TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – May 10, 2022
1. OPENING
The Regular meeting of the Paradise Town Council was called to order by Mayor Crowder at 6:00 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 Vice Mayor Greg Bolin.
At 6:02 p.m. Mayor Crowder announced the following items from the Special Town Council meeting held at 4:30 p.m.:
3a. The Town Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2022-25, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Declaring an Emergency and Making Related Factual Findings Related to Nuisance Conditions and an Immediate Threat to Public Health and Safety Existing at 6681 Brook Way, APN 050-300-028 in Paradise, CA.” 3b. Direction was given, no action was taken.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Greg Bolin, Steve “Woody” Culleton, Jody Jones, Rose Tryon and Steve Crowder, Mayor.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Town Manager Kevin Phillips, Town Attorney Scott E. Huber, Town Clerk Dina Volenski, Finance Director/Town Treasurer Ross Gilb, Community Development Director Susan Hartman, Community Development Director Tony Lindsey (via Teams), Information Systems Director Luis Marquez, Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, Fire Chief Rick Manson, Project Manager Brian Solecki and Principal Engineer Ashely Stanley. 1e. Mayor Crowder presented Jim Riotto with a Proclamation recognizing 30 years assisting the Town of Paradise.
1f. Mayor Crowder read the proclamation for Kristi More for advocacy after the Camp Fire.
1g. Mayo Crowder presented Nathan Solecki with a proclamation for the Town of Paradise seal artwork. (180-40-027)
1h. Roy Wright from the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) provided the Town Council a presentation on wildfire preparedness home standards.
1i. Ellen Michels, president of PASH, presented the Town Council with a proposal to expand and remodel the Paradise Animal Shelter. 1j. Camp Fire Recovery updates were written updates included in the Agenda Packet: (110-60-061)
Colette Curtis, Recovery and Economic Development Director - Recovery Projects, Advocacy, Economic Recovery and Development,
Communications and Emergency Operations
Marc Mattox, Public Works Director/Town Engineer- Infrastructure and Sewer Update
Tony Lindsey, CDD-Building and Code Enforcement update
Kate Anderson, Business and Housing Manager - Housing Update
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Jones, approved consent calendar items 2a through 2j. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved minutes of the April 12, 2022 Special and Regular Town Council meetings.
2b. Approved April 2022 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $2,598,978.45. (310-10-034)
2c. Waived the second reading of Town Ordinance No. 616 and read by title only and adopted Town Ordinance No. 616 “An Ordinance Amending Text Regulations with Paradise Municipal Code Chapter 17.41 [Design Standards and Design Review] Relative to Updated Adoption Dates.” (540-16-185) 2d. Waived second reading of the entire Town Ordinance No. 617 and approved reading by title only; and, adopted Town Ordinance No. 617, “An Ordinance Amending Chapter 8.58.060 to the Paradise Municipal Code Relating to Defensible Space and Hazardous Fuel Management”. (540-16-186) 2e. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-26, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Authorizing Destruction of Certain Town Records Maintained in the Finance Division Pursuant to Government Code Section 34090.” (160-20-016 & 160-20-017)
2f. Reviewed and filed the 3rd Quarter Investment Report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2022. (360-30-006)
2g. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-27, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Adopting a List of Projects for Fiscal Year 2022/23 Funded by SB 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.” (950-40-034) 2h. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-28, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Authorizing the Town Manager to Issue Easements on Town Property for Utility Purposes.” (850-20-011, 950-90-004) 2i. Re-appointed one Planning Commissioner Kim Morris, whose term expired on June 30, 2021 for one 4-year term effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2025. (760-45-012)
2j. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-29, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Authorizing Destruction of Certain Town Records Maintained in Storage for the Human Resources Department Pursuant to Government Code Section 34090. The records listed in Exhibit B have been retained for three or more years and are eligible for destruction (160-20-016 & 160-20-017)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR - None
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Ward Habriel announced the Paradise Garden Tour and commented on ways to potentially reduce insurance for those rebuilding.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson provided an update on the Substantial Amendment to the 2021-22 Annual Plan and requested Council open the second public hearing.
Mayor Crowder opened the public hearing at 7:05 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Crowder closed the public hearing at 7:05 p.m.
MOTION by Jones, seconded by Tryon, adopted the Substantial Amendment to the 2021-22 Annual Plan and authorized staff to submit the Substantial Amendment to the 2021-22 Annual Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Roll call vote was unanimous. (710-10-097)
5b. Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson provided an update on proposed changes to the Citizen Participation Plan and requested the Council open the second public hearing.
Mayor Crowder opened the public hearing at 7:07 p.m.
1. Ward Habriel spoke in favor of citizen participation and encouraged Council to listen to the opinions of the people.
Mayor Crowder closed the public hearing at 7:09 p.m.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Jones, Adopted the revised Citizen Participation Plan and authorized staff to submit the Citizen Participation Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Roll call vote was unanimous. (710-10-093)
5c. Community Development Director Susan Hartman provided an update regarding the appeal of the proposed Temporary Use Permit revocation of property located at 6082 Lucky John Road, further identified as APN 053- 030-005.
Mayor Crowder opened the public hearing at 7:12 p.m.
