MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL,
SUCCESSOR AGENCY to the REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
CITY OF NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA - TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2023 COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION - None - CITY COUNCIL MEETING -6:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS - 1111 BAILEY AVENUE, NEEDLES
THE 5:00 P.M. PORTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WAS RECESSED BY THE CITY CLERK TO 6:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jernigan at 6:00 PM
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Janet Jernigan, Vice Mayor Kirsten Merritt; Council Members Ellen Campbell, Jamie Mccorkle, JoAnne Pogue, Tona Belt, and Henry Longbrake. Also present City Manager Rick Daniels; Assistant City Manager Patrick Martinez, Clty Attorney John Pinkney and City Clerk Dale Jones.
INVOCATION
Given by Councilmember Pogue
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Mayor Jernigan
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion to approve the agenda was made by Council Member Merritt seconded by Council Member Campbell. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Mccorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Council Member Longbrake declared a conflict of interest on Agenda Item #3 because he participated in the program.
CORRESPONDENCE - None
INTRODUCTIONS - Former Council Member Tim Terral was in attendance.
CITY ATTORNEY Pinkney reviewed Parliamentary procedures
PUBLIC APPEARANCE
Dave Holbrook spoke about citations received from Code Enforcement Officer Chavez regarding his residence and believes the citations are unjustified. City Manager Rick Daniels said he would research the matter.
Judy Thornton, Needles Tourism, gave an update on coming events - Route 66 Film Festival, free admission. Rodeo is scheduled for March 31. Rail Cams have been approved, and Go Nomad travel online magazine featuring Needles as a destination spot.
INTERVIEWS
1) Interviews held and appointments made to the Planning Commission, Board of Public Utilities, Parks & Recreation and Cemetery Advisory Commission.
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Council Member Belt moved, second by Council Member Campbell to re-appoint Barbara Beard and Bob Rath to the Planning Commission. Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Mccorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
Council Member Merritt moved, second by Council Member Belt to re-appoint Phil LeJeune to the Board of Public Utilities. Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Mccorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
Council Member Campbell moved, second by Council Member Merritt to re-appoint Casey Pletcher to Parks & Recreation. Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Mccorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
Council Member Pogue moved, second by Council Member Mccorkle to re-appoint Wilma Baldwin to the Cemetery Advisory Board. Motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
Housing Authority appointments were postponed pending further information.
PUBLIC HEARING
2) Public hearing noticed to consider a request by Mr. Michael West for approval of a Tentative Traci Map #20478 located in the CRR (Commercial, Residential, Resort) zone located at 429 N. K Street, Needles, APN 0185-058-15-0000,0185-067-15-0000,0660-307-13-0000,0185-067-20- 0000,0185-109-48-0000 and 0186-021-01-0000 was continued to January 24, 2023 RECESSED THE COUNCIL MEETING AND CONVENED A SARDA MEETING at 6:17 PM (Roll Call previously taken)
PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE SARDA ITEM - None
3) Resolution No. 01-10-2023-SARDA approving amendments to policies for the implementation and administration of the Neighborhood Beautification Program and approving certain related actions.
City Manager Daniels reported.
Member Campbell moved, second by Member McCorkle to waive the reading and adopt Resolution No. 01-10-2023-SARDA approving amendments to policies for the implementation and administration of the Neighborhood Beautification Program and approving certain related actions. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Members Campbell, Mccorkle, Merritt, Pogue and Belt Noes: None
Absent Member Longbrake (left tho roon1 due to potential conflict) ADJOURN THE SARDA MEETING AND RECONVENE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING at 6:20 PM
PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE COUNCIL ITEMS
Pam Frost complained about her utility bill and how the office staff is treating her. City Manager Daniels reported that $434 has been deducted from her bill and will follow up tomorrow. 011023regccsardamin 2
Frank Aiello asked that the utility billing office review his bill and informed council her was treated nicely by staff.
CONSENT CALENDAR: Council Member Campbell moved, seconded by Council Member Merritt to approve the consent calendar items as recommended. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
4) Approved the warrants registers of December 27, 2022, and January 10, 2023 5) Waived the reading and adopted Resolution No. 2023-06 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 January 16, 2023 - February 15, 2023, pursuant to provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act End of Consent
6) Review of the Economic Development Program funded by 10% of the tax revenues received from cannabis businesses.
