TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – September 09, 2025
1. OPENING
The Regular meeting of the Paradise Town Council was called to order by Mayor Crowder at 6:03 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: Acting Town Manager/Police Chief Eric Reinbold, Town Attorney Scott E. Huber, Town Clerk/Elections Official Melanie Elvis, Community Development Director Susan Hartman, Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox, Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis, Finance Director Aimee Beleu, Fire Chief Jason Finney and Information Systems Director Luis Marquez. 1a. Care Net of Paradise Executive Director, Ashley Lundberg and Brooke Garner, Director of Development presented on the organization's work in the community.
1b. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis reviewed the requirements for the Transient Occupancy Tax allocation recipients. The following organization provided a verbal report of their expenditure overview summarizing how their allocation was spent over the last year, explaining the impact on tourism and outlining their plans for next year’s funding allocation: Paradise Art Center. The Gold Nugget Museum did not present. 1c. Camp Fire Recovery Updates - Written reports are included in the agenda packet.(160-60-061)
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
1d. Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an update on the Paradise Sewer Project. (960-70-009)
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, approved consent calendar items 2a through 2c. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved minutes of the August 12, 2025 Special and Regular Town Council meetings and the August 14th, August 19th and August 21st, 2025 Special Town Council meetings.
1. Serra Blaine appreciated the Town Attorney for his explanation on a question she had regarding the Closed Session meeting of August 21st. 2b. Approved August 2025 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $18,698,338.80. (310-10-035)
2c. 1. Waived the second reading of the entire Town Ordinance No. 648 and approved reading by title only; and, 2. Adopted Town Ordinance No. 648, "An Ordinance Amending Text Regulations within Paradise Municipal Code Title 17 of the Paradise Municipal Code Relative to the Agricultural Residential Zoning District; General Definitions; and the Animal Regulations”. (540-16-217)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR - None
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Christine Poje commented on home inspections and setback issues on private roads.
2. Jared Kramer commented on financial hardships due to the road construction and asked the Town to create a grant for business owners to help offset losses.
3. Stephanie Rotchy commented on construction issues with her home.
4. Monica Huchro commented on a formal complaint she submitted with the Town.
5. Joseph Butts, a local contractor, commented on his positive interactions with the Town’s building division.
6. Brandon Slater, a local contractor, commented on his positive interactions with the Town’s building division.
7. Shawn Shingler, a local contractor, commented that the way the building division investigation is being handled is causing delays and sending a message that Paradise is unstable and plagued with corruption to prospective buyers.
8. John Wulff, a local contractor, commented on his positive interactions with the Town’s building division.
9. Amy Rohrer, a local contractor, commented on her positive interactions with the Town’s building division.
10. Christine Noyer commented on construction issues with her home.
11. Autumn Field spoke in favor of the building division audit and commented on conflict of interest.
12. Ken Klassen spoke on the Fire Victim’s Trust.
13. Misty Wright shared that the Butte County Board of Supervisors has waived library fines through the month of September.
14. Serra Blaine commented on a healthcare grant, and on a previous speaker’s comments.
15. Carrie Max commended the community for its engagement and shared that Paradise Reflections is opening September 11th.
16. Rhonda Berndt de Pineda commented on her positive interactions with the Town’s building division and said that she did not feel the same way about the current contract inspectors.
17. Amanda Clark questioned why Town-contracted weed abatement contractors do not have to be licensed.
18. Laurie Noble commented on Noble Orchards.
5. PUBIC HEARINGS
5a. Community Development Director Susan Hartman introduced the proposed ordinance related to laydown yards.
Mayor Crowder opened the public hearing at 7:50 p.m.
1. Carrie Max spoke in favor of keeping the 10-day notice requirement.
Mayor Crowder closed the public hearing at 7:52 p.m.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton 1. Concurred with the project’s “CEQA determination” finding presented and considered by the Planning Commission on July 15, 2025, and embodied within Planning Commission Resolution No 2025-06; and, 2. Waived the first reading of the entire Town Ordinance No. 649 and read by title only; and, 3. Introduced Town Ordinance No. 649, “An Ordinance Amending Text Regulations within Paradise Municipal Code Title 17 of the Paradise Municipal Code Relative to Temporary Storage Yards for Work in Public and Private Rights-of-Way”.
