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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
NEEDLES PUBLIC UTILITY AUTHORITY
HOUSING AUTHORITY CITY OF NEEDLES
CITY OF NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1111 BAILEY AVENUE, NEEDLES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024
THE 5:00 PM PORTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WAS RECESSED BY THE CITY CLERK TO 5:30 PM
COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION - 5:30 PM
CITY COUNCIL MEETING - 6:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Jernigan called the meeting to order at 5:41 pm
ROLL CALL -
PRESENT
Council Member Ellen Campbell via Teams
Council Member Jamie McCorkle
Mayor Janet Jernigan
Council Member JoAnne Pogue
Council Member Henry Longbrake
ABSENT
Vice Mayor Kirsten Merritt
Council Member Tona Belt
Also present was City Manager Patrick Martinez, City Attorney John Pinkney and City Clerk Dale Jones.
RECESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND CONVENE A JOINT COUNCIL / NPUA MEETING at 5:42 PM
PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS - None
RECESSED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. Public Employee Performance Evaluation pursuant to Government Code §54957 - Title of position: City Clerk
No Reportable Action
EXECUTIVE SESSION REPORT - City Attorney John Pinkney declared there was no reportable action, as noted above.
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Jernigan called the meeting to order at 6:04 pm
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Council Member Ellen Campbell via Teams
Council Member Jamie McCorkle
Mayor Janet Jernigan
Council Member JoAnne Pogue
Council Member Henry Longbrake
ABSENT - Mayor Jernigan announced an excused absence for Vice Mayor Kirsten Merritt and Council Member Tona Belt
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Led by Mayor Jernigan
INVOCATION - Given by Council Member Campbell
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Council Member Pogue moved, second by Council Member McCorkle to approve the agenda Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Pogue, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt and Vice Mayor Merritt
CONFLICT OF INTEREST - None
CORRESPONDENCE - None
INTRODUCTIONS - Mayor Jernigan acknowledged Former Council Members Tim Terral and Shawn Gudmundson in attendance.
CITY ATTORNEY - Parliamentary Procedures given by City Attorney Pinkney
PUBLIC APPEARANCE
Sheila Miller spoke about a disturbance at her daughter's house on Earl Court. Police were called and they responded to the incident.
PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE NPUA/COUNCIL ITEMS - None
NUA / COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion made by Member/Council Member McCorkle, second by Member/Council Member Pogue to approve the NPUA/Council Consent Calendar Items 2 through 4. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Members/Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Pogue, Mayor Jernigan and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Members/Council Member Belt and Vice Mayor Merritt
2. Authorized a change order for the purchase of a Terex TC55 Optima 2023 Freightliner bucket truck not to exceed $23,400 utilizing the electric vehicle replacement funds
3. Authorized Reliable Pump Inc. to complete two Hydromatic pump repairs not to exceed $15,531.74 to be funded by the Wastewater Asset Replacement Fund
4. Awarded bid to Phillips Excavating, Inc. for the Water Service Lateral Replacement Project in the amount of $990,399.00 plus 5% contingency for a total project cost of $1,039,918.95 and authorized staff to execute a Public Works Agreement with Phillips Excavating, Inc. and move forward with the Notice of Award and Notice to Proceed.
END OF NPUA CONSENT CALENDAR
ADJOURN THE JOINT NPUA/COUNCIL MEETING AND CONVENE A JOINT HACN/COUNCIL MEETING (Roll Call Previously Taken) at 6:15 PM
PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE HACN/COUNCIL ITEMS - None
HACN / COUNCIL REGULAR ITEM
5. Accept Change Order No. 2 (Final) for a total contract amount of $448,309.03 and a total project cost of $448,309.03 for work completed by Final Touch Construction for the Needles Housing Authority Window Replacement Project and authorize staff to execute said Change Order; and Accept the Notice of Completion for the Work.
City Manager Martinez reported.
Motion made by Member/Council Member McCorkle, second by Member/Council Member Longbrake to accept Change Order No. 2 (Final) for a total contract amount of $448,309.03 and a total project cost of $448,309.03 for work completed by Final Touch Construction for the Needles Housing Authority Window Replacement Project and authorize staff to execute said 119
Change Order; and Accept the Notice of Completion for the Work Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Members/Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Pogue, Mayor Jernigan and Council Member Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: Members/Council Member Belt and Vice Mayor Merritt
ADJOURN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF NEEDLES MEETING AND RECONVENE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING (Roll Call previously taken) at 6:17 PM
PRESENTATION
1. Interim Deputy Chief of Operations Scott Tuttle, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, gave a presentation on FP-5.
PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE COUNCIL ITEMS - None
COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember McCorkle pulled items 10 and 11 for discussion. City Manager Martinez responded and requested council direction on the location of the Route 66 Arch sign. Discussion ensued and council agreed that Front Street would be the best location.
