MINUTES
PARADISE TOWN COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING – 6:00 PM – August 14, 2025
1. OPENING
The Special meeting of the Paradise Town Council was called to order by Mayor Crowder at 6:00 p.m. at the Paradise Performing Arts Center located at 777 Nunneley Road, Paradise, California who led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
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 Clerk Melanie Elvis, Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox and Information Systems Technician Travis Thompson.
2. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
2a. Town Engineer Marc Mattox presented an overview of the Paradise Sewer Project Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendation for a revised project description to include hybrid gravity/low pressure collection system, aerated lagoon wastewater treatment, and percolation/evaporation pond effluent discharge” (Alternative 1).
1. John Stonebreaker spoke in favor of the STEP system, scaling back the Roe Road project to reallocate funds to the sewer project and suggested the new Environmental Impact Review (EIR) include alternatives.
2. Bill Sharrett asked about the ability to opt-out of the system; which side of the street the sewer will be constructed; spoke in favor of the Ad Hoc committee; and asked that staff do its best to speed up the (EIR) process.
3. Cliff Jacobson spoke in favor of the STEP system.
4. Isa Whitmore asked if only affected parcels would have to pay for service; who is responsible for pumping solids; and about the rate system.
5. Matt Ball from the Mosquito and Vector Control District encouraged the Town to work with the District for best practices to ensure the aerated ponds don’t create a breeding ground for mosquitos.
6. Al McGreehan spoke in favor of the STEP system, asked if the Town already had an EIR team on standby, and said the General Plan (GP) could change or reduce the Sewer Service Area, and encouraged staff to work closely with the GP consultants.
7. Michael asked where the treatment site would be located and if staff had considered Neal Road Landfill.
8. Melissa Schuster spoke in favor of the STEP system, asked if alternates could be included in the EIR, and encouraged the use of purple pipe.
9. Brian asked how many employees the sewer would require for operation and maintenance and where the money was coming from.
10.Doug Munjar asked if Mountain Cascade would still be responsible for design/build. Town Engineer Marc Mattox clarified that if approved by Council, Mountain Cascade and Carrollo would still be responsible for the design but the Town would need to find a new build team for the collection system.
11. Jim Riotto asked how many lift stations would be necessary in Phase I, and how much it would cost.
MOTION by Lange, seconded by Lassonde, adopted Resolution No. 2025-67 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise to Concur with the Paradise Sewer Project Ad Hoc Committee’s Recommendation to Direct a Revised Project Description to Include Hybrid Gravity/Low Pressure Collection System, Aerated Lagoon Wastewater Treatment, and Percolation/Evaporation Pond Effluent Discharge” (Alternative 1); and, 2. Provided direction to staff to immediately commence and resume efforts to advance the project forward through environmental and design activities to the maximum and most efficient means feasible; and, 3. Provided direction to staff to bring back formal revisions to the Town’s CDBG-DR Infrastructure Action Plan which provides additional funds to the Paradise Sewer Project’s first phase, as well as coordinate with impacted funding agencies for action implementation. Roll call vote was unanimous. (960-70-009)
4. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Crowder adjourned the Council meeting at 8:40 p.m.
Date approved: September 9, 2025
By: Attest:
_______/s/______________ ___________/s/______________
Steve Crowder, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Town Clerk