TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – September 12, 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: Town Manager Jim Goodwin, Town Attorney Scott E. Huber, Town Clerk/Elections Official Dina Volenski, Community Development Director Susan Hartman, Community Development Director Tony Lindsey, Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox, Finance Director/Town Treasurer Aimee Beleu, Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis, Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson, Information Systems Director Luis Marquez, Project Manager Brian Solecki, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, and Fire Chief Patrick Purvis.
1a. Jim McCourt from Meeder Investments provided a financial update. 1b. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an update on Transient Occupancy Tax process and applications. 1c. 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 Lassonde, seconded by Culleton, approved consent calendar items 2a through 2f and item 2h. Item 2g was removed from the agenda. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved minutes of the August 8th, 2023 Special and Regular Town Council meetings and the August 17th, 2023 Special Town Council meeting.
2b. Approved August 2023 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $5,959,963.86. (310-10-034)
2c. Authorized the Mayor and Town Manager to execute documents necessary to amend the contract for banking services with U.S. Bank originally dated October 1, 2017 to extend the terms of the agreement from October 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. This is the second and final extension. (510-20-176) 2d. 1. Authorized the Town Manager to execute an agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for acceptance of the USDA 2023 Volunteer Fire Capacity Grant award to purchase new structural and wildland personal protective equipment (PPE); and, 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2023-41, A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise, "Approving the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Agreement #7GF23086 for services from the date of last signatory on page 1 of the Agreement to June 30, 2024 under the Volunteer Fire Capacity Program of the Cooperative Forestry Act of 1978." (510-20-362) 2e. Adopted Resolution No. 2023-42, “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.” (160-20-017)
2f. Approved the recommended personnel change to position control as follows:
1. Temporary over-hire of an Accountant for training due to attrition (item 2)
2. Add additional Accountant position beginning September 2023
3. Sunset Accounting Manager position when vacated (anticipated December 2023) (610-10-017)
2g. ITEM REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA
2h. 1. Declared the certain described equipment as surplus property; and,
2. Adopted Resolution No. 2023-43, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Declaring Certain Town Equipment to be Surplus and Obsolete and Authorizing Disposal by the Town Manager or his Designee.” (380-10-003)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR - None
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION - None
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson provided an overview of the proposed 2022-2023 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).
Mayor Bolin opened the public hearing at 6:50 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Bolin closed the public hearing at 6:50 p.m.
MOTION by Tryon, seconded by Culleton, Authorized the Town Manager to submit the CAPER to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Roll call vote was unanimous. (710-10-101) 5b. Community Development Director Susan Hartman provided an overview of the rezone action proposed through Ordinance No. 628.
Mayor Bolin opened the public hearing at 6:54 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Bolin closed the public hearing at 6:54 p.m.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Lassonde, 1. Concurred with the project “CEQA determination” finding presented and considered by the Planning Commission on August 15, 2023; and, 2. Concurred with the project recommended rezone action adopted by the Planning Commission on August 15, 2023, and embodied within Planning Commission Resolution No. 2023-03; and, 3. Waived the first reading of Town Ordinance No. 628 and read by title only; and, 4. Introduced Town of Paradise Town Ordinance No. 628 “An Ordinance Rezoning Certain Real Property from “RR-1” (Rural Residential 1-acre minimum) to an RR ½ (Rural Residential ½-acre minimum) Zone Pursuant to Paradise Municipal Code Sections 17.45.500 Et. Seq. (Fisher: PL23-00111)”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (540-16-197)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Community Development Director Susan Hartman presented the proposed amendments to the Local Agency Management Program (LAMP) Relating to Onsite Sewage Disposal Regulations.
1. Carrie Max asked for staff to clarify why the changes to the Manual were necessary.
Council provided direction to staff to bring back revisions that included potential exceptions to the setback requirements concerns. (960-30-018) 6b. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the proposed Interim Striping Safety Project 2023.
