TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – August 13, 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, Deputy Town Clerk Melanie Elvis, Finance Director/Town Treasurer Aimee Beleu, Community Development Director Susan Hartman, Community Development Director Tony Lindsey, Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox, Information Systems Director Luis Marquez, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, and Fire Chief Garrett Needles. 1a. Mayor Lassonde presented a proclamation recognizing retired Town Clerk Dina Volenski.
Carrie Krueger on behalf of Congressman LaMalfa, Braden Pisani on behalf of Assemblyman Gallagher, and Sam Perkins on behalf of Senator Brian Dahle presented certificates of recognition to Dina Volenski. The proclamation and certificates of recognition were accepted by Joanna Gutierrez on behalf of Dina Volenski. (180-40-027)
1b. Mayor Lassonde presented a proclamation recognizing the Hope Crisis Response Network (HCRN). Mark and Kevin Cox accepted the proclamation on behalf of HCRN. (180-40-027)
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.
Town Engineer Marc Mattox responded to Council Member Culleton’s question on the progress of the Category 4 Tree program.
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 Tryon, approved consent calendar items 2a, 2b, 2d, and 2f through 2h. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved the minutes from the July 9, 2024, Regular and July 23, 2024, Special Town Council meetings.
2b. Approved July 2024 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $8,623,708.56. (310-10-035)
2c. ITEM WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR BY COUNCIL MEMBER TRYON.
2d. Authorized the Mayor to sign letters of support for HCD’s 2020 CDBG-DR MHP grants for affordable housing projects in Paradise. (180-30-101, 710-10-095) 2e. ITEM WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR BY COUNCIL MEMBER CULLETON.
2f. 1. Approved Program Supplement Agreement No. F030 to the Master Agreement Administering Agency-State Agreement for Federal-Aid Projects, Agreement No. 03-5425F15 for Roe Road Extension Project phase 1; and,
2. Adopted Resolution 2024-56 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise authorizing the Town Manager of the Town of Paradise or their designee to sign Program Supplement Agreement No F030 to the Administering Agency-State Agreement for Federal-Aid projects corresponding to Project No. CPFL 5425 (049).” (950-40-059) 2g. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-57, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise authorizing agents to execute an application with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for obtaining certain federal financial assistance.” (420-20-018)
2h. Authorized the Finance Director to advertise Request for Proposal (RFP) for a three-year Financial Audit Servicing contract. (320-05-001)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
2c. Council Member Tryon pulled item 2c from the consent calendar: 1. Waive second reading of the entire Town Ordinance No. 637 and approve reading by title only; and, 2. Adopt 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."
A motion was made by Council Member Tryon to table the item until the Weed Abatement Implementation Plan is approved. The motion was not seconded and denied.
MOTION by Crowder, seconded by Culleton, 1. Waived second reading of the entire Town Ordinance No. 637 and approved reading by title only; and 2. Adopted 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." AYES: Bolin, Crowder, Culleton, Lassonde; NOES: Tryon; ABSENT: None; ABSTAIN: None MOTION PASSES (540-16-206)
2e. Council Member Culleton pulled item 2e from the Consent Calendar: Adopt Resolution No. 2024-55 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving Agreements for the Purchase of Tax Defaulted Properties from Butte County."
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon, Adopted Resolution No. 2024-55, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving Agreements for the Purchase of Tax Defaulted Properties from Butte County." AYES: Bolin, Tryon, Lassonde; NOES: Crowder, Culleton; ABSENT: None; ABSTAIN: None MOTION PASSES (510-20-441, 510-20-442, 820-10-045)
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. John Stonebraker asked that there be open communication between the Town and those who live higher up on the Ridge especially regarding potential evacuations.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Community Development Director Susan Hartman presented the draft ordinance relating to electronic changeable message signs. If approved, Ms. Hartman shared that next steps would include agendizing the proposed amendments with the Planning Commission for review and
recommendation (September 2024); scheduling a public hearing with the Town Council for Ordinance introduction (October 2024); and adopting the Ordinance (November 2024) making it effective 30 days later (December 2024).
1. Cathy Wood spoke in favor of this item.
2. Jon Remalia wanted to clarify that if a sign faced both ways, that it would only be considered one sign.
Community Development Director Susan Hartman, confirmed that it would.
Council provided staff with consensus on the proposed draft Ordinance relating to electronic changeable message signs to present for adoption at a future council meeting.
