TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – January 13, 2026
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 Crowder.
Mayor Crowder asked the Chambers to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of Congressman Doug LaMalfa.
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, Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox, Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis, Finance Director Aimee Beleu, Project Manager Brian Solecki, Police Chief Eric Reinbold Fire Chief Jason Finney, and Information Systems Director Luis Marquez. 1a. Camp Fire Recovery Updates - Written reports were 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; and Marc Mattox, Assistant Town Manager -infrastructure and sewer updates. (110-60- 062)
1b. Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox provided an update on the Paradise Sewer Project. (960-70-009)
1c. Meeder Investment's Jim McCourt presented the quarterly investment report. (360-30-006)
Mayor Crowder read the following announcement regarding item 6e. Item 6(e) related to the consideration of the Corrective Action Plan will be pulled from the agenda this evening and will come back at the next Council Meeting. The Council will receive some additional information that will help them review and assess the Corrective Action Plan so that the Council Members will have all the relevant facts in front of them to make a determination on this item. As such, this item will be pulled from the agenda, and no action will be taken tonight on this matter. We want to ensure this item is handled as thoughtfully and thoroughly as possible. This item will return at the February Council Meeting scheduled for February 10th.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Bolin, approved consent calendar items 2a and 2b. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved minutes of the December 9, 2025 Special and Regular Town Council meetings.
2b. Approved December 2025 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $10,189,845.38. (310-10-035)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR - None
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Earl Adams asked how he could get a replacement street sign after it was knocked down by PG&E undergrounding efforts.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Recovery & Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an overview of the 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan.
Mayor Crowder opened the public hearing at 6:40 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Crowder closed the public hearing at 6:40 p.m.
Council conducted the duly noticed and published public hearing to solicit comments and/or suggestions regarding the 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan funding priorities. (710-10-111)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox provided an overview of proposed Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery – Infrastructure Action Plan Amendment 4.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Lassonde, 1. Provided direction to assign the conditional CDBG-DR allocation of $13.5M to the Paradise Sewer Project; and, 2. Approved the Paradise Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery – Infrastructure Action Plan Amendment 4; and, 3. Adopted Resolution 2026-01 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Canceling the Evacuation Route Permanent Changeable Message Sign Project Standard Agreement and Redirecting Allocated Funds to Storm Drain Resiliency Project Phase 1”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (710-10-099)
6b. Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox provided an overview of the proposed Professional Services Agreement with Carollo Engineers to complete design of the Paradise Sewer Project Collection System.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Lange 1. Concurred with staff’s recommendation to accept the amended and re-stated (formerly PDB contract) Professional Services Agreement with Carollo Engineers to complete design of the Paradise Sewer Project Collection System with a not to exceed amount of $4.5M; and, 2. Delegated authority to the Town Manager to approve individual task orders under the new Professional Services Agreement so long as they stay under authorized NTE; and,
3. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-02 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise to Concur with the Paradise Sewer Project Ad Hoc Committee’s Recommendation to Keep Carollo Engineers as the Designer for the Phase One Reduced Collection System and Enter into a Contract with them for the Remaining Design Work Related to this Scope of Work.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-490) (960-70-009) 6c. Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox provided an overview of the proposed increase to HDR’s Master Services Agreement for Owner’s Agent services through the start of construction of the Paradise Sewer Project.
