TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – March 12, 2024
1. OPENING
The Regular meeting of the Paradise Town Council was called to order by Mayor Lassonde 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 Culleton.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Greg Bolin, Steve Crowder, Steve “Woody” Culleton, Rose Tryon and Ronald Lassonde, Mayor
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Town Manager Jim Goodwin, Town Attorney Scott E. Huber, Town Clerk/Elections Official Dina Volenski, Finance Director/Town Treasurer Aimee Beleu, Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox, Community Development Director Susan Hartman, Community Development Director Tony Lindsey, Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis, Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson, Recovery and Economic Development Project Manager Brian Solecki, Information Systems Director Luis Marquez, Capital Projects Manager Colin Nelson, Police Chief Eric Reinbold and Fire Chief Garrett Needles. 1a. Carl Turner and Jerry Lundberg of the Paradise Moose Lodge presented Tommy and Rosie Moose dolls to first responders.
1b. Paradise Fire Chief Garrett Needles presented the Paradise Fire Department 2023 Year in Review.
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 through 2f. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved minutes of the February 13, 2024 Regular and Special Council meetings and February 16, 2024 Special Council meeting. 2b. Approved February 2024 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $2,350,480.36. (310-10-035)
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 2023 calendar year. (760-40-055, 760-40-062) 2d. Approved write-off of uncollectible miscellaneous invoices and citations. (340-40-017)
2e. Approved and authorized Town staff to implement the Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project, a project would include the hiring of three (3) full-time, limited term staff members to facilitate the 36-month program that will increase capacity for hazardous fuels along all Town Right-of-Ways. (610-10-020, 440-60-022)
2f. Re-appointed two Planning Commissioners, Charles Holman and Zeb Reynolds, whose terms will expire on June 30, 2024 for one 4-year term effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2028. (760-45-012)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR – None
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION - None
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Community Development Director Susan Hartman provided an overview of the proposed amendment to the Safety Element of the 1994 General Plan.
Mayor Lassonde opened the public hearing at 6:25 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Lassonde closed the public hearing at 6:25 p.m.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Bolin, concurred with the recommended actions adopted by the Planning Commission of February 27, 2024, and embodied within Planning Commission Resolution No. 2024- 01; and, 2. Concurred that the final draft Safety Element is within the scope of the previously adopted Negative Declaration; and, 3. Adopted Town of Paradise Resolution No. 2024-11, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Adopting an Amendment to the Safety Element of the 1994 Paradise General Plan and Finding the Amendment Within the Scope of the Certified Negative Declaration Prepared for the Town of Paradise Housing and Safety Element Updates: Town of Paradise Safety Element 2024 Update”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (760-40-063)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Council Member Bolin recused himself at 6:27 p.m. due to a potential conflict of interest.
Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox, Capital Projects Manager Colin Nelson and HDR Consultant Guy Voss presented the proposed contract for Progressive Design Build Services for the Paradise Sewer Project.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Tryon 1. Concurred with staff’s recommendation to award the contract for Progressive Design Build Services for the Paradise Sewer Project to the Mountain Cascade-Carollo team; and, 2. Authorized the Town Manager to enter into a Progressive Design Build Contract (2023-005) with the recommended firm, contingent upon approval by the Town Attorney; and, 3. Adopted Resolution No. 2024- 12, “A Resolution Designating Authority to the Paradise Town Manager to Execute Individual Contract Amendments Under the Resultant Progressive Design Build Contract for RFQ 2023-005 Progressive Design Build Services with Mountain Cascade/Carollo Engineers for the Paradise Sewer Project up to the maximum contract aggregate amount of $17,000,000 to complete the initial design and progressive design build process for the Paradise Sewer Project.” Roll call vote was unanimous with Bolin absent and not voting. (510-20-422, 960-70-007)
Council Member Bolin returned to the dais at 6:42 p.m.
6b. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis presented the proposed agreement with the City of Chico to provide an investment of $75,000 to the Chico Airport Revenue Guarantee Fund.
1. Ev Duran spoke in favor of this item.
2. Mark Thorp spoke in favor of this item.
3. Heidi Elick spoke in favor of this item.
4. Monica Nolan spoke in favor of this item.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Crowder, directed staff to enter into an agreement with the City of Chico to provide an investment of $75,000 to the Chico Airport Revenue Guarantee Fund; and, to continue to look for additional funding/partnering sources. (510-20-423)
6c. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the proposed Intergovernmental Subrecipient Agreement for the Town of Paradise to assist Paradise Irrigation District in utilizing CDBG-DR funds.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton 1. Concurred with staff recommendation to approve the Intergovernmental Subrecipient Agreement for the Town of Paradise to assist Paradise Irrigation District in utilizing CDBG-DR funds; and, 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-13, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise authorizing the Town Manager, or his designee, to sign the Intergovernmental Subrecipient Agreement to allow the Town of Paradise to administer and support in the utilization of CDBG-DR funds allocated to PID by HCD via the CDBG-DR program.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-424)
6d. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of proposed Ordinance No. 634 Relating to an Informal Bid Process for Public Works Projects of $200,000 or Less.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-14, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Adopting the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act Policy and Procedure” and, 2. Waived the first reading of the Town of Paradise Ordinance No. 634 and read by title only; and, 3. Introduced Town Ordinance No. 634 “An Ordinance Adding Section 2.45.105 to the Paradise Municipal Code Relating to an Informal Bid Process for Public Works Projects of $200,000 or Less.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (540-16-203, 380-05-009)
6e. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the proposed contract with Four Seasons Roofing to re-roof Fire Station 82.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Crowder 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-15, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Awarding Contract No. 9435, Fire Station 82 Re-Roofing Project to Four Seasons Roofing of Chico in the Amount of Their Base Bid Plus Additive Bid Number One for a Total of $37,088” and, 2. Authorized the Town Manager to execute an agreement with Four Seasons Roofing in the amount of their base plus additive bid number one and to approve contingency expenditures not exceeding 10%. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-425, 440-65-023)
6f. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox and Police Chief Eric Reinbold provided an overview of the legal qualifications to implement redlight enforcement cameras in Paradise and shared that the Town does not qualify based on current traffic data. Information only, no action taken. (490- 60-005)
6g. Police Chief Eric Reinbold provided an overview of the grant awarded to the Paradise Police Department and the proposed agreement with Crossroads Software for e-citation and collision reporting software.
