TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – January 09, 2024
1. OPENING
The Regular meeting of the Paradise Town Council was called to order by Mayor Lassonde 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 Vice Mayor Bolin.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Greg Bolin, Steve “Woody” Culleton, Rose Tryon and Ron Lassonde, Mayor
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Steve Crowder
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, Project Manager Brian Solecki, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, Fire Chief Garrett Needles, and Information Systems Director Luis Marquez.
1a. Jim McCourt from Meeder Investments provided a financial update. (360-30-006)
1b. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis and Project Manager Brian Solecki provided an update on the Early Warning Sirens (EWS). (420-30-009)
1. Rich Gowins spoke in favor of the EWS system as well as suggested taking measures to work with and look out for your neighbors. 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 Bolin, seconded by Culleton, approved consent calendar items 2a, 2b and 2d. Item 2c was removed from the consent calendar by Council Member Culleton. Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting.
2a. Approved minutes of the December 12, 2023 Special and Regular Town Council meetings and the December 22, 2023 Special meeting. 2b. Approved December 2023 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $4,312,957.13. (310-10-035)
2c. Item was removed from the consent calendar.
2d. 1. Waived the second reading of Town Ordinance No. 631 and read by title only; and, 2. Adopted Town Ordinance No. 631 “An Ordinance Rezoning Certain Real Property From “C-C” (Community-Commercial) to a “C-S” (Community-Services) Zone Pursuant to Paradise Municipal Code Sections
17.45.500 Et. Seq. (Ridge Lifeline Church: PL23-00175)”. (540-16-200)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
2c. Council Member Culleton requested that item 2c be removed from the consent calendar for clarification on the financial impact.
1. Ward Habriel spoke on the difficulties and expense of clearing lots.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Bolin, approved and authorized Town staff to implement the Defensible Space Code Enforcement Project. Project would include the hiring of three (3) full-time, limited term staff members to facilitate the 30-month program that will increase capacity for defensible space compliance work during the 2024, 2025, and 2026 inspection seasons. Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting. (440-91-002, 610-10-020)
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Ward Habriel spoke on the accomplishments of the Butte County Fire Safe Council.
2. Rich Gowins spoke in favor of item 2c and encouraged the Town to better communicate the responsibilities of those who are purchasing properties on Private Roads.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson presented the proposed 2024-2025 Annual Plan funding priorities.
Mayor Lassonde opened the public hearing at 7:36 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Lassonde closed the public hearing at 7:36 p.m.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Bolin, approved the formation of a public services sub-committee to consider input and requests for public services funding; and, appointed Council Members Culleton and Crowder to serve on the public services sub-committee, contingent on Council Member Crowder’s willingness to serve. All Council concurred with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting. (710-10-105)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Community Development Director Tony Lindsey provided an overview of proposed Urgency Ordinance No. 632 relating to interim housing, accessory building(s) and unoccupied recreational vehicles inside the Camp Fire area.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Bolin, Adopted Town of Paradise Ordinance No. 632, “An Urgency Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Repealing Urgency Ordinance No. 624 and Adopting New Ordinance Relating to Interim Housing, Accessory Building(s) and Unoccupied Recreational Vehicle Inside the Camp Fire Area” with the striking of the word “or” in Section 2: “To demonstrate continued eligibility pursuant to Section 8.61.070, permit holders must present to the Town upon request, and at least annually, a current water, solid waste and/or electric company invoice demonstrating that those utility services are currently existing and in place on the property that is the subject of the temporary use permit.” Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting. The urgency ordinance is effective immediately. (540-16-201) 6b. Town Attorney Scott Huber provided an overview of proposed Ordinance No. 633 relating to the Fire Code and Burn Permits.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton 1. Waived the first reading of Town Ordinance No. 633 and read by title only; and, 2. Introduced Town Ordinance No. 633. “An Ordinance Amending Paradise Municipal Code Chapter 15.09 Relating to The Fire Code And Burn Permits.” Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting. (540-16-201)
6c. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the completed Almond Street Multimodal Improvements Project & Gap Closure Complex Project.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton Adopted Resolution No. 2024- 01, “A Resolution of the Town Council of Town of Paradise Accepting the Work Performed Under the Almond Street Multimodal Improvements Project & Gap Closure Complex Project Contract 16-01.CON and 17-04.CON Performed by Baldwin Contracting Company, Inc. dba Knife River Construction.” Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting. (950-40-033, 510-20-291)
6d. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the Town of Paradise Wildland Fire Evacuation Traffic Control Plan.
