All correspondence should be addressed to:

City of Needles
817 Third Street
Needles, CA 92363
Phone: (760) 326-2113
Facsimile: (760) 326-6765
Email: info@cityofneedles.com

Charter City

The City of Needles was founded in 1883 and incorporated October 30, 1913. A city is created only at the request, and with the consent of its residents. The people met the requirements for charter established by the State of California for incorporation, thus Needles is a charter city. The authority provided in the state constitution to organize as a charter city is extended only to an existing city. Although general law cities now have nearly equal powers, charters are adopted by cities where special conditions create needs that cannot be adequately met by the state's general laws. An advantage of the charter form of government stems from the potential breadth of local authority that may be exercised. Since the powers of a charter city are not restricted to only those outlined in the general state municipal law, a city can adopt a charter and custom-tailor its organization and elective offices to provide for unique local conditions and needs. A charter can only be adopted or changed by a majority vote of city residents--not by a vote of the city council. Citizens can establish the terms and number of council members and impose other limitations upon their city council through a charter provision.

Needles has a Council-Manager form of government.

Click on links below for more information on each department.

Chief of the Fire Department
(760) 326-2833
Email: ndlsfiredept@cityofneedles.com

The Chief of the Fire Department shall have the power and be required to:

• Act as the head of the fire department and supervise all matters relating to the prevention and extinguishing of fires and the protection of all property impaired thereby
• Make frequent inspections of all property within the city to ensure fire prevention regulations
• Exercise authority during the time of a fire exercise over the site involved, and over all persons in the immediate vicinity of the fire during such time, including policemen.
• Perform such other duties consistent with the Charter as may be required of him/her by ordinance or resolution of the council

The City of Needles contracts with the San Bernardino Fire Department for fire protection services.

Chief of Police Department
(760) 326-9200
Email: ndlspolice@cityofneedles.com

The Chief of Police shall have the power and be required to:

• Act as the head of the police department, preserve the public peace, and enforce all ordinances of the city
• Execute and return all process issued and directed by him/her by legal authority
• Exercise all the powers and enjoy all the same protections that are now, and may hereafter be conferred upon sheriffs and other police officers by the general laws of the state with respect to the suppression of riot, public tumult, disturbance of the peace, or resistance against the laws or public authorities in the legal exercise of their functions
• Perform such other duties consistent with the Charter as may be required of him/her by ordinance or resolution of the council

The City of Needles contracts with San Bernardino County Sheriff's office for law enforcement.

City Attorney
(760) 326-2113

The City Attorney provides legal services to the City Council, City Departments, and City committees. He or she is responsible for the preparation and review of all City ordinances, resolutions, contracts, agreements and other legal documents. The City Attorney also represents the City in litigation matters involving the City. The City of Needles contracts with the law firm of Best Best & Krieger, LLP for City Attorney services.

City Clerk
(760) 326-2113
Email: ndlsclerk@cityofneedles.com

The City Clerk is appointed by the City Council, and is responsible for meeting the many legally mandated requirements defined by California law and the City Charter

Primary areas of responsibility include:

• Prepare agendas and attend all meetings of the City Council and record and maintain a full and true record of all the proceedings.
• Maintain separate books for ordinances and resolutions
• Maintain separate books for all written contracts and official bonds
• Be the custodian of the seal of the city. Administer oaths and affirmations, take affidavits and depositions pertaining to the affairs and business of the city
• Have charge of all city elections
• Be ex-officio assessor on an ad-hoc basis
• Perform such other duties consistent with the Charter as may be required by council

City Council
c/o City Hall (760) 326-2113

The City Council is comprised of six Needles residents elected at large serving alternating four-year terms. The mayor is elected for a two-year term. The mayor chairs the City Council meetings and represents the City at public functions. The Vice-Mayor serves in the Mayor's absence. The Council selects the Vice-Mayor for a two-year term, although he or she serves four years on the Council. The City Council Members do not keep regular office hours.

