Paradise Recovery and Rebuilding: Paradise Eagles Lodge Grand Opening Thursday | Local

PARADISE, Calif. – Action News Now continues to provide the latest updates on recovery and rebuilding in the Town of Paradise. 

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Upcoming Meetings & Events

Town Council Meeting

• When: Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at 6 p.m.

• Where: 5555 Skyway, YouTube

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Statistics Update

• 2,244 Building Permit Applications Received

• 2,065 Building Permits issued

• 1,307 Homes Rebuilt (certificate of occupancy issued)

• 487 Multi-Family Permit Applications Received

• 379 Multi-Family Permits Issued

• 257 Multi-Family Permits Rebuilt (certificate of occupancy issued)

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Other Updates

• Paradise Business Spotlight: Every week we will spotlight a business in Paradise to encourage shopping locally and supporting economic recovery in Paradise–and maybe uncover a business you haven’t heard of before. This week, they focus on A Stitch Above Embroidery & Shirt Printing, which has been serving the Ridge community since 2013. “Stitch” is a full service shop offering custom embroidery, uniforms, patches, hats, jackets and shirt printing with no minimums.

• Camp Fire Debris Removal Insurance Recovery Those who participated in the Government Sponsored Debris Removal Program for the 2018 Camp Fire may have recently received a letter detailing the full cost of cleanup. For those who had insurance at the time of the fire, Butte County’s Camp Fire Insurance Recovery Manager, Tetra Tech, will be working with property owners and insurance companies to help determine how much needs to be paid to the County for the cleanup. For property owners who already received insurance proceeds from their insurer related to the debris removal, Tetra Tech will work with them to identify any out-of-pocket costs incurred by property owners and any payments that may need to be made to the County. Property owners will not be responsible for any costs outside the available insurance coverage from their insurance policy.
• Golden State Fire Apparatus, Inc. is hosting an official 2022 Fire Truck Face-Off Thirty-two fire trucks from the Bay Area, Central and Northern California were randomly chosen to compete in an NCAA-style event. The winner gets $1,000 towards a charity of their choice, a bronze plaque for their truck and bragging rights. Paradise Fire Engine E381 will be participating and all voting will take place on Facebook stories. 
• Important Survey for Recovery 3 Years into Recovery The Town of Paradise is updating our Long Term Community Recovery Plan, originally adopted in June 2019, to reflect all the changes and lessons learned in our community. Just like the first plan, we need to hear from our residents. The survey can be taken online to give your thoughts on recovery so far and the vision for the future. In addition to the survey, we will have virtual and in-person meetings in the near future to gather community input on the update to the plan.
• Paradise Eagles Lodge Grand Opening, Thursday  On March 31 from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. there will be a ribbon cutting, a bar and food truck, live music, and a raffle. On April 1 through April 3 from noon to 8 p.m., the lodge is open for visitors to tour the new building, play some pool and enjoy a food truck and open bar.
• Honey Run Covered Bridge Informational Event, April 1 Join the informational event from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on April 1 hosted by Walt Schafer, the president of the Honey Run Covered Bridge Association. Taking place at the Honey Run Covered Bridge, this event will touch on the rebuild progress and the phase 1 highlights including columns, foundation, abutments and slope protection.
• Paradise Piranhas Swim Team Sign-Up, April 1 Whether kids would like to compete or just improve their swimming skills, the summer 2022 team would be a great experience. The season begins in May and goes through July. Registration opens on April 1.
• Free Green Waste Disposal for Butte County Residents April 4, 12, 21, and 29 For Butte County Residents living in the wildland urban interface, there are designated days to dispose of green waste for free. Take your green waste to the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility in Paradise from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Kids Easter “Fun” Day, April 16 Bring your family out for an early Easter celebration on April 16. Beginning at 11 a.m., there will be hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, horse-rides, and give-aways. This event will be located at the Ridge Lifeline Church at 5445 Clark Rd.

