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Grants update: Ione staff outline wastewater, parks and wildfire priorities and Prop 4 opportunities
Summary
City staff presented an update on federal and state grants, highlighting wastewater treatment work, a SafeWalk to School application, FEMA reimbursements, ARPA funds already received, and Proposition 4 climate-bond opportunities for parks, wastewater and wildfire resilience.
Debbie Mackey briefed the Ione City Council on Nov. 4 about the city’s grant portfolio, with a focus on wastewater upgrades and opportunities from California’s Proposition 4 climate bond.
Mackey told the council she is coordinating with the state on CDBG and HOME federal programs but that project approval and future federal funding (particularly for HOME) remain uncertain. She said the city applied for a SafeWalk to School demonstration grant that could fund sidewalk work around Marlette and that the project team expects to hear if the city is funded by year-end.
On the wastewater plant, Mackey described a multi‑year application effort: she said the city originally requested $15,000,000, the figure had been discussed at $30,000,000 to include clay‑pipe replacement, then was reduced back to $15,000,000 as the feasible grant amount. With Proposition 4 providing new funding streams, Mackey said the city hopes to secure more resources; she estimated the full wastewater program could take "7, 8, maybe even up to 10 years" to complete.
Mackey also reported the city applied for Assistance to Firefighters and Fire Prevention & Safety grants (the prevention award was received but acceptance was delayed by the federal shutdown), is preparing ARPA allocations (funds already received), and is seeking FEMA and CSFA reimbursements for storm damage (she estimated both FEMA grants together were under $60,000 and the CSFA turnout grant about $30,000, based on receipts submitted).
On Proposition 4, Mackey described the measure as a $10,000,000,000 bond with approximately $3,000,000,000 allocated for the 2025–26 fiscal year; she said the city can seek funds for parks and recreation improvements, wastewater tertiary upgrades, wildland fire resilience and climate-resilience projects. Mackey explained eligibility factors—park access within a mile, disadvantaged-community status, and median‑income thresholds—and said Ione’s median-income levels can complicate eligibility for some statewide parks grants, though other Prop 4 programs might still be available.
Mackey outlined next steps: staff will develop a Prop 4 project portfolio over the next 90 days, confirm disadvantaged-community status, watch for notices of funding opportunities early next year, and assess eligibility for softball‑field and park improvements. She closed by asking council and interested nonprofits (for example, local soccer and little‑league groups) to support applications where eligible.
Council members and several residents praised Mackey’s work and asked staff to consider West Marlette clarifier needs in wastewater planning and to follow up with engineers and reimbursement paperwork for the bridge and park projects.
