The Ione City Council narrowly added its support to a half-cent sales tax increase to fund paid firefighters in Amador County.

The 3-2 vote authorized City Manager Kim Kerr to submit a letter to the board of supervisors officially backing the measure, which is targeted for the November ballot. An additional half cent would raise about $50,000 annually for full-time firefighters and emergency medical personnel. A previous sales tax initiative asking for a quarter-cent hike was defeated in 2006. As proposed by the Amador Fire Protection District, it wouldn't have provided funds for communities on the outside corridor of Highway 49.

Vice mayor Lee Ard suggested a paragraph to the draft letter informing the board of supervisors that the city will not support the measure if it is for a countywide fire department, board Chairman Richard Forster had suggested. "Forster is out of step with his suggestions and opinions that this will not pass if it's not countywide," Ard said.

According to Kerr, there are still steps to be taken before it gets to county supervisors, beginning with an AFPD meeting next week. "I am not saying that it will 100 percent pass, but it is the best solution of what could pass," she said of the current proposal.

The council also heard from City Planner Christopher Jordan on the Ione bypass project, now being referred to as the West Ione Roadway Improvement Strategy project. At the Amador County Transportation Commission meeting Wednesday, Matt Boyer of Dokken Engineering called bypass "a loaded term, to say the least."

Jordan said he had identified several restructuring issues since coming aboard as city planner two months ago and efforts to improve the roadway system were being "slightly reshuffled." On Wednesday, Boyer told commissioners the project was devoid of any "fatal flaws." Jordan's PowerPoint presentation consisted of the four main issues he has identified and how to best proceed with them.

"The main issues we are facing are to reduce roadway traffic congestion, improve traffic safety, improving the overall quality of life in Ione and enhancing economic development," said Jordan.

The original scope for the project was as an interim solution that included the adjustment of truck traffic around the downtown area. In 2007, the transportation commission and the city partnered on identifying and formally adopting a route alignment. Public workshops and stakeholder meetings have been held and are planned to begin again this summer.

"The next step is making sure the community is informed and that their ideas and thoughts have been incorporated into the project," Jordan said. "Then we can make a closure on the alternatives."

Council members also agreed to pursue a CalHome Grant Application for homebuyer assistance and owner occupied rehabilitation. Last year, the city helped with four home loans that totaled $452,417 under the grant and hopes to help another 15 families this year with the $900,000 grant.

"This is an entire new funding cycle," Kerr said. "This time we not only get to help first time buyers but also offer home improvement loans to owners for rehabs."