MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
NEEDLES PUBLIC UTILITY AUTHORITY
HOUSING AUTHORITY CITY OF NEEDLES
CITY OF NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA
COUNCIL CHAMBERES, 1111 BAILEY AVE, NEEDLES
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2025 - COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:00 PM - CITY COUNCIL MEETING – 6:00 PM CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Jernigan called the meeting to order at 5:02 pm
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Vice Mayor Ellen Campbell
Mayor Janet Jernigan
Council Member JoAnne Pogue
Council Member Tona Belt arrived at 5:04 PM
Council Member Henry Longbrake
Council Member Larry Ford
ABSENT
Council Member McCorkle
Also present were City Manager Patrick Martinez, Deputy City Attorney Lena Wade, Utilities Manager Rainie Torrance, Director of Development Services/Capital Projects Kathy Raasch, City Planner Irene Romero, and City Clerk Candace Clark.
PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Agency Negotiators Mayor Janet Jernigan, Vice Mayor Ellen Campbell, and Council Member Henry Longbrake met in the conference room with City Manager Patrick Martinez prior to Executive Session, from 5:04 to 5:20 pm.
Patrick left the Conference Room at 5:20 pm, Negotiators continued to meet until 5:28 pm.
RECESSED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION - 5:28 PM Council Members Pogue and Belt joined the rest of Council in the Conference Room and Executive session began.
City Manager Patrick Martinez returned to Executive Session at 5:35 pm.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. Public Employee Performance Evaluation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957. Title:
City Manager
No reportable action
b. Conference with Labor Negotiators Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 Agency Negotiators: Mayor Janet Jernigan, Vice Mayor Ellen Campbell, and Council Member Henry Longbrake. Unrepresented Employee: City Manager
No reportable action
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Jernigan called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Vice Mayor Ellen Campbell
Mayor Janet Jernigan
Council Member JoAnne Pogue
Council Member Tona Belt
Council Member Henry Longbrake
Council Member Larry Ford
ABSENT
Council Member McCorkle
Mayor Jernigan asked for a motion to excuse the absence of Council Member McCorkle.
Vice Mayor Campbell made a motion, second by Council Member Ford, to excuse the absence of Council Member McCorkle.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Member Ford, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member McCorkle
Abstain: None
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
Mayor Jernigan announced that Item 13 would be pushed to the November 12, 2025, Regular Council Meeting, and asked for a motion to approve the agenda as amended.
Vice Mayor Campbell made a motion, second by Council Member Pogue, to approve the agenda as amended.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Member Ford, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member McCorkle
Abstain: None
CONFLICT OF INTEREST – None
CORRESPONDENCE – None
INTRODUCTIONS - Mayor Jernigan acknowledged former Council Member Tim Terral in attendance.
CITY ATTORNEY – Parliamentary Procedures given by Deputy City Attorney Lena Wade.
PUBLIC APPEARANCE
Christian Schafer expressed concern about illegal parking and dangerous conditions caused by commercial trucks on Ice Plant Road and Highway 95.
PRESENTATION
1. Presentation from League of California Cities Mountain Desert Division Chair Art Bishop Helen Putnam Award.
Art Bishop was unable to attend. City Manager Patrick Martinez presented the award to Council.
PUBLIC HEARING
2. Adopt Purchasing Ordinance Number 678-AC, Amending Chapter 8, Article II of the Needles Municipal Code (First Reading) CONTINUED TO NOVEMBER 12, 2025.
3. Adopt Resolution 2025-44 City of Needles Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) as required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to maintain eligibility for federal hazard mitigation grant funding.
City Manager Patrick Martinez introduced City Planner Irene Romero, who gave staff report.
Council did not have any questions.
Mayor Jernigan opened public comment at 6:18 pm.
No public comment.
Mayor Jernigan closed Public Comment at 6:18 pm.
Vice Mayor Campbell made a motion, second by Council Member Pogue, to adopt Resolution 2025-44 City of Needles Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) as required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to maintain eligibility for federal hazard mitigation grant funding.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Member Ford, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member McCorkle
Abstain: None
NPUA / COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Member/Council Member Pogue made a motion, second by Member/Council Member Ford, to approve Items 4 through 7 on the Consent Calendar.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Member/Council Member Ford, Member/Vice Mayor Campbell, Member/Mayor Jernigan, Member/Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake
Noes: None
Absent: Member/Council Member McCorkle
Abstain: None
4. Authorized a License Agreement for the Joint Use of Poles between the City of Needles and Route 66 Broadband for Cable Attachment to City Poles dated 2025.
