MINUTES
PARADISE TOWN COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING – 3:00 PM – January 17, 2023
1. OPENING
The Special meeting of the Paradise Town Council was called to order by Mayor Bolin at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at 5555 Skyway, Paradise, California who led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Crowder, Steve “Woody” Culleton, Ron Lassonde, Rose Tryon and Greg Bolin, Mayor.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Town Manager Kevin Phillips, Town Clerk/Elections Official Dina Volenski, Town Attorney Scott E. Huber (via Teams), Recovery & Economic Development Director Colette Curtis, Finance Director/Town Treasurer Ross Gilb, and Information Systems Director Luis Marquez.
Vice Mayor Tryon requested that agenda item 3a be moved to the top of the agenda. All Town Council concurred to move item 3a to the top of the agenda.
3. COUNCIL INITIATED
3a. Vice Mayor Tryon presented this item asking that all Town Council sign a letter showing support for Congressman LaMalfa and Thompson’s bill to exclude Fire Victim’s settlement funds from federal taxes.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Tryon, approved a letter of support from the Town Council supporting Congressman LaMalfa and Thompson’s bill to exclude Fire Victim’s settlements from federal taxes. Roll call vote was unanimous. (550-30-001, 180-30-100)
2. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
2a. Council Member Crowder provided an overview of the purpose of the Washington D.C. trip to advocate on the bill introduced by Congressman LaMalfa and Thompson to exclude Fire Victims settlement funds from Federal taxes. Town of Paradise federal lobbyist Kristi More answered questions about the necessity of visiting DC in both February and March and strategies regarding the best timing on advocating these issues to Congress.
1. Jon Remalia spoke in favor of this item.
MOTION by Tryon, seconded by Culleton, approved a trip to be taken by Council Member Steve Crowder to Washington DC to advocate for HR 176 (tax burden relief for wildfire claimants) and a budget adjustment, not to exceed $1,500, to fund the trip from the Town Council budget with input from Vice Mayor Tryon. (Receipts to be provided upon return for reimbursement) Roll call vote was unanimous. (340-40-016)
4. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bolin adjourned the Council meeting at 3:48 p.m.
Date approved: February 14, 2023
By: Attest:
__________/s/____________ _____________/s/____________
Greg Bolin, Mayor Dina Volenski, CMC, Town Clerk