-Topics-
-Work Session-
Library annual report
Mark Greenhalgh-Johnson is the Library Director for the City of Dallas and will present the Library’s annual report to the City Council. Over the last year, the Library has seen a rise in use with 2% more library card holders and a 5% increase in check outs.
The report will detail many activities put on by the Library aimed for all ages (kids activities, teen nights, and adult events). The Council will be shown the new book display tables, and will learn about the first Dallas Library Con.
What will happen? The Council will get information from the report but no official action will take place.
-City Council-
Introductions, Recognitions, Proclamations
None.
Public Comment
This is your time to speak to your City Council, & Mayor. Each person has up to 3 minutes to speak.
Consent Agenda
The consent agenda is used to pass procedural items. If any Councilor has a question, or wants to discuss something, they can pull the item to discuss.
What’s on the consent agenda?
- Approve the November 17, 2025 Work Session Meeting Minutes
- Approve the November 17, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
Please note, this item was not listed on the published agenda but due to procedure will likely still happen.
Mayor and council Reports
This is a time for Councilors and the Mayor to give any reports.
City Manager report
Planning Commission appointment
There is a vacancy on the Dallas Planning Commission. The Mayor is recommending Scott Whyte to the Council for appointment. Whyte’s application for the commission can be found on page 4-6 of the council agenda.
Did you know? According to the City Municipal Code no more than 2 commissioners can be in the same kind of business, occupation, trade or profession. Currently, there is 1 other commission who is a land use planner. Whyte would make the 2nd land use planner on the commission.
What will happen? The Council can review and vote to approve the Mayor’s recommendation of Whyte to the Planning Commission.
City of Dallas lien docket
In a previous meeting regarding weed abatement, the Council asked to review the current list of liens the city has placed on properties. The full docket list is being provided for the Council’s review (pg 8-9 of the council agenda).
- Quick Facts:
- 25 total liens
- 1 in 2023
- 7 in 2024
- 17 in 2025
- $1,800 – highest single lien
- 5 – highest # of liens for 1 property
- 9% – all liens carry this interest rate on the balance
- 25 total liens
What will happen? This item is to share information and no official action will likely take place.
City Municipal Code review
Each year new ordinances are passed by the City Council. Over time some of those ordinances become preempted by state or federal law, or the need for the ordinance is no longer present or has changed.
Due to changes over time, city staff will ask the Council if they want to regularly review ordinances in the future and what that process would look like. Staff have also proposed 2 ordinances for consideration to update or eliminate.
- 2 potential ordinances for review
- Section 6.700
- “No person, except a police officer engaged in official duties, shall ride a bicycle, roller skates, scooter, or skateboard on any sidewalk…” in the downtown core area
- Section 9.850
- relates to waiver of Development Fees
- Section 6.700
What will happen? No official action will likely be made. However, the Council will discuss how or if they want to review city ordinances.
James Howe Road water tank property
At the beginning of Nov. the Council discussed and voted to approve a site review of 7 acres on city property off James Howe Road for a potential solar arrays site by Oregon Clean Power Cooperative. Though the site review was approved there is no current agreement for the solar arrays to be built.
After the site review approval, a Dallas resident approached the city asking to buy 7-10 acres of the city land that borders their property off Webb Lane.
Did you know? The city property was originally bought to build a finished water storage tank. The water tank is currently under design. According to the staff report, “only a portion of the property is needed for this purpose, enabling the city to explore other options with the balance of the property.”
With multiple interested parties in the land, city staff will recommend this topic be discussed further in the Council’s Buildings and Grounds Committee (a sub-committee of the Council).
What will happen? No official decision will likely be made. However, the Council will probably send this topic to their Buildings and Grounds Committee for more discussion.
-More Information-
Learn more: View the entire work session packet & city council agenda for a lot more information.
Attend the meeting: Come attend City Council meeting in person. On Monday, Dec. 1st, 2025. Work Session starts at 6:00 pm & City Council starts at 7:00 pm at City Hall in downtown Dallas, Oregon. You are free to come and leave whenever during the meeting.
Livestream: You can watch the livestream on the City’s Youtube page.
Speak to your city council: Everyone is welcome to speak for 3 minutes towards the beginning of the meeting during Public Comment.
Congratulations! You just summarized 58 pages. What was your favorite dish from this weekend?
