Ione council reviews rewritten protocol manual as residents question rising legal bills

Ione — The Ione City Council held a special workshop on Jan. 28 to review a redlined update to the council protocol manual, a staff report and law‑firm summary that would change how agendas are set, clarify planning‑commission authority, raise the city manager’s contract/contract‑authority threshold and add new conflict‑of‑interest and social‑media guidance.

At the outset of public comment, resident Marsha Enoch told the council she had not been informed that the manual was being overhauled and said the council was already ‘‘tens of thousands of dollars over attorney’s fees’’ this fiscal year. She asked who directed the revision and how many billable hours had been consumed so far.

The firm presenting the draft, which volunteered its time for the session, defended the timing and scope. ‘‘First and foremost, the way that this is set up is that we only take direction from either the mayor or the councils,’’ the firm’s representative said, framing the manual revisions as a response to council priorities and special projects that have driven extra legal work. The presenter and staff said much routine municipal work remained within budget but described litigation and special projects — including work on the Castle Oaks matter and a separate litigation…