Roll call vote was unanimous. (540-16-218)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Finance Director Aimee Beleu provided an overview of the 4th Quarter Investment Report for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2025.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Lassonde reviewed and filed the 4th Quarter Investment Report for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2025. Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Member Culleton absent and not voting. (360-30-006)
6b. Finance Director Aimee Beleu provided an overview of the Cost of Services (User Fee) Study Report.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton approved the Cost of Services (User Fee) Study Report prepared by Matrix Consulting Group. Roll call vote was unanimous. (395-20-043)
6c. Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the Hazardous Fuels Reduction Services program.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton authorized staff to advertise Contract No. 2025-002 Hazardous Fuels Reduction Services Contract. Roll call vote was unanimous. (440-60-022)
6d. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an overview of the proposed (RFP) to update of the Long-Term Community Recovery Plan.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Lassonde authorized Town Staff to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to update the Long-Term Community Recovery Plan. Roll call vote was unanimous. (420-25-011) 6e. Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of staff’s recommendation to terminate the Progressive Design Build contract with Mountain Cascade, Inc. and take assignment of the Carollo subcontract, converting the project to a traditional design-bid-build; and, reviewing the RFQ 2025-003 Request for Qualifications for Paradise Sewer Project:
Wastewater Treatment Facility Design Services.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Lassonde 1. Delegated authority to the Town Attorney and Acting/Interim Town Manager to terminate the Progressive Design Build contract with Mountain Cascade, Inc. and take assignment of the Carollo subcontract, converting the project to a traditional design-bid-build; and, 2. Approved the RFQ 2025-003 Request for Qualifications for Paradise Sewer Project: Wastewater Treatment Facility Design Services. Roll call vote was unanimous. (960-70-009)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items:
7a1. Council discussed increasing the allotted number of chickens in Town.
1. Christine Poje spoke in favor of this item.
2. Kevin Steinmen spoke in favor of this item.
3. Kristin Holman spoke in favor of this item.
4. Serra Blaine spoke in favor of this item.
5. Amanda Clark spoke in favor of this item.
6. Carrie Max spoke in favor of this item.
7. Doug Speicher suggested setback requirements be from neighboring dwellings not property lines.
Council provided direction to draft an ordinance to amend chicken coop setback requirements from 75’ to 20’ from neighboring dwellings and to eliminate the current limit on the number of chickens allowed.
7a2. Council discussed proposed uses of adjacently owned lots.
1. Stephanie Rotchy spoke in opposition to this item.
2. Carrie Max spoke in favor of this item.
3. Doung Munjar spoke in favor of this item.
4. Aimee Beleu spoke in opposition to this item.
Council did not have consensus to bring this item back for consideration.
7a3. Council discussed creating an Insurance Advocacy Committee to bring together industry experts, community partners, and local stakeholders to identify and implement practical steps our community can take to become more insurable and actively engage with insurance providers to explore solutions that make homeowners insurance more accessible and affordable for residents.
1. Holly Fisher spoke in favor of this item and encouraged the Town to partner with Rebuild Paradise Foundation in these endeavors.
2. Jared Kramer spoke in favor of this item and encouraged the committee to advocate for not only residential property insurance, but commercial property insurance as well.
Council directed staff to return at the October Council meeting with proposed parameters for an Insurance Advocacy Committee with Council Members Lange and Bolin as the Council representatives. 7b. Council reports on committee representation:
Council Member Lange attended multiple sewer ad hoc committee meetings.
Council Member Lassonde participated in the Working Group walkable downtown tour.
Mayor Crowder attended multiple sewer ad hoc committee meetings, had an interview on KPAY regarding the sewer project and presented a proclamation of recognition to Phil Kelly at his 90th birthday party. 7c. Future Agenda Items
1. Discuss unlicensed contractors performing weed abatement for the Town of Paradise. (LASSONDE)
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION - None
9. CLOSED SESSION – None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Crowder adjourned the meeting at 9:59 p.m.
Date approved: October 14, 2025
By: Attest:
_________/s/______________ ____________/s/_____________ Steve Crowder, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Town Clerk