City Hall
(760) 326-2113

City Manager
(760) 326-2113
Email: ndlscity@cityofneedles.com

The City Manager is the Chief Administrative Officer of the city government. Except as otherwise provided in the City Charter, he shall be responsible to the council for the proper administration of all affairs of the city. The City Manager has the power and is required to:

• Be responsible for administrative policy formulation
• Participate in Council deliberations
• Control, order and give direction to all employees of the City
• Appoint, remove, promote/demote, suspend and remove, all department heads, officers and employees
• Conduct and affect administrative reorganization of offices, positions, and units of the City
• Prepare the budget annually, submit it to council, and be responsible for its administration after its adoption
• At the end of the fiscal year, prepare and submit to council a complete report of the finances and administration activities of the city for the preceding fiscal year.
• Keep the council advised of the financial conditions and future needs of the city and make such recommendations as appropriate
• Establish a centralized purchasing system for all city officers, departments, and agencies
• Prepare rules and regulations governing the contracting for purchasing, inspection. storing, inventory, distribution or disposal of all supplies, materials and equipment required by any office, department or agency of the city government and recommend them to council for adoption by ordinance.
• See that the laws of the state pertaining to the city, the provisions of the City Charter and the ordinances, franchises and rights of the city are enforced.
• Make appropriate investigations into the affairs of the city, department or division of the city on any contract, or the proper performance of any obligation running to the city.
• Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the City Charter or required of him by the Council, which duties are not inconsistent with the City Charter.

City Treasurer
c/o City Hall (760) 326-2113

The City Treasurer shall have the power and be required to:

• Receive all taxes, assessments, license fees, and other revenues of the city, or for whose collection the city is responsible.
• Receive all taxes or other money receivable by the city from the county, state and federal government, or others.
• Have custody of all public funds belonging to or under the custody of the city, or any office, department or agency of the city government and deposit all funds coming into his/her hands into such depository as may be designated by resolution of the council.
• Disburse moneys on warrants in the manner provided for in the Charter.
• Prepare and submit to the director of finance monthly written reports of all the receipts, disbursements and fund balances.
• Perform such other duties consistent with the Charter as may be required of him/her by ordinance or resolution of the council

Community Development - Building and Safety
(760) 326-5740

Specific Areas of Responsibility are:

• Plan review
• Building inspections

Community Development - Code Enforcement
(760) 326-4952

The goal of the Code Enforcement Officer is to achieve compliance by practicing best management practices and techniques available to us. Our task is not punitive in nature. We seek to obtain voluntary compliance whenever possible. The bottom line task of the Code Enforcement Officer is to enforce the provision of City Ordinances and procedures.

Specific areas of responsibility are:

• Health/welfare concerns
• Illegal Signs
• Illegal Businesses

Community Development - Planning
( 760) 326-5740

The Planning Division develops and implements programs that guide the City's growth and development. The Division also preserves and enhances the aesthetic character of the community, and provides staff support for the City's Redevelopment Authority and the City Council.

Areas of responsibility include:

• Zoning information and ordinance amendments
• Processing of development proposals, site plans & design reviews, environment reviews, sub-divisions, conditional use permits, and variances.
• General Plan development and implementation
• Signs

Community Development - Public Works & Engineering
(760) 326-5740
Email: ndlsgis@cityofneedles.com

These services include storm water drainage, street maintenance and repair, engineering services for public development, transportation, and park and facility maintenance.

Main areas of responsibility include:

• Management of street sweeping and trash pick-up, solid waste disposal, and recycling contracts
• Management of design and construction of major projects
• Review of public improvement plans
• Inspection of all capital improvement projects
• Traffic signs and signals
• Painting of street and curb markings
• Lot line adjustments
• Bond release
• Storm Water management and NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System)
• Compliance
• Transportation programs & traffic circulation issues
• Encroachment Permit processing
• Graffiti removal

Customer Service Center
(760) 326-5700
ndlsbilling@cityofneedles.com

Director of Finance
(760) 326-2115

The Director of Finance shall have the power and shall be required to:

