99 MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
NEEDLES PUBLIC UTILITY AUTHORITY
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
HOUSING AUTHORITY CITY OF NEEDLES
CITY OF NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1111 BAILEY AVENUE, NEEDLES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2023
COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION - 5:00 PM
CITY COUNCIL MEETING - 6:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Jernigan called the meeting to order at 5:01 pm
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Council Member Ellen Campbell
Council Member Jamie McCorkle
Vice Mayor Kirsten Merritt
Mayor Janet Jernigan
Council Member JoAnne Pogue
Council Member Tona Belt
Council Member Henry Longbrake
RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND CONVENE A JOINT COUNCIL / NPUA MEETING PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS - None
RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Council Members Campbell and Pogue declared conflicts of interest on Executive Session Item a because their sons' work for the company in question.
Council Member McCorkle declared a conflict of interest on Executive Session Item b because she lives in close proximity to the party in question.
a. Conference with legal counsel regarding potential initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4) (one potential case adverse to MIH entities) No reportable action
NPUA / COUNCIL: Conference with legal counsel regarding potential litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) and/or (3) and/or (4) (one potential case adverse to Rio Buena Vista HOA)
No reportable action
C. Conference with legal counsel regarding potential initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4) (one potential case adverse to Otana Planet Green "OPG")
No reportable action
Conference with legal counsel regarding potential initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4) (one potential case adverse to Wolfe Pak Inc.) No reportable action
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e. Conference with Real Property Negotiators Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.5 for APN 0186-201-03. Negotiating Parties: The Lamar Companies and the City of Needles. (Negotiating Party for the City of Needles Patrick Martinez, City Manager). Under Negotiations: Price and Terms.
No reportable action
Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation Government Code section 54956.9 Name of Case: Teamsters Local 1932 v. City of Needles (Housing Authority) California Public Employment Relations Board Unfair Practice Charge No. LA-CE-1652-M Council Member Campbell moved, second by Council Member Longbrake, to approve the settlement agreement in the Teamsters Local 1932 v. City of Needles (Housing Authority) California Public Employment Relations Board Unfair Practice Charge No. LA-CE-1652-M.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Members / Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Merritt, Jernigan, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: None
Executive Session Concluded at 6:28 pm
EXECUTIVE SESSION - Report by City Attorney as noted above ROLL CALL (Previously Taken)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Led by Mayor Jernigan
INVOCATION - Given by Council Member Campbell
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Council Member Pogue moved, second by Council Member Campbell. to approve the agenda. 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 - None
CORRESPONDENCE - None
INTRODUCTIONS - Mayor Jernigan recognized Former Council Members Terral, Longacre, and Gudmundson in attendance.
CITY ATTORNEY - Parliamentary Procedures given by City Attorney John Pinkney
PUBLIC APPEARANCE
Sheila Miller - spoke about the need for a grocery store and asked the city to consider opening a co-op run by the city.
Zachery Longacre - Asked about the skate park, needs to be fenced in and trees done; Stop sign still not installed on Front Street; Ballpark dirt road needs to be addressed Elizabeth Harr & Marcell Scott, from BFlyy Clothing, introduced themselves and spoke about their new business and the clothing products they offer.
Wayne Colburn - spoke about the Chamber of Commerce selling Sees candy and informed council about the upcoming Golf Tournament on February 24, 2024.
PRESENTATION
1. Ronald G. Dowdy, Esq. presented the Needles Animal Shelter and the Needles Museum each with a check from the Estate of Karen "Kippy" Poulson.
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Tony Rubacalba and Christina Perrit accepted the check on behalf of the Animal Shelter.
Cathy McConnell and Marianne Jones accepted the check on behalf of the Needles Museum.
INTERVIEWS
2. Interviews to be held and possible appointment to the Housing Commission to fill two vacancies
There were no applicants for the Housing Commission. Continued to the next regularly scheduled Council Meeting on December 12, 2023.
PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE NPUA/COUNCIL ITEMS - None
3. Authorize the Wastewater Treatment Plant Replacement Effluent Equalization Pumps from Flow-Systems not to exceed $54,000
Motion made by Member / Council Member Campbell, second by Member / Council Member Belt, to authorize the Wastewater Treatment Plant Replacement Effluent Equalization Pumps from Flow-Systems not to exceed $54,000. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Members / Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Merritt, Jernigan, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: None
4. Amend the action taken at the October 10, 2023 meeting regarding the cost-of-living (COLA) increase in electric basic service charge rate; and approve a corrected COLA increase in electric basic service charge rate as of December 1, 2023.