• Welcome to Paradise Sign Dedication, April 21
  Join the community in celebrating the dedication of the Welcome to Paradise Sign at the Gold Nugget Museum. The event begins at 2 p.m. on April 21 and light refreshments will be served.

• Camp Fire Pets Memorial Dedication, April 24 From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., there will be a ceremony unveiling the new Camp Fire Pets Memorial, dedicated to the pets, farm animals and wild animals who were lost in the 2018 Camp Fire. Sacramento-based pet rescuer Gina Schaeffer has raised $25,000 over the last three years and collected the individual photos and names of thousands of personal pets to be placed on the memorial. The memorial is a 4,000 pound granite slab with a remembrance bench located at Bille Park.

• Paradise Irrigation District Update The district shared some of the milestones it has made over the last three years. The community’s water system faced numerous challenges as a result of the fire, including the destruction of the district’s previous water metering system, water quality issues within service laterals to properties and a drastic decrease in the number of active customers. The district is moving forward and still providing clean, safe water to the community. Current status:
  • Total customers: 8,784
  • Active customers: 4,092
  • Properties with cleared water: 4,181
• Funding Options for those rebuilding after the Camp Fire Grants Up to $200,000 Available for those Rebuilding after the Camp Fire The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) recently announced the Disaster Housing Assistance Survey for survivors of the 2018 wildfire disasters is now open. Homes damaged or destroyed by the Camp Fire may be eligible for up to $200,000; and low- to moderate-income households will receive priority. If you are a disaster survivor and wish to see if you qualify for the ReCoverCA OwnerOccupied Housing Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (OOR Program), start by taking the 2018 Disaster Housing Assistance survey available at https://recover.hcd.ca.gov/. If you need assistance with the survey, contact Butte County OOR Case Managers Brittney Murray or Glen Johnson at (916) 202-1764.

  Up to $150,000 in low-interest, deferred Loans for homeowners (can be used even if insurance funds and/or FEMA funds have been spent) The Town of Paradise offers deferred, low-interest loans to low and moderate-income households rebuilding after the Camp Fire. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, click here or call the Town’s Housing Department at (530) 872-6291 x122.

RESOURCES

• Assembly Bill 1249 Update The Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce announced its support of AB-1249. The bill that assemblyman James Gallagher introduced would clarify California’s tax code to exclude all types of claimants from paying state taxes on compensation for damages received out of PG&E’s “Fire Victims Trust.” This would help ensure fire victims receive just compensation for the economic and non-economic damages caused by the fires.
• Home Builders Resource Connection Online Plan Room The Rebuild Paradise Foundation (RPF) and Valley Contractors Exchange (VCE) have partnered to launch Home Builders Resource Connection Online Plan Room. It is a free tool intended to connect the dots between those looking to rebuild after the devastating fires Butte County has experienced in 2018 and 2020 and contractors that can perform this work. To learn more about the Online Plan Room, click here or contact VCE at (530) 343-1981.
• Town Hall and the Building Resiliency Center Open by appointment: Due to the change to the purple Tier in Butte County, Town Hall and the BRC are open by appointment only. Please call (530) 872-6291 for existing appointments or to schedule a new appointment. Below are the extensions for assistance: Business and Housing x126 or x130 Code Enforcement x110 Finance Department x121 Tree Advocates x162 or x163 Building Resiliency Center x411 General Information x101
• Have questions regarding your rebuild? Rebuild advocates are here to help: If you need help navigating the rebuild process, the Town of Paradise has Rebuild Advocates available to assist. They can help with the following: Navigating insurance, FEMA or SBA, understanding additional financing options, selecting a contractor, submitting plants, or any part of the rebuild process. They are available at the Building Resiliency Center by appointment only. Please call 530.872.6291 x429 x430 to make an in-person (depending on COVID status) or phone appointment today.
• Shop local online Paradise Ridge Marketplace available: The Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce has provided the Paradise Ridge Marketplace to keep your shopping local. Purchase some of your favorite Ridge items, such as Ridge Rising apparel and other fun member products. New items are added frequently. Learn more here.

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