Needles council approves housing grant application, homelessness contract and multiple infrastructure items

The City of Needles council on March 18 approved a set of housing, homelessness and infrastructure actions intended to support local housing production, homelessness outreach and utility reliability.

Council adopted Resolution 2026-7 authorizing an application for Pro Housing Incentive Program funds of up to $520,000 to support potential local workforce housing or motel rehabilitation projects. City Manager Patrick Gibson told the council Needles is a state-designated "pro housing" community and earlier rounds funded 29 workforce units; the new allocation could be used for similar projects.

Gibson said the city previously used $425,000 of earlier Pro Housing dollars to support the River Valley Inn project. "Those dollars helped produce 29 new housing units here in the City of Needles," Gibson said. The resolution passed by roll call vote.

In a separate action, the council accepted a $478,000 well manifold project completed by Phillips Excavating and authorized the city to record a notice of completion with the San Bernardino County Recorder. Gibson told the council the project was fully state-funded and had passed inspection; staff recommended acceptance to preserve system longevity.

The council also approved a recommended repair for a failed Hydromatic 40-horsepower pump at the wastewater treatment plant, not to exceed $20,383.39 from the wastewater asset replacement fund. Gibson said repair was more cost-effective than replacement, which staff estimated could exceed $60,000, and that the repair would add several years of service. "We believe that we're able to repair this one and have a long day," Gibson said, explaining the cost and expected remaining life.

On homelessness services, council approved a professional services agreement, not to exceed $50,000, with Pacific Clinics to provide outreach, case management, housing navigation, transportation assistance and short-term hotel placements for people experiencing homelessness in Needles. Maria (Pacific Clinics) described the local clubhouse and services; Mauricio Cruz said the organization has operated in Needles since 2020 and opened a clubhouse in August 2024.

The council also voted to support extension of Measure I — a half-cent sales/use tax that funds local transportation projects — on the 2026 ballot, and to participate in the San Bernardino Regional Housing Trust JPA to leverage regional funds for workforce housing. Otis Greer, a county transit official, told the council the extension would not raise tax rates and offered to provide jurisdiction-specific revenue figures on request. "The extension of the existing measure doesn't increase taxes at all," Greer said.

Other approvals included routine consent calendar items and authorization for city representatives to attend regional conferences.

Votes at a glance - Repair Hydromatic 40 HP pump (not to exceed $20,383.39): approved (fund: wastewater asset replacement). - Accept Phillips Excavating work and record notice of completion (Well 11–15; $478,000, state-funded): approved. - Adopt Resolution 2026-7 — Pro Housing Incentive Program application (up to $520,000): adopted. - Professional services agreement with Pacific Clinics (up to $50,000 for homeless services): approved. - Adopt Resolution 2026-6 — support Measure I extension: adopted. - Adopt Resolution 2026-8 — participation in San Bernardino Regional Housing Trust JPA: adopted. - Consent calendar items 5–6: approved.

What happens next Staff will submit the Pro Housing application and finalize the Pacific Clinics contract; the city will record the well project notice of completion with the county recorder and proceed with the pump repair under the approved spending authorization. Council also directed staff to provide follow-up information on Measure I revenue share if requested by council members.

Sources: City of Needles council meeting transcript. All quotes attributed to meeting speakers as recorded.