TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – February 11, 2025
1. OPENING
The Regular meeting of the Paradise Town Council was called to order by Mayor Crowder 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 Council Member Lassonde.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Greg Bolin, Steve “Woody” Culleton, Heidi Lange, Ronald Lassonde, and Steve Crowder, 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, Community Development Director Susan Hartman, Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox, Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis, Finance Director Aimee Beleu, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, Fire Chief Jason Finney, Information Systems Technician Travis Thompson, Police Officer Derek Archuleta, Dispatcher Amannda Oakley and Animal Control Officer Andrew Anaya. 1a. Police Chief Eric Reinbold presented special recognitions to the following sworn, and non-sworn police personnel and volunteers for their exemplary contributions to the department: Officer of the Year: Officer Derek Archuleta; Dispatcher of the Year: Dispatcher Amannda Oakley; Civilian Employee of the Year: Animal Control Officer Andrew Anaya; VIP of the Year: Frank Dodini; and PASH Volunteer of the Year: Laurie Burns. Chief Reinbold also thanked Lieutenant Anthony Borgman for his years of service to the Town of Paradise and wished him well in his retirement.
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 Lassonde, approved consent calendar items 2a through 2e with item 2f being removed from the consent calenda by Council Member Culleton. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved the minutes from the January 14, 2025 Special and Regular Town Council meetings and the minutes from the January 21, 2025 Special Town Council meeting.
2b. Approved January 2025 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $6,643,909.16. (310-10-035)
2c. Concurred with staff recommendation to file CEQA Notice of Exemptions for Maintenance Culvert Replacements on Nunneley, Ingalls and Scottwood Roads. (910-30-004)
2d. 1. Waived the second reading of the entire Town Ordinance No. 642 and approved reading by title only; and, 2. Adopted Town Ordinance No. 642, "An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Amending Sections 8.58.010-8.58.60 of the Paradise Municipal Code related to Defensible space/hazardous fuel management Fuel Break Requirements”. (540-16-211)
2e. 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-06, “A Resolution of The Town Council of the Town of Paradise Authorizing Disposal of Certain Town Records Maintained in the Human Resources Department Pursuant to Government Code Section 34090”; and, 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-07, “A Resolution of The Town Council of the Town of Paradise Authorizing Disposal of Certain Town Records Maintained in the Finance Department Pursuant to Government Code Section 34090.” (160-20-016) 2f. ITEM WAS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR BY COUNCIL MEMBER CULLETON.
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
2f. Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of three proposed Construction Management contracts.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, 1. Concurred with staff’s recommendation of Consor North American, Inc., Psomas, and Unico Engineering, Inc. to perform professional construction management, inspection and materials testing services on a variety of federally, state and locally funded efforts, contingent upon Caltrans Office of Audits and Investigation acceptance of financial document submittals; and, 2.
Approved the attached Master Agreement for Professional Services and authorize the Town Manager to execute up to three agreements relating to On-Call Construction Management, Inspection and Materials Testing Services; and, 3. Adopted Resolution 2025-08 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise, Designating Authority to the Paradise Town Manager to execute The Master Agreement for Professional Services and Individual Task Orders under the resultant master agreement for RFQ 2024-001 On-Call Construction Management, Inspection and Materials Testing Services up to the maximum contract aggregate amount of twenty three million, four hundred and ten thousand, nine hundred and ninety five dollars ($23,410,995) to expedite and facilitate camp fire recovery efforts.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-469, 510-20-470, 510-20-471)
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Carrie Max thanked Town Engineer Marc Mattox for his department’s help in making sure the paving and drainage on her street was done correctly.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Community Development Director Susan Hartman provided an overview of proposed Ordinance No. 643 relating to the rezone of certain real property in the Walkable Downtown Core.
Mayor Crowder opened the public hearing at 6:50 p.m.
1. Carrie Max asked who was proposing the change, the Town or the property owners?
Community Development Director Susan Hartman clarified that Town staff was recommending the change based on community and stakeholder feedback.
Mayor Crowder closed the public hearing at 6:51 p.m.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton 1. Concurred with the project “CEQA determination” finding embodied within Planning Commission Resolution No. 2025-01; and, 2. Concurred with the project recommended General Plan Land Use Map amendment and rezone action adopted by the Planning Commission on January 21, 2025, and embodied within Planning Commission Resolution No. 2025-01; and, 3. Adopted Town of Paradise Resolution No. 2025-09, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Amending the Land Use Map of the 1994 Paradise General Plan (TOP: PL24-00128)”; and, 4. Waived the first reading of the entire Town Ordinance No. 643 and read by title only; and, 5. Introduced Town of Paradise Ordinance No. 643. “An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Rezoning Certain Real Properties From “C-F” (Community Facilities) to the “C-B” (Central Business) Zone Pursuant to Paradise Municipal Code Sections 17.45.500 Et. Seq. (TOP: PL24-00128)”.