• Have charge of the administration of the financial affairs of the city under the direction of the City Manager, and be head of the finance department of the city.
• Compile the budget expense and income estimates for the City Manager
• Maintain a general accounting system for the city government and each of its offices, departments and agencies
• Supervise and be responsible for the disbursement of all moneys and have control of all expenditures to insure that budget appropriations are not exceeded; audit all purchase orders before issuance, audit and approve before payment all bills, invoices, payrolls, demands or charges against the city government and, with the advice of the City Attorney when in doubt as to the legality or correctness of such claims, demands, or charges
• See that all taxes, assessments, license fees and other revenues of the city, or for whose collection the city is responsible, and all other money receivable by the city from county, state or the federal government, or from any court, office, department, or agency of the city are collected
• Submit to the council through the City Manager, a monthly statement of all receipts and disbursements in sufficient detail to show the exact accounting condition of the city; and, at the end of each fiscal year, submit a complete financial statement and report
• Supervise the keeping of current inventories of all the property of the city by all city departments, offices and agencies
• Perform such other duties consistent with the Charter as may be required of him/her by ordinance or resolution of the council

Director of Public Utilities ("Utilities General Manager")
(760) 326-5700

The Director of Public Utilities shall have the power and be required to:

• Be the head of the department of public utilities
• Supervise and be responsible for the construction of all public utilities and the care and maintenance of those assets and facilities
• Supervise and be responsible for the administration, maintenance and operation of all public utilities owned and operated by the city, including, but not limited to the municipal water system
  
• Perform such other duties consistent with the Charter as may be required of him/her by ordinance or resolution of the council

Municipal Aquatic Center
(760) 326-2814

The Needles Aquatic Center was dedicated in 1990. It contains a 25-foot competition size swimming pool, a 2 story high corkscrew slide that empties into a 3 and one half-foot separate pool, and a kiddy pool with fountain. There is a park within the complex, complete with shade trees, picnic tables/benches and barbecue stands.

The Needles Municipal Aquatic Center is also available for private rentals: a fun alternative for birthday parties, athletic team functions, and family get-togethers.
Call the pool for prices and available times (760) 326-2814.

Municipal Golf Course
(760) 326-3931
Email: ttimesngc@citlink.net

The Needles Municipal Golf Course is a very user-friendly course that may even be enjoyed by the relatively new player to the sport. Yet the 6,506-yard par 71 layout (at an elevation of 450 feet) is a test for even the seasoned player. The golf course is owned and operated by the City of Needles and maintained with a high degree of pride of ownership. Many first time visitors to the course have been pleasantly surprised to find such a fine municipal golf course. The pro is J. C. Bacon, who holds the course record with a 60 par!

Parks Maintenance
(760) 326-2814
Email: ndlspkrc@cityofneedles.com

The Parks Department maintains, improves, protects, and develops the City's parks, Municipal Cemetery, Municipal Golf Course and building facilities for the benefit and enjoyment of the community. We believe that attractive public open spaces and well-maintained parks help to make Needles a better place to live, and encourages civic pride. Our staff continually strives to provide the community the highest quality and level of service possible.

Recreation Use

As we are all becoming more aware of the importance of positive leisure alternatives for our children's personal and social development, many often overlook the need for recreational experiences for adults.

The Needles Recreation Department recognizes the value and importance of providing a variety of recreational opportunities for all ages. These opportunities are the pathway that lead to enhancing the quality of life for individuals in our community.

We invite you to explore the recreational opportunities in your neighborhood and experience the benefits they provide. These web pages give a brief overview of what is available to you, your friends and your family. Hope to see you soon!
The City has approximately 40 acres of grass and parkland (exclusive of the Municipal Golf Course). Following is a list of some of the parks, their acreage, and their respective purposes:

Service Center for the Wastewater and Water Filtration Plant
(760) 326-5700

Utility Administration Support/Purchasing
(760) 326-5946
Email: ndlsadm@cityofneedles.com