Motion made by Council Member McCorkle, second by Council Member Pogue to approve the Council Consent Calendar items 6 through 12. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Pogue, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt and Vice Mayor Merritt
6. Approved the Warrants Register through January 23, 2024
7. Approved the Minutes of January 9, 2024
8. Waived the reading and adopted Resolution 2024-3 prioritizing and approving the dollar amount of Needles eligible projects for the Community Development Block Grant Funding in fiscal year 2024-2025
9. Authorized the Mayor to execute the award acceptance letter to CARB for the Needles Active Transportation Plan
10. Waived the reading and adopted Resolution 2024-6 approving a Categorical Exemption for the Proposed Golf Course Irrigation Efficiency Project, Phase 1; and authorize staff to proceed with the implementation; and direct staff to file the Notice of Exemption (NOE) with the State of California, Office of Planning and research, State Clearinghouse, and the San Bernardino County Clerk.
11. Route 66 Drive-Through Arch along Front Street
12. Authorized the City cosponsor the Run for the Wall with an approximate amount of $2,000 for services
END OF COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR COUNCIL ITEMS
13. Award the 2024 Edible Food Recovery Grant
Utility Manager Rainie Torrance reported on the grant. The applicants reviewed their programs and their intent on using the additional funding. After considerable discussion and debate among council the following motions were made.
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Council Member Longbrake moved, second by Council Member McCorkle, to divide the grant equally between St Vincent De Paul and Firehouse Ministries. Motion failed by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbeil, McCorkle and Longbrake
Noes: Council Member Pogue
Absent: Council Member Belt and Vice Mayor Merritt
Council Member Campbell moved, second by Council Member McCorkle, to give $2,000 to Firehouse Ministries, $2,000 to St. Vincent De Paul and $1,000 to Set Free. Motion failed by the following roll call vote:
Council Members Campbell, McCorkle and Pogue
Council Member Longbrake
Absent: Council Member Belt and Vice Mayor Merritt
Continued discussion ensued.
Council Member Pogue moved, second by Council Member McCorkle, to divide equally amongst the three applicants. Motion failed by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, McCorkle and Pogue
Noes: Council Member Longbrake
Absent: Council Member Belt and Vice Mayor Merritt
Council Member Longbrake moved, second by Council Member Pogue, to continue this item to the next Council Meeting on February 13, 2024. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Pogue and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt and Vice Mayor Merritt
14. Waive the reading and adopt Resolution 2024-5 continuing Council Member McCorkle as representative to MDAQMD, and appoint a alternate.
Motion made by Council Member McCorkle, second by Council Member Longbrake to waive the reading and adopt Resolution 2024-5 continuing Council Member McCorkle as representative to MDAQMD, and appoint Mayor Jernigan as alternate. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Pogue, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt and Vice Mayor Merritt
15. Name Jack Smith Walking Trail after Marilyn Hohstadt Mathews Mayor Jernigan reported.
Council Member Longbrake moved, second by Council Member Pogue to create a Resolution naming Jack Smith Walking Trail after Marilyn Hohstadt Mathews. Item to be on Consent Calendar at the next Council Meeting on February 13 2024. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Campbell, McCorkle, Pogue, and Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt and Vice Mayor Merritt
16. Hearing on Appeal of City's Notice of Revocation of Cannabis Business License/Permit for the following Cannabis Businesses:
3247 Needles Highway, Suite E, Needles, CA (2103 D, LLC); 3247 Needles Highway, Suite A, Needles CA (3247 AM, LLC) 3241 Needles Highway, Needles, CA (NCA Management Co., LLC) 121
3253 Needles Highway, Needles CA (Medical Investor Holdings, LLC) HEARING CONTINUED TO FEBRUARY 13, 2024 (INF)
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
Given by City Attorney John Pinkney
CITY CLERK REPORT
Given by City Clerk Dale Jones
17. MANAGERS REPORT
Given by City Manager Patrick Martinez
COUNCIL REQUESTS
Councilmember Campbell - Congratulated Patrick and Stacy Martinez on the arrival of their new baby; offered condolences to the Dressle family on the death in their family.
Councilmember McCorkle - Congratulated Patrick and Stacy Martinez on the arrival of their new baby; spoke about Rite-Aid closing and addressed the fact that it is not something the City had any control over.
Council Member Pogue - Congratulated Patrick and Stacy Martinez on the arrival of their new baby; spoke about Rite Aid closing and questioned if Needles Point Pharmacy could re-open.
Councilmember Longbrake - Spoke about angry citizens over the Rite Aid closure and Needles losing businesses; urged the City Manager to follow up on all leads for potential new businesses.
Mayor Jernigan - stated that the Housing Authority building improvements is looking better; attended the school board meeting with Rainie Torrance; Art in the Park has been moved to March 22 & 23 in Santa Fe Park encouraging high school students to participate; River Valley Arts Guild has invited NHS students to participate and will be offering classes and providing scholarships; addressed Rite Aid closure and reassured citizens that the City is doing everything possible to address the issue.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Jernigan adjourned the meeting at 7:43 pm
set singes Dale tones
ayor Janet Jernigan City Clerk Dale Johes, CMC
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