MOTION by Crowder, seconded by Tryon 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-16, "A Resolution of The Town Council of The Town of Paradise Making Findings Concerning Sole Vendor For The Purchase of E-Citation and Collision reporting software, by Crossroads Software Inc. Pursuant To Paradise Municipal Code Sections 2.45.070B, 245.070C, and 245.070G"; and, 2. Authorized the Town Manager to enter into an agreement to purchase the Crossroads software and to pay Sun Ridge Systems (RIMS) for the integration of the software into the Police Department’s CAD system.
Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-426, 480-35-002)
6h. Police Chief Eric Reinbold provided an update on Police Department Drone Program and policy for Council. Information only, no action taken. 6i. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox and Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an overview of two applications for funding and execution of the State CDBG Mitigation Resilience Infrastructure (MIT-RIP) Program and State CDBG Resilient Planning and Public Services (MIT-PPS) Program.
1. Carrie Max asked about using personal mobile devices to share emergency messaging.
Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis shared the details of CodeRed which implements such a system.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-17, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving an application for funding and the execution of a grant agreement and any amendments thereto from the 2023-2024 funding year of the State CDBG Mitigation Resilience Infrastructure (MIT-RIP) program;” and the submission to the State of California of one or more application(s) in the aggregate amount, not to exceed, of $10,273,223.87 for the following CDBG-MIT activities, pursuant to the 2017/2018 CDBG MIT-PPS, and MITRIP NOFA for the following Activity (Infrastructure Projects):
Private Road Identification Safety Project $ 963,953.00 Evacuation Route Permanent Changeable $5,400,000.00
Message Sign Project
Storm Drain Resiliency Project $3,909,270.87
2. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-18, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving an application for funding and the execution of a grant agreement and any amendments thereto from the 2023-2024 funding year of the State CDBG Resilient Planning and Public Services (MIT-PPS) Program” and the submission to the State of California of one or more application(s) in the aggregate amount, not to exceed, of $
1.5 Million for the following CDBG-MIT activities, pursuant to the 2017/2018 CDBG for the following projects:
Long Term Community Recovery Plan Update $500,000.00
Public Services Mitigation $500,000.00
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Match $500,000.00
Council Member Tryon clarified that Resolutions 2024-17 and 2024-18 were voted on as one item, with Resolution 2024-17 being adjusted to reflect changes made by the Town Council to the funding projects. Roll call vote was unanimous. (710-10-106, 710-10-107)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items:
7a1. Discuss Ordinance No. 632 and the provisions for residents to store RVs on vacant properties. – Council Member Culleton requested that this item be removed from the agenda.
7a2. Council Member Culleton requested that the Council discuss the potential expanded use of electronic signs in the Commercial Zones. Community Development Director Susan Hartman provided a history of the standards that regulate the Town, including color palettes and electronic commercial sign zoning requirements. After discussion, a majority of Council directed staff to provide suggestions and/or recommendations on potential changes to the regulations regarding electronic message signs.
7b. Council reports on committee representation:
Council Member Culleton attended the Solid Waste Committee meeting.
Council Member Crowder attended the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce mixer at the Masonic Lodge; the Town of Paradise/Paradise Recreation and Park District (PRPD) Liaison Meeting; several ribbon cuttings; and the Legislative Committee Meeting.
Council Member Tryon attended the Butte County Association of Government (BCAG) and Butte County Air Quality Management District (BCAQMD) meetings; shared that the Town was awarded $33 million for the Roe Road Extension Project, Phase II; and shared that Caltrans participated in a site visit along specific Active Transportation Program funded project sites.
Mayor Lassonde shared an overview of what was discussed at the Special Town Council Planning meeting; attended the community engagement meeting in connection to the Buffer Zone Project, hosted by PRPD; he was invited by the Sons in Retirement to share what was happening in the Town; attended the BCAG meeting as an observer; the Employee Recognition luncheon, and several ribbon cuttings.
7c. Future Agenda Items - None
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Jim Goodwin thanked Council for participating in the Special Town Council Planning meeting; participated in a sewer tour hosted by the Town’s engineering and HDR team; and shared that it was fun being able to see everybody and show appreciation for staff at the Employee Recognition luncheon.
1. Carrie Max shared an update on Ward Habriel.
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lassonde adjourned the meeting at 9:26 p.m.
Date approved: April 9, 2024
By: Attest:
__________/s/______________ _____________/s/____________ Ronald Lassonde, Mayor Dina Volenski, CMC, Town Clerk