TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – June 11, 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 Council Member Bolin.
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, Deputy Town Clerk Melanie Elvis, Finance Director/Town Treasurer Aimee Beleu, Community Development Director Susan Hartman, Community Development Director Tony Lindsey, Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis, Recovery and Economic Development Project Manager Brian Solecki, Information Systems Director Luis Marquez, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, and Fire Chief Garrett Needles. 1a. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis reviewed the requirements for the Transient Occupancy Tax allocation recipients. The following organizations provided a verbal report of their expenditure overview summarizing how their allocation was spent over the last year, explaining the impact on tourism and outlining their plans for next year’s funding allocation: The Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce, The Paradise Performing Arts Center, The Paradise Art Center, The Gold Nugget Museum, and the Paradise Symphony. Theater on the Ridge was not in attendance.
1b. David Leon Zink from Paradise Arts, Theatre & Culture Hub presented on upcoming projects, feasibility and funding.
1c. Fire Chief Garrett Needles presented on the upcoming 2024 Fire Season. 1d. 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. Town Attorney Scott E. Huber clarified before the vote that Town Attorney Mark Habib would represent the Town as Special Counsel on behalf of item 2d.
2a. Approved minutes of the May 14, 2024, Special and Regular Town Council meetings.
2b. Approved May 2024 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $7,852,529.03. (310-10-035)
2c. Reviewed and filed the 3rd Quarter Investment Report for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2024. (360-30-006)
2d. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-42 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Cole Huber LLP for Town Attorney services for a Period of Three Years.” (510-20-302)
2e. 1. Concurred with staff’s recommendation to extend the HQE Systems Contract Extension for construction of the Early Warning Sirens to December 8, 2024; and, 2. Approved the amendment and authorized the Town Manager to execute the contract extension. (510-20-349) 2f. 1. Declared the described equipment as surplus property; and, 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-43, “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 Thereof.” (380-10-001)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR - None
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. John Enns asked that the Town Council reconsider disallowing RV’s to be stored on empty lots.
Community Development Director Tony Lindsey invited Mr. Enns to the Building Resiliency Center to see if he would qualify for the Exemptions Committee.
2. James Clarkson spoke on the need for fuel reduction in town and the optics as it looks like the Town isn’t doing anything to enforce the worst offenders.
He also suggested the Town create a townwide calendar for events.
3. Steve Kane asked how property owners are notified when their properties are determined to be out of compliance with the weed abate standards and said the Town needs to accelerate the abatement process. He also critiqued the paving job on Kibler and Nunneley.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Town Manager Jim Goodwin introduced Jen Goodlin and the proposed amendment to the tenant lease agreement with the Gold Nugget Museum.
1. Brian Gray, President of the Gold Nugget Museum, spoke to Council Member Culleton’s concern about upkeep and maintenance of the tile - wall.
MOTION by Tryon, seconded by Crowder, approved the amended tenant lease agreement with the Gold Nugget Museum to include three new tile walls constructed by Rebuild Paradise Foundation in Paradise Community Park. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-177)
6b. Police Chief Eric Reinbold presented the proposed Public Safety Recruitment Incentives for the Paradise Police Department recruitment of lateral officers.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Crowder, authorized the extension of Public Safety Recruitment Incentives effective June 30, 2024, through June 30, 2026. Roll call vote was unanimous. (650-60-011)
6c. Community Development Director Tony Lindsey presented the current process for defensible space and hazardous fuels management enforcement and provided options for Council consideration to expedite the abatement process on nuisance properties.
1. Jon Remalia spoke in favor of this item and said it would streamline the process.
2. Carrie Max said she received two notices of violation and wanted to know what she needs to do to bring her property into compliance.
3. James Clarkson said that it is not the 6-inch grass that’s a concern, it is the 6-foot weeds that haven’t been touched since the Camp Fire.
4. Heidi Lange spoke in favor of this item.
MOTION by Crowder, seconded by Culleton, directed staff to prepare an amendment to the defensible space ordinance to outline an expedited abatement process for nuisance properties. Roll call vote was unanimous.
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items – None
7b. Council reports on committee representation:
Council Member Culleton attended a ribbon cutting and the Goat Grazing Festival.
Council Member Crowder met with business owners to discuss a downtown vision; attended the Fire Summit in Grass valley as a guest speaker; attended the County’s presentation on a proposed one cent tax; and attended several ribbon cuttings.
Vice Mayor Bolin attended the monthly LAFCo meeting and a groundbreaking for the Cypress Lane Apartments.
Council Member Tryon attended the monthly BCAG and BCAQM meetings.
Mayor Lassonde attended several ribbon cuttings; the monthly BCAG meeting; a Finance Committee meeting to discuss the upcoming budget; a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and was interviewed by a reporter from the SF Gate.
7c. Future Agenda Items - None
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Jim Goodwin shared an update on the plans to repave Kibler and Nunneley.
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lassonde adjourned the meeting at 8:29 p.m.
Date approved: July 9, 2024
By: Attest:
__________/s/_________________ _____________/s/____________ Ronald Lassonde, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Deputy Town Clerk