COMMUNITY LISTENING MEETING #1 FEBRUARY 22: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM STRENGTHS 32 Community spirit and willingness to help 31 Trees, nature, and wildlife 30 The People 28 Small town feeling and culture 23 Parks and recreation 21 Local, small, community businesses 17 Access to healthcare, medical services, and the hospital 16 Good schools, teachers, and counselors 15 Community events and festivals 15 Cool weather and climate 15 Rural character with larger lots 14 13 13 12 10 10 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 5 5 4 3 2 1
History of Paradise Visual and performing arts, museums, and music Location, both in proximity to nature and neighboring communities Public Parks Beauty Affordability and affordable housing First responders, fire department, and police department Road network Churches Resilience and self-sustaining abilities Town Council, Chamber, and town governance Safety Water system with optional wells Senior services and senior center Utilities Good place to raise kids Clubs and organizations Recycling programs Housing stock Clean Diversity of age groups
WEAKNESSES 47 Lack of fire breaks, redundant notification system, feeling of safety, and adequate evacuation routes 40 Inadequate road network (disconnected, narrow, sub-standard, ill-maintained) 34 Lack of walkability (no sidewalks, no pedestrian lighting, no community signage, etc) 24 Lack of tree and brush maintenance, on public and private lands; lack of code enforcement for defensible space around buildings 19 Lack of planning and vision – the Town developed haphazardly, leaving a pattern of lots, streets, and uses that wasn’t planned out 19 Town Council’s lack of communication, staffing, and integrity; difficult to contact; political bureaucracy 18 Lack of sewer 16 Limited number and quality of stores, business, restaurants, and product suppliers 15 Lack of a feeling of security—drugs homelessness, and poverty 12 Contaminated/limited water supply as a result of the fire 10 9 9 8 8 8 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Above ground, not underground, utilities Lack of walkable downtown Red tape to rebuilding – insurance, building costs, permitting fees, funding Job market – limited opportunities for employment, lack of industrial jobs Lack of good internet and cell service Post-fire tree removal and debris/soil toxin clean-up Topography, landscape, and geography Lack of healthcare services after the fire Weak tax base and limited customer base Lack of recreation and activities, especially for youth and teenagers Traffic Dispersed population post-fire Danger of future wildfires Need more input from the community Looting Not a destination, no marketing or advertising Bears and other hungry animals Sense of loss and uncertainty Lack of awareness of property lines and flagging lots Inadequate and substandard housing Parking and parking lots Lack of diversity Financial struggles Codes and restrictions associated with tree removal Quality of structures (blight, empty buildings, etc.) No trees left; hotter weather as a result Heavy trucks
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Resistance to change Risk of giving in to developers Lack of awareness of global warming Density of rental housing No landmarks as a result of the fire Negative regional bias Insurance instability Animal shelter needed Separate water district
VISIONS 51 24 20 19 16 16 15 15 15 14 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2
Create a safer street network – sidewalks, wider roads, street lights, and better connectivity Improve utilities – underground gas and electric lines and improve fiber optic internet, cell service, etc. Promote more businesses, amenities, events, and entertainment Adopt a thoughtful approach to town planning and zoning Create a walkable downtown; a central business district with a mix of uses Provide more diverse, more affordable, and safer housing typologies Create more parks, green spaces, and outdoor event spaces Improve evacuation routes, warning systems, evacuation planning, and safety Invest in sustainable design and infrastructure strategies, such as solar and innovative buildings Install a sewer system Improve fire prevention measures, through defensible space and fire-safe landscaping Improve the building permitting process, department, codes, and enforcement Rebuild in a more resilient way – become an example to the world and other rural communities Define a style or character that expresses Paradise’s uniqueness and creates a sense of place Make Paradise a brand new, destination community Expand the bike path system Modernize and rebrand to attract new, younger residents and families Improve community relations, attitude, communication, and citizen participation Promote more art, murals, museums, and historic preservation Increase job availability and employment Improve access to medical services and facilities; rebuild Feather River Hospital Focus on education, improve schools, and provide higher education options Create a civic center with a police department, fire department, Town Hall, and others centrally located Find a solution for tree removal Stay small and self-sustaining Provide public transportation options Increase recreation opportunities Provide rebuilding grants for homeowners, schools, and infrastructure Provide more youth activities Keep services and jobs local Keep Paradise’s larger lots Increase diversity Improve drainage and stormwater Create a stormwater management and water treatment system
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Provide more downtown and off-street parking Develop more hotels Get off the state water restriction and stop selling water to the south Find new funding Keep it simple Rebuild and widen Magalia Dam Survey properties Incorporate the Blue Zone concept Create more opportunities for agriculture Create a safer canyon rim Unify the Town and parks Eliminate or reduce Town ordinance requirements for tree removal Unincorporate Create a Camp Fire Memorial Focus on forest management Rebuild Golden Nugget Museum