Paradise council approves abatement resolution for 396 overgrown parcels, debates timing and costs

The Paradise Town Council voted to adopt Resolution 2024‑72 on Oct. 9, directing staff to notify owners of 396 parcels deemed non‑compliant with vegetation and refuse regulations and to schedule objection hearings.

Community Development Director Tony Lindsay told the council the list focuses on parcels adjacent to standing homes and that 133 of the 396 are in tax‑default status. He said the town’s current abatement account holds roughly $154,000 and staff estimated an average abatement cost of about $1,600 per parcel, producing an estimated funding shortfall of approximately $542,000 after adding a 10% contingency.

Lindsay described the intended process: the clerk will mail notices to property owners, an objection hearing will be scheduled at least 14 days after notice, and staff will post properties before abatement. He said appeals can be filed in writing and that staff will be “reasonable” about remote appearances for owners who live out of town.

Council members pressed staff on logistics and timing. One councilor argued starting abatement in November would leave crews working into the wet season and suggested delaying until January or staging the work to avoid mobilizing during heavy rains. Another councilor, citing drive‑by inspections, said the properties selected are “the worst of the worst” and urged quick action to avoid overloading contractors later. Tony Lindsay said preliminary outreach has identified interested contractors and that crews working at modest daily rates could, in aggregate, clear several dozen properties per week, but larger properties will require more time and cost.

Council members also discussed recovery of costs. Staff said abatement charges are billed to property owners; unpaid bills can be placed as liens on the tax roll and then collected through the county tax process (the town may submit liens for the next tax‑roll cycle, typically an annual August submission). Staff noted that collection timing could be 12 months or longer depending on when abatement occurs and when the lien is submitted.

A motion to send the notices and set an objection hearing date in November passed on a roll call vote. Mayor Lan summarized the council’s intent: the goal is voluntary compliance but the town is prepared to abate and recover costs where property owners do not act. The council asked staff to monitor the volume of objections and to consider holding special objection hearings if many appeals are filed.

Next steps: staff will finalize the notice list, mail notices under the clerk’s direction, set the formal objection hearing in November, and begin contractor mobilization once the objection period closes.