Votes at a glance: Ione council adopts censure, approves Cal Fire map and other routine measures
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Summary
At its July 15 meeting the Ione City Council adopted a censure resolution, approved the state fire-hazard map for local recognition, extended an engineering contract, and granted an easement to CDCR. The meeting included extended public comment on those items and on city procurement practices.
Ione City Council — key outcomes from the July 15 meeting:
- Censure resolution (2025-XX): Adopted. The council voted to adopt a resolution censuring Councilmember Lisonbee Lefaine following an external investigation. (See separate article for full coverage.)
- Ordinance 535: Adopted. Council waived second reading by title and adopted an ordinance accepting the 2025 Cal Fire hazard severity zone map for the local responsibility area as supplied by state authorities. Fire staff said the city must acknowledge the map and that local mitigation work over time may improve classifications; they urged residents to submit comments to state representatives.
- Willdan Engineering contract extension: Approved. Staff reported the city received no responses to a recent RFP for city engineering services; the council authorized a one-year extension of the existing Willdan Engineering contract to preserve continuity on active projects.
- Resolution 2025-21 (easement to CDCR): Adopted. Council authorized a recorded easement for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation related to infrastructure built as part of the Woodard Bottom recycled water project. Some speakers asked for more background; one councilmember asked staff for additional information before future related actions.
- Capital projects: Softball fields prioritized. Council voted to place softball fields on the citycapital improvement program list to make them eligible for regional funding programs. Council discussion noted existing regional-park funds and the need to move a project to the CIP to be eligible for grants.
- Warrants and consent items: Approved (with items pulled). Council approved the consent calendar and a series of warrants. Several councilmembers and public commenters raised procurement concerns about invoices and single-vendor spending patterns; some warrant line items were pulled for further review.
Items approved by voice vote were generally recorded in the meeting as "Ayes have it"; the transcript does not include a full roll-call tally for each item.