Needles council urges Palo Verde College to expand in-person and workforce programs

The Needles City Council on Jan. 14 adopted a resolution urging Palo Verde Community College to expand career-technical education and in-person services at its Needles campus, saying the goal is to boost workforce opportunities locally.

The resolution, passed unanimously, asks the college to prioritize workforce programs such as nursing, HVAC, plumbing and construction trades; to explore childcare services; and to form a community advising task force to help shape the campus’s plans. Council members and speakers emphasized the request is a statement of local priorities and not a directive to transfer additional city funds to the college.

Why it matters: City leaders and residents told the council the Needles campus has been underused despite district spending and local need for job-training programs. Supporters said stronger on-site courses, better marketing and a formal role for local advisors could keep more students in the community and feed local employers.

At the meeting, Rick Daniels, who brought the agenda item forward as a community advocate and former city manager, framed the resolution as a “call to action” to Palo Verde leadership. John McNeil, a Palo Verde Community College board member, told the council Needles “needs to speak with one voice” about expectations for the campus and asked the college to include local representation on its planning task force.

Jacqueline Randall, dean for the Needles site, described recent steps taken at the campus and the technical work still under way: “We’ve literally spent over a million dollars on revamping our equipment between the two campuses for the purpose of actually being able to IT livestream classes between the two locations,” she said, noting that some programs must still go through state certification processes.

Council members pressed for clarity on what the resolution requests and whether it required city funding. Staff and supporters repeatedly said the resolution is a statement of support that asks the college and the district to act, and that the council was not authorizing new city expenditures for the campus at this time.

The council also approved a small wording amendment to the draft: language about a proposed childcare facility was changed to encourage the college to “collaborate with community stakeholders” rather than naming the city itself as a required partner.

The resolution was placed before the Palo Verde board as formal local feedback. Supporters at the meeting included local residents, college trustees and campus staff; several speakers urged increased outreach to Needles high school students and veterans, and stronger marketing to nearby Arizona communities that might choose California courses.

The council’s action formally records the city’s expectation that the college increase in-person workforce offerings, coordinate with local stakeholders and report back through district channels. No binding appropriation or contractual commitment by the city was made as part of the vote.

The city manager and staff said they would transmit the resolution to Palo Verde Community College and request that the district include local representatives on its task force and follow up with the council on progress.

The matter was approved by unanimous vote.