5. Authorized Reliable Pump Inc. to rebuild the Hydromatic Pump for the Wastewater Pump, not to exceed $18,081.96, including sales tax in the amount of $1,114.43 for a total project cost of $19,196.39 to be funded by the Wastewater Asset Replacement Fund
6. Ratified the Utility Manager's purchase of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Instruments for the calendar year 2024 compliance period from Amerex for a total cost of $80,851.50
7. Adopted Resolution 2025-45 rescinding Chapter 6C, establishing Terms and Conditions for the Sale of Electric Services, of the Needles Municipal Code in its Entirety, and adopting a new Chapter 6C, Electric Services, regarding the terms and conditions for the sale of electric services.
END OF NPUA CONSENT CALENDAR
COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Vice Mayor Campbell made a motion, second by Council Member Ford, to approve Items 8 through 12 on the Consent Calendar.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Member Ford, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Belt, Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member McCorkle
Abstain: None
8. Approved the Warrants Register through October 28, 2025
9. Approved the Minutes of October 14, 2025
10. Accepted and filed the September 2025 Treasurer’s Report
11. Approved the extension of the FY 2024 Audit Contract with Vasquez Company LLC to March 31, 2026
12. Adopted Resolution No. 2025-43 approving an Agreement between the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and City of Needles for Senate Bill 125 Funds Administration; and authorized the creation of a new fund to account for the restricted revenues and expenditures associated with the new shuttle service and move the existing current year budget to the new fund.
END OF COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR COUNCIL ITEMS
13. Approve Amendment No. 30 to Contract No. 99-376 with the County of San Bernardino for law enforcement services in the City of Needles and increase appropriations by $172,195 for the Sheriff's contract and $25,000 for overtime funded with $197,195 of General Fund reserves.
Item 13 continued to November 12, 2025.
14. Recommend City Council acknowledge the findings of the October 20, 2025 Visitor Center Committee meeting, defer pursuit of California Welcome Center certification due to cost and sustainability considerations, and direct staff to focus on leveraging the existing Visitor Center and the City’s marketing partnership to promote Needles during the Route 66 Centennial and attract visitors to the Colorado River Valley region.
City Manager Patrick Martinez gave staff report.
Council discussion ensued. Several Council members expressed their desire to revisit this issue at a later time when financially feasible.
Council reached a consensus to follow staff recommendation to defer pursuit of a California Welcome Center due to cost and sustainability concerns and focus on leveraging the existing marketing partnership with the Visitor Center to promote the City of Needles.
Mayor Jernigan opened public comment at 6:29 pm.
No public comment.
Mayor Jernigan closed Public Comment at 6:29 pm.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT – given by Deputy City Attorney Lena Wade CITY MANAGER REPORT – for the week of October 10, 2025, given by City Manager Patrick Martinez
COUNCIL REQUESTS
Council Member Ford
No requests
Council Member McCorkle
Absent
Vice Mayor Campbell
• Reported on SWAT (Solid Waste Advisory Task force) attendance • Wished everyone a safe and Happy Halloween
• Offered condolences to the family of Officer Anthony Nunez, who was killed in the line of duty.
Council Member Pogue
• Offered condolences to the family of Officer Anthony Nunez, who was killed in the line of duty.
Council Member Belt
• Wished everyone a safe and Happy Halloween
Council Member Longbrake
No requests
Mayor Jernigan
• Reported on her and Vice Mayor Campbell’s participation in the Fort Mojave Days Parade • Reported on SBCTA Executive Director Carrie Schindler’s visit to Needles • November 8 Veterans’ Day Pancake Breakfast is in El Garces ADJOURNMENT – Mayor Jernigan adjourned the meeting at 6:45 PM ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Mayor Janet Jernigan City Clerk Candace Clark
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the meeting held on the 28th day of October
2025, by the City Council of the City of Needles.
Candace Clark, CPMC, CMC
City Clerk of the City of Needles