Meetings

No Meetings this week

Events

No Scheduled Events at this time

Current Statistics:

Building Updates

910 Building Permit Applications Received  

736 Building Permits issued

90 Homes Rebuilt (certificate of occupancy issued)

First, Some Good News

“Paradise: From the Ashes” nominated for Emmy:  The E: 60 ESPN short story documentary on the Paradise High School football team, “Paradise: From the Ashes,” has been nominated for a Sports Emmy.  The documentary followed the Bobcats after the Camp Fire and showed its effect on Paradise through the team. The ceremony is postponed until later this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

A local artist is helping kids on the ridge get creative while they are stuck at home during the coronavirus outbreak. Jessie Mercer, who is well-known for her phoenix keys sculpture in Paradise, is putting together 1000 art kits for students on the ridge. “I call them, ‘You Matter Bags’ and they have different supplies like scissors, glue, markers, foam and a journal and envelope so they can write a letter to themselves and then read it back later and encourage themselves to move forward,” Mercer said. Through her YouTube channel, Mercer also offers art lessons, self-care activities and fun, healthy indoor activity ideas for the whole family. As of right now, the kits are being distributed at specific schools in Paradise and Magalia, but Mercer says she hopes to expand the project outside of the ridge, in the near future.

HeartShine’s Miss Magalia Teen & Winter Teen Queen, Leah, (with her awesome family) has donated over 4,500 surgical masks to her local Alliance church distribution center with help from Sheriff Honea to make sure they go where they are most needed.   We are beyond proud of you Leah, way to go!  

Weekly Spotlight

As the Town of Paradise continues to recover from the Camp Fire, it is important to remain focused on our important recovery work while taking necessary precautions to protect our community from COVID-19.  Until further notice, the Town of Paradise is instituting new temporary procedures to protect the health of our staff and the public. Our number one goal remains supporting our residents as they rebuild. These changes will not impede or slow our recovery but will make us all safer during these uncertain times. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we navigate these unchartered waters of COVID-19.

Building Resiliency Center Open by Appointment Only

The Building Resiliency Center is open by appointment only. Walk-ins will not be admitted; you must call first to schedule an appointment. We ask that you practice social-distancing policies, wear masks and gloves when coming in to protect yourself, Town staff and your fellow community members. Please only bring those necessary for your task as we strive to keep all safe and healthy. An additional benefit is less wait time!

• To schedule an appointment, call (530) 872-6291 x411

• For building or septic, questions call us at (530) 872-6291 x411 or email us at rebuildquestions@townofparadise.com

• Rebuild Advocates are available by phone at (530) 872-6291 x429 or x430.

Town Hall

Town Hall remains closed to the public, with services available by phone or email.  

• General Questions (530) 872-6291

• Finance Department (530) 872-6291 x121

• Code Enforcement (530) 872-6291 x124

• Housing Loans (530) 872-6291 x122

News This Week

• Work on the Skyway-Black Olive Signal began on Mon. April 6th. The project, located at the intersection of Skyway and Black Olive Drive, will include the construction of a new traffic signal, ADA accessibility improvements, and minor road rehabilitation efforts. This $800,000 Highway Safety Improvement Program grant-funded project will address a historically dangerous intersection, evident from extensive collision data. Funding was secured in 2016 and remains critical in the Town’s recovery to improve roadway safety. Construction will continue through June 2020.

• Butte County has established a COVID-19 information line to keep the public as informed as possible. The call center will be staffed 8 AM-5 PM, seven days a week.  Members of the public with questions regarding COVID-19 in Butte County are encouraged to call 530.552.3050.   Butte County residents may also dial 2-1-1 (24/7) or text their zip code to 898211 for information and updates. The text line is available Monday-Friday 7:30 am – 6:00 pm.

• Butte County Office of Education has announced that Butte County Schools will remain closed to in-person instruction for the rest of the 2019-2020 academic year.

• Adventist Health announced it has launched its on-demand virtual services, allowing doctors to meet with patients remotely. These virtual visits will allow for health workers and their patients to keep that safe distance but still receive the care they need. Providers will use the visits to screen for coronavirus cases, handle routine visits and the chronically ill, all while calming nerves of having to come into a clinic during the pandemic. To participate in a virtual visit, a patient just needs a smartphone, tablet or computer with a working camera and microphone. The doctor will send an email with a link for the scheduled visit and patients will just view the link and log on. Adventist Health said they are reaching out to patients to reschedule appointments as virtual visits, if possible. If you have a scheduled in-person appointment and would like it to be virtual, you can make that change by calling your office.