1. Rich Gowins spoke on this item and on the frustrations of those who do not prepare or participate in evacuation planning.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon, adopted Resolution No. 2024-02, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving the Town of Paradise Wildland Fire Evacuation Traffic Control Plan.” Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting. (440-05-023, 110-10-020)
6e. Council Member Culleton recused himself from the dais at 8:13 p.m. due to a potential conflict of interest.
Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the proposed Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery – Infrastructure Action Plan Amendment.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Lassonde, Approved the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery – Infrastructure Action Plan Amendment Option 2, as presented:
(1) Reduce Oliver Curve Pathway Project CDBG-DR Funding by $10M. (2) Add $4.2M to Roe Rd Extension Phase 2 Project to keep LTCAP funding moving.
(3) Add $3.8M to Roe Rd Extension Phase 1 Project to account for budget increases.
(4) Add $1.0M to Foster/Black Olive Intersection Project to account for budget increases.
(5) Add $1.0M to Forest Service Road Extension to account for budget increases.
Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Members Crowder and Culleton absent and not voting. (710-10-099)
Council Member Culleton returned to the dais.
6f. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an overview of the State Legislative Advocacy Platform and Legislative Committee function and process.
MOTION by Tryon, seconded by Culleton, 1. Reviewed and approved the State Legislative Advocacy Platform; and, 2. Concurred with staff recommendation for Legislative Committee function and process. Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting. (550-40-053)
6g. Council appointed Council representatives to two vacant committee positions due to a resignation.
After discussion, Council Member Tryon was reappointed to the Legislative Committee as Vice Mayor Bolin’s designee and Mayor Lassonde was appointed to the Paradise Sewer Regionalization Committee. All Council concurred with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting. (See committee assignments attached.) (120-10-010)
Council directed staff to bring back a resolution at the next Council meeting designating the Mayor and Vice Mayor as the established representatives for the Legislative Committee, or another Council Member appointed as their designee.
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items – None
7b. Council reports on committee representation:
Council Member Tryon attended the Butte County Fire Safe Council board meeting.
Mayor Lassonde attended the PID/TOP Liaison meeting; met with a representative from PG&E to discuss the challenges and concerns around undergrounding utility lines; participated in media interviews with KPAY and KRCR; attended the rededication ceremony for the Sierra College Hill monument; and participated in a call with the Mayor of Maui. 7c. Future Agenda Items:
1. Adding art to traffic control boxes (Lassonde)
2. Update on drones used by Paradise PD (Tryon)
3. Discuss putting cameras on traffic signals to capture red light violators. (Culleton)
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Jim Goodwin shared that he met with the Mayor of Maui and presented a framed picture of Paradise with reclaimed wood from the fire.
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lassonde adjourned the meeting at 9:07 p.m.
Date approved: February 13, 2024
By: Attest:
_________/s/_____________ ___________/s/_____________
Ronald Lassonde, Mayor Dina Volenski, CMC, Town Clerk
2024 TOWN COUNCIL
REPRESENTATION
BUTTE COUNTY
COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
BUTTE COUNTY Bolin Crowder Culleton Lassonde Tryon
1. Air Quality Management District A R
2. Association of Governments A R
3. City Selection Committee (Mayor) R
4. Disaster Council (Mayor) R
5. Local Area Formation Commission
(LAFCo) (Bolin was appointed
through 5/2027 – Appointed by City
Selection Committee) R
6. Mosquito and Vector Control Board
(Schuster was appointed through
1/2027 – Rep to serve a 4-year term) Melissa Schuster
7. Waste Mgt Local Task Force R R
8. City/County Ad Hoc Committee R
9. Tourism Business Improvement
District (TBID) Colette Curtis R
10. Continuum of Care R A
11. Butte County Fire Safe Council R
LOCAL COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
PARADISE Bolin Crowder Culleton Lassonde Tryon
1. Paradise Community Village R A
2. Paradise Irrigation District Liaison R R
3. Paradise Rec. & Park District Liaison R R
4. Paradise Solid Waste Committee R R
5. Onsite Ad Hoc Committee R R
6. Finance Committee
(Mayor & Vice Mayor) R R
7. Butte County Oversight Board R
8. Paradise Sewer Regionalization
Project Advisory Committee R R
9. Legislative Ad Hoc Committee
(Mayor & Vice Mayor or Designee) R R
10. Healthcare Ad Hoc Committee R R