Paradise council adopts corrective action plan to address building-division audit
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Summary
After a lengthy presentation and public comment, the council approved a corrective action plan responding to a 2025 audit of the building division, including QA checks, an ombudsman intake form, training, and quarterly public reporting; the town attorney said no intentional or criminal wrongdoing was found in the investigator's review.
The Town of Paradise voted to adopt a corrective action plan (CAP) produced in response to a 2025 independent audit of the building division. Assistant Town Manager Mark Maddox presented the CAP, which includes four implementation tables covering community development administration, permit-counter/process improvements, building-inspection reforms and complaint-resolution improvements.
Key elements include establishing a quality-assurance function, two dedicated permit-intake technicians, in-person training for inspectors and permit staff, standardized inspection checklists and photo documentation, a stakeholder intake form and an ombudsman-guided navigation process to help homeowners pursue warranties and SB 800 right-to-repair pathways. The CAP calls for ongoing data analysis to distinguish isolated incidents from systemic issues and for a public-facing dashboard and quarterly council updates to track implementation.
Town attorney Scott Heber said personnel investigative material is protected and cannot be publicly disclosed, but he and staff said the audit found no evidence of intentional or criminal wrongdoing by town employees. He described possible future ordinances to address repeat permit-holder complaints, and staff said any such policy changes would be returned to council for deliberation.
Council members expressed both support for the CAP as a path forward and caution that some auditor recommendations may require additional steps; several members said they expect quarterly reports and the ability to pivot if the CAP does not produce the intended results. The council approved the CAP by recorded vote.