TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – July 12, 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 Council Member Culleton.
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, Information Systems Director Luis Marquez, Public Works Director Marc Mattox (via Teams), Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis, Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, Battalion Chief Rick Manson and Recovery and Economic Development Project Manager Brian Solecki.
1a. Camp Fire Recovery Updates - Written reports were 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 - Code Enforcement Update
Kate Anderson, Business and Housing Manager - Business and Housing Update
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION by Jones, seconded by Bolin, approved consent calendar items 2a through 2e. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved minutes from the June 14, 2022, Special and Regular meetings and the June 29, 2022 Special meeting.
2b. Approved June 2022 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $2,817,833.49. (310-10-034)
2c. 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-45, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Certifying to the County of Butte the Validity of the Legal Process Used to Place Direct Charges (Special Assessments) on the Secured Tax Roll”; and, 2. Authorized the Town Manager and Finance Director to approve direct charge (special assessment) changes; and, 3.
Authorized the Town Manager and Finance Director to execute the governing authority certification related to the direct assessments on the property tax roll. (550-40-051, 510-20-107, 540-10-020) 2d. Authorized the Town Manager to execute an extended license agreement with Nicki Jones relating to the proposed license area expansion at 6265 Skyway, Paradise, CA. (510-20-265)
2e. Received a written update for the Stearns Rd. Dry Creek Culvert Emergency repair project. (950-40-067)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR - None
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Shawn Shingler is concerned with a piece of property in Town that he thinks is being mined for dirt; asked Council to consider revoking the grading permit on the property and asked if Council was okay with this behavior and the destruction to property in the Town of Paradise.
2. Rich Gowins asked Council to consider the impact on families who live on private roads and the lack of accountability regarding truck hauling on private roads.
3. Ward Habriel thanked the community for supporting the Garden Club Annual Tour and suggested that the Town have a monthly or quarterly publication/flyer that would provide information to the public about the good things going on in Town.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Town Manager Phillips requested the Council open the public hearing to solicit comments and/or suggestions regarding the official naming of an existing private access easement located in the Town of Paradise to be named Papa Nana Lane.
Mayor Crowder opened the public hearing at 6:25 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Crowder closed the public hearing at 6:25 p.m.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, adopted Resolution No. 2022- 46, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Officially Naming an Existing Private Access Easement Located in the Town of Paradise to be Henceforth Named: Papa Nana Lane.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (950-65-006)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Town Treasurer/Finance Director Ross Gilb provided a brief overview of the 2022/2023 Fiscal Year Budget, which was previously presented at a Special Town Council meeting on June 29, 2022 and requested the Town Council adopt the following Resolutions. (The Town of Paradise Budget document is available for review at https://www.townofparadise.com/meetings ) Town Council approved Resolutions 2022-47 through 2022-52 with one motion and a unanimous roll call vote.
1. MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, adopted Resolution No. 2022-47 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Adopting the Final Budget for the Town of Paradise Including all Attachments, Appendices, and other related Documents for the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2023”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (340-40-016)
2. MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, adopted Resolution No. 2022-48, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving and Adopting the Annual Appropriation Limit for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (340-40-016)
3. MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, adopted Resolution No. 2022-49, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Amending the General Fund Reserves for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (340-40-016)
4. MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, adopted Resolution No. 2022-50, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise approving and Adopting the Town of Paradise Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and Disaster Recovery Plan for the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (340-40-016, 950-40-034)
5. MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, adopted Resolution No. 2022-51, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving the New Job Classification Descriptions.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (340-40-016, 610-10-017)
6. MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, adopted Resolution No. 2022-52, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise, California adopting the amended Salary Pay Plan for Town of Paradise Employees for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (340-40-016, 610-10-015, 610-10-017, 610-10-018)
6b. This item was removed from the agenda due to an inadvertent error with the agenda information included in the agenda packet. This item will be brought back at the next meeting for consideration.
Upon conclusion of the public discussion regarding the Defensible Space and Hazardous Fuel Management ordinance, adopt either the recommended action or an alternative action.1. Consider waiving the first reading of Town Ordinance No. ______and reading by title only; and, 2.
Introduce Town Ordinance No. _____. "An Ordinance Amending Paradise Municipal Code Section 8.58.060 Relating to Defensible Space and Hazardous Fuel Management"; or, 4. Adopt an alternative directive to Town staff.
6c. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided the Town Council with an overview of the proposed implementation of the Early Warning System project.
MOTION by Jones, seconded by Tryon to 1. Concur with staff’s recommendation of HQE Systems of Temecula, CA to complete final design, construct and implement to activation all aspects of the Town Early warning system; and, 2. Approved the Professional Services Agreement with HQE Systems; and, 3 Authorized the Town Manager and Town Mayor to execute the contract. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-349) 6d. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided the Town Council with an overview of the project approving the plans and specifications for CDBG Skyway Sidewalk Infill project.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon, adopted Resolution No. 2022-53, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving the Plans and Specifications for CDBG Skyway Sidewalk Infill Project and Authorizing Advertisement for Bids on the Project.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (950-40-068)
6e. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided the Town Council with an overview of the Off-System Culvert Repair Project that was created by the Camp Fire. Mr. Mattox informed the Town Council that staff was recommending the Town Council award the bid to the second lowest bidder as there were deficiencies with the proposal submitted by Northstate Earth and Water, Inc.
