Council signals preference for Action Plan Amendment 3, directs staff to prioritize sewer funding and narrow railroad scope

Paradise Town Council on Tuesday reviewed proposed changes to the town's CDBG-DR infrastructure Action Plan (Amendment 3) and gave staff general direction to prepare a formal amendment that prioritizes wastewater funding while narrowing the scope of the largest road project. Councilors said they want the revised amendment returned for formal consideration at the council's April meeting.

The presentation, led by a town staff member identified as Mark, summarized the town's CDBG-DR allocation and the status of major projects. He said the town initially secured about $199 million from the state's HCD-administered CDBG-DR program out of a roughly $317 million statewide allocation, and that matching requirements for projects now total roughly $25.6 million. Mark described four alternatives for reallocating funds and recommended Option 2, which would: (a) adjust the Railroad Extension Phase 1 so it does not connect to Pence (a shorter Phase 1A), (b) preserve $33 million in Local Transportation Climate Adaptation Program (LTCAP) funds for Phase 2, and (c) shift additional CDBG-DR dollars toward the Paradise sewer project to increase construction funding.

Why it matters: Councilors and many public commenters said expanding wastewater capacity is essential to attract businesses and rebuild the town's commercial core, which would in turn improve the town's fiscal health. Several residents, business owners and the Paradise Chamber of Commerce told the council that delivering a sewer system should be a priority because it enables long-term economic recovery. Conversely, other participants stressed that improved evacuation routes and select road connections remain critical public-safety investments identified in the town's long-term recovery and transportation master plans.

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