TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – November 12, 2025
1. OPENING
The Regular meeting of the Paradise Town Council was called to order by Mayor Crowder 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 Culleton.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Greg Bolin, Steve “Woody” Culleton, Heidi Lange, Ronald Lassonde and Steve Crowder, Mayor
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Interim Town Manager Michael O’Brien, Town Attorney Scott E.
Huber, Town Clerk/Elections Official Melanie Elvis, Community Development Director Susan Hartman, Community Development Director Tony Lindsey, Public Works Director/Town Engineer Marc Mattox, Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis, Finance Director Aimee Beleu, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, and Information Systems Director Luis Marquez.
1a. Mayor Crowder presented a proclamation to representatives from Voices United and the Butte County Office of Education recognizing November as Homeless Youth Awareness Month. (180-40-027)
1b. Camp Fire Recovery Updates - Written reports are included in the agenda packet.
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. (110-60-061)
1c. Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an update on the Paradise Sewer Project. (960-70-009)
1d. Jullian Martinez of the Gold Nugget Museum provided a verbal report of the museum’s 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.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, approved consent calendar items 2a through 2d. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved minutes of the October 14, 2025 Special and Regular Town Council meetings.
2b. Approved October 2025 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $18,099,084.87. (310-10-035)
2c. 1. Waived the second reading of Town Ordinance No. 650 and read by title only and, 2. Adopted Town Ordinance No. 650 “An Ordinance Rezoning Certain Real Property From “TR 1/2” (Town Residential 1/2-acre minimum) to a “M-F” (Multiple Family Residential) Zone Pursuant to Paradise Municipal Code Sections 17.45.500 Et. Seq. (Mahoney Capital LP: PL25- 00056)”. (540-16-219)
2d. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-72 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Accepting the 2024 Homeownership Super NOFA (HOSN), CALHOME, Round 2 First Time Homebuyer Mortgage Assistance and Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Programs.” (710-10-092)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR - None
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Melissa Schuster provided an update on Hope Plaza.
2. Stephanie Rotchey voiced concerns about poorly built houses.
3. Doug Munjar shared gratitude for the Lighted Truck Parade resolution.
4. Julliette Westgate spoke in support of the Lighted Truck Parade.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS – None
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the proposed changes to position control in the Public Works/Engineering Department.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton 1. Modified the Town of Paradise Public Works Department Position Control to remove (1) Sr.
Maintenance Worker and add (1) Maintenance Worker I/II; and, 2. Approved the reclassification of the Public Works Administrative Assistant to Program Analyst and the correlating budget adjustment; and, 3. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-73 "A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving Job Classification Descriptions"; and, 4. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-74 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise, California, Amending the Salary Pay Plan to Include Program Analyst for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (610-10-015) (610-10-018) (610-10-020)
6b. Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of the proposed Request for Proposals relating to the Facilities Master Plan and Corporation Yard/Fire Station 82 Planning-Design Services.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Bolin approved the release of a Request for Proposals relating to the Facilities Master Plan and Corporation Yard/Fire Station 82 Planning-Design Services. Roll call vote was unanimous. (280-05-007)
6c. Town Engineer Marc Mattox provided an overview of staff’s recommendation to award the civil engineering and design services contract for the Wastewater Treatment Facility to Carollo Engineers.
