TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – February 10, 2026
1. OPENING
The Regular meeting of the Paradise Town Council was called to order by Mayor Crowder at 6:07 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: 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, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, Fire Chief Jason Finney, and Information Systems Technician Travis Thompson.
1e. 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 John Newsom
Dispatcher of the Year:
Dispatcher Lorissa Parks
Civilian Employee of the Year:
Administrative Assistant Kelly Peirce
VIP of the Year:
Carol James
PASH Volunteer of the Year:
Lindy Brown
Chief’s Accommodation:
Dispatcher Lorissa Parks
Medal of Valor:
Officer Dominic Vannucci
Sergeant Andrew Cooper
1f. ITEM 1f WAS REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA.
1g. 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. (110-60-062) 1h. Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox provided an update on the Paradise Sewer Project. (960-70-009)
1. Jill Eisenbarth spoke in opposition to the wastewater treatment site proposed location near Crossroads.
2. Matt Miller spoke on behalf of himself and his neighbors on Craft Lane and Jade Lane in opposition to the proposed wastewater treatment site location near Crossroads.
3. Nathan Vail spoke in opposition to the proposed wastewater treatment site location at Crossroads and Media Way.
4. Mike Cosentino spoke in opposition to both proposed wastewater treatment site locations near Crossroads and Media Way.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, approved consent calendar items 2a and 2i. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved minutes of January 13, 2026, Special and Regular Town Council meetings.
2b. Approved January 2026 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $6,516,325.57. (310-10-035)
2c. Ratified the agreement with Baker Tilly US, LLP for Fiscal Year 2024/25 auditing services and authorized the Town Manager (or designee) to execute the agreement. (510-20-482)
2d. Ratified the Professional Services Agreement with Regional Government Services (RGS), previously executed by the Interim Town Manager under existing purchasing authority, in an amount not to exceed $99,000. (510-20-495)
2e. 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-06, “A Resolution of the Town Paradise of the Town of Paradise Approving Job Classification Descriptions”; and,
2. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-07, "A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Amending the Salary Pay Plan to include an Engineering Intern – Part Time, Temporary Position to the Salary Pay Plan for Fiscal Year 2025–2026”; and, 3. Authorized staff to recruit and hire a temporary Engineering Intern for the period of early June 2026 through midAugust 2026. (610-10-015, 610-10-018, 610-10-020) 2f. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-08, “A Resolution of the Town Council of Town of Paradise accepting the work performed under the Off-System Roadway Rehabilitation Project - 2024, Contract 8407.2 CON performed by Baldwin Contracting Company, Inc. dba Knife River Construction.” (510-20- 438) (950-40-072)
2g. Concurred with staff recommendation to file CEQA Notice of Exemptions for Maintenance Culvert Replacements on Roe and Scottwood Roads. (910-30-04)
2h. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-09, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approving an Application for Funding and the Execution of a Standard Agreement and any Amendments Thereto, and Certain Related Loan or Grant Documents and any Amendments Thereto, Related to the Award Made Pursuant to the Application Authorized by this Resolution Submitted in Response to a Direct Award.” (710-10-099) 2i. Concurred with staff recommendation to file CEQA Notice of Exemption for Subsurface Investigation work to support Collection System design and Wastewater Treatment Facility site selection. (960-70-009)
1. Brian Happ spoke in opposition to the Paradise Sewer project and the proposed wastewater treatment site locations near Crossroads and Meida Way.
2. Adam Deppe spoke in opposition to both the proposed wastewater treatment site locations.
3. Faun Witten spoke in opposition to the proposed wastewater treatment site location at Crossroads.
4. Jamie Happ spoke in opposition to the proposed wastewater treatment site location at Crossroads.
5. Mike O’Brien spoke in opposition to both proposed wastewater treatment site locations.
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR - None
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Jennifer Eidson asked how to appeal a decision regarding a legal nonconforming use on a neighboring property.
2. Mike Pollak asked Council to provide direction on an on-going code enforcement issue.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Lieutenant Kovacs presented the proposed resolution to enter contract with BRINC Drones.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Lassonde, adopted Resolution No. 2026-10, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Making Findings Concerning a Sole Vendor for Entering into Contract with BRINC Drones as First Responders (DFR) Services – Sole Source”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (480-35-003) (510-20-498)
6b. Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox presented the Corrective Action Plan in response to the 2025 Building Division Audit.
1. Nathan Vail thanked staff and Council for working to better the building inspecting and permitting processes.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Lassonde, approved the Corrective Action Plan for the 2025 Building Division Audit with planned future updates quarterly. AYES: Bolin, Culleton, Lassonde, Crowder; NOES: Lange; ABSENT: None; ABSTAIN: None. (740-30-013)
6c. ITEM 6C WAS TABLED UNTIL THE MARCH 10, 2026, TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.