Roll call vote was unanimous. (760-40-061, 540-16-212)
5b. Community Development Director Susan Hartman provided an overview of proposed Ordinance No. 644 which would amend text regulations within Paradise Municipal Code Title 5 and Title 17 relative to the Central Business Zoning District; Vending Licenses; Farmers Markets; and the Walkable Downtown Core.
Mayor Crowder opened the public hearing at 7:05 p.m.
1. Vicky Smith said she had rental property on Fir St. and didn’t think it fair that Council could take away how she could make money.
Mayor Crowder closed the public hearing at 7:08p.m.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Lassonde 1. Concurred with the project “CEQA determination” finding presented and considered by the Planning Commission on January 21, 2025, and embodied within Planning Commission Resolution No 2025-02; and, 2. Waived the first reading of the entire Town Ordinance No. 644 and read by title only; and, 3. Introduced Town Ordinance No. 644, “An Ordinance Amending Text Regulations within Paradise Municipal Code Title 5 [Business Licenses] and Title 17 [Zoning] Relative to the Central Business Zoning District; Vending Licenses; Farmers Markets; and the Walkable Downtown Core”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (750-85-008, 540-16-213)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the On-System Road Rehabilitation Project – Clark Road 2025.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Bolin, adopted Resolution No. 2025- 10, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise approving the plans, specifications and estimate for the On-System Road Rehabilitation Project – Clark Road 2025 and authorizing advertisement for bids on the project”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (950-40-074) 6b. Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an informational update relating to the Town’s progress for completion of FEMA and FHWA funded Camp Fire repairs to public roadways. Council provided direction to review the Town’s CDBG-DR Action Plan and budget at the March 11, 2025 Town Council meeting. (710-10-099)
6c. MOTION by Lange, seconded by Culleton appointed Council Members Bolin and Culleton to serve on a Facilities Ad Hoc Committee to review and advise on next steps relating to the Town of Paradise’s overall facilities as well as facilities replacement needs resulting from the 2018 Camp Fire.
AYES: Bolin, Culleton, Lange and Crowder; NOES: Lassonde; ABSENT:
None; ABSTAIN: None. (280-05-006, 120-10-010)
6d. Town Engineer Marc Mattox reviewed Council action which approved the purchase of the Pierce Type 3 Engine in 2023 and provided an overview of staff’s recommendation to issue an advanced payment for the engine to receive a discount in the approximate amount of $30,000.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, authorized the Town Manager to issue advanced payment for previously Town Council approved purchase of Pierce Type 3 Fire Engine. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-399) 6e. MOTION by Lassonde, seconded by Bolin appointed Mayor Crowder and Council Member Lassonde to serve on an Ad Hoc CAL FIRE Contract Negotiations Committee. Roll call vote was unanimous. (120-10-010, 440-05-025) 6f. Recovery & Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an overview of proposed Ordinance 641 which would authorize implementation of a Community Choice Aggregation program and a resolution which would request membership in Pioneer Community Energy in a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Lange 1. Waived the entire second reading of Town Ordinance No. 641 and approved reading by title only; and,
2. Adopted Town Ordinance No. 641, "An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Authorizing Implementation of a Community Choice Aggregation Program in the Town of Paradise Under Public Utilities Code Section 366.2.” and, 3. Adopted Resolution. No. 2025-11 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Requesting Membership in Pioneer Community Energy and Approving the Amended and Restate Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement as Amended Through Amendment No. 6.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (540-16-210, 430-05-025)
6g. Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the condition of a culvert on Bille Road and Olympia Way and the need to authorize an emergency repair and replacement response.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Lassonde 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-12, “A Resolution of The Town Council of The Town of Paradise Declaring an Emergency and Authorizing Repair or Replacement of the Bille Road at Olympia Way 18” Culverts Without Observance of Public Bidding Requirements”; and, 2. Authorized the Town Manager to execute agreements for a contractor and/or materials for the subject project. Roll call vote was unanimous. (910-30-004)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items – None
7b. Council reports on committee representation:
Council Member Bolin attended the monthly LAFCo meeting.
Council Member Lange attended a Neighbor 2 Neighbor event hosted by PRPD; attended the Continuum of Care monthly meeting and a Sewer Committee meeting.
Council Member Lassonde attended the Explore Butte County Community meeting.
Mayor Crowder attended the City Select meeting and participated in several news interviews regarding the L.A. fires.
7c. Future Agenda Items – None
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Report – None
8b. Community Development Director Susan Hartman provided status updates on current building permits within the Town of Paradise.
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Crowder adjourned the meeting at 8:14 p.m.
Date approved: March 11, 2025
By: Attest:
___________/s/____________ ___________/s/________________ Steve Crowder, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Town Clerk