TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – October 08, 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, 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, Recovery Project Manager Brian Solecki, Administrative Assistant Jacquelyn Blancett, Information Systems Technician Travis Thompson, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, Fire Chief Garrett Sjolund and Fire Chief Garrett Needles.
Mayor Lassonde opened the meeting with a reflection on former Mayor and Council Member Jody Jones and a moment of silence.
1a. Habitat for Humanity Butte County Executive Director Nicole Bateman, and Development Manager Jenny Fales presented project updates. 1b. Paradise Unified School District Superintendent Tom Taylor, Finance Director David McCready and Executive Director of Achieve Charter Schools of Paradise Casey Taylor provided an overview on Measure G and school reconstruction updates.
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, Emergency Operations and Housing Update.
Marc Mattox, Public Works Director/Town Engineer - Infrastructure and Sewer Update.
Tony Lindsey, CDD-Building and Code Enforcement-Code Enforcement Update.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon, approved consent calendar items 2a through 2d and 2f through 2j with item 2e being removed from the consent calendar. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved the Regular Minutes of the September 10, 2024 Town Council Meeting.
2b. Approved September 2024 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $3,826,964.18. (310-10-035)
2c. 1. Declared the described equipment as surplus property; and, 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-65, “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.” (380-10-003)
2d. Accepted a donation of $2,000 to help fund the Utility Box Mural Project. (395-50-024)
2e. ITEM REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
2f. 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-66, “A Resolution of The Town Council of the Town of Paradise Authorizing Disposal of Certain Town Records Maintained in the Engineering Department Pursuant to Government Code Section 34090”; and, 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-67, “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.” (160-20-017) 2g. 1. Approved Program Supplement Agreement No. 00000A678 to the Master Agreement Administering Agency-State Agreement for the FederalAid Projects, Agreement No. 03-5425S21 for Roe Road Extension Project Phase 2; and, 2. Adopted Resolution 2024-68 “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 the Program Supplement Agreement No. 00000A678 to the Administering Agency-State Agreement for FederalAid Projects corresponding to Project No. LTCL-5425(050).” (950-40-074) 2h. Approved the Archeological Professional Services Agreement and authorized the Town Manager to execute contract upon full obligation of the Residential Ignition Resistant Retrofit Program approval by FEMA and CalOES. (510-20-447, 440-60-021) Note: This action also adopted Resolution No. 2024-74, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving the Archeological Professional Services Agreement and Authorizing Execution of the Agreement” with Mountain Engineering, which was not included in the “Council Requested Action” but was included as an attachment in the published agenda packet.
2i. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-69 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Adopting the September 2024 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP).” (420-20-029)
2j. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-70, “A Resolution of The Town Council of The Town of Paradise Rescinding Resolution No. 2022-33 and Adopting New Home Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program Guidelines.” (710-10-086)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
2e. Item 2e was pulled from the consent calendar by Council Member Tryon who asked Police Chief Eric Reinbold to provide an overview of the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Tryon, Approved an agreement with the California Office of Traffic Safety for the acceptance of the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant award. Roll call vote was unanimous. (480-20-013)
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
4a. Jon Remalia stated that the Town needs to figure out which properties it owns and to maintain them.
4b. Clint Front spoke on a notice of violation he received regarding signage on his property.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Community Development Director Susan Hartman provided an overview of proposed Ordinance No. 638 regarding electronic changeable message sign regulations.
Mayor Lassonde opened the public hearing at 6:50 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Lassonde closed the public hearing at 6:52 p.m.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Crowder, concurred with the project’s “CEQA determination” finding as presented and considered by the Planning Commission on September 17, 2024, and embodied within Planning Commission Resolution No 2024-02; and, 2. Waived the first reading of Town Ordinance No. 638 and read by title only; and, 3. Introduced Town Ordinance No. 638, “An Ordinance Amending Text Regulations within Paradise Municipal Code Title 17 [Zoning] Relative to Electronic Changeable Message Sign Regulations”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (540-16-207)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Finance Director Aimee Beleu provided an overview of the Fiscal Year 2022/23 financial statement audit report.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, received and filed the Fiscal Year 2022/23 financial statement audit report, as submitted. Roll call vote was unanimous. (385-10-043)
6b. Finance Director Aimee Beleu provided an overview of the proposed resolution to amend the Salary Pay Plan to include Accounting Assistant I/II for the 24/25 FY.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton authorized an Accounting Assistant I/II Full Time Equivalent (FTE) to be added to the Finance Department with the correlating budget adjustment; and, 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-71 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Adopting an Amended Salary Pay Plan for the Town of Paradise Employees to Include Accounting Assistant I/II for the Fiscal Year 2024- 2025.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (610-10-018)
6c. Community Development Director Tony Lindsey provided an overview of proposed Resolution No. 2024-72 declaring vegetative growth (noxious weeds) and refuse a public nuisance.