6b. Community Development Director Tony Lindsey presented proposed standards for Weed Abatement Ordinance No. 637 Implementation Plan and Town Attorney presented the legal framework related to Ordinance 637 regarding nuisance abatement procedures.
1. Jon Remalia suggested Council use the PG&E settlement money for abatement and wanted to clarify if there would be an additional cost incurred by the Town by requiring a 10-day work order.
Town Attorney Scott E. Huber clarified the time requirements for a court order to abate a property vs. the proposed implementation plan.
2. Kim Morris spoke in opposition of picking properties to abate based on cost recovery and not on safety. She also spoke on the ordinance that only requires properties over 1.5 acres to have a 30-foot clearance.
3. Earl Adams spoke in favor of this item and shared that he received a notice of non-renewal from his insurance company siting surrounding properties.
4. Cathy Wood spoke in favor of this item.
5. Carrie Max defined “abatement” and asked if the Town could sue PG&E to cover the costs.
6. Stephen Murray spoke in favor of this item.
Council provided staff with consensus on the proposed standards for the Implementation Plan related to Ordinance 637 with a notation to increase the timeframe from 45 days to 90 days for property owners to repay the cost of abatement before a lien is placed on the property. Council asked for staff to bring back the first list of properties to be abated at the October meeting.
Mayor Lassonde recessed the meeting for a 10-minute break at 8:20 p.m.
Mayor Lassonde called the meeting back to order at 8:32 p.m. 6c. Town Engineer Marc Mattox presented the recommended signal control intersection alternative identified in the Intersection Control Evaluation Report for the Skyway and Pentz Road intersection.
1. John Stonebraker spoke in favor of a roundabout to improve the traffic at the Skyway and Pentz intersection.
MOTION by Bolin seconded by Culleton, adopted Resolution No. 2024- 58 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise approving the recommended signal control intersection alternative identified in the Intersection Control Evaluation Report for the Skyway and Pentz Road intersection”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (950-40-073) 6d. Town Engineer Marc Mattox presented the proposed Pavement Restoration Special Requirements for Moratorium Roads including cold mix asphalt that can be used between April-October as a temporary patch but must have a final pave within 28 calendar days; hot mix asphalt that must be used between October-March and must have a final pave within 90 calendar days, weather permitting; temporary patch smoothness requirements; increased paving restoration areas [excavation area + 20’ and across lane(s)]; and final paving smoothness requirements.
MOTION by Bolin seconded by Culleton, adopted Resolution No. 2024- 59, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise accepting the Pavement Restoration Special Requirements for Moratorium Roads.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (950-15-005)
6e. Town Engineer Marc Mattox presented an update relating to the Town’s progress for completion of FEMA and FHWA funded Camp Fire repairs to public roadways and an update the current schedule of the Paradise Sewer Project. Mr. Mattox shared that if Council concurs with staff’s recommendation to continue with the delivery of the On and Off-System Road Rehabilitation Projects within the Town’s proposed Sewer Service Area, next steps would include: 20.3 miles to be paved between fall 2024 and spring 2025; 2025 and 2026 paving projects to include roadways within the sewer service area (an average of 22 miles per year); staff to hold back about 6 miles to leverage with other Capital Projects slated for completion before 2028 (Neal, Pentz, Upper Skyway – Bille to Wagstaff).
Council provided staff direction and concurred with staff recommendation to continue with the delivery of the On and Off-System Road Rehabilitation Projects within the Town’s proposed Sewer Service Area despite the project deliverance delay and current schedule of the Paradise Sewer Project. All Council concurred. (110-60-061)
6f. Town Engineer Marc Mattox presented alternatives proposed for the purchase or rental of hazardous fuels reduction equipment utilized under a limited-term Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Grant.
1. Jon Remalia spoke in opposition of this item and shared concern that the Town will not be reimbursed for equipment rent-back.
MOTION by Bolin seconded by Tryon, concurred with staff recommendation to make necessary budget adjustments to procure needed equipment utilizing gas-tax backfill reserves with the stipulation that the equipment will not be purchased until the Town receives full notice to proceed to incur reimbursable expenses. Roll call vote was unanimous. (440-60-022)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items – None
7b. Council reports on committee representation - None
7c. Future Agenda
Discuss the weed abatement code requirements for properties over 1.5 acres. (CULLETON)
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Report - None
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lassonde adjourned the meeting at 10:21 p.m.
Date approved: September 10, 2024
By: Attest:
__________/s/________________ ___________/s/______________ Ronald Lassonde, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Deputy Town Clerk