TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – March 14, 2023
1. OPENING
The Regular meeting of the Paradise Town Council was called to order by Mayor Bolin 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 Lassonde.
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 Attorney Scott E. Huber, Town Clerk/Elections Official Dina Volenski, Information Systems Director Luis Marquez, Community Development Director Tony Lindsey, Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis, Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson, Capital Projects Manager David Kehn, Engineering Division Manager Ashley Stanley, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, and Fire Chief Patrick Purvis.
1a. Mayor Bolin presented a proclamation to Richard Abbott on behalf of the Red Cross, recognizing March as Red Cross Month. (180-40-27) 1b. VIP Frank Dodini presented the VIPS 2022 Annual Report (480-60-009) 1c. CalFire Chief Patrick Purvis presented the Town's updated Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating.
1d. Jim McCourt from Meeder Investments presented the Town’s financial update.
1e. Camp Fire Recovery Updates - Written reports are 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 Tryon, seconded by Crowder, approved consent calendar items 2a through 2f. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved the Special and Regular minutes of the February 14, 2023, February 17, 2023, and March 2, 2023 Town Council meetings. 2b. Approved February 2023 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $3,839,961.28. (310-10-034)
2c. Acknowledged receipt of and filed the Planning Commission’s annual report concerning implementation status of the 1994 Paradise General Plan and Housing Element for the 2022 calendar year. (760-40-55 & 760-40-062) 2d. Approved changes to Residential and Fuel Reduction Burn Permits to allow burning in the Town of Paradise to begin at 6:00 a.m., taking effect on April 1st, 2023. (440-60-020, 440-05-027)
2e. Adopted Town of Paradise Resolution No. 2023-10, “A resolution approving Summary Vacation of an easement for road and public utility purposes being a Portion of Parcel 1 as described in that Dedication of Right of Way recorded August 26, 1948 in Book 488, page 299, Official Records of Butte County. And approving and accepting an easement for storm drainage purposes. And approving a summary vacation of an easement for storm drainage purposes as described in that Grant Deed recorded April 12, 1973, in Book 1828, at page 356, Official Records of Butte County. Said easements being over and across that real property held by The Eaglepointe Pacific Associates, a California limited partnership, being Assessor Parcel Numbers 053-380-001 through 053-380-044 and 053-380- 099, commonly known as 5975 Maxwell Drive.” (950-10-029) 2f. Adopted Resolution No. 2023-11, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Authorizing and Establishing an Order of Succession in the Event of Absence or Disability of the Town Manager.” (110-10-029)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR - None
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Ward Habriel applauded Public Works/Snowplow Crew’s diligence during the recent storms. Mr. Habriel spoke in support of the local Garden Club and reminded residents that they will be open for their annual garden tour June 3rd-4
th
.
2. Rich Gowins thanked Kevin Phillips for his time as Town Manager and Director of PID. Mr. Gowins also expressed interest in Council reviewing the urgency ordinance in consideration of residents rebuilding goals.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson provided an update on 2023-2024 Community Development Block Grant Annual Plan funding priorities.
Mayor Bolin opened the public hearing at 6:53 pm.
There was no public comment.
Mayor Bolin closed the public hearing at 6:54 pm.
This was the first of two public hearings to solicit comments and/or suggestions; no action was requested at the time. (710-10-103)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Town Manager Town Phillips presented the proposed agreement between the Town of Paradise and Marc Mattox to serve as interim Town Manager beginning April 14, 2023. Town Clerk Dina Volenski read a comment from Marc Mattox.
1. Carrie Max stated that she will miss Kevin Phillips.
MOTION by Crowder, seconded by Lassonde, Approved an agreement between the Town of Paradise and Marc Mattox to serve as interim Town Manager beginning April 14, 2023. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-371) 6b. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an update on the proposed Federal Advocacy Platform.
