TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – July 09, 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 Vice Mayor 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, Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox, Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson, Information Systems Director Luis Marquez, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, and Fire Chief Garrett Needles.
1a. 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 Crowder, approved consent calendar items 2a through 2d. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved the Special and Regular Meeting Minutes of the June 11, 2024 Town Council meetings, and the Special Meeting Minutes of the June 18, 2024 Town Council meeting.
2b. Approved June Cash Disbursements in the amount $6,613,529.11. (310-10-015)
2c. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-46 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise accepting the work performed under the Station 82 Roof Replacement Project Contract No. 9435.CON, performed by Four Seasons Roofing.” (440-65-023, 510-20-425)
2d. 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-47, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise certifying to the County of Butte the validity of the legal process used to place direct charges (special assessments) on the secured tax roll”; and, 2. Authorized the Town Manager and Finance Director to approve direct charge (special assessment) changes; and, 3.
Authorized the Town Manager and Finance Director to execute the governing authority certification related to the direct assessments on the property tax roll. (550-40-051, 510-20-107, 540-10-020)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR - None
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. James Clarkson asked that Council create a townwide calendar for community events.
5. PUBLIC HEARING - None
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Finance Director/Town Treasurer presented an overview of the proposed Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Operating Budget and resolutions.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Crowder, adopted Resolutions No. 2024-48 through 2024-53. Roll call vote was unanimous.
1. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-48 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Adopting the Final Budget for the Town of Paradise Including all Attachments, Appendices, and other related Documents for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2025.” (340-10-017)
2. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-49, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving and Adopting the Annual Appropriation Limit for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.” (340-10-017)
3. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-50, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Amending the General Fund Reserves for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.” (340-10-017)
4. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-51, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise approving and Adopting the Town of Paradise Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and Disaster Recovery Plan for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year.” (340-10-017, 950-40-034)
5. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-52, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving the New Job Classification Descriptions.” (340-10-017, 610-10-020, 610-10-015)
6. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-53, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise, California adopting the amended Salary Pay Plan for Town of Paradise Employees for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025.” (340-10-017, 610-10-020, 610-10-018)
6b. Community Development Director Susan Hartman presented the current design standards relating to electronic changeable message signs and provided examples of limited-use regulations if allowed in additional zones for consideration.
1. Aubry Pruis spoke in favor of expanding the use of electronic changeable message signs but regulating the size to be much smaller than what is currently allowed in the Community Facility (CF) and Community Service (CS) design standards.
Council provided staff with direction to 1. Bring back a draft ordinance amending Title 17 to allow electronic changeable message signs in the Community Commercial (CC) and Industrial Services (IS) Zones with narrowed design regulations; and 2. Directed staff to explore the possibility of a use permit to allow Ace Hardware a more expanded use of their electronic changeable message sign beyond the current standard regulations stipulated by current zoning and design standards to temperature, time and date.
6c. Community Development Director Tony Linsdey provided an overview of proposed Ordinance No. 637 relating to nuisance abatement procedures.
1. Cathy Woody spoke in favor of this item; said she thinks there should be more than 30’ of clearance around larger lots; and that neighboring lots are responsible for why she can’t obtain insurance.
2. Jon Remalia spoke in favor of this item and said he thought consequences should be based on lot size.
3. Heidi Lange spoke in favor of this item and asked if the 30’ barrier for larger lots was acceptable to insurance companies.
4. Jody Jones spoke in favor of this item.
5. Raymond Klien said the Town needed to condemn the overgrown properties for blight.
6. Kelly Konselmen spoke in favor of this item; said neighboring lots hinder development and that hazardous trees should be as much a concern as overgrown properties.
7. Aubry Pruis said that the rights of compliant property owners were in jeopardy by derelict owners.
8. Ron Jones spoke in favor of this item and shared that the Butte County Fire Safe Council has money to help remove hazardous trees.
9. Pat Zinn spoke in favor of this item.
10. Pamela Mosely said that there is a disconnect in allowing people to keep their properties at dangerous levels. She said she lost her house in the Camp Fire and that she has almost lost her business and her new home from fires started by people who were irresponsibly trimming weeds.
11.Dustin Carry said he used a skip-trace to fine property owners who have current violations on their properties. He said he started a text campaign to help, but was asked by the Town to stop.
Town Attorney Scott E. Huber clarified that he was never asked to stop messaging but to put “LLC” after his business name to clarify it was not affiliated with the Town.
12.Steven Murray spoke in favor of implementing a better program.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Crowder 1. Waived the first reading of Town Ordinance No. 637 and read by title only; and, 2. Introduced Town Ordinance No. 637 “An ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise modifying and amending chapter 8.04 of the Paradise Municipal Code related to nuisance abatement procedures” with a correction to remove the word “residential” in Section 2. Roll call vote was unanimous. (540-16-206)
6d. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the options presented by PG&E relating to necessary utility work along Skyway and Pentz Road in 2025 for public impacts relating to traffic control and time of work.
1. Aubry Pruis said he has seen roads which have been paved, trenched and repaved and stated that he thought it was a waste of resources.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon, concurred with staff’s recommendation to direct PG&E to pursue Option 2: concurrent nighttime work along Skyway with soft closures and daytime work along Pentz with soft closures, including securing a Noise Variance in compliance with Paradise Municipal Code. Roll call vote was unanimous. (950-90-004) 6e. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of proposed resolution to award Contract No. 9433.CON for the Animal Shelter Expansion Project to Modern Building, Inc.
1. Earl Adams wanted to know where he could make a donation to PASH to support the expansion project.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon adopted Resolution No. 2024-54, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Awarding Contract No. 9433.CON for the Animal Shelter Expansion Project to the Lowest Responsible and Responsive Bidder in the Amount of their Base Bid and any Additive Bids Chosen by the Town.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (410-50-002, 510-20-440)
6f. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis presented a review of the current business license program.
1. Monica Nolan spoke in favor of this item.
2. Raymond Klien spoke in favor of this item.
All Council concurred and directed staff to implement and enforce the regulations, as written, in the Paradise Municipal Code. (395-40-010) 6g. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis presented the request to issue an RFP to identify the healthcare gaps and needs in the community.
MOTION by Crowder, seconded by Lassonde authorized Town staff to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for qualified consultant firms to complete a Strategic Healthcare Recovery Plan for the Town of Paradise Service Area. Roll call vote was unanimous. (460-10-002) 6h. Dan Erkheart from Pioneer Community Energy presented an overview of the proposed Impact Assessment Study.
1. Raymond Kelin spoke in favor of this item.
2. Aubry Pruis spoke in favor of this item.
3. Ron Jones spoke in opposition of the Town having to pay for the study.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon, authorized the Town Manager to jointly commission an Impact Assessment Study to determine the financial feasibility and timing of the Town joining Pioneer Community Energy’s Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (JPA) in conjunction with Butte County with a not-to-exceed amount of $3750. AYES: Bolin, Tryon and Lassonde (430-20-007)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items – None
7b. Council reports on committee representation:
Council Member Culleton attended the monthly Solid Waste Committee meeting and attended several ribbon cuttings.
7c. Future Agenda Items - None
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Report – None
8b. Community Development Director Susan Hartman provided a report on the Community Development Department’s current projects.
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lassonde adjourned the meeting at 9:31 p.m.
Date approved: August 13, 2024
By: Attest:
____________/s/_______________ ___________/s/______________ Ronald Lassonde, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Deputy Town Clerk