– Topics –
- Work Session
- City Council
– Work Session –
Police Department Annual Update
Deputy Chief Jerry Mott, who was recently selected to become the new Chief of Police in Dallas Oregon, will present the Police Department’s annual report.
The report will cover statistics on police daily activity, department vehicles and their mileage, staffing, and planning for the future.
- Did you know?
- There are 21 vehicles in the Dallas Police Department
- 12 – Patrols
- 4 – Criminal Investigations
- 5 – Administration
- There are 21 vehicles in the Dallas Police Department
What will happen? No action will be taken. This report is to give information to the Council.
Dallas Tree Management Plan
The Council will learn about the Dallas Tree Management Plan from Administrative Services Manager, Jennifer Ward. City staff and the Dallas Parks Advisory Board (which also functions as the City’s Tree Advisory Board) worked on the plan throughout 2024.
What is the plan? “The Dallas Tree Management Plan provides a framework to inventory, maintain, protect, and enhance the City’s tree canopy.” – Dallas Tree Management Plan, Mission Statement
The plan also shares how the community benefits from trees. Benefits like cleaner air, lower energy costs for homes, calming traffic, and raising property values.
… trees are an important part of the town’s landscape – along streets, near buildings, in parks and especially flanking Rickreall Creek which bisects the town. Oregon ash, cottonwood, white oak, Douglas fir, western red cedar and bigleaf maple are among the tree species native to Dallas.
Dallas Tree Management Plan, Executive Summary, pg. 28 of the work session packet
What will happen? No action will be taken on this item, just sharing information to the Council.
– City Council –
Introductions, Recognitions, Proclamations
Arbor Day Proclamation
Mayor Slack will read the Dallas Arbor Day Proclamation, to help celebrate National Arbor Day which is April 25. The city however, will be celebrating with a day full of activities on Saturday, April 26th 2025.
PUBLIC HEARING
La Creole Node Master Plan Update
In an effort to “accommodate the growing population and enhance the economic potential of the region” (staff report, pg. 5 council agenda), the City Council will hold a Public Hearing on The La Creole Node Master Plan (The La Creole Plan).
The Dallas Planning Commission held a Public Hearing and unanimously passed The La Creole Plan on March 13th, 2025. You can learn more about the node at the project website.
- What’s inside The La Creole Node Plan?
- 90 acres for commercial development
- 39.4 acres for medium-density residential
- 32.9 acres for high-density residential
- 29.94 acres for public right-of-way
- But wait, there’s more
- green spaces
- amenities
- infrastructure improvements
We need a 2nd grocery store! Yes, and The La Creole Plan will create new commercial space needed for 1 or more new grocery stores.
What will happen? On Monday the Council will hold a public hearing to receive testimony from the public on The La Creole Plan.
After the hearing, the Council can vote for 3 items that begin the implementation of the The La Creole Plan. This begins 1 of 3 phases for the full project.
- The Council can vote on:
- Adoption of the La Creole Node Master Plan (Exhibit B.1, shown above)
- Adoption of the amended Dallas Comprehensive Plan Map (Exhibit B.2, shown above)
- Adoption of the amended portions of the Dallas Comprehensive Plan (Exhibit D) pg. 35-114 of the council agenda.
Looking in the future: Phase 2 will have separate sets of public notices, hearings, and appeal rights when it begins. A draft of the work for this phase is listed as Attachment C in the council agenda, pg. 18-34.
Phase 3 will be the annexing and rezoning of individual or groups of parcels to match The La Creole Plan. This timing will be driven by development.
Public Comment
This is your time to speak to your City Council, Mayor, and city staff.
Consent Agenda
This is a quick action, meant to pass routine procedural items.
What’s on the consent agenda?
- Approve the March 17, 2025 Work Session Meeting Minutes
- Approve the March 17, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
Whoa, slow down! If any Councilor has a question, issue, or wants to discuss something, they can “pull” the item from the consent agenda. This would give everyone time to talk specifically about that item.
Mayor and council Reports
This is a time for Councilors and the Mayor to speak about any item they would like.
City Manager report
Budget Committee Appointment
There is 1 vacancy on the Budget Committee and the Council now has an application to fill that spot. In January, the council approved all 3 candidates for the 4 open positions.
The committee’s members are selected by the Council, without recommendation from the Mayor.
What will happen? The Council can vote to appoint the 4th member to the committee. If approved they will serve until Dec. 2026.
Council Goals
This past February, the Council met to set goals in a session led by SSW Consulting. The final report from that meeting is complete and ready to review.
Action Items to meet the goals:
- Community Safety
- Secure funding, complete design, and build new police station
- Conduct community education and outreach on police station bond measure
- Plan for the future needs of fire response with projected community growth (e.g., Increased height of buildings and access; updates to training and fire code, etc.)
