The Needles City Council on Dec. 10 approved several measures intended to clear the way for local infrastructure work, manage public art and secure access to a city substation.

After staff described negotiations with the Rio Buena Vista homeowners association, the council authorized the city manager to execute a nonbinding memorandum of understanding that paves the way for Rio Buena Vista to study forming an assessment district to pay for bringing private infrastructure up to city standards. City staff told the council the HOA would first secure its membership, obtain estimates and, if approved by that community, the costs would be bundled into an assessment district and financed by bond. The council voted to authorize the city manager to execute the MOU.

On a separate matter, the council adopted ordinance 671-b to regulate a new graffiti art wall at DuPont (Duque Watkins) Park. Staff said the ordinance limits where the wall may be used, prohibits hate speech and pornographic material and allows staff to repaint the wall periodically. Staff also noted the wall is part of a grant-funded project that includes a school-district partnership. Members of the public compared the proposal to established managed graffiti spaces such as Venice Beach and stressed outreach to youth. The council added an amendment directing the city to paint the wall from time to time and approved the ordinance by roll call.

The council also authorized a real-estate purchase and sale agreement to obtain a small portion of land (APN 185-091-4T) needed for access to a city substation for a total not to exceed $7,500 ($5,000 purchase plus $2,500 administrative costs), citing previous boundary irregularities dating to the 1990s. Staff said the purchase prevents a future landowner from blocking access to the substation.

Other actions: council adopted resolution 2024-45 certifying the Nov. 5 election results and acknowledged that Measure O (an alternative cannabis cultivation square-footage tax) passed at about 73% of the vote; it also adopted resolution 2024-47 prioritizing roughly $7,900 in Community Development Block Grant funds for senior transportation in FY2025–26. The council proceeded with multiple appointments to the planning commission and parks & recreation commission and received reports from the city attorney and clerk on legal issues, records modernization and conflict-of-interest rules.

Statements: City Manager Rick Daniel described the Rio Buena Vista MOU as a ‘good faith’ step that lets the HOA pursue an assessment district process and noted the city would assume responsibility for utilities only once those systems meet city standards. In explaining the substation parcel purchase, staff noted the amount requested would correct a historical omission and give the city critical access to utility infrastructure.

Next steps: staff will proceed under the MOU process if the Rio Buena Vista HOA pursues an assessment district; the graffiti wall will be implemented under the adopted code section with periodic maintenance by city staff; staff will finalize the land purchase and execute required documents.