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 24, 2025 - COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:00 PM - CITY COUNCIL MEETING – 6:00 PM CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Jernigan called the meeting to order at 5:04 pm
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Council Member McCorkle
Vice Mayor Ellen Campbell
Mayor Janet Jernigan
Council Member JoAnne Pogue
Council Member Tona Belt – arrived at 5:20 pm
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, and City Clerk Candace Clark.
PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION - None RECESSED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION - 5:05 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 section 54956.9(d)(1)) - Brian Brown v. City of Needles, Bernard Hatz, II, U.S.
District Court for the Central District of California, Case No. 5:23-01118-MWC (SSC) No reportable action
d. Conference with Labor Negotiators pursuant to Government Code section 54957.6.
Agency designated representative: Patrick Martinez, City Manager Unrepresented employee(s): Human Resources Analyst and Human Resources Specialist.
No reportable action
e. Conference with Real Property Negotiators Pursuant to California Government Code §54956.8 Real Property: APN #0185-341-11 and 0185-341-10. Agency Negotiator: City Manager Patrick Martinez or his designee. Negotiating Parties: City of Needles as potential seller and Robert Owen as potential buyer. Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment.
No reportable action
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Jernigan called the meeting to order at 6:13 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
Vice Mayor Campbell made a motion, second by Council Member McCorkle 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 in support of one of the candidates for City Council.
INTRODUCTIONS - Mayor Jernigan acknowledged former Council Members Tim Terral and Shawn Gudmundson 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 Girls Softball Team in recognition for their outstanding performance.
2. Measure I Education Outreach Presentation given by SBCTA representative Luis Vidaure.
INTERVIEWS
3. Interview and appoint to fill the vacancy on City Council, with a term to expire December 12, 2028, and administer the Oath of Office and seat the newly appointed member.
City Manager Patrick Martinez gave staff report.
City Council interviewed applicants Wayne Colburn, Larry Ford, and Jeff Williams (Jeff participated via Teams).
Each applicant introduced themselves and spoke briefly about their interest in serving on City Council. Council asked questions and minimal discussion ensued.
Council Member McCorkle made a motion, second by Council Member Belt, to appoint Larry Ford to City Council.
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
OATH OF OFFICE – City Clerk Candace Clark administered the Oath of Office to newly appointed Council Member Larry Ford, and Council Member Ford was seated.
NPUA / COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Member/Council Member McCorkle made a motion, second by Member /Vice Mayor Campbell, to approve items 4 through 6 on the NPUA/Council Consent Calendar.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Members/Council Members Ford, McCorkle, Member/Vice Mayor Campbell, Member/Mayor Jernigan, Members/Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
4. Approved Tasks No. 7, 8, 9 under the Electric Circuit Reliability Program to complete Electric System Improvements by Petrelli Electric with total work not to exceed $507,197 utilizing the Electric System Improvement Fund
5. Authorized the purchase of a CAT 265 Compact Track Loader from Empire Cat, not to exceed $107,829.94, utilizing Asset Replacement Funds.
6. Adopted the 2025 Needles Public Utility Authority Wildfire Mitigation Plan Version 6.0
END OF NPUA CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member McCorkle made a motion, second by Vice Mayor Campbell, to approve items 7 through 9 on the Council Consent Calendar.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Ford, McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Approve Items 7 through 9 on the Consent Calendar by affirmative roll call vote.
7. Approved the Warrants Register through June 24, 2025
8. Approved the Minutes of June 10, 2025.
9. Approved Resolution No. 2025-28 establishing the appropriations subject to limit for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
END OF COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR COUNCIL ITEMS
10. Authorize those interested to attend the ICSC Western Event at the Palm Springs Convention Center on September 28-30, 2025
City Manager Patrick Martinez gave staff report.
Vice Mayor Campbell and Council Member McCorkle expressed an interest in attending.
Council Member Pogue made a motion, second by Council Member Belt, to authorize Vice Mayor Campbell and Council Member McCorkle to attend the ICSC Western Event at the Palm Springs Convention Center on September 28-30, 2025.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Ford, McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: None
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 June 6 and June 13, 2025, given by City Manager Patrick Martinez
COUNCIL REQUESTS
Council Member McCorkle
• Grass in front of Frontier building needs cleaned up – weed mitigation • Trees on River Road by Golf Course are in power lines – need trimmed • Responded to council comment about Dutch Bros. at a previous ICSC Conference and shared the benefits of ICSC
Vice Mayor Campbell
• Spoke about the Council Appointments and acknowledged it was a tough decision. • ICSC attendance is an honor and a privilege
• Urged citizens to promote Needles to businesses
• Alley between Cibola and Desnok washes out during rain and collects garbage – needs to be cleaned
• Promoted Junior Golf and Swim Team and lessons
Council Member Pogue
• Congratulated Larry Ford on being appointed to City Council • Asked staff to refill the soap in the ladies’ restrooms at El Garces Council Member Belt
• Excited about the tractor that was approved so we can clean up the beaches Council Member Longbrake
• Requested swimming pool be open longer – extend the season • Stated that Santa Fe Park is an abandoned park and needs picnic tables, a playground, and bathrooms.
• Stated Chamber of Commerce closes at 2pm and requested that they be open later to accommodate tourists
• Stated that he brought a couple leads from ICSC to the City Manager, and there was no follow up.
• Stated that council and staff should focus on local businesses and encourage them to open more businesses instead of focusing on bringing in businesses from out of town. • Stated the numbers on the Retail Market Opportunities flyer are inflated.
Mayor Jernigan
• Reported on the Inland Empire Tourism Summit she attended with Vice Mayor Campbell • Reported that Visit California promoted the Route 66 Celebration at the tourism and marketing event in Chicago, highlighting Needles, and promoting 1-3 day trips on Route 66. • Recent Taiwan bus tours were successful
ADJOURNMENT – Mayor Jernigan adjourned the meeting at 7:24 pm I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the meeting held on the 24th day of June 2025, by the City Council of the City of Needles.
Candace Clark, CPMC, CMC
City Clerk of the City of Needles
City Clerk Candace Clark