Staff report given by City Manager Rick Daniels and discussion ensued regarding various policy options.
Bob Rath voiced his opinion that the applicant should have a business plan. Barbara Beard voiced her opinion that this fund's purpose is to encourage non cannabis businesses to open and decisions could be subjective. Tim Terral it is a struggle to open a small business arid matching grants might be an option.
Shawn Gudmundson voiced his concern about setting to many regulations to participate and people may walk away.
Council Member Campbell moved, second by Council Member Longbrake to have staff review and adjust the Economic Development Program applicant and disbursement criteria. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Mccorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
7) Authorized those interested in attending the Lower Colorado River Tour March 8 - 10, 2023, using funds from the All American Canal and Water Department accounts City Manager Daniels reported and discussion ensued.
Council Member Campbell moved, second by Council Member McCorkle to authorize Council Members Pogue, Campbell and Longbrake to attend the Lower Colorado River Tour March 8- 10, 2023, using funds from the All American Canal and Water Department accounts. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
City Manager Daniels reported on items 8 through 12.
8) Council Member Campbell moved, seconded by Council Member Merritt to waive the reading and adopt Resolution No. 2023-01 appointing Council Member McCorkle as primary representative and Council Member Longbrake as alternate to the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District (MDAQMD). Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
9) Council Member Campbell moved, seconded by Council Member Pogue to waive the reading and adopt Resolution 2023-02 appointing Mayor Jernigan as delegate and Council Member Pogue as 01 l023regccsardamin 3
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alternate to represent the City of Needles at the Southern California'Association of Governments (SCAG). Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Mccorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
10) Council Member Campbell moved, seconded by Council Member Mccorkle to waive the reading and adopt Resolution No. 2023-03 appointing Mayor Jernigan as the City of Needles representative and Vice Mayor Merritt as alternate to the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA). Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Mccorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
11) Council Member Campbell moved, seconded by Council Member Longbrake to waive the reading and adopt Resolution Number 2023-04 appointing Council Member Belt as City of Needles Director and Mayor Jernigan and Council Member Mccorkle as alternates to the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority {CJPIA). Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Mccorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
12) Council Member Campbell moved, seconded by Council Member Mccorkle to waive the reading and adopt Resolution No. 2023-05 appointing Council Member Campbell as the primary delegate and Council Member Pogue as alternate to the Mojave Desert & Mountain Integrated Waste Joint Powers Authority Board who will also serve as the delegate and alternate to the Solid Waste Advisory Task-Force (SWAT)'. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Mccorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
13) Assigned members to the Budget Committee for FY 2024 budget City Manager Daniels reported.
Council Member Campbell moved, second by Council Member Pogue to assign Mayor Jernigan, Vice Mayor Merritt and Council Member Belt to the Budget Committee for FY 2024 budget. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, Mccorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
14) Development Management Group, Inc's Economic Investment Marketing and Branding Strategic Plan (2022-2025) and grocery store recruitment update.
City Manager Daniels reported. A PowerPoint presentation was given by Michael Bracken.
CITY ATTORNEYS REPORT given by City Attorney Pinkney
CITY MANAGERS REPORT given by City Manager Rick Daniels
COUNCIL REQUESTS
Councilmember Campbell asked about the freeway signs that are not lit.
Councilmember Mccorkle reported that she received a complaint about the golf course grass being too high.
Vice Mayor Merritt inquired about the marijuana smell in various parts of town.
Councilmember Pogue inquired about street lights on Clary and Lilly Hill. 011023regccsardamin 4
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Councilmember Belt thanked the local non-profits for all the holiday season events and gift donations for the kids.
Councilmember Longbrake commented on the success of the Sheriff's Christmas event for the kids; raised concern over the cannabis smell; asked about looking into the possibility of allowing an exemption for contractors who are licensed in our border states (Arizona and Nevada), allowing them to conduct work here in Needles. ·
Mayor Jernigan brought up concerns about the Run for the Wall event and the cost of providing city services.
ADJOURNMENT- Mayor Jernigan adjourned the meeting at 8:20 PM ATTES
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