Town staff bring message of hope for rebuilding
PARADISE » Camp Fire disaster recovery, and fire preparedness, goes on through the pandemic, Paradise staff reported.
At the second State of the Town meeting at Paradise Alliance Church, city staff had hopeful words for the town’s funding outlook and future for businesses as well as returning residents. However, in the process some leadership roles have changed this year, as Town Manager Lauren Gill was first to admit.
Gill, who retires Sept. 11, commended Kevin Phillips for his knowledge of the community and staff. Phillips will step in as town manager Monday.
“If you hear any rumors about, oh the town is going to fold — no, we’re not going back to the county, we’re not going to dissolve as a community in any way,” Gill said. “We’re getting stronger and better.”
Town Manager Assistant Collette Curtis also addressed the second-year goal to support reopening businesses as residents have begun to return. Grants of up to $10,000 are hoped to be provided to businesses that qualify for assistance and the proposal is under review by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. A new town website is also set to launch in December.
Curtis reminded residents there will be three town leadership seats open for election in November, those of Mayor Greg Bolin, Vice Mayor Micheal Zuccolillo and Councilor Melissa Schuster.
Other changing roles include the addition of Garrett Sjolund in the role of fire chief after another retirement brought John Messina to the role of interim Cal Fire-Butte County fire chief.
Sjolund called this year “more typical to previous years” with drier weather and a risk of more fires, and reminded residents that defensible space crews will come to every property. Gill also encouraged residents to sign up for the state tree removal program if they do not have insurance available for removing remaining
trees on their property.
Recovery dollars
Gill continued a positive outlook with describing the town’s securing of funding from the PG&E settlement, separate from disaster victims funds, for operations only.
While town revenue mainly comes from homes and property taxes, Gill called the town finances ”very, very solid.” She added Paradise Town Council will adopt securing those funds “into a very safe investment and keeping up with the plan to make sure all operations are funded until the homes are rebuilt.”
Secured and pending funding over the next five years totals around $121 million, with 17 funding sources, according to Disaster Recovery Director Katie Simmons and Public Works Director and Town Engineer Marc Mattox. A long term Early Warning System is in the works for other disaster prevention efforts but will take time to develop, Simmons said.
Community Development Director Susan Hartman said now over 1,000 rebuild applications have been processed with 900 permits issues. “Competitive” grant funding has also been won for updating the town’s general plan for housing.
One of the most exciting developments in the town’s public works projects is the Transportation Master Plan pending hopeful approval in 30-60 days, Mattox said. While this and the early warning system plan are hopeful for future town needs, focusing on the Cal Fire-Butte County “Ready, Set, Go” plan is key for residents, Simmons said.
Hartman added $23 million is available through Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation/Reconstruction in summer and in the fall to assist around 300 households in rebuilding. A total of $720,000 is now available for septic tank rebuilding and repair, for systems damaged in the fire or in cleanup, through August.
The meeting can be accessed on the town of Paradise Facebook page or YouTube channel. The next State of the Town meeting is scheduled for Aug. 4.