TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – December 10, 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 Tryon.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Greg Bolin, Steve “Woody” Culleton, Steve Crowder, 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, Community Development Director Tony Lindsey, Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox, Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis, Housing Technician Sarah Richter, Senior Accountant Aaron Marquez, Project Manager Brian Solecki, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, Fire Chief Patrick Purvis, and Information Systems Director Luis Marquez. 1a. MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Tryon, approved Minutes from the November 12, 2024 Special and Regular Town Council Meetings. Roll call vote was unanimous.
1b. Mayor Lassonde presented The Year in Review. (180-30-027) 1c. Mayor Lassonde presented a proclamation recognizing Council Member Rose Tryon’s service to the Town of Paradise. Teri DuBose from Congressman LaMalfa’s office, Braden Pisani a representative from Assemblymember Gallagher and Brian Dahle’s offices, and Tasha Weaver from Megan Dahle’s office also presented Council Member Tryon with recognition plaques acknowledging her service to the Town of Paradise. (180-40-027)
1d. Police Chief Eric Reinbold presented citizen recognitions to Garrick Kind and Robert Mack for assisting Law Enforcement in a time of need. Chief Reinbold also presented Officer Diaz with a life-saving award for saving a citizen’s life in the field.
1e. MOTION by Crowder, seconded by Tryon, adopted Resolution No. 2024- 77 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Reciting the Fact of the General Municipal Election Consolidated with the Statewide General Election held on November 5, 2024 Declaring the Result and Such Other Matters as Provided by Law.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (530-10-068)
1f. Town Clerk/Elections Official Melanie Elvis presented Certificates of Election and administered Oaths of Office to newly elected Council Members Greg Bolin, Steve "Woody" Culleton, and Heidi Lange. (580-50-007) 1g. Mayor Lassonde recessed the meeting for a 10-minute break at 6:35 p.m. 1h. Town Clerk Melanie Elvis reconvened the Council meeting at 6:45 p.m. and took roll call to include the newly seated Council Members. Greg Bolin, Steve “Woody” Culleton, Steve Crowder, Heidi Lange, and Ronald Lassonde were all present.
1i. Town Clerk Elvis, as temporary Chair, opened the nominations for the selection of Mayor for a one-year term beginning December 10, 2024 through December 9, 2025.
Council Member Culleton nominated Steve Crowder.
Council Member Bolin nominated Ronald Lassonde.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Bolin, closed the nominations for the position of Mayor. All Council concurred. Roll call vote to elect Steve Crowder as Mayor was unanimous. (580-30-001)
1j. Town Clerk Elvis turned the meeting over to Mayor Crowder who opened nominations for the position of Vice Mayor for a one-year term beginning December 10, 2024 and ending the first regular meeting in December 2025.
Council Member Crowder nominated Steve “Woody” Culleton.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Lassonde, closed the nominations for the position of Vice Mayor. All Council concurred. Roll call vote to elect Steve “Woody” Culleton as Vice Mayor was unanimous. (580-30-001) 1k. 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 Culleton, approved consent calendar items 2a, and 2c through 2g with item 2b being removed from the consent calendar. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved November 2024 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $3,354,251.18. (310-10-035)
2b. ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR BY VICE
MAYOR CULLETON.
2c. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-79, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise awarding Contract 9436.CON for the Fleet Shop Renovation Project to Synergy Builders of Oroville, CA in the Amount of their Bid $348,288.21 and Authorize the Town Manager or their Designee to Issue Contract Amendments up to 10% of the Bid Amount." (280-20-005, 510-20-453)
2d. 1. Waived the entire reading of Town Urgency Ordinance No. 640 and read by title only; and 2. Adopted Town of Paradise Urgency Ordinance No. 640, “An Urgency Ordinance Of The Town Council Of The Town Of Paradise Extending Urgency Ordinance 639 Amending Portions Of Chapter 2.45 Of The Paradise Municipal Code Relating To The Town’s Purchasing System”. (540-16-209)
2e. Approved Town of Paradise – 140 Investment Policy. (360-30-002) 2f. 1. Concurred with staff’s recommendation to accept 20 of 21 Early Warning Sirens as complete; and, 2. Concurred with staff’s recommendation to extend the HQE Systems contract for construction of the Early Warning Sirens to June 20, 2025; and, 3. Approved the Fourth Amendment to the HQE Systems contract authorized the Town Manager to execute the contract extension. (510-20-349, 420-30-009)
2g. Authorized the Town Manager to execute an agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for acceptance of the USDA 2024 Volunteer Fire Capacity Grant award to purchase new structural and wildland personal protective equipment (PPE) and 2.
Adopted Resolution No. 2024-78, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Agreement #7GF24075 Accepting a Grant Award Under the Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) Program of the Cooperative Fire Assistance Act of 1978 in the Amount of $10,000.” (510-20-362)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
2b. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-___ “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Rescinding Resolution No. 14-37 and Adopting the Revised Council Member Handbook.”
Vice Mayor Culleton pulled item 2b from the consent calendar.
MOTION by Lassonde, seconded by Culleton, tabled Item 2b to a future Town Council meeting and provided direction to staff to include a red-lined version of the proposed handbook with the staff report. Roll call vote was unanimous.
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Chris Rehmann spoke on behalf of the Paradise Irrigation District’s Board and said the Board would like to discuss ways to partner with and support the Town’s Paradise Sewer Project.
2. Carrie Max shared that she recently broke ground on a new house with Recover California.
3. Brian Happ spoke in favor of the Town’s weed abatement program but implored the Town to consider the people and the hardships on landowners.
