TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – April 14, 2026
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 Bolin.
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, Human Resources & Risk Management Director Crystal Peters, Police Chief Eric Reinbold, Fire Chief Jason Finney, and Information Technician Travis Thompson. 1e. Mayor Crowder presented a proclamation proclaiming April as Arts, Culture & Creativity Month to Nicole LaJeunesse on behalf of PATCH. (180-40-027) 1f. Camp Fire Recovery Updates. Written reports were included in the agenda:
Colette Curtis, Recovery and Economic Development Director - recovery projects, advocacy, economic recovery and development, communications, emergency operations and Housing updates. Marc Mattox, Assistant Town Manager -infrastructure and sewer updates. (110-60-062) 1g. Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox provided an update on the Paradise Sewer Project. (960-70-009)
1. Tom Kelly spoke of the Paradise Sewer Project, water rights and his experience with building sewer plants.
2. Al McGreehan asked Council to consider doing an EIR for the step system.
3. Clifford Jabcobson spoke in favor of the step system.
4. Melissa Schuster spoke in favor of the step system.
5. Bill Kellogg praised the work that is being done and the project.
6. Doug Munjar shared that he did not think a treatment plant on lower Skyway would be feasible.
1h. Police Chief Eric Reinbold presented the Town’s new emergency alert system, Smart 911/RAVE.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Lange, approved consent calendar items 2a and 2l. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved minutes of the March 10, 2026 Special and Regular Town Council meetings.
2b. Approved March 2026 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $4,584,802. (310-10-035)
2c. 1. Reviewed and approved Town of Paradise Administrative Policy No. 185 Asset and Depreciation Policy; and 2. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-20, “A Resolution of The Town Council of the Town of Paradise Adopting Capital Asset, Depreciation, and Federal Property Controls Policy”. (110-10-020) 2d. Reviewed and approved Town of Paradise – 140 Investment Policy. (110-10-020, 360-30-002)
2e. 1. Approved the Professional Services Agreement with Adams Ashby Group to serve as the Workforce Development Project’s Compliance Consultant; and, 2. Authorized the Town Manager to execute the contract. (510-20-504)
2f. 1. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-21, “A Resolution of The Town Council of the Town of Paradise Authorizing Disposal of Certain Town Records Maintained in the Town Clerk Department Pursuant to Government Code Section 34090”. (160-20-017)
2g. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-22, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise adopting a list of projects for fiscal year 2026/2027 funded by SB1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.” (950-40-034) 2h. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-23, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise accepting the work performed under the Pearson Hilltop Guard Rail Project Contract No. 9430.CON, performed by Apex Fence Company INC.” (510-20-503)
2i. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-24, “A Resolution of the Town Council of Town of Paradise accepting the work performed under the On-System Roadway Rehabilitation 2024/ HSIP Systemic Intersection Safety Improvement Project Contract 7303.3 CON REBID performed by Baldwin Contracting Company, Inc. dba Knife River Construction”. (510-20-439, 950-20-071)
2j. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-25, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise accepting the work performed under the Camp Fire Hydrant Repair Project Contract No. 8404.CON, performed by RCI General Engineering.” (510-20-475, 440-30-006)
2k. Concurred with staff recommendation to file a CEQA Notice of Exemption for the Private Road Identification Safety Project. (950-40-079) 2l. 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. Al McGreehan asked which locations this CEQA NOE would affect.
Assistant Town Manger Marc Mattox clarified that it would only affect the potential treatment site on Clark Road.
2. Cliff Jocobson supports growing the project as the Town grows, and the purple pipe system.
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR – None
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Melissa Schuster provided an overview of Hope Plaza’s grand opening.
2. Brenda Narayan provided an update on PG&E’s undergrounding efforts and a power pole removal status update.
3. Adam Deppe shared concerns about the fuels reduction program.
4. Bill Kellogg spoke in opposition to the requirement that weeds be kept under 4 inches tall.
5. Al McGreehan encouraged the Town to ensure recovery projects adhered to the General Plan.
6. Tina Reszler spoke in support of AB2700.
7. Jason Wines shared concerns about the difficulties in being an ownerbuilder.
8. Carrie Max shared an update on her business, Paradise Reflections.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. Police Chief Eric Reinbold provided an overview of the proposed Ordinance relating to military equipment, the 2025-2026 military equipment use report and policy.
