MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
NEEDLES PUBLIC UTILITY AUTHORITY
CITY OF NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA- TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2022
COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION - 5:00 P.M. - CITY COUNCIL MEETING - 6:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS - 1111 BAILEY AVENUE, NEEDLES
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Williams Called the meeting to order at 5:14 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Present: Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Paget, Council Members Campbell, Evans (called in at 6:03 p.m.), Merritt (arrived at 5:35 p.m.) and Longacre.
RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND CONVENED A JOINT COUNCIL/ NPUA MEETING by Mayor Williams at 5: 15 P.M.
Councilmember Longacre announced he has a conflict of interest regarding b) because he works in the cannabis industry.
a) Conference with real property negotiator pursuant to Government Code §54956.8: Agency negotiator City Manager Rick Daniels or his designee. Negotiating Parties are the City of Needles as the potential seller and Elks Lodge as the potential buyer of the real property described as 1.17 acres located on Lillyhill Drive west of the Elks Lodge, APN 0185-331-22- 0000. Under negotiations are the price and terms.
b) NPUA / COUNCIL: Conference with Legal Counsel regarding potential initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4) one potential case Councilmember Longacre left Executive Session at 5:20 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Williams called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.
EXECUTIVE SESSION - City Attorney John Pinkney reported there was no reportable action.
ROLL CALL
Present: Present: Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Paget, Council Members Campbell, Evans (called in at 6:03 p.m.), Merritt, and Longacre.
A motion was made by Councilmember Merritt, second by Councilmember Campbell to grant an excused absence to Councilmember Belt. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Evans, Merritt, Paget and Longacre Noes: None
Absent: Councilmember Belt
INVOCATION was led by Mayor Williams
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Mayor Williams
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Councilmember Merritt moved, seconded by Councilmember Campbell to approve the agenda as submitted. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Evans, Merritt, Paget and Longacre 061422ccnpuamin
Noes:
Absent:
None
Councilmember Belt
CONFLICT OF INTEREST - Councilmember Longacre announced a conflict on Item Number 7 because he works in the cannabis industry.
CORRESPONDENCE - None
INTRODUCTIONS
Former Councilmember Tim Terral
CITY ATTORNEY - Parliamentary procedures - None
PUBLIC APPEARANCE
Tim Terral voiced his opinion that the council should consider a ballot measure to establish Mountain Time in Needles to be consistent with Arizona.
INTERVIEWS
1) Interview held and possible appointment to the Cemetery Advisory Commission and Housing Authority Board
City Manager Daniels reported.
Vice Mayor Paget moved, seconded by Council Member Merritt to appoint Larry Ford to the Cemetery Advisory Commission. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Evans, Merritt, Paget, and Longacre.
Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt
PRESENTATION
2) Presentation continued to June 28 - by Officer Burrows, California Highway Patrol, regarding the Needles- Barstow Traffic Alliance Safety Corridors and the mayor to signed a letter in support NPUA / COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR:
Member/Councilmember Merritt moved, seconded by Member/Councilmember Campbell to approve the NPUA/ Council Consent Calendar as submitted. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Members/Council Members Campbell, Evans, Merritt, Williams, Paget, and Longacre Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt
3) NPUA / COUNCIL: Approved Amendment No. 2 a two year contract extension with EUSI for operational support services relating to the wastewater treatment facility and collection system commencing November 18, 2022 and expiring November 30, 2024 4) NPUA / COUNCIL: Authorized TKE Engineering Inc. to conduct a New Upper Zone Reservoir Siting study not to exceed $28,000 to be paid by the Water Asset Replacement Fund and reimbursed by the State Water Resources Control Board grant funding ci) NPlJA / COlJNCIL" Accented the State Water Resources Control Board /SWRCB) interim tJudgei 8pproval #l. 101 me Li11ynill E.Joostor 0,auon i<oplacomo11t11<olocmio11 rTOJoct and vvell 1~0. 16 Project in the amount of $3,161,259
End of Consent
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6) NPUA / COUNCIL: Public hearing held and noticed to consider all evidence and testimony for or against approval of the NPUA and City of Needles budgets for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2023
Finance Director Miledi reported.
Mayor opened the public hearing at 6:09 P.M.
Public Comment - None
Mayor closed the public hearing at 6:09 P.M.
Member/Councilmember Campbell moved, seconded by Member/Councilmember Merritt to waive the reading and adopt NPUA Resolution No. 06-14-2022-NPUA approving the Needles Public Utility Authority proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 and COUNCIL Resolution No. 2022-46 adopting the proposed City of Needles budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. Motion carried by the fol lowing roll call vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Members/Council Members Campbell, Evans, Merritt, Williams, Paget, and Longacre.
None
Member/Council Member Belt
Mayor Williams adjourned the Joint Council/ NPUA Meeting and reconvened the City Council Meeting at 6:10 P.M.
