MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
NEEDLES PUBLIC UTILITY AUTHORITY
HOUSING AUTHORITY CITY OF NEEDLES
CITY OF NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA
EL GARCES – 950 FRONT STREET, NEEDLES
TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2025 - COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:00 PM - CITY COUNCIL MEETING – 6:00 PM CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Jernigan called the meeting to order at 5:11 pm
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Council Member McCorkle
Vice Mayor Ellen Campbell – due to an emergency, participated remotely.
Mayor Janet Jernigan
Council Member JoAnne Pogue
Council Member Tona Belt
Council Member Henry Longbrake
Also present were City Manager Patrick Martinez, Deputy City Attorney Lena Wade, Director of Development Services/Capital Projects Kathy Raasch, Utilities Manager Rainie Torrance, City Planner Irene Romero, Interim Finance Director Jill Taura, and City Clerk Candace Clark.
PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION - None RECESSED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION - 5:12 PM
EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. Conference with Labor Negotiator pursuant to California Government Code §54957.6 - Personnel - Agency Representatives City Manager Patrick Martinez and Pamela Osteen - Employee Organization: Teamsters Local 1932-Unclassified No reportable action
b. Conference with Labor Negotiator pursuant to California Government Code §54957.6 - Personnel - Agency Representatives City Manager Patrick Martinez and Pamela Osteen - Employee Organization: Teamsters Local 1932-Classified No reportable action
c. Conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation pursuant to Government Code §54956.9 – Sylvia Miledi v. City of Needles, et al., Superior Court of the County of San Bernardino, Case No. CIVSB2510533
No reportable action
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Jernigan called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm ROLL CALL (previously taken)
EXECUTIVE SESSION REPORT – Deputy City Attorney Lena Wade gave report as noted above.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - led by Mayor Jernigan
INVOCATION - led by Vice Mayor Campbell
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Council Member McCorkle made a motion, second by Council Member Pogue to approve the agenda. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Member McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
CONFLICT OF INTEREST – None
CORRESPONDENCE – Council was provided with an email regarding item 10 (Naming of the Baseball Complex)
INTRODUCTIONS - Mayor Jernigan acknowledged former Council Member Tim Terral in attendance.
CITY ATTORNEY – Parliamentary Procedures given by Deputy City Attorney Lena Wade.
PUBLIC APPEARANCE - None
PRESENTATION
1. Mayor Jernigan presented Certificates of Appreciation to the Needles Varsity Boys Baseball Team in recognition for their outstanding performance.
INTERVIEWS
2. Interviews / appointment to fill the vacancies on the Board of Public Utilities and the Cemetery Advisory Board.
City Manager Patrick Martinez gave staff report.
City Council interviewed Keith Jones, sole applicant for the Board of Public Utilities.
Council Member Pogue made a motion, second by Council Member McCorkle to appoint Keith Jones to the Board of Public Utilities.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Member McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
PUBLIC HEARING
3. Public Hearing on Vacancies to Comply with Assembly Bill 2561 City Manager Patrick Martinez gave staff report.
No Council Discussion
Mayor Jernigan opened public comment at 6:13 pm
No public comment
Mayor Jernigan closed public comment at 6:13 pm
Council Member Belt made a motion, second by Council Member Pogue to Receive and file this report in compliance with AB2561
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Member McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
4. City of Needles, NPUA, & Housing Authority of the City of Needles proposed budgets for FY 2026 Public Hearing and approval of Resolutions 2025-27, 06-10-2025-NPUA, and 2025-10-HACN adopting the Proposed Budgets for the fiscal year ending 06/30/25.
City Manager Patrick Martinez gave staff report.
No Council Discussion
Mayor Jernigan opened public comment at 6:19 pm
No public comment
Mayor Jernigan closed public comment at 6:19 pm
Vice Mayor Campbell made a motion, second by Council Member McCorkle to Adopt Resolutions 2025-27, 06-10-2025-NPUA, and 2025-10-HACN adopting the Proposed Budgets for the fiscal year ending 06/30/25.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Member McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Jernigan pulled Item 7
Council Member McCorkle pulled Item 8
No Public Comment
Vice Mayor Campbell made a motion, second by Council Member McCorkle to approve consent calendar items 5, 6, and 9. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Member McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
5. Approved the Warrants Register through June 10, 2025
6. Approved the Minutes of May 27, 2025
9. Adopted Resolution 2025-29 Amending Resolution No. 2025-11 Approving a First Amendment to the Affordable Housing Loan Agreement with 1707 Needles Highway LLC for the Rehabilitation of 1707 Needles Highway, Needles, CA 92363 (APN 0185-048- 09-0000)
PULLED ITEMS:
7. Approve Change Order No. 1 (Final) for the Duke Watkins Park Improvements increasing the contract with Three Peaks Corporation by $21,688.56 for total contract amount of $2,305,389.11; and authorize staff to execute said Change Order and issue the Notice of Completion for the work.
