TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – November 12, 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 Mayor Lassonde.
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 Director Luis Marquez, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, Police Seargent John Alvies, Police Officer Dominic Vannucci, and Fire Chief John Gaddie.
1a. Mayor Lassonde presented a proclamation to a representative from Voices United recognizing November as Homeless Youth Awareness Month. (180-40-027)
1b. 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 updates.
Marc Mattox, Public Works Director/Town Engineer -infrastructure and sewer updates.
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 2e. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved the minutes of the October 8, 2024 Regular Town Council meeting.
2b. Approved October 2024 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $10,692,438.24. (310-10-035)
2c. Reviewed and filed the 1st Quarter Investment Report for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2025. (360-30-006)
2d. 1. Waived the entire second reading of Town Ordinance No. 638 and read by title only; and, 2. Adopted Town Ordinance No. 638 “An Ordinance Amending Text Regulations within Paradise Municipal Code Title 17 [Zoning] Relative to Electronic Changeable Message Sign Regulations.” (540-16-207)
2e. 1. Declared equipment as surplus property; and 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-75, “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.” (380-10-003)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR - None
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION - None
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Community Development Director Tony Lindsey provided a review of Resolution No. 2024-72, a Resolution declaring vegetative growth, noxious weeds, and refuse a public nuisance and the next steps in abating properties in violation.
Mayor Lassonde opened the public hearing at 6:13 p.m.
1. Kim Brollier objected to the violation noted on her property and asked under whose authority her property was deemed a hazard.
2. Raelyn Hall spoke in object to the violations noted on her properties and stated that she was working on clearing her properties but could not accomplish it under the Town’s timeline.
Mayor Lassonde closed the public hearing at 6:24 p.m.
MOTION by Lassonde, seconded by Culleton, 1. Authorized staff to proceed and perform the abatement work on the properties listed under Exhibit “A” of the staff report, and 2. Approved staff-recommended budget adjustment of $387,760 from the General Fund to cover the cost of abating 241 properties, estimated at $1600, with a 10% contingency cost. Roll call vote was unanimous.
Council provided direction to staff to draft an amendment to the weed abatement ordinance to create an Exceptions Committee comprised of two Council Members. (540-15-078)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
ITEM 6F WAS MOVED TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA PER COUNCIL MEMBER CROWDER’S REQUEST.
6f. Community Development Director Tony Lindsey presented proposed amendments to the Paradise Municipal Code relating to weed abatement standards.
1. Jon Remalia asked for extended burning hours, and broadcast burns to reduce costs to residents.
2. Kim Brollier spoke in opposition to this item.
Council provided direction to staff to bring back a draft amendment to the weed abatement ordinance increasing the perimeter fuel break on properties greater than 1.5 acres to 50 feet.
Council Member Crowder left the meeting at 7:11 p.m.
6a. Recovery & Economic Development Director Colette Curtis introduced Lisa DeLaby from Pioneer Community Energy who provided an update on the Pioneer Impact Assessment Study.
Council directed staff to bring back a draft ordinance to join Pioneer Community Energy. All Council concurred with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting. (430-20-007)
6b. Recovery & Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an overview of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding with Butte County for virtual EOC software.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon, approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Butte County for services with VEOCI virtual EOC software. Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting. (510-20-451, 420-50-055)
Mayor Lassonde recessed the meeting for a 5-minute break at 7:39 p.m. 6d. Community Development Director Susan Hartman and UDA Consultant Barry Long provided an overview of staff’s recommendations for downtown zoning modifications.
Council provided staff with direction to bring back an ordinance for the following zoning amendments in the Downtown: adding a drive-in theater/outdoor amphitheater land use to the CB and Walkable Downtown Core; making some uses easier in the CB and Walkable Downtown Core; removing auto repair and laundry services from the CB and Walkable Downtown Core; removing single and two-family residential land uses from the Walkable Downtown Core; restricting multiple-family residential and accessory dwellings to only upper floors in the Walkable Downtown Core; amending Title 5 to allow food trucks to vend in the CB and the Walkable Downtown Core; allowing year-round farmers markets in the CB and the Walkable Downtown Core; allowing special events such as flea markets limited to 3-days in a row and not more than 21 days in a year in the CB and Walkable Downtown Core; and expanding the Walkable Downtown Core boundary to include the a section of land north of Community Park between Cedar and Fir Streets east of Black Olive Drive formally owned by the Paradise Irrigation District. All Council concurred with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting.
6c. Recovery & Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an overview of the recommended changes to the Emergency Warning Sirens Guidelines.
1. Jon Remalia thought the Town should use the cameras on the sirens to determine when to evacuate certain zones based on traffic.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, approved the amended Town of Paradise Emergency Warning Sirens Guidelines as submitted. Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting. (420-30-009)
6d. MAYOR LASSONDE MOVED ITEM 6D TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA AFTER THE BREAK.
6e. Town Attorney Scott E. Huber provided an overview of the proposed amendment to Paradise Municipal Code relating to the Town’s Purchasing System.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Bolin, adopted Town of Paradise Urgency Ordinance No. 639, “An Urgency Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Amending Portions of Chapter 2.45 of the Paradise Municipal Code Relating to the Town’s Purchasing System.” Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting. The Urgency Ordinance is effective immediately. (540-16-208) 6f. MOVED TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA PER COUNCIL MEMBER
CROWDER’S REQUEST.
6g. Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the proposed resolution adopting the plans, specifications and estimate for the Camp Fire Hydrant Repair Project. Mr. Mattox shared that the match requirement would cost the Town approximately $45,000 out of the total $725,000 for the project.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon, concurred with staff’s recommendation to file a CEQA Notice of Exemption for the Camp Fire Hydrant Repair Project; and, 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-76, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving the Plans, Specifications and Estimate for the Camp Fire Hydrant Repair Project and Authorizing Advertisement for Bids on the Project”. Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Member Crowder absent and not voting. (440-30-006)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS - None
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION - None
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Lassonde adjourned the meeting at 9:23 p.m.
Date approved: December 10, 2024
By: Attest:
____________/s/________________ ____________/s/_______________ Ronald Lassonde, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Town Clerk/Elections Official