MOTION by Lassonde, seconded by Crowder 1. Concurred with staff recommendation to file a CEQA Notice of Exemption for the Interim Striping Safety Project 2023; and, 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2023-44, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving the Plans and Specifications for the Interim Striping Safety Project 2023 and Authorizing Advertisement for Bids on the Project.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (950-40-069)
6c. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the proposed Evacuation Zone Sign Project.
1. Carrie Max spoke in favor of this item.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Lassonde 1. Concurred with staff recommendation to file a CEQA Notice of Exemption for the Evacuation Zone Sign Project; and, 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2023-45, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving the Plans and Specifications for the Evacuation Zone Sign Project and Authorizing Advertisement for Bids on the Project.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (420-30-010)
6d. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of proposed Ordinance No. 629 regarding vehicular speed limits.
MOTION by Tryon, seconded by Lassonde, 1. Waived the first reading of Town Ordinance No. 629 and read by title only; and, 2. Introduced Ordinance No. 629 “An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Amending Paradise Municipal Code Section 10.02.060 Regarding Vehicular Speed Limits” with a revision to segment 34 to reflect the limits from Skyway westbound at Town limits to Princeton Way. Roll call vote was unanimous. (540-16-198)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council Member Crowder asked that this item be placed on the agenda to discuss the use of private lots being used, by contractors and/or individuals, without the homeowner/property owner's permission.
Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox shared that staff would help support property owners through continued outreach to contractors and through the encroachment permit process to discourage day-to-day workers from parking and trespassing on private property. 7b. Council reports on committee representation:
Council Member Lassonde attended the Paradise High School grand opening; the monthly BCAG meeting where committee members discussed the sustainable community strategy; and volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.
Council Member Crowder attended the Paradise High School ribbon cutting; the Paradise Recreation and Park District 75th anniversary at Bille Park; shared that the Camp Fire collaborative will hold a lobbyist day in November; and shared that the Recovery and Economic Development department will support meeting with lawmakers in Sacramento in January.
Vice Mayor Tryon attended a lunch with Senator Dahle and Assemblywoman Dahle where they discussed insurance coverage issues in Town; met with Congressman LaMalfa; participated in a call with the Director of Economic Development of Maui; and participated in a tour at UC Davis.
Council Member Culleton attended the Paradise High School ribbon cutting.
Mayor Bolin attended the Paradise High School ribbon cutting; the monthly LAFCo meeting; spoke at the Paradise High School Reunion; and attended a meeting with FEMA and CAL OES regarding federally funded projects in Town.
7c. Future Agenda Items - None
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Jim Goodwin clarified that the purpose of the FEMA/CAL OES meeting was to help further the Category 4 Tree Removal Program.
Community Development Director Susan Hartman shared that True Value will be going into where Holiday Market used to be; CDD issued building permits to the Feather Canyon boutique apartments and received tenant improvement plans for Donuts in Paradise; that CDD is almost ready to issue permits for Rental Guys and are just waiting on a few use permit conditions to be completed. Ms. Hartman shared that CDD received an application for septic review to decommission a mobile home park which will be rebuilt as a multifamily housing development; that another mobile home park was decommissioned through HCD and will be rebuilt as a multifamily housing development as well. CDD released the Mastered ADU plans; shared that there are now only 41 outstanding commercial signs out of compliance of the initial 97; the General Plan Safey Element is out for review with required stakeholder entities; Planning Commission will hold a public hearing for a conditional use permit to rebuild a house lost in the fire; and that the Business and Housing division will work on sending out a HUD income survey to pull at least 400 households in Town to determine whether 51% of the households are considered low-income which would designate the Town as a Low Mod Area and would allow the Town to use CDBG-DR monies verses having to qualify each individual location separately.
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bolin adjourned the meeting at 8:18 p.m.
Date approved: October 10, 2023
By: Attest:
__________/s/______________ ____________/s/_____________ Greg Bolin, Mayor Dina Volenski, CMC, Town Clerk