City Manager Patrick Martinez gave staff report.
No Council Discussion
No Public Comment
Council Member Pogue made a motion, second by Council Member Belt to Approve Change Order No. 1 (Final) for the Duke Watkins Park Improvements increasing the contract with Three Peaks Corporation by $21,688.56 for total contract amount of $2,305,389.11; and authorize staff to execute said Change Order and issue the Notice of Completion for the work.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Member McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
8. Approve Change Order No. 1 (Final) for the Phase IV-B Street Improvements Project increasing the contract with S. Christensen Engineering, Inc. by $530,722.44 for total contract amount of $1,687,123.04; and authorize staff to execute said Change Order and issue the Notice of Completion for the work.
City Manager Patrick Martinez gave staff report.
No Council Discussion
No Public Comment
Council Member McCorkle made a motion, second by Council Member Belt to Approve Change Order No. 1 (Final) for the Phase IV-B Street Improvements Project increasing the contract with S. Christensen Engineering, Inc. by $530,722.44 for total contract amount of $1,687,123.04; and authorize staff to execute said Change Order and issue the Notice of Completion for the work.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Member McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
END OF COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR COUNCIL ITEMS
10. Provide staff direction on the proposed renaming of the complex consisting of Ed Parry Field and Phillips Field to " Ed Parry Baseball Complex".
City Manager Patrick Martinez gave staff report.
Josh Raley spoke about why he brought this item forward.
Considerable council discussion ensued.
Mayor opened public comment at 6:46 PM
Jared Johnson spoke about the field being a little league field and offered suggestions on naming the complex and expressed concern over cost and time involved in marketing and changing the name.
Keith Jones questioned this item, talked about naming options and concerns, and stated that more input from the public is needed.
More Council discussion ensued.
Josh Raley answered concerns and offered input on possible names.
City Manager Patrick Martinez suggested turning this item over to the Parks and Recreation Commission for further consideration.
Council suggested putting a survey out to the community.
Council Member Belt made a motion, second by Council Member Pogue to turn this item over to the Parks and Recreation Commission for further consideration.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Member McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
11. Authorize those interested to attend the League of California Cities 2025 Annual Conference and Expo scheduled for October 8-10, 2025, at the Long Beach Convention Center and designate a voting delegate and alternate (s) City Manager Patrick Martinez gave staff report.
Minimal Council Discussion ensued. Mayor Jernigan, Vice Mayor Campbell, and Council Member Pogue expressed interest in attending.
Vice Mayor Campbell volunteered to be the delegate, Mayor Jernigan volunteered to be the alternate.
No Public Comment
Council Member Belt made a motion, second by Council Member Pogue to Authorize Council Member Pogue, Vice Mayor Campbell, and Mayor Jernigan to attend the League of California Cities 2025 Annual Conference and Expo scheduled for October 8-10, 2025, at the Long Beach Convention Center and designate Vice Mayor Campbell to be the voting delegate, and Mayor Jernigan the alternate.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member McCorkle
Abstain: None
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT – given by Deputy City Attorney Lena Wade CITY CLERK REPORT – given by City Clerk Candace Clark
CITY MANAGER REPORT – for the weeks of May 23, and May 30, 2025, given by City Manager Patrick Martinez
COUNCIL REQUESTS
Council Member McCorkle
• Asked for an update on OHV and requested it be in place by winter • Commented on the website and suggested we market Needles outside our area to attract more tourism.
Vice Mayor Campbell
• Offered Condolences to Rainie and her family
Council Member Pogue
• Reported Dollar General coolers are out – asked staff for assistance • Asked about a golf clinic for Seniors.
• Complimented Krispy Krunchy
Council Member Belt
• Agreed with Council Member McCorkle on advertising outside our area. • Requested moving forward on California Welcome Center Council Member Longbrake
• Stated that the money donated to Animal Shelter should not be used for bathrooms and said that the City should pay for bathrooms
• Commented on travel by same council members and questioned how beneficial some events are
• Asked City Manager about following up on leads and guidance given to Council Members in decision making
• Stated Santa Fe Park should have restrooms and playground • Reminded City Council and Mayor that they all work for the Citizens Mayor Jernigan
• Reported that she participated in a radio show with City Manager • Reported SBCTA approved River Road widening
• Complimented the gas company tour she recently participated in. • Reported on Inland Empire Tourism efforts to promote tourism, “doors open” promotion of historic places in California, taking place in September, and historic route 66 bus tour ADJOURNMENT – Mayor Jernigan adjourned the meeting at 7:22 pm City Clerk Candace Clark
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the meeting held on the 10th day of June 2025, by the City Council of the City of Needles.
Candace Clark, CPMC, CMC
City Clerk of the City of Needles