TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – June 13, 2023
1. OPENING
The Regular meeting of the Paradise Town Council was called to order by Mayor Bolin at 6:03 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: Steve Crowder, Steve “Woody” Culleton, Ron Lassonde, Rose Tryon and Greg Bolin, Mayor
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Interim Town Manager and Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox, Assistant Town Attorney Dave Ritchie, Town Clerk/Elections Official Dina Volenski, Community Development Director Susan Hartman, Community Development Director Tony Lindsey, Finance Director/Town Treasurer Aimee Beleu, Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis, Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson, Recovery and Economic Development Project Manager Brian Solecki, Capital Projects Manager David Kehn, Information Systems Director Luis Marquez, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, and Fire Chief Patrick Purvis.
1a. Cal Fire, Fire Chief Patrick Purvis presented on the upcoming 2023 Fire Season.
1b. 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.
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
Council Member Culleton asked that agenda item 2f be removed from the consent calendar.
MOTION by Crowder, seconded by Culleton, approved consent calendar items 2a through 2j, excluding 2f. Roll call vote was unanimous. 2a. Approved the Special and Regular minutes of the May 9, 2023 and Special meeting minutes of the May 10, 2023 and May 24, 2023 Town Council meetings.
2b. Approved May 2023 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $5,157,700.24. 2c. Adopted Resolution No. 2023-24, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise updating and assigning representatives to NCCSIF Board of Directors.”
2d. Approved the correction to the Blue Flamingo contract amendment dated March 27, 2022, for the not-to-exceed amount from $268,895.00 to $373,895.00.
2e. Adopted Resolution No. 2023-25, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise accepting the work performed under the On-System Sign Replacement Project (Contract No. 7304.CON) performed by McguirePacific Constructors.” 2f. This item was removed from the consent calendar by Council Member Culleton.
2g. Adopted Resolution 2023-26, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving an Amendment to the Agreement for Professional Legal Services Between the Town of Paradise and the Law Firm of Cole Huber, LLP.”
2h. Ratified the acceptance of a $3,138.00 cash donation to the Paradise Animal Shelter by Dutch Bros of Paradise.
2i. Concurred with staff’s recommendation to extend the HQE Systems contract for construction of the Early Warning Sirens to December 31, 2023 and authorized the Town Manager to execute the contract extension. 2j. Approved the third Amendment with Mark Thomas and Company, Inc. to increase the not-to-exceed budget by $339,292.00 for the CIP 9390 Neal Gateway Project for a total of $924,215.00.
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
2f. Council Members Culleton and Lassonde expressed the difficulty in denying applications through the exceptions committee.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Lassonde, approved consent calendar item 2f: 1. Concurred with the recommended approvals provided by Exceptions Committee Members Culleton & Lassonde; and,
2. Authorized staff to issue a Temporary Use Permit, with the presence of a log deck, to the applicant. Roll call vote was unanimous.
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Tom Keith commented on the standing, unused signs in town.
2. Trisha Ring commented on the wastewater district fee on the County Tax Roll.
Community Development Director Susan Hartman explained the requirement of a wastewater district fee in Paradise.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Community Development Director Susan Hartman provided an overview of the proposed Paradise General Plan Land Use Map Amendment and Rezoning of the property owned by Paradise Irrigation District at 6332 and 6344 Clark Road.
Mayor Bolin opened the public hearing at 6:38 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Bolin closed the public hearing at 6:39 p.m.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Lassonde, 1. Concurred with the project “CEQA determination” finding embodied within Planning Commission Resolution No. 2023-02; and, 2. Concurred with the project recommendation and General Plan Land Use Map amendment and rezone action adopted by the Planning Commission on May 16, 2023, and embodied within Planning Commission Resolution No. 2023-02; and,
3. Adopted Town of Paradise Resolution No. 2023-27, “A Resolution of the Paradise Planning Commission Recommending Town Council Adoption of a Paradise General Plan Land Use Map Amendment and Rezoning of Certain Real Property Within the Town of Paradise (PID: PL23-00042)” and,
4. Waived the first reading of Town Ordinance No. 626 and read by title only; and, 5. Introduced Town of Paradise Ordinance No. 626 “An Ordinance Rezoning Certain Real Property From “C-C” (CommunityCommercial) to a “C-F” (Community-Facilities) Zone Pursuant to Paradise Municipal Code Sections 17.45.500 Et. Seq. (PID: PL23-00042)”. Roll call vote was unanimous.
5b. Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson provided an overview of the proposed Substantial Amendment No. 2 to the 2019 Annual Plan.
Mayor Bolin opened the public hearing at 6:47 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Bolin closed the public hearing at 6:47 p.m.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Tryon, Adopted the Substantial Amendment to the 2019 Annual Plan; and, authorized staff to submit the Substantial Amendment No. 2 of the 2019 Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Roll call vote was unanimous.
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Brian Nash from Richardson LLP provided an overview of the Fiscal Year 2021/22 financial statement audit report.
