Insurance Advocacy Committee Recap: October 1, 2026
Insurance Advocacy Committee Recap: October 1, 2026
Homeowners insurance on the Ridge keeps getting harder to find and more expensive to keep. I attended the Town’s Insurance Advocacy Committee meeting on October 1 and want to share what was discussed so residents can follow along.
Video for insurance underwriters
- The Town is producing a video aimed at insurance underwriters. The goal is to bridge the gap left by cold emails and encourage underwriters to come see Paradise for themselves.
- The video will also be shared on social media to show the public the community’s progress and achievements.
- Mercury Insurance was the first company contacted, for a short B-roll video framed for underwriters. It’s expected to be finished by the end of the year.
- The video is included in the budget.
- The overall plan includes one to three interviews with insurance executives.
Community Resilience Tour
- The tour was organized by Jen Goodlin, co-founder of the Rebuild Paradise Foundation, which closed around July 2026. The Town was invited but did not host or facilitate it. It was described as a good-faith effort.
- Attendees included insurers Travelers and Mercury (Mercury is an admitted carrier in California) and brokers Realm and Marsh McLennan, with several people from each company, including decision makers. About 35 people rode the buses, including the Mayor, the Fire Safe Council, Melissa Crick (school board), and Doug Speicher (real estate agent).
- The tour started at Hope Plaza, viewed Fire Safe Council projects, toured IBHS-designated homes, and stopped at an ICF-built home receiving its certificate of occupancy that day. It ended with lunch and discussion.
- Some attendees didn’t know Paradise has gas stations, which shows how much outside perceptions still need to catch up.
- A Heritage Insurance representative at the committee meeting said IBHS-designated homes can be written. CIG requires IBHS Plus designation.
- IBHS approval applications covering enclosed eaves will be submitted through the Madronas mobile app.
- Questions came up about who created IBHS. Its scientific arm does the testing. Verisk was mentioned as another model the town may be evaluated through.
Public questions
Residents asked why public questions weren’t gathered before the tour, and why the Insurance Committee wasn’t asked to join. The response was that the Town didn’t facilitate the event; Jen Goodlin did.
Still unanswered
Who paid for the buses and lunch? It was suggested at the meeting that the Foundation may have had funds left over, but the funding source has not been confirmed. I’ll share an update when I know more.
What’s next
Committee structure goes before the Town Council at the October 13 meeting. The next Insurance Advocacy Committee meeting won’t be scheduled until that’s resolved.
Have a question about insurance on the Ridge, or something you’d like me to ask at the next meeting? Send me a message.
This recap is based on my personal notes from the meeting and is not an official record. You can read the meeting agenda here. For official minutes or video, please check with the Town Clerk’s office or the Town of Paradise website. If you attended and noticed anything I missed or got wrong, please let me know.
Serra Blaine, for Paradise Town Council