Motion made by Member / Council Member Campbell, second by Member / Council Member Belt, to amend the action taken at the October 10, 2023 meeting regarding the cost-of-living (COLA) increase in electric basic service charge rate; and approve a corrected COLA increase in electric basic service charge rate as of December 1, 2023; approve an over-hydro rate of $0. 1538 effective December 1, 2023 and continue the $0.01 additional over-hydro rate established as of August 1, 2023 making the over-hydro rate $0. 1638 effective December 1, 2023; and approve the methodology to calculate the annual electric base rate and the power cost adjustment rate based on the rate calculation spreadsheets. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Members / Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Merritt, Jernigan, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: None
ADJOURNED THE JOINT NPUA/COUNCIL MEETING AND CONVENED A SARDA MEETING at 6:58 pm
CALL TO ORDER (Roll Call Previously Taken)
PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE SARDA ITEM - None
5. Approve Resolution No. 11-14-23-SARDA
Member McCorkle moved, second by Member Longbrake to approve Resolution No. 11-14-23- SARDA declaring SARDA's completion of its responsibilities with respect to winding down the affairs of the former Redevelopment Agency of the City of Needles and requesting dissolution pursuant to California HSC § 34187 (b), and taking related actions. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Members Campbell, McCorkle, Merritt, Jernigan, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
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ADJOURNED THE SARDA MEETING AND RECONVENED THE COUNCIL MEETING at 7:04 pm CALL TO ORDER (Roll Call Previously Taken)
COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member McCorkle pulled items 9 and 10 from the consent calendar for discussion. City Manager Patrick Martinez gave staff report. Minimal discussion ensued.
Council Member Campbell moved, second by Council Member Pogue to approve consent calendar items 6 through 13. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
6. Approved the Warrants Register through November 14, 2023
7. Approved the Minutes of October 10 and October 24, 2023
8. Advertise to publish a notice of vacancies on various boards and commissions
9. Awarded the bid from Vasquez & Company LLC for the audit of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, not to exceed $70, 100; and for the upcoming fiscal year 2024, not to exceed $71,903 using additional funding needed for fiscal year 2023 of $8,500 from general fund reserves
10. Awarded the bid from Burke Consulting Group PLLC for Financial Accounting and Consulting Services for a one year period not to exceed $35,000 using general fund reserves.
11. Rejected All Bids for the Phase IV-A Water Service Replacement and Street Improvements Project and authorized staff to Re-package the Project Bid Documents and Re-solicit Bids for Construction
12. Authorized the Mayor to sign a letter to Supervisor Dawn Rowe showing support for the tourism attraction and promotion work that Discover Inland Empire does in the region, and to encourage the County of San Bernardino to participate
13. Authorized the Mayor to sign a letter of support for Needles Center for Change
END OF COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR COUNCIL ITEMS
14. Approve those interested to attend the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) 14th Annual Economic Summit on December 7, 2023
Vice Mayor Merritt moved, second by Council Member Pogue, to approve Mayor Jernigan to attend the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) 14th Annual Economic Summit on December 7, 2023. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
15. Appointment to the Council Task Force on Building and Development Council Member Belt moved, second by Council Member Longbrake, to appoint Mayor Jernigan and Council Member Campbell to the Task Force on Building and Development, to fill seats vacated by former Mayor Williams and former Council Member Terral. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Merritt, Pogue, Belt, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
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CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
Given by City Attorney John Pinkney
CITY MANAGER REPORT
Given by City Manager Patrick Martinez
COUNCIL REQUESTS
Councilmember Campbell - Thanked Aiden McCorkle for live streaming the Council Meeting; announced the Woman's Club Soup, Salad, and Desert Luncheon on Saturday November 18, from 11am to 2pm.
Councilmember McCorkle - Reported on the success of the Veterans' Day event.
Vice Mayor Merritt - Reported on the Grand Opening of Jolted she attended, stating it went very well.
Council Member Pogue - Acknowledged the success of the Veterans' Day event.
On Decimen 1, 2023- Reminded everyon about the as are one or are are, tryouts are Thursday, November 16, and she complimented the City of Needles and the NUSD for programs that allowed the recent 6th grade trip to Knotsberry Farms.
Councilmember Longbrake - Had nothing to report.
Mayor Jernigan - Reported on the success of the November 4th Grand Opening at the Train Park featuring the Rock Club and the new Route 66 mascot "Rocky"; acknowledged the success of the Veterans' Day event and offered condolences to the family of John Phillips.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Jernigan adjourned the meeting at 7:30 pm
ATTEST: candlace CluK
Mayor Janer Termida
Assistant City Clerk Candace Clark, CMC
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