CITY OF IONE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Meeting of December 5, 2023
Mayor Rhoades called meeting to order at 6:00 PM
A. ROLL CALL:
Present: Stacy Rhoades, Mayor
Jack Mitchell, Vice Mayor
Dominic Atlan, Councilmember
Diane Wratten, Councilmember
Absent: Alison LaFayne, Councilmember
Staff: Amy Gedney, Interim City Manager
Andy Pinasco, City Attorney
Janice Traverso, City Clerk
B. CLOSED SESSION: None
C. MAYOR RHOADES LED THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
D. APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
It was moved by Councilmember Atlan, seconded by Vice Mayor Mitchell and carried to approve the agenda as written.
AYES: Rhoades, Mitchell, Atlan, Wratten
NOES: None
ABSENT: LaFayne
ABSTAIN: None
E. PRESENTATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS: None
F. PUBLIC COMMENT:
David Anderson would like a response to the following three issues:
• Made a PRA request on November 15, 2023 requesting the location of the CDCR easement for the Woodard Bottom pipeline where it enters and exits.
The location seems to be inexplicably not available.
• Ms. Gedney indicated the that the PFOS and PFAS testing, which several people had expected to be conducted in the third quarter, was not conducted. I was disappointed and asked why. I was told it would be explained later—that has not happened. Please take a few minutes and give me a response. • The City keeps discussing repairs at Wildflower for pavement failures, but no discussion on how the failures occurred. I believe an insufficient explanation on how the failures occurred is a recipe for larger issues that will result in larger failures in the future.
The lack of transparencies in each of these issues is troubling and frustrating.
Please allocate a few minutes to respond and I will be very appreciative.
Paul Bates:
• Wastewater Plant: The deadline passed in November to respond to the CVRWQB and we have heard nothing. The 400 option is probably the best plan because it puts their feet to the fire and they are going to have to show us their Title 22. They are going to have to conform to a lot of standards, which will be difficult.
• Wildflower Situation: If you have an AWA water pipeline and you pack the wrong materials around it, crushed stone will wear down that line—you are going to get water leakage and end up with homes with giant sink holes. I would encourage the City to investigate the situation.
Tommy Quinn:
• Complimented the City on the Christmas decorations.
• Ione is a great town—found my wallet by my truck, which I lost—cash and credit cards were still in my wallet.
• Would like the Police Department to up the ticket count with noisy vehicles-- driving through town.
G. INFORMATION ITEMS: Information item.
1. October WWTP Report:
• Councilmember Wratten questioned the violation in the report and if it has been taken care of.
• Councilmember Atlan questioned why the report shows there was BOC’s coming out of the tertiary plant and not going into the plant.
H. CONSENT CALENDAR:
It was moved by Councilmember LaFayne, seconded by Councilmember Wratten and carried to approve the following Consent Calendar:
1. Minutes – November 7, 2023 – Councilmember Atlan - So basically, the minutes are incorrect. There is a gentleman here, Mr. Paul Bates, when he is speaks, we need to listen, as he reminds us. I did listen and like a good Councilmember that I am—I will quote Paul Bates, “I reviewed the case on Lori McGraw—it is a dead fish and the City should not be pursuing this. This is going to bring a lot of embarrassment, etc. The DA is a fool. I would like that put into the minutes because that is what he said. If she is going to say it, then he needs to read it too.
It was moved by Councilmember Atlan, seconded by Councilmember Wratten and carried to approve the minutes as amended.
AYES: Rhoades, Mitchell, Atlan, Wratten
NOES: None
ABSENT: LaFayne
ABSTAIN: None
2. Warrants – It was moved by Councilmember Wratten, seconded by Councilmember Atlan and carried to approve.
AYES: Rhoades, Mitchell, Atlan, Wratten
NOES: None
ABSENT: LaFayne
ABSTAIN: None
I. PUBLIC HEARING: Public Hearing will be heard at the December 19, 2023 meeting.
1. Proposition 218 for Refuse Collection
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
For the record: Action minutes provide the necessary documentation of City Council action. Audio and visual recordings are available on the City’s website at www.ioneca.com for those desiring to hear the full discussions on each item. These recordings provide an accurate and comprehensive backup of City Council deliberations and citizen discussions.
