-Topics-
- Work Session
- City Council
-Work Session-
Economic & Community Development Annual Report
The Council will hear part 2 of the annual report for the Economic & Community Development Department. Charlie Mitchell, the Department’s Director, will cover the divisions of Building, Economic Development, and Urban Renewal.
The Building Division helps enforce the building code for the city. This is done by reviewing building plans, inspecting construction work sites, and helping explain the code to people.
The goal of the Economic Development Division is to help bring new business to Dallas and grow businesses already here. Statistics and reports on the health of businesses in Dallas will be shared with the Council.
Lastly, the Urban Renewal Division is focused on helping to encourage private investment in specific district zones. Projects like 791 Main Street, and The Mill Site will be discussed.
Part 1 of the Department’s report was given in the last work session and it focused on the Planning, Code Services, and Historic Preservation Divisions.
What will happen? The Council will get the annual report from this department and be able to ask questions. No official action will take place.
-City Council-
Introductions, Recognitions, Proclamations
None.
PUBLIC HEARING
Amendment to the Development Code – Indoor Recreation
A Public Hearing will be held on changing the city Development Code to create a new land use category of “Indoor Recreation”.
This proposal would allow business like gymnasiums, athletic or health clubs, dance or martial arts studios, game halls, and arcades to operate in more zones than is currently allowed. Right now, these businesses are only allowed in commercial zones. This change would allow them in Industrial and Residential zones, with some conditions.
The Planning Commission previously held a Public Hearing on this topic and then vote in favor of its approved. The Council also discussed this topic back in Nov 2025.
What is a Public Hearing? A Public Hearing allows people and organizations to offer official comment on proposals or projects. Comments should focus on how the proposal does or does not follow the Dallas Comprehensive Plan (Volume I & Volume II) and the Oregon Statewide Planning Goals.
What will happen? A Public Hearing will be held and the Council can vote to adopt. If approved, the changes will come back to the Council in the future as an ordinance to be read 2 times.
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?
- OLCC License for Dallas Liquor – pg. 13
- Approve the January 20, 2026 Work Session Minutes – pg. 16
- Approve the January 20, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes – pg. 17
Mayor and council Reports
This is a time for Councilors and the Mayor to give any reports.
City Manager report
Solid Waste Rates Discussion
Republic Services (Republic) is the company responsible for picking up garbage, yard debris, and recycling in the City of Dallas. They have requested a 3% increase to their rates for 2026. The Council will discuss and decide whether to approve any or all of the requested rate increase.
- How much is a 3% rate increase?
- per month increase for Residential customers
- $0.79 – 20 gallon cart
- $0.84 – 32 gallon cart
- $1.07 – 64 gallon cart
- $1.30 – 90 gallon cart
- per month increase for Residential customers
In Dec. 2024, the Council narrowly voted to approve the garbage rate increase for 2025. At the time, several Councilors asked to get more information from Republic on the data behind factors that go into rate increases.
More recently, in Oct 2025, the Council took no action on Republic’s rate increase request. It was decided at the time that there would be no discussion until Republic provided the previously requested information about rate methodology.
That information has now been provided by Republic. The Public Administration Committee (standing committee of the Council) met with 2 representatives from Republic to discuss the information in a meeting earlier this month.
Learn more: Watch the Public Administration Committee meeting and their discussion with Republic on YouTube (topic starts at 41:00).
Included in the information Republic provided to the Council is a Schedule of Direct Expenses (pg. 45) and a Statement of Income (pg. 46). Expenses show a 2023 to 2024 increase of 11% in operation costs and 26% increase in Sales, General, and Administrative expenses. The Income Statement shows a 22.2% increase in Net Income from 2023 to 2024.
What will happen? The Council can discuss and vote on a rate increase, if any. If an increase is approved this item would come back to the Council as a resolution on Feb. 17, 2026.
ORDINANCES
No. 1918 – allow for the reservation of the shelter at Barnard Park
The Council will have a 2nd reading of the ordinance to add the new picnic shelter at John C. Barnard Park to the city’s reservation system. The Council will then vote on this ordinance.
The Parks and Tree Advisory Board considered additional shelters throughout the city but chose to only recommend adding Barnard Park’s shelter to the reservation system.
- Currently available for reservation
- Seibert-Frederickson Memorial Shelter – Dallas City Park
- The Gazebo – Dallas City Park
- Brandvold Kitchen – Dallas City Park
- Rotary Performing Arts Stage – Rotary Park
- Recommended addition
- New Shelter – John C. Barnard Park
What will happen? The Council will have their 2nd reading of the ordinance. A vote to approve will then be held. If it passes, the ordinance will be effective on March 4, 2026.
RESOLUTIONS
No. 3559 – Repealing Resolution No. 3424
In 2019, Resolution No. 3424 set a 15 minute parking time limit on Washington Street’s north side next to the old dry-cleaners. Since then, a new business owner has set up at the address and would like to have the parking time limit changed back to 2 hours.
Resolution No 3559, will repeal the old time limit on these parking spaces, making them 2 hours.
What will happen? The Council will vote on whether to change the parking time limit from 15 minutes to 2 hours on a section of Washington Street’s north side. If approved, it would be effective immediately.
-More Information-
Learn more: View the entire work session agenda & city council agenda for a lot more information.
Attend the meeting: Come attend City Council meeting in person. On Monday, Feb. 2nd, 2026. 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 77 pages. What local Dallas business did you shop at last week?