1. Georgetta Fitzgerald, from Northstate Earth and Water, Inc., asked the Town Council to reconsider approving the contract with Allen Gill Construction (second lowest bidder) and consider authorizing Northstate Earth and Water, the lowest bidder, to move forward with the contract despite omissions made in the submitted proposal.
Town Attorney Huber stated that the issues discovered in the submitted proposal were considered “Legal Deficiencies” that could not be overlooked when awarding a contract and advised the Town Council to follow staff’s recommendation of Allen Gill Construction, the second lowest bidder.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2022-54, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Awarding Contract No. 8408.CON, Off-System Culvert Repair Project, Allen Gill Construction, Inc. in the amount of their base bid of $478,901.00”; and,
2. Authorized the Town Manager to execute an agreement with Allen Gill Construction, Inc. in the amount of their base bid of $478,901.00 relating to Contract No. 8408.CON and to approve contingency expenditures not exceeding 10%. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-350) 6f. Town Manager Phillips presented a brief overview of Ordinance No. 619 which would add an Article regarding Mandatory Municipal MSW, Recyclable Material and Organic Waste Disposal. Manager Phillips reiterated to Council that this is the first step towards compliance with the Statewide unfunded mandate.
Town Council discussed that the ordinance is impossible to comply with; will be costly for the garbage service which will pass along the expense to the customers; there are no facilities in the region, and this is a law that was not well thought out regarding what jurisdictions would be able to comply with the requirements.
1. Ward Habriel commented that the law is not reasonable and will be difficult for companies to comply with and suggested Council pass it by a three to two vote.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Crowder, 1. Waived the second reading of Town Ordinance No. 619 and read by title only; and, 2. Adopted Town Ordinance No. 619, “An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Amending Text Regulations within Paradise Municipal Code Chapter 8.08 [Solid Waste] and Adding Article 1 Regarding Mandatory Municipal MSW, Recyclable Material, and Organic Waste Disposal. Ayes:
Greg Bolin, Steve “Woody” Culleton and Steve Crowder, Mayor. Noes: Jody Jones and Rose Tryon. Absent: None. Abstain: None
The Ordinance is passed under protest by the Town Council. (540-16-188)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items
7a. Discuss an amendment to the Paradise Municipal Code Section 8.58.060 F, to extend the length of time residents are allowed to have goats on their property for weed abatement purposes and discuss the number of goats allowed depending on the size of the property. (BOLIN)
Vice Mayor Bolin requested this item be placed on the agenda to discuss the weed problem in Town by allowing goats to remove weeds naturally on properties. Community Development Director Tony Lindsey informed the Council that goats are currently allowed to graze on properties for up to 60 days in a calendar year. If someone wanted goats on their property longterm the Paradise Municipal Code allows for, citizens can apply for a ministerial minor Administrative Permit.
Vice Mayor Bolin stated that he does not want to change anything and is content with keeping the current ordinance in place.
7b. Council reports on committee representation
Vice Mayor Bolin stated that LAFCo was cancelled.
Council Member Jones attended the Butte County Oversight Committee.
Council Member Culleton attended the IBHS ribbon cutting for the first fire safe home in Paradise.
Council Member Tryon also attended the IBHS ribbon cutting ceremony and attended the Butte County Air Quality Management District and Butte County Association of Government meetings.
Mayor Crowder also attended the IBHS ribbon cutting ceremony and the General Unit Labor negotiations.
7c. Future Agenda Items - None
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Report
Town Manager Phillips updated the Council on the grants that staff is writing to bring funding into the Town; CDBG-DR through HCD has earmarked $30 million for the Paradise Sewer Project with the monies not taken out of $317 million infrastructure money; The EIR will be coming out on Thursday for the Paradise Sewer Project: there are Economic dollars coming into Paradise with work force training in Paradise; there will be an announcement later this week on Infrastructure dollars coming into Town; a media release was sent out regarding the $9.3 million streets projects funding thanking everyone for their assistance in obtaining the funding; an internal EOC exercise with was facilitated by Jim Broshears to prepare for Wildfire Season, the Town zone numbers will remain the same, but the zone numbers in the County are changing; the Solid Waste Committee met and are discussing the Green Waste facility, a meeting was held with the Mayor and Adventist Health to open up lines of communications to work towards restoring services in Town.
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Crowder adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m.
Date approved: August 9, 2022
By: Attest:
__________/s/______________ _____________/s/____________ Steve Crowder, Mayor Dina Volenski, CMC, Town Clerk