self-help build, that the hours-worked by the home owner can satisfy the 2% contribution required by the program.
Adopted Resolution No. 2022-01 “A Resolution of The Town Council of the Town of Paradise Amending the Home and CDBG Homebuyer Acquisition Only/Acquisition with Rehabilitation Programs Guidelines Previously Adopted by Resolution 17-44 and The CalHome Sponsored First-Time Homebuyer Mortgage Assistance Program Guidelines."
MOTION by Tryon, seconded by Culleton, approved consent calendar item 2d. Roll call vote was unanimous. (710-10-086)
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Ward Habriel shared that the Garden Club has planted a total of 185,000 daffodils, questioned what the definition of a “log deck” was, and shared that he was compensated for a fence destroyed during the tree program by CALOES.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson presented on the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.
Mayor Crowder opened the public hearing at 6:30pm.
There was no public comment.
Mayor Crowder closed the public hearing at 6:31pm.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, Authorized the Town Manager to submit the CAPER to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Roll call vote was unanimous. (710-10-097)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Finance Director/Town Treasurer Ross Gilb provided background on the Development Impact Fees. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox shared that the Town is working on the projects that the Town can complete with the funds already received and clarified that the funds can’t be used for any projects the funds are not designated for.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon, Adopted Resolution No. 2022- 03, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise, California, Reporting Unexpended Development Impact Fees in Accordance with Government Code Section 66006”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (740-10-013)
6b. Community Development Director Susan Hartman presented on the Exemption Committee Application for a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) for 6384 Oak Way.
1. The applicant, Jonathon Detro stated that he is working with Rancho Engineering and could have a signed contract by tomorrow and guaranteed he could have plans submitted in 30 days.
2. Ward Habriel spoke in opposition of approving the application and sited additional Code Enforcement issues on other properties in the past.
3. Brett Goodlin said that he and his wife were renters at the time of the Camp Fire and were turned away from being able to apply for a TUP or the Exemptions Committee and stated that if Council approved this applicant, then the application should be redrafted.
Council gave Staff direction to bring this item back at the February Council Meeting with proof that the applicant has submitted a rebuild permit application. If the applicant has not submitted plans by that time, the direction of Council would be to refer the applicant to Code Enforcement and Legal Counsel for abatement. (540-10-021)
6c. Community Development Director Susan Hartman presented on the proposed educational campaign for property buyers regarding boundary surveys.
1. Jon Remalia spoke in favor of the survey requirements and asked how long the certificate of survey was good for.
All Council concurred to move forward with the proposed educational campaign for property buyers regarding boundary surveys. (155-60-011, 750-10-007)
6d. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox presented an overview of the three projects for Council consideration: 1. On-System Culvert Repari Project 2. On-System Hardscape Replacement project; and, 2. On-System Sign Replacement Project. (510-20-327, 950-40-052)
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon,
1. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-04, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise awarding contract No. 7301.CON for the On-System Culvert Repair Project to the Lowest Responsible and Responsive Bidder in the Amount of their Base Bid”; and, (510-20-327, 950-40-052)
2. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-05, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise awarding contract No. 7302.CON for the On-System Hardscape Replacement Project to the Lowest Responsible and Responsive Bidder in the Amount of their Base Bid; and, (510-20-328, 950-40-053)
3. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-06, A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise awarding contract No. 7304.CON for the On-System Sign Replacement Project to the Lowest Responsible and Responsive Bidder in the Amount of their Base Bid; and, (510-20-329, 950-40-055)
4. Authorized the Town Manager to execute an agreement with the lowest responsible and responsive bidder relating to Contracts 7301.CON, 7302.CON, and 7304.CON and approved contingency expenditures not exceeding 10% of the base bid. Roll call vote was unanimous. 6e. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox presented on the history of the Skyway-Neal Bike/Pedestrian project.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Bolin, concurred with staff’s recommendation of Mark Thomas and Company, Inc., to perform professional civil engineering services on the Skyway-Neal Bike/Ped project contingent upon Caltrans Office of Audits and Investigation acceptance of financial document submittals, and approved the Agreement for Professional Services and authorized the Town Manager to execute an agreement with Mark Thomas and Company, Inc. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-330, 950-40-064)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items
7a1. Discuss whether the Town would implement a mandatory vaccine mandate. (BOLIN)
1. Ward Habriel commented on this item.
After discussion, the Town Council agreed to table this item until the Supreme Court ruling and then determine whether it would need to be brought back as a future agenda item. 7b. Council reports on committee representation
Mayor Crowder attended the County’s redistricting meetings and the Christmas Tree Lighting at the Paradise Ice Rink.
Vice Mayor Bolin attended a virtual LAFCo meeting.
7c. Future Agenda Items
Council Member Tryon asked that Staff present a breakdown of the PG&E settlement monies received by the Town of Paradise.
Council Member Culleton asked that Staff present on the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), how it is dispersed and supports tourism in the Town.
Town Manager Phillips stated that both those items would be presented upon during next months Mid-Year Budget update.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Phillips reported that due to the current spike in COVID cases that more employees would be taking advantage of working from home and consequently less individuals would be present in the office.
Community Development Director Susan Hartman shared that Chevron Gas Station’s rebuild plans have been submitted; Hope Plaza’s plans have been approved; Bonnie O’Rourke’s plans have also been submitted; both Cozy Diner and El Rancho were open for business; the Moose Lodge plans to submit plans; and the Housing Element will be submitted to the State for a 90-day review process. Ms. Hartman also shared that the Building Resiliency Center will start holding a monthly Stakeholder’s Meeting for contractors
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Crowder adjourned the Council meeting at 8:21 p.m.
Date approved:
By:
_________/s/_____________
Steve Crowder, Mayor
Attest:
_________/s/______________
Melanie Norris, Deputy Town Clerk