CITY OF IONE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
ACTION MINUTES
June 17, 2025
Mayor Rhoades called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:00 PM A. ROLL CALL:
Present: Stacy Rhoades, Mayor
Jody Maita, Vice Mayor
ominic Atlan, Councilmembe
lison LaFavne. Councilmembe
Jack Mitchell, Councilmember
Staff: George Lee, City Manager
Zach Varinsky, City Attorney
Janice Traverso, City Clerk
B. CLOSED SESSION: None
C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Rhoades led the Pledge of Allegiance
D. APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
MOTION: Moved by Councilmember Mitchell, seconded by Councilmember Lafayne and carried to approve the agenda.
AYES: Rhoades, Maita, Atlan, LaFayne, Mitchell
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
E. PRESENTATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Larry McKenney - Updates from the Amador Water Agency
• Currently working on a rate study for rates that will take affect July, 2026 • The agency's financial condition has improved significantly, much healthier financial outlook and improved our credit rating significantly • Improve the backwash capacity, accessibility of the plant and security will cost will cost under $20,000,000.
• We will have workshops on the rates in September and October • The capital projects continue to be important to the citizens and continue to be the major driver of our rates
• Ione's Projects:
• Backwash Water-we have an agreement with U.S. Mine to take the backwash water and we have agreed to construct a pipeline to the U.S. Mine. The backwash water will be 100% beneficially reused and will not go to the sewer. The agreement we have with U.S.
Mine is not a service agreement. We send them what we produce and they dispose of it-should be a savings of $5,000,000. • Replacement of Pipelines on Arroyo Seco and Amador Streets - $1,262,000
• Corrosion Control for the Wildflower Tank - $3,100,000 F. PUBLIC COMMENT:
Gary Thomas - Car Show June 7 & 8 on Main Street approximately 150 cars Larry Rhoades - wish the Attorney General would investigate the cost of Woodard Bottom - $22,500,000 and there is no paper work.
Marsha Edick:
• Train Park - misunderstood which fund was being used - State Grant • Train Park Project pushed through without proper procedures being followed
• Reflected on disturbing comments from the City Manager and Mayor G. INFORMATION ITEMS: No action taken
1. Building Department Monthly Report - May, 2025
2. Fire Department Monthly Report - May, 2025
3. Police Department Monthly Report - May, 2025
4. Public Works Monthly Report - May, 2025
5. WWTP Monthly Report - May, 2025
H. CONSENT CALENDAR:
MOTION: Moved by Councilmember Atlan, seconded by Vice Mayor Maita and carried to adopt the Consent Calendar.
1. Warrants - June 3, 2025
2. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-17 - Appointment representative and Alternate Representative to the Northern California Cities Self-Insurance Fund Board of Directors
AYES: Rhoades, Maita, Atlan, LaFayne, Mitchell
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
I. PUBLIC HEARING:
Chris Fisher, Willdan Financial Services reviewed the Comprehensive Sewer Utility Rate Study.
1. Consideration and Adoption of Sewer Rate Study and Increase to Sewer Rates including the following:
Public Hearing to Consider the Proposed Rate Increase and Protests Received; and
Mayor Rhoades opened the Public Hearing:
The following people spoke in opposition to the Sewer Rate Increase and the Five Year Plan:
• Amy Hess
• Bonnie Aparacio
• Larry Caputo
Maryann Johnson
• Fred Layher
• Joseph Svec
b. Declare the Results of the Protest Proceeding;
The City Clerk announced that 122 Protests were received against the Rate Increase.
c. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-18 Accepting and Closing the Proposition 218 Notification and Protest Process and Adopting the Rate Increase MOTION: Moved by Councilmember Atlan, seconded by Vice Mayor Maita to charge the citizens $60.00 for the first year and adopt the Rate Study.
AYES: Rhoades, Maita, Atlan
NOES: LaFayne, Mitchell
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
J. REGULAR AGENDA:
1. Updates on the Regional Water Board and the Title 22 Report - Michelle Chester, Somach, Simmons and Dunn - I worked with ARSA and Sutter Creek representatives to contact executive officers in state and regional water boards requesting that the City's Tertiary Plant be allowed to operate while the State Water Board continued its review of the Title 22 Report. We did a response on June 5, 2025 stating that they conditional use of the Tertiary Facility while continuing lone's review of the Title 22 Report. We also received a letter from the Regional Board that they would allow discharge of Recycled water from the Tertiary Facility to the Golf Course during the 2025 irrigation season which runs through November, 2025.
I received correspondence from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board Executive Officer on the issue using recycled water from the U.S. Mine. His staff is updating the waste discharge requirements for the WDR's for the U.S. Mine site currently. U.S. Mine could potentially take recycled water from the City only after all related permitting requirements were met. Those requirements include endorsement by the City, as well as a revised or new Title 22 Report submitted by the City that specifically identifies recycled water from U.S. Mine.
2. Update on Wastewater Treatment Plant - Justin Granados, WaterStone, LLC - • In the past 11 days since we started received ARSA water, we have sent nearly 10,000,000 gallons to the Golf Course and expect another 1,000,000 tomorrow.
• As of today, operations have been returned to normal. • The Regional Board has granted temporary approval of the Title 22 Report • Positive outcome is the temporary interconnect system we have in place • The well we relied on during the emergency has been fully replenished since we stopped using it 11 days ago.
• Reviewed the plans for the Capital Improvement Projects
3. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-16 Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Road Maintenance Project for FY 2025-2026
MOTION: Moved by Councilmember LaFayne, seconded by Councilmember Mitchell and carried to adopt Resolution No. 2025-16 making West Marlette Street a priority.
AYES: Rhoades, Maita, Atlan, LaFayne, Mitchell
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
K. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY ATTORNEY: None
L. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER:
Andrea Bonham gave the Council and public an overview of the City's finances.
M. COUNCIL COMMENTS/COMMITTEE REPORTS/FUTURE AGENDA
ITEM:
Councilmember Atlan:
Easements for U.S. Mine and Water Agency has never been before the Council.
Vice Mayor Maita:
Thanked Public Works for all the work they have done.
Mayor Rhoades:
• Pine Grove Camp has started cleaning the Creek
U.S. Mine was going to rent the building next door and re-build but turned it down because of how businesses in this town get treated.
N. ADJOURNMENT:
Moved by Vice Mayor Maita, seconded by Councilmember Mitchell and carried to adjourn.
Respectfully submitted,
HAVILE
Janice Traverso
City Clerk