7) Public hearing held and noticed to consider all evidence and testimony for or against approval of a proposed November 8, 2022 ballot measure for a cannabis square foot tax ordinance
Councilmember Longacre left the room.
City Manager Daniels reported and discussion ensued.
Mayor opened the public hearing at 6:09 P.M.
Public Comment - None
Mayor closed the public hearing at 6:09 P.M.
Consensus to continue to work on a new taxing methodology that overcomes the deficiencies of the current system; work to perfect the existing self-reporting system to assure that the City is receiving the tax amounts owed as directed by the voters in 2012 and continue to update the marijuana/cannabis provisions of the Municipal Code in order to stay current with the everchanging State laws. 8) Public hearing held - noticed to consider all evidence and testimony for or against approval of a proposed November 8, 2022 ballot measure to establish a Transient Occupancy Tax for Short Term Residential Rental Units
City Manager Daniels reported, and discussion ensued.
Mayor opened the public hearing 6:26 P.M.
Public Comment- Shawn Gudmundson questioned the inspection fee. Tim Terral informed council that he will not continue with the short term rentals because there are too many rules and fees involved.
Mayor closed the public hearing 6:32 P.M.
Councilmember Merritt moved, seconded by Councilmember Campbell to waive the reading and approve Ordinance No. 651-AC adding a Transient Occupancy Tax for short term rental residential units amending sections 20-8, 20-8.2 (c) and 20-8.2(e) of the Needles Municipal Code contingent upon the election results. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Evans, Merritt, Paget, and Longacre 061422ccnpuamin 3
Noes:
Absent:
None
Councilmember Belt
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Councilmember Campbell moved, seconded by Council Member Longacre to approve the consent calendar as submitted. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Evans, Merritt, Paget, and Longacre Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt
9) Approved the Warrants Register through June 14, 2022 10) Waived the reading and adopted Resolution No. 2022-45 rescinding Resolution No. 2022-36 approving the list of projects for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 funded by SB1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017
11) Waived the reading and adopted Resolution No. 2022-48 authorizing destruction of certain city records pursuant to Government Code Section 34090
12) Waived the reading and adopted Resolution No. 2022-47 proclaiming a local emergency, ratifying the proclamation of a State of Emergency by Executive Order N-09-21, and authorizing remote teleconference meetings of the legislative bodies of the City of Needles for the period of June 17, 2022 - July 17, 2022, pursuant to provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act 13) Accepted the Notice of Completion for work completed by Christensen Brothers General Engineering Inc. on the Phase II Water Service Replacement and Street Improvements Project and authorized a Notice of Completion and record with the San Bernardino County recorder's Office
14) Authorized the Mayor to sign a letter of support for proposed Assembly Bill 1944 (Lee) to revise current Brown Act requirements regarding teleconferencing from remote locations End of Consent
15) Authorize the F/Y 2021/22 and F/Y 2022/23 Mojave Desert and Mountain Integrated Waste Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Edible Food $5,000 Annual Allocations to St. Vincent de Paul submitted by Councilmember Campbell
City Manager Daniels reported.
Councilmember Campbell moved, seconded by Council Member Merritt to authorize the F/Y 2021/22 and F/Y 2022/23 Mojave Desert and Mountain Integrated Waste Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Edible Food $5,000 Annual Allocations to St. Vincent de Paul submitted by Councilmember Campbell. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Evans, Merritt, Paget, and Longacre Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt
16) Authorize Council Members to attend the Annual League of California Cities Conference scheduled for September 7-9, 2022 in Long Beach California and designate a voting delegate ' " ' I ' City Manager Daniels reported.
Councilmember Merritt moved, seconded by Councilmember Campbell to authorize Mayor Williams as voting delegate and Vice Mayor Paget and Councilmember Campbell as alternates to attend the Annual 06 l 422ccnpuamin 4
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League of California Cities Conference scheduled for September 7-9, 2022 in Long Beach California.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Evans, Merritt, Paget, and Longacre.
Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt
17) Consider cancelling the July 26, August 23 and September 27 regular council meetings City Manager Daniels reported.
Councilmember Campbell moved, seconded by Councilmember Longacre to cancel the July 26, August 23 and September 27 regular council meetings. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Evans, Merritt, Paget, and Longacre.
Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt
CITY ATTORNEY reported.
CITY MANAGER reported.
COUNCIL REQUESTS
Councilmember Campbell requested an excused absence for August 9, inquired about the home improvement project , thanked St Vincent de Paul for their food bank, there is a pothole at 408 Desnok and a streetlight is out at Band Acoma.
Councilmember Merritt requested to place on the next agenda discussion regarding the time change.
Vice Mayor Paget announced he attended the SBCTA meeting and won the Hawaiian shirt contest and there is a buckle in the sidewalk over pass that needs to be repaired.
Councilmember Longacre inquired about the arrowhead weeds and tree trimming maintenance.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Williams adjourned the meeting at 7: 11 P.M.
ATTEST:
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