J. REGULAR AGENDA:
1. Grant Administrator position for administration of Community Development funding:
1) Adopt Resolution authorizing a revision to the FY2023-2024 Salary Schedule for a Grant Administrator
2) Adopt Resolution authorizing Budget Amendment 3 to the Fiscal Year 2023- 2024 Operating Budget
The City of Ione has seven (7) CDBG HOME Grants that were established between 1997 and 2013 that have funds available for use, see Figure 1 below.
There are multiple purposes for these funds including first time home buyer programs, housing rehabilitation, as well as infrastructure improvements, totaling nearly $1,000,000 in cash reserves. The City initially received this funding from the state for the purposes mentioned above. As loans are paid off, that revenue comes back to the City, called program income, and goes back into the funds in which they originated to be continually used. Based on current staffing levels, to distribute these funds, however, requires staffing or a consultant. Staff believes that the most judicious way to get these program funds back into the community would be to hire a part time Grant Administrator position.
After discussion by Council and comments from the public, it was moved by Vice Mayor Mitchell, seconded by Councilmember Rhoades and carried to adopt Resolution No. 2023-53 authorizing a revision to the FY2023-2024 Salary Schedule for a Grant Administrator.
AYES: Rhoades, Mitchell, Atlan, Wratten
NOES: Atlan
ABSENT: LaFayne
ABSTAIN: None
It was moved by Vice Mayor Mitchell, seconded by Councilmember Rhoades and carried to adopt Resolution No. 2023-54 authorizing Budget Amendment 3 to the FY2023-2024 Operating Budget.
AYES: Rhoades, Mitchell, Atlan, Wratten
NOES: Atlan
ABSENT: LaFayne
ABSTAIN: None
2. Purchase of Tractor for the Ed Hughes Arena -
1) Adopt Resolution No. 2023-* authorizing Budget amendment 4 to the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 operating budget for the purchase of a tractor for Ed Hughes arena.
After discussion from the Council and comments from the public, it was moved by Councilmember Vice Mayor Mitchell, seconded by Councilmember Atlan and carried to table this item until the next meeting until we get additional information on a lease to own and look into a rental.
AYES: Mitchell, Atlan, Wratten
NOES: Rhoades
ABSENT: LaFayne
ABSTAIN: None
K. REPORT AND COMMUNICATION FROM CITY ATTORNEY: None
L. REPORT AND COMMUNICATION FROM CITY MANAGER:
• Another meeting with CDCR scheduled for next month.
• Quarterly Financial Reports on next meeting.
• Thanked staff, volunteers and community on the December 1, 2023 Christmas on Main Street—around 2,000 people were in attendance.
M. COUNCIL COMMENTS/COMMITTEE REPORTS/FUTURE AGENDA:
Councilmember Atlan:
• Thanked the Christmas Committee for a great job on Christmas on Main Street event
• Requested the 1st and 2nd Quarterly Budgets
• Update on Police Department Negotiations
• The Grant Writer we just hired is making $.26 an hour less than a Police Officer—this is one of the reasons I voted “no”. The other reason, I firmly believe in advertising for vacant positions and hire the best person for the job—you just don’t cherry pick who gets the job.
• The sign that all public meetings are being recorded was removed when the chambers was painted. They need to be reinstalled so that Mr. Scully does not file another lawsuit against us for ease dropping on other people’s conversations. I would also like it added to the agenda for all public meetings.
Vice Mayor Mitchell:
• Thanked City staff and community members for their incredible job on Christmas on Main Street. Would like everyone to attend a Council Meeting to personally thank them.
• Santa Patrol phenomenal.
Mayor Rhoades:
• Would like the Wastewater Operators give a presentation at the next meeting on the Wastewater and Tertiary Plants
• Thanked everyone for a great job on Christmas on Main Street
N. ADJOURNMENT:
It was moved by Vice Mayor Mitchell, seconded by Councilmember Wratten and carried to adjourn.
Respectfully submitted,
Janice Traverso
City Clerk