1. Jon Remalia spoke in favor of this item.
MOTION by Crowder, seconded by Culleton, 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-72, "A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Declaring Vegetative Growth (Noxious Weeds) and Refuse a Public Nuisance"; and, 2. Provided direction to staff that the Town would hold the first objection hearing to per Weed Abatement Implementation Plan at the November 12, 2024 Town Council meeting. Roll call vote was unanimous. (540-15-078)
6d. Fire Chief Garrett Needles provided an overview of the proposed contract amendment with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Crowder, 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-73 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving the Third Amendment with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for Services from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2025, Contract Agreement Number 2CA05233 for a maximum not to exceed amount of $19,148,445”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-296) 6e. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an overview of the proposed Workforce Development Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Paradise Unified School District, Butte College, Valley Contractors Workforce Foundation, and NoRTEC.
MOTION by Tryon, seconded by Culleton, approved the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, Workforce Development Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Paradise Unified School District, Butte College, Valley Contractors Workforce Foundation, and NoRTEC. Roll call vote was unanimous. (710-10-104)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items:
7a1. Council Member Crowder provided an overview of the proposed advocacy trip to Washington D.C.
1. Melissa Crick spoke in favor of this item.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Bolin, approved a trip to be taken by Council Member Steve Crowder to Washington D.C. to advocate for a tax relief bill for wildfire claimants to be funded by the Town Council budget up to $2000. Roll call vote was unanimous. 7b. Council reports on committee representation:
Council Member Tryon reported that she participated in a phone interview on Paradise’s rebuild process; attended the monthly Butte County Fire Safe Council Board meeting; and attended the Weed Abatement Standards Ad Hoc meeting.
Vice Mayor Bolin shared that there was no LAFCo meeting in October; he attended the Paradise High School Class of ‘84/’89 High School Reunion where he was asked to speak on recovery; and Johnny Appleseed Days.
Council Member Crowder attended the quarterly Town of
Paradise/Paradise Recreation and Park District Liaison meeting in September; a seminar with After the Fire; a presentation the County held on new proposed taxes; the Weed Abatement Ad Hoc meeting; and Johnny Appleseed Days.
Council Member Culleton shared that the monthly Solid Waste Committee meeting had been cancelled; and that he volunteered for the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce during Johnny Appleseed Days.
Mayor Lassonde volunteered for Habitat for Humanity; met with members of the Butte County Grand Jury; attended Johnny Appleseed Days and had a meeting with staff on the Biz-Pro Process which seeks to streamline opening a business in Paradise.
7c. Future Agenda Items:
Council Member Tryon asked for a staff presentation on prescribed burns.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Jim Goodwin shared that he hosted a meeting for Paradise Administrators from Paradise Recreation and Park District, Paradise Irrigation District, and Paradise Unified School District. 8b. Community Development Director Susan Harman shared that Eagle Pointe Apartments received a Certificate of Occupancy; Rental Guys received a temporary Certificate of Occupancy; the foundation has been poured on the Animal Control Expansion Project; that the Community Development Department is testing surface water samplings; a tire amnesty day to be hosted by NRWS; and, that Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on a 10-unit Multifamily Housing Complex at their next Regular Meeting.
9. CLOSED SESSION – None
Mayor Lassonde closed the meeting with a tribute to the late Jody Jones.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lassonde adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.
Date approved: November 12, 2024
By: Attest:
_________/s/___________________ ____________/s/________________ Ronald Lassonde, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Town Clerk/Elections Official