TOWN COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
6:00 PM – August 11, 2026
1. OPENING
The Regular meeting of the Paradise Town Council was called to order by Mayor Crowder at 6:01 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: Town Manager Jennifer Macarthy, Town Attorney Scott E. Huber, Town Clerk/Elections Official Melanie Elvis, Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox, Community Development Director Susan Hartman, Community Development Director Tony Lindsey, Recovery and Economic Development Director Colette Curtis , Police Chief Eric Reinbold, Finance Director Aimee Beleu, Fire Chief Jason Finney, and Information Technology Technician, Travis Thompson.
1e. Community Development Director Tony Lindsey gave an update on Fire Prevention. (540-16-211)
1f. Fire Chief Jason Finney and Police Chief Eric Reinbold provided an overview of the July 16, 2026 Dudley Fire and evacuations. 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, Assistant Town Manager -infrastructure updates. (110-60-062) 1h. Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox provided an update on the Paradise Sewer Project. (960-70-009)
1. Cliff Jacobson spoke in favor of the step system.
2. Melissa Schuster spoke in favor of the step system and commented that not using the step system was a planning choice not a technical requirement.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION by Lassonde, seconded by Bolin, approved consent calendar items 2a through 2e. Roll call vote was unanimous.
2a. Approved minutes of the July 14, 2026 Special and Regular Town Council meetings and the July 29, 2026 Special Town Council meeting. 2b. Approved July 2026 Cash Disbursements in the amount of $11,239,716.51. (310-10-035)
2c. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-52, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise approving an application for funding and the execution of a grant agreement and any amendments thereto from the 2023-2024 funding year of the State CDBG Mitigation Resilience Infrastructure (MITRIP) program.” (710-10-106, 950-40-079) 2d. Reviewed and filed the 4th Quarter Investment Report for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2026. (360-30-006)
2e. Adopted Resolution No. 2026-53, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Creating a Guideline for Transactions with the Town Involving U.S. Coins and Federal Reserve Notes.” (310-60-001, 395-20-045)
3. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR - None
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
1. Melissa Schuster spoke on community participation.
2. J.T. Martin spoke in favor of releasing the full building report audit.
3. Monica Huchro spoke on Brown Act violations.
4. Carrie Max praised the Town coming together and shared that she participated in a rally in support of AB2700.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
6. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
6a. Recovery & Economic Development Director Colette Curtis introduced Erik Gustafson from the City of Chico and provided an update on the status of the Chico Regional Airport and proposed contract amendment.
MOTION by Lassonde, seconded by Bolin, approved the first amendment to the agreement between the City of Chico, the Town of Paradise and Explore Butte County to extend the original agreement for $75,000 towards the Chico Regional Airport Revenue Guarantee Fund until January 1, 2028, with biannual updates. Roll call vote was unanimous. (510-20-423)
6b. Housing Program Manager Nadia Alekseev provided an overview of the Multi-Family Housing Projects on Maxwell Drive, Cypress Lane, Kathy Court and Pentz Road.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Culleton, adopted the following resolutions:
1.Resolution No. 2026-54, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Acknowledging the Project Completion of the Eaglepointe Rental Housing Project, a 43- unit Affordable Large Family Housing Complex located at 5975 Maxwell Dr., (APN: 053-380-045-000).” (710-10-095)
2. PULLED FROM THE AGENDA
3. PULLED FROM THE AGENDA
4. Resolution No. 2026-55, “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise Acknowledging the Project Completion of the Northwind Rental Housing Project, a 21- unit Affordable Senior Housing Complex located at 6983 Pentz Rd., (APN: 050-082-023-000).” Roll call vote was unanimous. (710-10-095)
6c. Finance Director Aimee Beleu presented the proposed format for the Monthly Financial Report.
MOTION by Lange, seconded by Culleton, reviewed and filed the July 2026 Monthly Financial Report. Roll call vote was unanimous. Council concurred that the financial reports should include the previous year’s actuals, the current year’s estimated budget and the current year’s actuals, explore the inclusion of a position control report and any potential changes, as well as transitioning from monthly to quarterly reporting. (385-20-056) 6d. Town Clerk Melanie Elvis presented an overview of the League of California Cities Annual Conference voting delegation requirements.
MOTION by Bolin, seconded by Lange, appointed Town Manager Jennifer Macarthy as the voting delegate and Assistant Town Manager Marc Mattox as the alternate for the League of California Cities Annual Conference. Roll call vote was unanimous. (120-10-009)
7. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS AND REPORTS
7a. Council Initiated Items:
7a1. Council discussed options to enhance the aesthetics of Paradise's gateways including damaged signs and temporary fences. Council provided direction to staff to return with a framework for establishing contact with landowners, including information on the number of remaining signs and temporary fences, as well as recommendations on which portions of Clark and/or Skyway should be involved based on volume.
7a2. Council discussed approving a letter of support for Goats in Paradise, Inc. Council did not provide consensus to approve the letter of support and asked staff to provide additional details on history of compliance.
7b. Council Members’ written reports on standing, external and ad hoc committee representation were included in the agenda packet. Mayor Crowder provided an update on AB2700.
7c. Future Agenda Items:
1. Discuss creating a “Life After the Fire” video for marketing and public outreach. (CULLETON)
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
8a. Town Manager Report - None
9. CLOSED SESSION - None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Crowder closed the meeting at 8:50 p.m.
Date approved: September 8, 2026
By: Attest:
__________/s/________________ ____________/s/______________ Steve Crowder, Mayor Melanie Elvis, Town Clerk