4. Jaime Happ spoke in favor of the Town’s weed abatement program but asked the Council to remember there are people behind the rules.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Housing Technician Sarah Richter presented proposed changes to the CDBG 2019-2020 Annual Plan which would reallocate $200,000 from an emergency rental assistance activity to Public Services to prepare, prevent, and respond to COVID, including, supporting Paradise Recreation and Park District’s Neighbor 2 Neighbor Program and Chico Meals on Wheels.
Mayor Crowder opened the public hearing at 7:04 p.m.
Mayor Crowder closed the public hearing at 7:04 p.m.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Lassonde, approved the proposed Substantial Amendment to the CDBG 2019-2020 Annual Plan to allocate $200,000 from emergency rental assistance activity to Public Services to prepare, prevent and respond to COVID. AYES: Greg Bolin, Heidi Lange, Ronald Lassonde, and Steve Crowder, Mayor; NOES: Steve “Woody” Culleton; ABSENT: None; ABSTAIN: None (710-10-094)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Council appointed Council representatives and alternates to represent the Town of Paradise on various local and regional boards, committees, and commissions. (Committee assignments attached) (120-10-010) Council Member Bolin rescued himself from the dais due to a potential conflict of interest at 7:20 p.m.
6b. Town Engineer Marc Mattox presented an informational update on the Paradise Sewer Project summarizing recent developments in funding pursuits and construction cost estimates.
1. School Board Member Bill Sharrett said it cost the School District more money to rebuild because the Town doesn’t have a sewer and asked about the Paradise Sewer Regionalization Project Advisory Committee.
2. Jared Kramer shared that the sewer project is integral to his business’s growth and asked about additional parking in the downtown area.
3. Jon Remalia thought Council should wait to see what the Federal Government was planning to fund before deciding on a reduced project and said the Town couldn’t afford to keep throwing money after it.
Individual Council members offered their thoughts on how to proceed, including bringing back options for reallocating funds to the project; more options for a reduced sewer service area that would include not only Skyway and the downtown, but Clark Road; and to plan a community engagement meeting for the reduced scope and scale. (960-70-007) 6c. Consider approving the attached Professional Services Agreements; and, authorize the Town Manager to execute the following contract with Warner Enterprises.
ITEM WAS PULLED FROM THE AGENDA DUE TO POTENTIAL
PROTESTS FROM UN-SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS.
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items – None
7b. Council reports on committee representation:
Council Member Lange attended an event for Assemblyman Gallagher’s swear-in.
Council Member Bolin attended the monthly LAFCo meeting; a Habitat for Humanity ribbon cutting; and Paradise Police Officer swear-in.
Council Member Lassonde attended a meeting with Insurance Commissioner Lara; a Verizon ribbon cutting; the Healthcare Committee meeting; attended a meeting with the Butte County Disaster Council and a Habitat for Humanity ribbon cutting.
Vice Mayor Culleton attended the meeting with Insurance Commissioner Lara and a meeting with the Continuum of Care Committee.
Mayor Crowder provided an update on HR5863, the tax bill for fire victims and shared that it passed in both the House and the Senate and is on the President’s desk. Mayor Crowder also attended the Healthcare Committee meeting; participated in several news interviews; sat on the interview panel for Police Lieutenant; and attended the Butte County Fire Safe Council Annual Summit as well as the Paradise Police Officer swear-in. 7c. Future Agenda Items:
1. Creation of a TOP/PUSD Liaison Committee (Lange)
2. Repurpose the Paradise Sewer Regionalization Advisory Committee (Crowder)
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Jim Goodwin reported that he participated in the meeting with Insurance Commissioner Lara; attended the Paradise Police Officer swear-in; attended the Healthcare Committee meeting as well as a workshop for the Paradise Sewer Project.
9. CLOSED SESSION – None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Crowder adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
Date approved: January 14, 2025
By: Attest:
___________/s/____________ ______________/s/_____________ Steve Crowder, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Town Clerk
2025 TOWN COUNCIL
REPRESENTATION
BUTTE COUNTY
COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
BUTTE COUNTY Bolin Crowder Culleton Lassonde Lange
1. Air Quality Management District A R
2. Association of Governments A R
3. City Selection Committee (Mayor) R
4. Disaster Council (Mayor) R
5. Local Area Formation Commission
(LAFCo) (Bolin was appointed
through 5/2027 – Appointed by City
Selection Committee) R
6. Mosquito and Vector Control Board
(Schuster was appointed through
1/2027 – Rep to serve a 4-year term)
Melissa
Schuster
7. Waste Mgt Local Task Force R R
8. City/County Ad Hoc Committee R
9. Tourism Business Improvement
District (TBID)
Colette
Curtis R
10. Continuum of Care A R
11. Butte County Fire Safe Council R A
LOCAL COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS
PARADISE Bolin Crowder Culleton Lassonde Lange
1. Paradise Community Village R
2. Paradise Irrigation District Liaison R R
3. Paradise Rec. & Park District Liaison R R
4. Paradise Solid Waste Committee R R
5. Onsite Ad Hoc Committee R R
6. Finance Committee
(Mayor & Vice Mayor) R R
7. Butte County Oversight Board R
8. Paradise Sewer Regionalization
Project Advisory Committee R R
9. Legislative Ad Hoc Committee R R
(Mayor & Vice Mayor)
10. Healthcare Ad Hoc CommitteeRRA