SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
220 EAST MOUNTAIN VIEW STREET
BARSTOW, CA 92311
APRIL 15, 2026
6:00 PM
(HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE)
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
Minutes-April 15, 2026
CALL TO ORDER - SPECIAL MEETING :
MAYOR SILVA called the closed session meeting to order at 6:25 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
MAYOR PRO TEM NOBLE led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
James M. Noble Mayor Pro Tem Present
Barbara Mae Rose Council Member Present
John Williams Council Member Present
Carmen Hernandez Council Member Present
Timothy Silva Mayor Present
PARTICIPATION IS INVITED: IF YOU WISH TO BE HEARD ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE
SO INDICATE BY FILLING OUT A SPEAKER REQUEST CARD AND HANDING IT TO THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO THE AGENDA ITEM BEING ADDRESSED. IF SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE REQUIRED, 48 HOURS NOTICE MUST BE GIVEN TO THE CITY CLERK.
CODE OF ETHICS: AS YOUR ELECTED GOVERNING BOARD, WE WILL REMEMBER THE "CODE OF ETHICS" THAT WE VOLUNTARILY AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. DURING THIS MEETING WE WILL TREAT EACH OTHER AND THE PUBLIC WITH PATIENCE, CIVILITY, AND COURTESY. THE DECISIONS
MADE TONIGHT WILL BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BARSTOW COMMUNITY AND NOT FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA: THIS IS THE TIME FOR MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD TO CALL FOR REARRANGING THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA; ADDING ITEMS TO OR REMOVING ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA; OR REMOVING ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION AND/OR SEPARATE ACTION. ITEMS MAY ONLY BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA AS ALLOWED BY STATE LAW, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54954.2, SUBDIVISION (B),
ALLOWING EMERGENCY ITEMS TO BE ADDED BY MAJORITY VOTE AND ALLOWING ITEMS THAT AROSE TO THE CITY’S ATTENTION AFTER THE AGENDA POSTING DEADLINE, BUT WHICH REQUIRE Minutes-April 15, 2026
IMMEDIATE ACTION, TO BE ADDED BY A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
AT THE MEETING, OR, IF LESS THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT, A UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THOSE MEMBERS PRESENT.
CONSENSUS of the Council to approve the agenda.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
AYES: Noble, Rose, Williams, Hernandez, Silva
PRESENTATIONS:
1. CITY COUNCIL GOALS
Recommended Action:
Discussion item only.
CITY MANAGER ROCHELLE CLAYTON
- Presented the report as submitted to the City Clerk's office.
MAYOR SILVA
- Inquired whether staff is developing a system to track approvals for warehousing, distribution, manufacturing, trucking headquarters, and trucking maintenance. - Asked if there is a plan to market Barstow to these businesses. - Asked if staff is working on streamlining the permitting process for residential housing and whether automation will be implemented.
- Questioned if staff is collaborating with water agencies to ensure that Barstow can meet its water needs.
- Expressed a desire to see a revitalization plan for downtown Barstow. - Reminded everyone that when the city anticipated development in 2006 or 2007, staff had discussions with developers about low-maintenance pocket parks in each development, and he would like to know if that plan is still in place, as it is a great idea. - Would like someone to pursue state or federal funding for the town's needs. - Highlighted the importance of changing the perception of Barstow from a “past-thru” desert town to an inland logistics powerhouse.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROSE
- Suggested that the one-year strategic plan should focus on quick, low-cost improvements. - Would like to see military banners displayed on Main Street instead of Barstow Road and Rimrock Road.
- Discussed the challenges the city faced in hiring a Homeless Coordinator and the lack of support from local nonprofits for the Homeward Bound Committee. She would like to revise the strategic plan for addressing homelessness in Barstow.
COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS
- Expressed a desire to clean up downtown, starting with the downtown buildings and their boarded windows, as well as cleaning up the median. He emphasized the need to focus on downtown.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERNANDEZ
- Mentioned her wish to initiate the one-year strategic plan focusing on improvements at parks, the police department, and the fire department.
- Suggested creating a priority list to be reviewed every six months, utilizing available funds. - Commended MAYOR SILVA for his recommendations and stated that the council had advocated for the Mojave Water Agency to be formed to prevent past issues. - Agreed with COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS but noted that property owners are responsible for their properties, and there should be agreements with them regarding maintenance. - Expressed her support for waiting for the county to finish its studies and using its findings to Minutes-April 15, 2026
inform decisions.
