Members of the Rebuild Paradise Foundation told council the nonprofit has actively promoted defensible-space programs and insurer engagement that helped some residents secure policies with Mercury Insurance and others.

“25% of our defensible-space gravel grant recipients have received Mercury insurance because they are complying with zone 0 defensible space,” Jen (Rebuild Paradise Foundation) said, describing grant-funded mitigation and outreach work that, she said, helped insurers evaluate the town as insurable.

Nut graf: Rebuild Paradise presented examples of grants, neighborhood defensible-space certifications, and insurer site visits that the foundation said helped some homeowners move off the California FAIR Plan and into privately underwritten policies. The council voted to create an ad hoc insurance committee to coordinate insurer engagement and community outreach, and asked staff to advertise for community and industry participants.

Rebuild Paradise described a sequence of activities: funding defensible-space gravel grants, working with IBHS and other partners to increase the number of properties meeting wildfire-ready standards, hosting an insurance forum with more than 125 attendees, and arranging insurer visits that led to new market activity. Foundation representatives said Mercury Insurance and other carriers have begun issuing policies in selected neighborhoods.

Council action: The council voted to form an ad hoc insurance committee with two council members, representatives from Rebuild Paradise Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce, local brokers/agents, realtors, residents and staff. The committee will be ad hoc (not a standing Brown Act committee) and staff will advertise openings and return with appointments.

Foundational tension: Rebuild Paradise said it would not accept a proposed $25,000 memorandum of understanding (MOU) the town had put forward at an earlier budget meeting, and the foundation asked for clearer public coordination. Council members apologized for earlier procedural missteps and the mayor and staff said they will pursue a collaborative path forward.

Ending: Council approved forming the ad hoc insurance committee and directed staff to solicit applicants and define membership, with the intent of coordinating nonprofit, business and town efforts on insurance and wildfire risk reduction.