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Needles council authorizes ENA with Palm Communities for 40 workforce units, awards $1.37M paving contract and hires finance director
Summary
The council approved an exclusive negotiating agreement with Palm Communities to explore a 40‑unit workforce housing project downtown, awarded a $1,373,796.30 base bid (plus 10% contingency) for Phase 5 of street paving to Vance Corporation, and adopted an employment agreement for Mark D. May as director of finance at $164,279 a year.
The Needles City Council voted to advance several development, infrastructure and personnel actions at its December meeting, approving exclusive negotiations with a housing developer, awarding a major paving contract and confirming a new finance director.
The council adopted a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a nonbinding exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) with Palm Communities to explore development of approximately 40 workforce housing units in downtown Needles. City Manager Patrick Martinez described the ENA as nonbinding and without financial exposure to the city; the ENA, as presented, is set to expire in April 2026.
Council then approved a public‑works agreement awarding the base bid and additive alternate for Phase 5 of the city’s paving improvements to Vance Corporation. The base bid was $1,373,796.30; with a 10% contingency the council authorized a total project budget of $1,511,175.93. Staff said the project is funded through Measure I and the general fund and listed the streets included in the scope.
On personnel, the council adopted a resolution approving an employment agreement for Mark D. May (presented in materials as Mark Demay/Mark D. May) to serve as director of finance and administrative services effective Dec. 9, 2025. The contract sets a salary of $164,279 and includes a $5,000 signing bonus, CalPERS retirement benefits and a severance provision; staff said the position and salary were already budgeted. "We've partnered with executive recruiting and Mark emerged as our clear standout," the city manager said during the presentation.
The meeting also included several routine board and commission appointments: two incumbents (Terry Campbell and Ed Brown) were reappointed to the Board of Public Utilities; three candidates (Michael Wright, Will Bosboom and Alan Cox) were appointed to the Planning Commission; and JR Rodriguez was appointed to the Parks & Recreation Commission. Each appointment was approved by roll call with council members voting in favor.
No council member opposed the major votes; minutes show unanimous roll‑call approvals. Next steps: the city manager will execute the ENA with Palm Communities and staff will finalize and sign the paving contract so construction can begin (city staff estimated work would likely start in February subject to water‑line work and seasonal timing).