MOTION by Lange, seconded by Culleton 1. Concurred with staff’s recommendation to increase the overall amount of the HDR Master Services Agreement from $5M to $9.5M for Owner’s Agent services through the start of construction of the Paradise Sewer Project and extend the expiration date of the MSA to December 31, 2029; and, 2. Delegated authority to the Town Manager to approve individual task orders under the Master Services Agreement as long as they stay under the total dollar amount of the MSA and with concurrence of the Paradise Sewer Project Ad Hoc Committee; and, 3. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-03 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise to Concur with the Paradise Sewer Project Ad Hoc Committee’s Recommendation to Approve an Amendment to the Existing Master Services Agreement with HDR that Includes a $4.5M Increase to the Existing Not-To-Exceed Amount and a Time Extension to December 31, 2029.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (510- 20-382) (960-70-009)
6d. Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox provided an overview of the proposed Agreement for Professional Services with Arbor Pros for the Hazardous Fuels Reduction project.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Lassonde 1. Concurred with staff’s recommendation to select Arbor Pros to enter into a one (1) year agreement with up to two (2) one (1) year extensions not to exceed three years to provide vegetation management and hazardous fuels reduction services within the Town of Paradise right-of-way; and, 2. Directed staff to enter negotiations with Arbor Pros to reach and execute a funding-compliant agreement approved and executed by the Town Manager and Town Attorney; and, 3. Adopted Resolution 2026-04 “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 7315 Hazardous Fuels Reduction Services, up to the Maximum Contract Aggregate Amount of $1.219M.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-492) (440-60-022)
6e. ITEM 6E WAS REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA.
Council Member Lange recused herself from the dais relating to item 6f for any perceived conflict of interest.
6f. Community Development Director Susan Hartman provided an overview of proposed Ordinance No. 653 relating to backyard chicken and rabbit keeping.
Council Member Lassonde made a motion to increase the set back requirement from neighboring dwellings from 50’ to 75’. There was no second and the motion failed.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Bolin 1. Waived the second reading of the entire Town Ordinance No. 653 and approved reading by title only; and, 2. Adopted Town Ordinance No. 653, "An Ordinance Amending Text Regulations within Paradise Municipal Code Title 17 of the Paradise Municipal Code Relative to the Keeping of Backyard Chickens and Rabbits”.
AYES: Bolin, Culleton, Crowder; NOES: Lassonde; ABSENT: Lange; ABSTAIN: None (540-16-222) MOTION PASSES.
6g. Recovery & Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an overview of the proposed (RFP) to procure a contract with a compliance consultant to support project partners and the updated MOU with the Workforce Development project partners.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Lassonde 1. Approved a Request for Proposals (RFP) to procure a contract with a compliance consultant to support project partners with compliance and reimbursement requirements of Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) grant program; and, 2. Approved the amended MOU with the Workforce Development project partners, as presented. Roll call vote was unanimous. (710-10-104) (510-20-450)
6h. Recovery & Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an overview of the Utility Box Mural Project.
Council provided direction to staff to donate the original art from Phase 1 of the Utility Box Mural Project to the Paradise Art Center. All Council concurred. (1020-10-003)
6i. Finance Director Aimee Beleu provided an overview of the Unexpended Development Impact Fees report.
MOTION by Boin, seconded by Culleton, Adopted Resolution No. 2026- 05, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise, California, Reporting Unexpended Development Impact Fees in Accordance with Government Code Section 66006.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (740-10- 013)
6j. Finance Director Aimee Beleu provided an overview of the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Financial Statement Audit Report.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, approved filing the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Financial Statement Audit Report, as submitted. Roll call vote was unanimous. (385-10-044)
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 and the Solid Waste Committee meeting.
Council Member Lange attended the Butte County Fire Safe Council board meeting and annual summit, and Paradise Sewer Ad Hoc committee meetings.
Council Member Lassonde attended a Town Manager recruitment meeting.
Council Member Culleton attended the Solid Waste Committee meeting and the TOP/PRPD Liaison Committee meeting.
Mayor Crowder attended the Butte County Fire Safe Council annual summit, Paradise Sewer Ad Hoc committee meetings and participated in several news interviews regarding wildfire.
7c. Future Agenda Items:
1. Discuss consolidating local committees as well as assigning a chair to provide direction and momentum. (LANGE)
2. Rename the Town Council Chambers the “Doug LaMalfa Council Chambers” (CROWDER)
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Interim Town Manager Michael O’Brien complimented staff on their hard work.
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Crowder adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m.
Date approved: February 10, 2026
By: Attest:
______________/s/_____________ _________/s/_________________ Steve Crowder, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Town Clerk