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, MARCH 24, 2026 - COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:00 - CITY COUNCIL MEETING – 6:00 PM CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Jernigan called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm and announced an excused absence for Council Member Belt.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Council Member Larry Ford
Council Member Jamie McCorkle
Vice Mayor Ellen Campbell arrived at 5:02 pm
Mayor Janet Jernigan
Council Member JoAnne Pogue
Council Member Henry Longbrake
ABSENT
Council Member Tona Belt
PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION - None RECESSED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION - 5:02 PM
EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS – Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8 Property within the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe California Village Agency Negotiator: Patrick Martinez, City Manager or designee Negotiating Parties: Fort Mohave Indian Tribe Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment
No reportable action
b. Conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1) Jane Doe v. City of Needles, et al., Superior Court of the County of San Bernardino, Case No. CIVSB2603777
No reportable action
c. Conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation pursuant to Government Code 54956.9(d)(1) 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 and announced an excused absence for Council Member Belt.
ROLL CALL (previously taken, as noted above)
EXECUTIVE SESSION REPORT – Deputy City Attorney Lena Wade gave report as noted above.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - led by Mayor Jernigan
INVOCATION - given by Vice Mayor Campbell
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Council Member Pogue made a motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Campbell, to approve the agenda.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Ford, McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt
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
Elizabeth (?), a student of PVCC spoke about the Board’s position on cancelling the Needles’ graduation ceremony and combining it with the Blythe campus and urged everyone to write letters of opposition.
Jaclyn Randall, Dean of the PVCC Needles Campus, gave an update on the recent 5k run, announcing that they raised $11,000.
Jon McNeil thanked Jaclyn Randall and congratulated her on her recent appointment to the Board of the Hospital in Blythe.
COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Ford made a motion, seconded by Council Member Pogue, to approve items 1-3 on the Consent Calendar.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Ford, McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt
Abstain: None
1. Approved the Warrants Register through March 24, 2026
2. Approved the Minutes of March 10, 2026
3. Accepted and Filed the Treasurer's Report for February 2026
END OF COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR COUNCIL ITEMS
4. Accept Change Order No. 3 to the Design-Build Contract with Pacific Hydrotech Corporation for the Well 11 Treatment Facility project resulting in an increase to the contract in the amount of $69,394.32 for a final contract amount of $6,330,480.22; and authorize staff to execute said Change Order and record the Notice of Completion for the work.
City Manager Martinez gave staff report
Council asked no questions
Mayor Jernigan opened public comment at 6:14pm
No Public Comment
Mayor Jernigan closed public comment at 6:14pm
Council Member Pogue made a motion, seconded by Council Member McCorkle, to Accept Change Order No. 3 to the Design-Build Contract with Pacific Hydrotech Corporation for the Well 11 Treatment Facility project resulting in an increase to the contract in the amount of $69,394.32 for a final contract amount of $6,330,480.22; and authorize staff to execute said Change Order and record the Notice of Completion for the work.
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Ford, McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt
Abstain: None
5. Appoint Three (3) Council Members to Serve on an Ad Hoc Committee to Evaluate Potential Ballot Measures for the November 3, 2026, General Election
City Manager Martinez gave staff report
Council discussion ensued and Mayor Jernigan, Vice Mayor Campbell, and Council Member Longbrake expressed interest in being on the Ad-Hoc committee.
Mayor Jernigan opened public comment at 6:15 pm
No Public Comment
Mayor Jernigan closed public comment at 6:15 pm
Council Member McCorkle made a motion, seconded by Council Member Pogue, to Appoint Mayor Jernigan, Vice Mayor Campbell, and Council Member Longbrake to Serve on an Ad Hoc Committee to Evaluate Potential Ballot Measures for the November 3, 2026, General Election Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Ford, McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt
Abstain: None
6. Approve Agreement with Hinderliter, de Llamas and Associates (HdL) for Sales and Use Tax Audit and Information Services and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the Agreement City Manager Martinez gave staff report
Council asked no questions
Mayor Jernigan opened public comment at 6:17 pm
No Public Comment
Mayor Jernigan closed public comment at 6:17 pm
Vice Mayor Campbell made a motion, seconded by Council Member Ford, to Approve Agreement with Hinderliter, de Llamas and Associates (HdL) for Sales and Use Tax Audit and Information Services and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the Agreement
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Ford, McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt
Abstain: None
7. Appoint a delegate to the San Bernardino Regional Housing Trust (SBRHT) to serve as the City of Needles representative on the Board of Directors
City Manager Martinez gave staff report
Council discussion ensued. Mayor Jernigan requested to be appointed as the delegate.
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, seconded by Council Member Ford, to Appoint Mayor Jernigan as the delegate to the San Bernardino Regional Housing Trust (SBRHT) to serve as the City of Needles representative on the Board of Directors
Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Council Members Ford, McCorkle, Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Members Pogue, Longbrake Noes: None
Absent: Council Member Belt
Abstain: None
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT – given by Deputy City Attorney Lena Wade CITY CLERK REPORT – given by City Clerk Candace Clark
CITY MANAGER REPORT – given by City Manager Patrick Martinez
COUNCIL REQUESTS
Council Member Ford
x Reported that the flashing stop sign on G and Broadway is not aligned and cars are not stopping Council Member McCorkle
x Asked staff to provide an overview of water infrastructure improvements Vice Mayor Campbell
x Spoke about the status of Palo Verde Community College’s Needles Campus and spoke against combining the graduation ceremonies
x Thanked staff for fixing the sidewalks on Front Street, and asked staff to repaint the bar at the underpass x Thanked Jan for her hard work and the success of the Resource and Job Fair x Reported on upcoming events and encouraged everyone to support the Rodeo x Wished everyone a Happy Easter
Council Member Pogue
x Participated in the recent blood drive
x Requested staff look into daylight savings time and adopt the same time zone as Arizona x Keep Palo Verde Needles Campus open
Council Member Longbrake
x Agreed with JoAnne - Keep Palo Verde Needles Campus open x Santa Fe Park cement work looks good, but there is a section of lights out Mayor Jernigan
x Thanked Public Works and Kathy Raasch for holding the ATP event at the Resource Fair x Reported on the success of the Resource Fair
x Thanked Henry and KTOX for being a part of the Resource Fair x Reported on the upcoming Art in the Park, Craft Fair, Rodeo, and Easter Egg Hunt ADJOURNMENT – Mayor Jernigan adjourned the meeting at 6:46 PM ________________________________________
City Clerk Candace Clark
________________________________________
Mayor Janet Jernigan
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the meeting held on the 24th day of March, 2026, and approved by the City Council of the City of Needles on April 14, 2026 Candace Clark, CPMC, CMC
City Clerk of the City of Needles