1. Christine Johnson Wood explained how she intends to address each violation.
Mayor Crowder closed the public hearing at 7: p.m.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Jones Concurred with the Planning Commission determination that the temporary land use is in violation of the interim housing urgency ordinance standards; and, concurred with the temporary use permit decision actions of the Planning Commission thereby denying the appeal. Roll call vote was unanimous. (750-10-005)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Town Clerk Dina Volenski provided an overview of the General Election Resolutions. Town Attorney Scott Huber explained considerations in defining the “intent to rebuild” requirement for those candidates who are not currently living in Paradise but wish to run for a position on the Town Council.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Jones:
1. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-30 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise the Calling & Giving Notice for the Holding of a General Municipal Election to be Held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, for the Election of Certain Officers as Required by the Provisions of the Laws of the State of California Relating to General Law Cities for the Election of Two Council Members.”
2. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-31, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Butte to Consolidate a General Municipal Election to be Held on November 8, 2022, with the Statewide General Election to be Held on that Date for the Election of Two (2) Town Council Members.”
3. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-32, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise, California Adopting Regulations for Candidates for the Elective Office Pertaining to the Candidate Statements Submitted to the Voters at a General or Special Municipal Election.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (530-10-065)
6b. Fire Chief Rick Manson provided an overview of the proposed ordinance amending the Paradise Municipal Code relating to Defensible Space and Hazardous Fuel Management.
1. Town Clerk Dina Volenski announced that the Town received a letter in opposition to the ordinance from Raelyn Hall which had been given to Council.
2. Ward Habriel voiced concern about hazardous trees that are still standing and the brush which has not been cleared.
3. Jon Remalia spoke in favor of hydrants.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, Waived the first reading of Town Ordinance No.618 and read by title only; and, introduced Town Ordinance No. 618, "An Ordinance Amending Paradise Municipal Code Section 8.58.060 Relating to Defensible Space and Hazardous Fuel Management". Roll call vote was unanimous. (540-16-187) 6c. Chief Reinbold provided an overview of the proposed Sutter Buttes Communication contract for the purchase and installation of portable and mobile two-way radios.
1. Ward Habriel shared that the AM1500 Radio signal is weak and scratchy.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon, authorized the Town Manager to enter into a contract with Sutter Buttes Communications for the Purchase and Installation of portable and mobile two-way radios for Town personnel and equipment. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-344) 6d. Chief Reinbold notified Council that this request would authorize a one-time fee to onboard the radio system.
MOTION by Tryon, seconded by Jones, authorized the Town Manager to pay Butte County $85,000 to fulfill Participation Fees for BRICS. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-286)
6e. Town Engineer Marc Mattox and consultants from Mark Thomas Engineering provided an overview of the 2022 Transportation Master Plan MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Jones Approved the 2022 Transportation Master Plan (TMP) prepared by Mark Thomas, including deliverables for Daily Transportation Analysis, Traffic Evacuation Analysis, Active Transportation Plan, Local Roadway Safety Plan, Roadway Recovery Management, Economic Recovery Strategies and Design Standards. Roll call vote was unanimous. (950-40-063)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items
1. Discuss amending the sign ordinance to grandfather in signs that existed before the Campfire if they are removed now because a business no longer exists. If the business comes back later they would have the right to put their sign back up. (JONES)
Community Development Director Susan Hartman reported that the Paradise Municipal Code contains an enforcement section that stipulates a specific number of days a vacant lot or building is allowed to have a sign advertising a business that is no longer operating. The Town could make the request that the sign fronts be taken down, however, asking that a business remove their sign with their frames, when they are not damaged, would require a public hearing through the Planning Commission. Ms.
Hartman suggested offering an incentive to those business owners, that if they voluntarily removed their signs, and decided to rebuild to the current standards, that funding might be made available to help with the extra cost.
Any non-conforming use must be consistent with the General Plan. There is no stipulation in the General Plan that addresses or allows for the voluntary removal of a non-conforming use to be replaced at a later time as any new additions must conform to the current design standards.
Council provided staff with direction to explore opportunities and funding to have signs on abandoned lots removed with these ideas is mind. 7b. Council reports on committee representation
Vice Mayor Bolin reported that Carl Levins, the chairman of LAFCo for 47 years, passed away.
Council Member Jones attended the Butte County Association of Government meeting where they adopted the annual work program for the fiscal year which includes the Paradise Transit Center construction.
Council Member Culleton attended the Chocolate Festival.
Council Member Tryon attended the Butte County Air Quality Meeting, Financial Review Committee Meeting and Executive Meeting and announced that the first annual Grazing Festival would take place Saturday, June 11th.
Mayor Crowder attended Gold Nugget Days; dedication of the Pet Memorial; a high school leadership meeting with Chief Reinbold put on by the Butte County judges; the Boys and Girls Club cook-off; a tour of the Town with HCD; and the Welcome to Paradise sign dedication. 7c. Future Agenda Items - None
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Kevin Phillips reported that the Town is currently meeting with S&P to review the rating on the RDA Bonds; there was a community update meeting; two Long-Term Recovery Plan update meetings; that the Measure V Committee visited the vehicle maintenance shop and station 81; the Town hosted the Sac Valley Manager’s Meeting; and participated in the HCD visit. Town Manager Philips, Mayor Crowder and Council Member Culleton will be attending the Cal Cities Leadership Conference and will present the needs of the Town, as well as meet with the Attorney General to talk about contractor fraud in Paradise. Mr. Phillips will also speak with the California Department of Insurance to try to gain buy-in to ensure the residents are able to obtain affordable insurance on the ridge.
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Crowder adjourned the meeting at 9:07 p.m.
Date approved: June 14, 2022
By: Attest:
________/s/_____________ ____________/s/_____________
Steve Crowder, Mayor Dina Volenski, CMC, Town Clerk