TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – September 10, 2024
1. OPENING
The Regular meeting of the Paradise Town Council was called to order by Mayor Lassonde at 6:01 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, Town Clerk/Elections Official 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, Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis, Information Systems Director Luis Marquez, Recovery Project Manager Brian Solecki, Business and Housing Manager Kate Anderson, Housing Technician Sarah Ritcher, Capital Projects Manager Colin Nelson, Police Chief Eric Reinbold and Fire Chief Garrett Needles. 1a. Amy Rohr from Valley Contractors Exchange presented building trends and data since the 2018 Camp Fire.
1b. Blaine Allen Paradise Irrigation District presented the District’s project updates.
1c. Jim McCourt from Meeder Investments provided a financial update. (360-30-006)
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 Crowder, approved consent calendar items 2a, 2b, 2d, and 2e. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved the minutes of the August 13, 2024 Regular Town Council meeting.
2b. Approved August 2024 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $5,769,033.61. (310-10-035)
2c. ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR BY MAYOR LASSONDE.
2d. Reviewed and filed the 4th Quarter Investment Report for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2024. (360-30-006)
2e. 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-61, “A Resolution of The Town Council of the Town of Paradise Authorizing Disposal of Certain Town Records Maintained in the Town Clerk Department Pursuant to Government Code Section 34090”; and, 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-62, “A Resolution of The Town Council of the Town of Paradise Authorizing Disposal of Certain Town Records Maintained in the Community Development Department Pursuant to Government Code Section 34090.” (160-20-016, 160-20-017)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
2c. Mayor Lassonde removed item 2c from the consent calendar: Adopt Resolution No. 2024-__, "A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise adopting an Implementation Plan related to Ordinance No. 637 Nuisance abatement procedures.”
Community Development Director Tony Lindsey presented language that could be added to the Implementation Plan which would clarify the notification process to property owners before legal action would be taken.
1. Mimi Brown asked if the government must follow the same rules as private citizens and wanted to know whose responsibility it was to maintain overgrown creek beds.
Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox clarified that Paradise Municipal Code and State code designates creek beds as protected and that they should not be disturbed citing potential environmental impacts.
2. Jon Remalia spoke in favor of this item.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, Adopted Resolution No. 2024- 60, "A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise adopting an Implementation Plan related to Ordinance No. 637 Nuisance abatement procedures” with the additional language noted in red: “The Fire Chief or an authorized representative shall compile a list of properties proposed for designation as nuisances. Prior to this, staff will address issues with returned mail by consulting county ownership and utility provider records and using people-finding software to contact unresponsive landowners.
This list will include, including details on citation and tax default status, complete with estimated abatement costs, the current balance in the abatement fund, and any required budget amendments to abate the nuisances fully.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (540-15-076)
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Carrie Max spoke on drainage issues and asked who to speak to at the Town.
2. Mimi Brown spoke on drainage issues and asked that when her road is repaved if the contractors could add a swale or gully to help with poor drainage.
Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox clarified that the Town is restricted by funding source from updating or fixing any preexisting issues.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Housing Technician Sarah Ritcher presented the proposed Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report.
Mayor Lassonde opened the public hearing at 7:12 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Lassonde closed the public hearing at 7:13 p.m.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon, authorized the Town Manager to submit the CAPER to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Roll call vote was unanimous. (710-10-102)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
Vice Mayor Bolin recused himself from the dais due to a potential conflict of interest at 7:14 p.m.
6a. Capital Projects Manager Colin Nelson presented an informational update on the Paradise Sewer Project which summarized work completed by the Progressive Design Build Team and forecasted the next steps in project development. (960-70-007)
1. Mimi Brown stated that she heard the funding for the Sewer Project had fallen through and asked if that were true.
Vice Mayor Bolin returned to the dais at 7:37 p.m.
6b. Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox presented the proposed Resolution to approve the plans and specifications for the Fleet Shop Renovation Project.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Bolin, adopted Resolution No. 2024- 63, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise approving the plans and specifications for the Fleet Shop Renovation Project and authorizing advertisement for bids on the project.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (280-20-005)
6c. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis presented the proposed guidelines for the Utility Box Mural Project.
1. Jon Remalia asked if a business could sponsor “Smokey the Bear” for one of the boxes.
Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis clarified that the guidelines were very specific that there would be no reference to fire of any kind.
2. Carrie Max asked for staff to clarify that price per box and the process.
3. Mayor Lassonde donated $2000 to the project and presented a check to the Town Clerk.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, adopted guidelines for the Utility Box Mural Project with the following additions: 1. The theme must be connected to Paradise; 2. The guidelines should include where contributions are to be sent and how they should be made out; 3. The guidelines should specify the dimensions of the artist’s signature; and 4. The Mayor or his designee shall serve on the mural selection committee. Council authorized Town Staff to initiate a call to artists to begin the first installation of the Utility Box Mural project. Roll call vote was unanimous. (1020-10-003) 6d. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis presented the proposed contract award to Abaris Group for the Strategic Healthcare Recovery Plan.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton 1. Concurred with staff’s recommendation to award the contract for the Strategic Healthcare Recovery Plan to Abaris Group, for an amount not to exceed $150,000.00 ($75,000 to be funded by the Town and $75,000 to be funded by Adventist Health Foundation); and 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-64 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Awarding the Strategic Healthcare Recovery Plan Contract to Abaris Group.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (460-10-003, 510-20-446)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items:
7a1. Discuss the weed abatement code requirements for properties over 1.5 acres. (CULLTEON)
Community Development Director Tony Lindsey and Fire Chief Garrett Needles provided a review of current code standards for defensible space.
1. Jon Remalia spoke in favor of increasing the requirement for properties over 1.5 acres to a 50’ clearance from abutting properties and for continuous fuels being broken up.
All Council concurred to form an Ad Hoc Committee comprised of two Council Members, Community Development Director Tony Lindsey and Fire Chief Garrett Needles to further discuss and bring back a recommendation to Council relating to potential weed abatement regulation modifications. 7b. Council reports on committee representation:
Council Member Culleton attended a Town of Paradise/Paradise Recreation and Park District Liaison meeting and a ribbon cutting.
Council Member Crowder, in conjunction with Congressman LaMalfa’s office, hosted various State legislators on a tour around Paradise; attended groundbreakings for the Animal Shelter Expansion Project and Habitat for Humanity; attended a Town of Paradise/Paradise Recreation and Park District Liaison meeting; and the swearing-in of Officer Diaz.
Vice Mayor Bolin reported that there was no LAFCo meeting in September and that he attended the Animal Shelter Expansion Project groundbreak.
Council Member Tryon attended the monthly BCAG and BCAQM meetings, and the Butte County Fire Safe Council Board Member retreat.
Mayor Lassonde attended the monthly BCAG and BCAQM meetings; the swearing-in of Officer Diaz; the Paradise Recreation and Park District Community Meeting on the Buffer Zone Project; several ribbon cuttings; the Table Mountain Lodge rededication and was interviewed by a news agency out of Washington State.
7c. Future Agenda Items - None
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Jim Goodwin shared that he participated in multiple cooperating agency check-ins, and that staff hosted a Council Candidate Orientation.
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lassonde adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m.
Date approved: October 8, 2024
By: Attest:
___________/s/_________________ __________/s/_______________ Ronald Lassonde, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Town Clerk/Elections Official