Mayor Crowder opened the public hearing at 7:27 p.m.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Crowder closed the public hearing at 7:27 p.m.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Lassonde,1. Held a duly noticed and published public hearing soliciting comments regarding the 2025-2026 military equipment use report and policy; and, 2. Waived the first reading of the Town of Paradise Ordinance No. 654 and read by title only; and,
3. Introduced Town of Paradise Ordinance No. 654 “An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Renewing Section 9.70 to the Paradise Municipal Code Relating to Miliary Equipment Use”. Roll call vote was unanimous. (540-16-223, 480-05-013)
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Town Attorney Scott E. Huber provided an overview of proposed Ordinance No. 655 relating to building code complaints and establishing oversight by the Building Division Corrective Action Plan Ad Hoc Advisory Committee.
MOTION by Culleton, seconded by Lange 1. Waived the first reading of Town Ordinance No. 655 and read by title only; and, 2. Introduced Town Ordinance No. 655, “An Ordinance of the Town of Paradise Adopting New Section 15.02.065 and Making Findings of Facts Relating to Building Code Complaints and Establishing Oversight by the Building Division Corrective Action Plan Ad Hoc Advisory Committee” with a modification to Section 2.I., reducing the number of strikes from three to two. Roll call vote was unanimous. (540-16-224)
6b. Council Member Culleton rescued himself from item 6b due to a potential conflict of interest.
Recovery & Economic Development Director Colette Curtis provided an overview of the TOT fund tax allocations.
1. Monica Nolan spoke in favor of the TOT Community Reinvestment Program funds being allocated to the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce.
2. Kate Anderson spoke in favor of the TOT Community Reinvestment Program funds being allocated to the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce.
3. Warren Bullock spoke in favor of the TOT Community Reinvestment Program funds being allocated to the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce.
4. Casey Taylor spoke in favor of the TOT Community Reinvestment Program funds being allocated to the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce.
5. Kathy Dysert spoke in favor of the TOT Community Reinvestment Program funds being allocated to the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce but asked that Council not forget about the Arts.
6. Doug Munjar spoke in favor of Council allocating funds to the same organizations who received the award during the last program.
7. Leslie Sawyer spoke in favor of the TOT Community Reinvestment Program funds being allocated to the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce and supported the idea of the program being reevaluated on a yearly basis.
8. Melissa Schuster poke in favor of the TOT Community Reinvestment Program funds being allocated to the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce.
Council directed staff to return with a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Community Reinvestment Program for consideration. The proposed program should mirror the framework introduced three years ago, while incorporating additional criteria related to economic development and expanded allocation options. (395-70-008)
6c. Council Member Bolin rescued himself from item 6c due to a potential conflict of interest.
Assistant Town Manger Marc Mattox provided an overview of a proposed summary vacation.
MOTION by Lassonde, seconded by Culleton adopted Resolution No. 2026-26 “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Providing for the Summary Vacation of the Existing 12-foot-wide Public Utility Easement along the North Property Line of Lot 9 of the Wildwood Estates Subdivision, Recorded in Book 24 of Maps at Page 49, located in County of Butte, Paradise California; APN 053-011-047-000.” Roll call vote was unanimous with Council Member Bolin absent and not voting. (950-10-030)
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.
Council Member Lange attended ribbon cuttings, the Sewer Ad Hoc, Continuum of Care, Butte County Fire Safe Council, Insurance and Economic Development Committee meetings.
Council Member Lassonde attended several ribbon cuttings.
Council Member Culleton attended several ribbon cuttings.
Mayor Crowder attended the Economic Development, Sewer Ad Hoc, TOP/PRPD Liaison and City Selection Committee meetings, several ribbon cuttings and an advocacy trip to Washington D.C.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Interim Town Manager Mike O’Brien praised the success and completion of the Animal Shelter Expansion Project and Hope Plaza.
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Crowder adjourned the meeting at 8:58 p.m.
Mayor Crowder reopened the meeting under Council consensus at 8:59 p.m. to address item 7c.
7c. Future Agenda Items
1. Discuss the uses of adjacently owned lots. (LANGE)
2. Presentation on the criteria needed to submit a notice of completion and acceptance of work performed for a typical capital improvement project. (LANGE)
Mayor Crowder closed the meeting at 9:01 p.m.
Date approved: May 12, 2026
By: Attest:
___________/s/_______________ ____________/s/______________ Steve Crowder, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Town Clerk