MOTION by Tryon, seconded by Lassonde, Approved the updated Federal Advocacy Platform. Roll call vote was unanimous. (550-30-001) 6c. Community Development Director Susan Hartman provided an overview of the proposed agreements for on-call services for post-fire rebuilding assistance. Ms. Hartman clarified that the selected consultants would not be guaranteed work.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Crowder 1. Authorized staff to enter negotiations with recommended consultant(s) for as-needed post-fire rebuilding assistance (Community Development Dept. staff augmentation); and, 2. Authorized the Town Manager to enter into an agreement (or multiple agreements). The agreement(s) will be executed in a form approved by the Town Attorney. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-372) 6d. Engineering Division Manager Ashley Stanley provided an overview of the proposed summary vacation.
MOTION by Lassonde, seconded by Culleton, Adopted Town of Paradise Resolution No. 2023-12, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Providing for the Summary Vacation of the Existing 12-foot-wide Public Utility Easement along the South Property Line of Lot 8 of the Rancho Estates Subdivision and Located at 1525 Forest Circle, Paradise California:
APN 050-320-009.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (950-10-030) 6e. Town Attorney Scott Huber provided an overview of the proposed resolution proclaiming the existence of a local emergency due to the recent snow storms.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Tryon, Adopted Resolution No. 2023- 13, "A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Proclaiming the Existence of a Local Emergency.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (420-50-054)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items:
7a1. Discuss expiring Urgency Ordinance No. 612. (CULLETON) 7a2. Discuss residential zoning to allow storage on property. (CULLETON)
Council Member Culleton asked to table items 7a1 and 7a2 in lieu of a Special Meeting be to held Friday, March 17th at 11:00 am. All Council concurred.
7b. Council reports on committee representation:
Council Member Lassonde attended a Tourism Business Improvement District meeting.
Council Member Crowder met with and toured Paradise with the Press Democrat for an article on Adventist Health.
Vice Mayor Tryon attended the TOP/PID Liaison meeting; a Community Meeting hosted by the Paradise Police to discuss the possible location of a sexually violent predator in the Town of Paradise; a BCAG board meeting and shared that the Town of Paradise was granted over $240,000 for the downtown sewer zoning overlay and the BCAG is continuing their work on the Paradise Transit Center; Butte County Air Management Board budget and finance committee meeting; and a Solid Waste Management Committee meeting. Ms. Tryon also shared that the recycling center will continue to be open Wednesday through Saturday and the Green Waste Yard is open Friday and Saturday.
Council Member Culleton attended the Solid Waste Management Committee meeting and a Consortium of Care meeting.
Mayor Bolin met with SPI over the lawsuit concerning the use of fire retardant; and attended the monthly LAFCo meeting.
7c. Future Agenda Items - None
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Kevin Phillips reported that the Town has partnered with PRPD and the Buffer Zone Project to use the California Resiliency Challenge Grant that Paradise was awarded last year. The contractors for this project have finished the actuarial and are now moving into the Executive Summary stage. Mr. Phillips explained that the next steps include meeting with the Department of California Insurance to update their regulations to allow insurance companies to take the mitigated risks of the buffer zones, hardened homes and maintained areas in Town, into consideration for insurance premiums. Town Manager Phillips presented to the Paradise Rotary an update on the Town’s current projects.
Community Development Director Susan Hartman provided an update sharing that the Planning Commission approved two affordable housing projects. The Community Development Department (CDD) has received an application for a use permit to rebuild and expand County Club Market on the corner of Stearns and Pentz. CDD is scheduled to issue permits for a 43-unit affordable housing complex on Maxwell Drive. Rebuild Paradise Foundation is working to get their Master Plans updated with the new code cycle to begin updating their online Master Plan Library. The façade and sign design for the Ross retail store has been approved. The Community Development Department is also working on preparing residential landscape designs for free for the public. Staff has also been working with Jack in the Box to locate a site to purchase and rebuild.
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bolin adjourned the meeting at 7:38 p.m.
Date approved: April 11, 2023
By: Attest:
_________/s/_____________ _____________/s/______________ Greg Bolin, Mayor Dina Volenski, CMC, Town Clerk