MOTION by Crowder, seconded by Lassonde 1. Concurred with staff’s recommendation of Carollo Engineers, to perform professional civil engineering and design services to complete design of a new Wastewater Treatment Facility to be the Local Treatment Option for The Paradise Sewer Project; and, 2. Directed staff to enter negotiations with Carollo Engineers to reach and execute a funding-compliant agreement approved and executed by the Town Manager and Town Attorney; and, 3. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-75 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise, Designating Authority to the Paradise Town Manager To Execute The Agreement for Professional Services and Individual Task Orders Under the Resultant Master Agreement for RFQ 2025-003 Design Services for Paradise Sewer Project: Wastewater Treatment Facility, up to the Maximum Contract Aggregate Amount of $4.5M to Expedite and Facilitate Design of a Local Treatment Option for the Paradise Sewer Project”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (960-70-009) (510-20-490)
6d. Finance Director Aimee Beleu reviewed financial information concerning the FY 2025-26 operating and capital budgets augmentations.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Lassonde 1. Filed the financial information provided by staff concerning the FY 2025-26 operating and capital budgets; and 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-76 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Adopting Budget Amendments to the 2025/2026 Fiscal Year Budget”; and, 3. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-76 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Amending the Salary Pay Plan for the Town of Paradise Employees for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (340-40-017) (610-10-018) 6e. Finance Director Aimee Beleu presented proposed Ordinance No. 651 relating to the Town’s Purchasing Policy.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton 1. Waived the first reading of the entire Town Ordinance No. 651 and read by title only; and, 2. Introduced Town of Paradise Ordinance No. 651, “An 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. (540-16-220)
6f. Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided a review of staff’s recommendation to award the Long-Term Community Recovery Plan update to Urban Design Associates (UDA). UDA Principal & President Barry Long, shared how the firm intends to garner community input and engagement.
1. Bill Sharrett requested that the school district be involved in the LongTerm Community Recovery Plan process.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton 1. Concurred with staff recommendation to award a contract for the Long-Term Community Recovery Plan update to Urban Design Associates (UDA), and;
2. Authorized the Interim Town Manager to enter into an agreement with Urban Design Associates (UDA) for the Long-Term Community Recovery Plan Update for an amount not to exceed $400,000.00. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-491) (420-25-011)
6g. Community Development Director Tony Lindsey provided an overview of proposed Ordinance No. 652 relating to Building Code Standards.
1. Christine Poje asked how lithium batteries would increase building costs.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton 1. Waived the entire first reading of Town Ordinance No. 652 and read by title only; and,
2. Introduced Town Ordinance No. 652 “An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Repealing Paradise Municipal Code Chapters
15.01, 15.02, 15.03, 15.04, 15.05, 15.06, 15.07, 15.08, 15.09, 15.10, 15.11,
15.12, 15.13 and Adopting New Chapters 15.01, 15.02, 15.03, 15.04, 15.05,
15.06, 15.07, 15.08, 15.09, 15.10, 15.11, 15.12, 15.13, 15.14, 15.15 and
15.16 and Making Findings of Fact Relating to Local Climatic, Geological, and Topographic Conditions, All Relating to the Amendments and Adoption of the 2025 California Building Standards Code”, including, the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (Title 24, Part 7), with an amendment that the minimum design snow load and roof live load for all structures within the Town of Paradise shall be thirty (30) pounds per square foot (psf). Roll call vote was unanimous. (540-16-221)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items:
7a1. Council discussed sending a letter of support for the victims of the Camp Fire to the United States Bankruptcy Court and PG&E.
1. Ken Klassen spoke in favor of this item.
MOTION by Lassonde, seconded by Culleton, approved sending a letter of support for the victims of the Camp Fire to the United States Bankruptcy Court and PG&E. Roll call vote was unanimous. (180-30-101) 7b. Council reports on committee representation:
Council Member Bolin attended the monthly LAFCo meeting.
Council Member Lange attended a ribbon cutting, the Consortium of Care meeting, and the TOP/PUSD Liaison Committee meeting.
Council Member Lassonde attended a ribbon cutting, and the monthly BCAG and BCAQM meetings.
Mayor Crowder attended multiple sewer ad hoc committee meetings; participated in interviews with the Chico ER and KCBS; met with the Town’s federal lobbyist; and attended the Police Department’s drone demonstration.
7c. Future Agenda Items:
1. Discuss the CDBG-MIT-RIP allocation for the Evacuation Route Permanent Changeable Message Sign Project. (CULLETON)
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Interim Town Manager Michael O’Brien shared that the publicly releasable building audit report can be found on the Town’s website.
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Crowder adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Date approved: December 9, 2025
By: Attest:
__________/s/_________________ ____________/s/______________ Steve Crowder, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Town Clerk