• We are looking for residents who need additional financial assistance to help with the reconstruction or repair of their home in Paradise. Currently, there is $2.3 million in local, state, and federal funds available to assist eligible households, who were under-insured or not insured, with their housing reconstruction and repairs. These funds are offered as deferred loans. They can be applied towards a variety of housing rehabilitation needs, including reconstruction of a home damaged or destroyed by the Camp Fire, correcting unsafe or unsanitary conditions, eliminating code violation, and weatherization and repairs to ensure handicap accessibility when combined with other repairs. For more information please reach out to our Rebuild Advocates at 530-872-6291 ext. 411 to speak with someone directly. At this time we are only taking over the phone appointments until further notice. 

• The April Community Information Meeting will be postponed until further notice. We want to keep our community as healthy and safe as possible. 

• During this time of social distancing, we still want to show love to our local businesses that are being flexible to stay open and support our community. For the most up-to-date list of open businesses please visit http://www.paradisechamber.com/. 

• Housing Urgency Ordinance:  After the fire, Paradise Town Council passed an urgency ordinance which allowed displaced residents to temporarily live on their property in an RV.  This urgency ordinance expires on December 31, 2020. That means starting January 1, 2021, you must have an active building permit to live on your property in an RV.

• Many private roads in the Camp Fire area are eligible for public assistance funding to remove Hazardous Trees through the State Hazard Tree Removal Program. The Paradise Town Council and the Butte County Board of Supervisors passed ordinances requiring the removal of hazard trees damaged by the Camp Fire from private property that may fall into public roadways. Property owners may enter the Government Tree Program to have the trees removed by the State at no out-of-pocket cost. Enrollment in the Government Tree Program requires a Right-of Entry form. Property owners may also identify and remove hazard trees themselves but must submit an inspection form so an inspector may verify the removal of the hazard trees from the property. Property owners may also call the Tree ROE Center directly at (530) 552-3030 or submit Tree ROEs by email at TreeROE@buttecounty.net. The Tree ROE is available for download online at www.ButteCountyRecovers.org/treeremoval. 

• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Butte County Department of Employment and Social Services organized a Delivery Task Force for individuals who have been told by a medical professional to isolate or quarantine. The Delivery Task Force is available to individuals with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, individuals who are awaiting COVID-19 test results, as well as individuals advised by a medical professional to isolate or quarantine who have no support system.  Individuals who are interested in the delivery service can call 2-1-1 or the Butte County COVID-19 Call Center at 552.3050 for more information. Staff will assist in ensuring all available resources and programs are utilized before referring the individual to the Delivery Task Force. The Delivery Task Force is intended to fill in possible gaps in resources. The Delivery Task Force can deliver basic necessities, such as groceries and prescriptions. Payment for items must be made in advance. If payment assistance is needed, the staff will assist the individual in contacting a local food bank and will deliver a prepackaged box of food.

  COVID-19

  How can you protect yourself and your family?

  In addition to following the STAY AT HOME order, the best way to prevent the spread of respiratory illness is to practice good hygiene:

  1. Wash your hands often with soap and water.

  2. Cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue or corner of your sleeve. Do not use your hands.

  3. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, especially your mouth, nose, and eyes.

  4. Avoid close contact with sick people.

  5. Stay home if you are sick, especially from work, school, and public places.

  6. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

  People at Increased Risk

  Adults over the age of 65 and people with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for serious complications from COVID-19. On Sunday, March 15th, California State Governor Gavin Newsom issued a directive calling for home isolation of:

  • All Adults over 65 years old

  • All persons with chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease. 

  Social Distancing

  To protect public health and slow the rate of transmission of COVID-19, all non-essential activities and services, and all social, professional or community-based gatherings should be canceled. This includes the following:

  • Gatherings such as concerts, conferences, and professional, college, and school sporting events.

  • Gyms, health clubs, and theaters should be closed.

  • A “gathering” is any event or convening that brings together people in a single room or single space at the same time, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, cafeteria, or any other indoor or outdoor space – professional, social or community-based.