- Asked if an emergency plan has been established.
CITY MANAGER ROCHELLE CLAYTON
- Confirmed that an emergency plan has been established.
FIRE CHIEF CORY CISNEROS
- Stated that while the City of Barstow does have an emergency plan, it needs to be updated, and they are currently working with the Development Department on this.
MAYOR PRO TEM NOBLE
- Agreed with previous comments and emphasized the need to focus on cleaning up Main Street, particularly in preparation for the Route 66 100th anniversary.
MAYOR SILVA
- Asked if the staff is pursuing funding from SBCTA for Main Street. - Requested that staff share information with the council regarding design plans and initiatives from the committees through the Chamber of Commerce.
CITY MANAGER ROCHELLE CLAYTON
- Confirmed that staff is pursuing funding from both SBCTA and other grant opportunities specific to Main Street for Route 66. She noted that CONGRESSMAN OBERNOLTE requested $1 million last year specifically for Route 66 Main Street, which was awarded, but they have not yet received funding information.
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER KENNETH CHAPA
- Reported that some information has been shared by business owners and members of the community, and packages are being put together for potential opportunities in the near future.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROSE
- Proposed encouraging business owners to enhance their properties and suggested partnering with local high schools to create art on the bordering business properties to make them more presentable.
- Suggested duplicating the murals dedicated to “Williams Barstow Strong,” creating projects for B-Hill, and utilizing billboards for the centennial celebration to honor those who have fallen from Barstow.
MAYOR SILVA
- Stated that the council would like to dedicate ball fields: one to the Barstow Police Department (BPD), one to the Fire Department, and one to the Military, also honoring the names of the fallen.
COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS
- Noted that at the youth football field, every Barstow resident can see a diamond plate with his name on it, and he would like to move it to Veterans Park. - Mentioned his idea to honor the Fire and Police Departments by calling the new fields "First Responder Fields." He emphasized the importance of showing pride in the community and providing good role models for the youth.
CITY MANAGER ROCHELLE CLAYTON
- Mentioned that the repeated items regarding Main Street and Route 66 are ongoing. Staff is working on several items, gathering ideas and costs associated with those upgrades, and will bring them back to the council for approval.
- Stated that the Route 66 Caravan is coming through in June, which is not a city event. However, staff wants to clean up and beautify Main Street in preparation for this event.
Minutes-April 15, 2026
SPEAKERS
TED WEASMA, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Suggested that a key improvement for Downtown Main Street would be to install signage indicating available parking.
- Noted that there is a small park across from US Bank and would like to see some seating added there.
- Suggested placing military banners on the water tank. - Proposed painting the bordered windows downtown.
MIKE HERNANDEZ, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Requested that cannabis funds be used to create the paintings on the border windows on Main Street.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERNANDEZ
- Stated that there is a Route 66 motel that has done a wonderful job promoting the area, and he would like him and other business owners to be involved in the planning process.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROSE
- Suggested that t-shirts could be made to showcase Barstow.
CITY MANAGER ROCHELLE CLAYTON
- Indicated that a plan can be developed within a year.
MAYOR SILVA
- Inquired if there will be any celebrations for the Barstow Fire District's 100th anniversary on May 23rd.
FIRE CHIEF CORY CISNEROS
- Stated that due to the planning process, they will defer celebrations to October 10 and will stagger the event after the Route 66 festivities to encourage attendance at an open house at the Fire Station.
CITY MANAGER ROCHELLE CLAYTON
- Mentioned that while planning the Route 66 cleanup and beautification in anticipation of the centennial event, they are also planning for the 250th anniversary of independence to have a larger celebration.
MAYOR PRO TEM NOBLE
- Asked if there had been outreach to the community to see if they would like to participate in the area’s beautification and if any incentives could be offered to property owners.
CITY MANAGER ROCHELLE CLAYTON
- Stated that staff had not yet reached out to the property owners.
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER KENNETH CHAPA
- Explained that all of these initiatives will come together as they progress, and improvement programs will be developed accordingly.
RESULT: PRESENTATION ONLY
Minutes-April 15, 2026
ADJOURNMENT:
By consensus of the City Council, and with no objections, the Special Meeting was adjourned at 7:16 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted: Approved:
_______________________________ _______________________________ Andrea Flores, City Clerk Timothy R. Silva, Mayor
Notice: Signed Minutes are filed with the City Clerk’s office