- Improve public outreach with community organizations to support community disaster preparedness
- Increase lighting in parks
- Increase community-led crime prevention efforts (e.g. neighborhood outreach, community partners)
- Balanced Economy
- Adopt the La Creole Master Plan
- Solicit and secure development partner for 791 Main Street Building
- Attract businesses to Dallas
- Complete rezoning for La Creole Node within City limits
- Continue business-friendly environment to support development of local economy
- Develop and adopt the Mill Site development plan
- Community Growth
- Obtain water storage rights permit
- Complete design for Mercer Dam
- Identify and secure funding for Mercer Dam
- Update Transportation System Plan
- Complete phase 2 of sewer access for La Creole Node
- Update Water Master Plan
- Update Sewer Master Plan
- Complete construction of the new Public Works building
- Design and build James Howe Road Water Storage
- Update Storm Water Master Plan
- Complete filter upgrade at the water treatment plant
- Update Parks Master Plan
- Conduct space planning analysis to inform renovation recommendations to increase efficiency at City Hall
- Welcoming Community
- Attract businesses to support recreation tourism
- Develop 2050 Community Vision
- Partner with local and regional organizations to promote tourism in Dallas
- Recreation
- Connect the trail system
- Increase promotion of recreation opportunities (activity guide, social media, etc.)
- Support more community events through community partnerships
- Update Parks Master Plan
- Increase breadth of recreation opportunities for all ages
- Explore development code revision to prioritize larger park space with new developments
View the entire Goals & Action Report in the council agenda, pg. 122-143.
What will happen? The Council can vote to adopt their 2025-2027 goals.
Godsey Road Funding Agreement Amendment
A large portion of SE Godsey Road could be reconstructed thanks to an amendment of a 2017 agreement with Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
What happened to the 2017 agreement? The original agreement would have reconstructed the entire road (Miller Ave. to Monmouth Cutoff Road), but lost critical funding from Business Oregon when a new industry didn’t move in and build on the road.
Without those additional funds and with rising project costs, the city didn’t have enough money to complete the project.
Now, city staff has negotiated a new amendment with ODOT. The original agreement’s money can be used for reconstruction of a portion of Godsey Road. The portion targeted is from SE Olive Street to Monmouth Cutoff Road.
- Follow the money
- 1.4 million from ODOT
- The original 2017 agreement amount
- 1.7 million from the city Streets System Development Charges (SDCs)
- 1.4 million from ODOT
What is a SDC? “System Development Charges (SDCs) are one-time fees charged on new development” – Dallas City website. These funds can only be used for expansion and development. The funds can’t be used to maintain or fix things. This project is a reconstruction which qualifies to use SDCs.
- The road reconstruction will include:
- a new and wider road surface
- bike lane
- storm drains
- curbs
- sidewalks
- ADA ramps
- street lighting
What about the bridge? The new amendment will remove Godsey Bridge from the project. The bridge will be a separate project.
The cost of the bridge alone is projected to be $2.5 million. The Local Agency Bridge Selection Committee (an ODOT committee) recommended the Godsey Bridge be listed in ODOT’s FY2027-30 Statewide Transportation Plan (STIP). The STIP will need to be adopted to make the listing official.
What will happen? The Council can vote to approve the City Manager to sign the amendment to the 2017 agreement. If approved, construction could begin in Summer 2026.
Ordinance reading
No. 1907 – Exception to city water to a property outside the city limits
The property owner of 2255 Elliott Rd. is asking for an exception to the city code regarding access to city water. Properties outside city limits require an agreement to have access to city water. This property is outside of Dallas city limits and has access to city water but no agreement.
How did that happen? The city has provided water to this property for decades. While it is believed a water agreement previously existed for this property, there is no current record.
The property owner is asking for a formal agreement now. They plan to close the water account, but want the right to open again in the future.
What will happen? The Council can pass the 1st reading of the ordinance. If passed, the 2nd reading is scheduled for April 21, 2025.
RESOLUTIONS
No. 3546 – Amendments to the Dallas City Council Rules of Procedure
The Administration Committee (a sub-committee of the Council) is recommending updates and changes to the Council Rules of Procedure.
- What are the changes?
- Related to use of electronic devices during Council Meetings
- Adding Section 6.6
- Summary – use of electronic devices is discouraged
- Adding Section 6.6
- Public Comment to only require speakers state whether they live within Dallas city limits
- Changing 7.6 (e)
- Outlining a procedure to fill a council vacancy
- Adding Section 13
- Summary – Closely follows the process followed in Jan. 2025 to fill the vacancy.
- Seek applicants
- Complete applications and written answers to pre-selected questions
- Applicants present to the Council individually
- Council votes to appoint someone
- Summary – Closely follows the process followed in Jan. 2025 to fill the vacancy.
- All changes can be reviewed on pg. 189-190 of the council agenda
- Adding Section 13
- Related to use of electronic devices during Council Meetings
What will happen? The Council can vote to approve the resolution and implement the changes above.
– More Information –
Learn more: View the entire work session and council meeting packet for a lot more information!
Attend the meeting: Come attend the city council meeting in person! On Monday, April 7th, 2025. Work session starts at 6:00 pm and city council starts at 7:00 pm, at the City Hall in downtown Dallas, Oregon. You are free to come and leave whenever during the meeting.
Livestream the meeting: You can watch the livestream on the City’s Youtube page.
Speak to your city council: Everyone is welcome to speak to your city council, for 3 minutes towards the beginning of the meeting.
Congratulations! You just summarized 247 pages. What city park will you visit this week?