MOTION by Tryon, seconded by Crowder, concurred with staff recommendation to receive and file the Fiscal Year 2021/22 financial statement audit report, as submitted. Roll call vote was unanimous. 6b. Council Member Culleton recused himself from the dais at 6:55 p.m. due to a potential conflict of interest.
Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an overview of staff’s recommendation for the Transient Occupancy Tax allocation.
Town Clerk/Elections Official Dina Volenski announced the eight individuals sent emails in support of the Chamber of Commerce; Monica Nolan, Nancy Murren, Linda & Paul Lyons, Carol Peterson, Al McGreehan, Mike and Judy Clemens, Joleen Levy and Warren Bullock.
1. Bill Hartley spoke in favor of this item.
2. Aubrey Pruis spoke in support of the Gold Nugget Museum.
3. Monica Nolan spoke in favor of this item.
4. Heidi Elick spoke in favor of this item.
5. Mark Thorp spoke in favor of this item.
MOTION by Crowder, seconded by Lassonde, concurred with staff’s recommendation that the Transient Occupancy Tax to be allocated in the following ways:
Creation of the “Paradise Economic Development TOT Reinvestment Program”, to be administered by the Recovery and Economic Development Department.
The grant program will have an annual budget of $100,000 from TOT funds and will allocate funds for a three-year cycle.
$45,000 of the annual allocation will be distributed directly to the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce, upon execution of a contract outlining their intended use of the funding.
The remaining $55,000 will be available for other organizations or agencies with similar tourism-based functions, with allocations made as a percentage of the organization’s annual budget.
Eligibility would be limited to organizations located within the Town of Paradise and whose core mission aligns with the grant’s mission of fostering economic growth and revitalization in Paradise by promoting tourism and attracting new visitors to our community.
Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Member Culleton absent and not voting.
Council Member Culleton returned to the dais at 7:34 p.m. 6c. Interim Town Manager and Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the proposed resolution and Agency-State Master Agreements that relate to gas tax backfill funding.
1. Monica Nolan spoke in favor of a campaign to encourage people to fill up their gas tanks while they are in Paradise.
MOTION by Tryon, seconded by Culleton, Adopted Resolution No. 2023- 28, "A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Authorizing Execution of Administering Agency-State Master Agreements for State and Federal-Aid Funded Projects." Roll call vote was unanimous. 6d. Community Development Director Susan Hartman provided an overview of the various options to regulate the design standards of murals in town.
1. Aubrey Pruis spoke in opposition to regulating the design standards of murals in town.
2. Monica Nolan spoke in favor of an arts commission for standards and maintenance.
3. Carrie Max spoke in support of murals in town.
Council provided direction to staff to keep the design standards as currently outlined in the Paradise Municipal Code relating to murals, as is. 6e. Police Chief Eric Reinbold presented on the two Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) devices donated from Pacific Gas & Electric and informed Council that the policy will require pilots to be certified, the flight data will be made available to the public every 30 days and addressed concerns about privacy issues.
1. Carrie Max asked if the flight logs would be made available for the public.
Chief Reinbold clarified that every thirty days, the Police Department would be required to post the last month’s flight logs on the Town website for public viewing.
MOTION by Crowder, seconded by Lassonde, accepted the donation of two Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) devices donated from Pacific Gas & Electric valued at $6,000 apiece. Roll call vote was unanimous
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items - None
7b. Council reports on committee representation:
Vice Mayor Tryon attended all assigned committee meetings.
Council Member Crowder spoke with Assemblyman Gallagher regarding The Plantation and HCD, and Adventist Health.
Council Member Lassonde attended the Tourism Business Improvement District meeting; a groundbreaking for Eagle Point; Fire Station 81’s open house; the Adventist Church groundbreaking; the BCAG meeting; the Sunshine Manor ribbon cutting; presented at the Lyon’s Club; and attended Officer Curtis’ swear-in.
Mayor Bolin attended the monthly LAFCo meeting where the Town of Paradise Sewer Project was approved and Mayor Bolin was reappointed to LACFo for another 4-year term.
7c. Future Agenda Items:
1. Mayor Bolin requested that an urgency ordinance for laydown yards in residential areas be put on the June 28th Special Meeting agenda.
2. Council Member Lassonde requested a commercial sign removal update and options for next steps.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Interim Town Manager Marc Mattox announced that the Town will have a booth at Party in the Park and invited Council to celebrate the near completion of the Downtown project.
Community Development Director Susan Hartman shared that the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing for a 10-unit multi-family housing complex, non-conforming rebuild; that CDD expects to be done with the first round of defensible space inspections by the end of the following week; that CDD was notified of a preliminary approval for a grant from the Energy Commission which would be used to purchase an additional server that would allow the public to apply for solar roof permits online. CDD finaled 63 homes in May; they are reviewing a use permit for an existing mobile home park on Skyway and shared that the new sushi restaurant has opened.
Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis shared details on the “Prepared Paradise” emergency drill and siren testing on June 15th.
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bolin adjourned the meeting at 8:52 p.m.
Date approved: July 11, 2023
By: Attest:
__________/s/______________ ____________/s/_____________ Greg Bolin, Mayor Dina Volenski, CMC, Town Clerk