6d. Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox presented the proposed resolution to award Construction Contract No. 8407.4 CON, Off-System Road Rehabilitation Project - 2026, to Baldwin Contracting Company, Inc. dba Knife River Construction.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton adopted Resolution No. 2026- 11, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Awarding Construction Contract No. 8407.4 CON, Off-System Road Rehabilitation Project - 2026, to Baldwin Contracting Company, Inc. dba Knife River Construction in the amount of their base bid and designating authority to the Town Manager to Execute an Agreement with Baldwin Contracting Company, Inc. dba Knife River Construction and to approve contingency expenditures not exceeding 10%”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-496) (950-40-078)
6e. Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox presented the proposed resolution to award Construction Contract No. 7303.6 CON, On-System Road Rehabilitation - Misc 2026/HSIP Systemic Intersection Safety Improvement Project, to Baldwin Contracting Company, Inc. dba Knife River Construction.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Lassonde adopted Resolution No. 2026- 12, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Awarding Construction Contract No. 7303.6 CON, On-System Road Rehabilitation – Misc 2026/HSIP Systemic Intersection Safety Improvement Project, to Baldwin Contracting Company, Inc. dba Knife River Construction in the amount of their base bid and designating authority to the Town Manager to Execute an Agreement with Baldwin Contracting Company, Inc. dba Knife River Construction and to approve contingency expenditures not exceeding 10%”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-497) (950-40-078) 6f. Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox presented the proposed resolution to delegate authority to the Town Manger to execute final right-of-way acquisition documents for the Skyway-Pentz Intersection Improvements, Pentz Road Widening Project and Pentz Pathway Project Phase II.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Bolin, adopted Resolution No. 2026- 13 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Delegating Limited Authority to the Town Manager to Approve and Execute Final Rightof-Way Acquisition Documents for the Skyway-Pentz Intersection Improvements, Pentz Road Widening Project and Pentz Pathway Project Phase II”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (950-40-043)
6g. Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox presented the Facility Committee’s recommendation to select Studio W + TSK to provide professional planning and design services for the Town of Paradise Facilities Master Plan and Corporation Yard/Fire Station 82 project.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton 1. Approved staff’s recommendation to select Studio W + TSK (design team) to provide professional planning and design services for the Town of Paradise Facilities Master Plan and Corporation Yard / Fire Station 82 project; and,
2. Authorized the Town Manager to enter into negotiations and execute an Agreement for Professional Services with Studio W+TSK for an initial notto-exceed amount of $560,720, subject to approval by the Town Attorney; and, 3. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-14 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Designating Authority to the Town Manager to execute the Agreement and Associated Task Orders for RFQ No. 2025- 004, Facilities Master Plan and Corporation Yard/Fire Station 82 PlanningDesign Services in a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $560,720.” Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-499) (280-05-007)
6h. Recovery & Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an overview of the proposed Workforce Development Program Coordinator position.
MOTION by Lange, seconded by Lassonde 1. Approved the creation and authorization of a Workforce Development Program Coordinator position, limited to the life of the approved grant, to support day-to-day program implementation, partner coordination, outreach, and grant compliance for the Town’s grant-funded workforce development initiatives; and, 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-15 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Approve Job Classification Descriptions”; and, 3. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-16 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Adopting an Amendment to the Salary Pay Plan to Include Workforce Development Program Coordinator for the Town of Paradise Employees for the Fiscal Year 2025/2026”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (610-10-015, 610-10-018, 610-10-020) (710-10-104)
6i. Finance Director Aimee Beleu presented the actuarial valuation of changes to the Paradise Firefighters Association retiree health benefits.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, reviewed and accepted the actuarial valuation of changes to the Paradise Firefighters Association retiree health benefits, as agreed in the Transitional MOU between the Town of Paradise and the Paradise Firefighters Association (PFA) approved by Town Council on September 11, 2012. Roll call vote was unanimous. (630-10-025)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council initiated agenda items:
7a1. Council discussed changing the name of the Town Council Chambers to the "Doug LaMalfa Town Council Chambers" and directed staff to bring back this item for consideration at the March 10, 2026, Town Council meeting.
7b. Council reports on committee representation:
Council Member Bolin attended the TOP/PID Liaison Committee meeting.
Council Member Lange attended the Butte County Fire Safe Council board meeting, several Paradise Sewer Ad Hoc Committee meetings, Town Manager recruitment meetings, the Working Group Downtown Phase 3 meeting, the Insurance Committee meeting and the monthly Continuum of Care meeting.
Council Member Lassonde attended Town Manager recruitment meetings, the Working Group Downtown Phase 3 meeting and the TOP/PID Liaison Committee meeting.
Council Member Culleton attended the Facilities Ad Hoc Committee meeting.
Mayor Crowder attended the Butte County Fire Safe Council board meeting, several Paradise Sewer Ad Hoc Committee meetings and participated in several news interviews and testified in D.C. about wildfire. 7c. Future Agenda Items- None
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION - None
9. CLOSED SESSION – None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Crowder adjourned the meeting at 9:37 p.m.
Date approved: March 10, 2026
By: Attest:
__________/s/_________________ _____________/s/_____________ Steve Crowder, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Town Clerk