-Topics-
- Work Session
- City Council
-Work Session-
Economic & Community Development Annual Report
Charlie Mitchell is the Economic & Community Development Director for the City of Dallas and will present part 1 of the department’s annual report to the Council. Part 1 will cover Planning, Code Services, and Historic Preservation Divisions inside the department.
The Planning Division is responsible for helping to shape the current and future growth in the city. The Planning Commission and their contribution to city planning will also be discussed. The Council will review statistics across the city like the number of sub-division and multi-family project applications received in 2025.
Code Services Division teaches people about the Municipal and Development Codes in the city. This division also enforces the codes through their goal of voluntary compliance. Information about parking enforcement and weed abatement will also be shared.
Lastly, the Historic Preservation Commission and shared efforts to preserve historic buildings in Dallas will be reported on.
Part 2 of the annual report for the department will include Building, Economic Development, and Urban Renewal Divisions.
What will happen? The Council will get an annual report on this department and be able to ask questions. 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?
- December Financial Report – pg. 4
- Approve the January 5, 2026 Work Session Minutes – pg. 35
- Approve the January 5, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes – not listed
Mayor and council Reports
This is a time for Councilors and the Mayor to give any reports.
City Manager report
Alternate Proposal for Basketball and Pickleball Courts at City Park
An updated alternate design for new pickleball and basketball courts in Dallas City Park come back to the Council for approval.
The original plan called for 10 new pickleball courts north of Branvold Drive. In an alternate plan, the pickleball courts were moved south of the road while the location of 2 basketball courts were moved to the north.
This change avoided the old city pool which is buried underground on the north of Branvold Drive. The smaller footprint of the basketball courts on the north avoided the buried pool altogether saving a lot of money on the project estimate.
New updates to the alternate plan include more parking spots, better pathway connections, re-located covered seating, and a reduction from 10 pickleball courts to 8.
The Dallas Pickleball Club has supported this updated alternate design. The club is also contributing $10,000 to the project. The rest of the funds will come from a combination of sources, including Park System Development Charges (SDC).
The original plan was estimated to cost $1,768,476, largely due to issues with the buried pool. The alternate plan was expected to cost $501,400. The updated alternate plan is estimated at $596,160.
- Follow the money:
- $596,160 – Total cost of updated alternate plan
- $10,000 – Dallas Pickleball Club donation
- $586,160 – Remaining costs paid by Park SDC funds, Capital Improvement Project funds, and Enterprise funds.
What will happen? The Council will consider the updated alternate design for pickleball and basketball courts in City Park and can vote on its approval.
Referral of Municipal Code Updates to Standing Committees
After agreeing to review the full city code, the Council will now assign their first batch of topics to various Council Standing Committees (sub-committees of the Council) for review.
What will happen? The Council can request these topics be referred to the specific standing committees for further review and discussion.
Joint Work Session with the Planning Commission
This item is regarding setting up a work session with the Council and the Planning Commission combined. No other information was provided in the agenda.
What will happen? Information should be shared and no official action is likely.
ORDINANCES
No. 1918 – allow for the reservation of the shelter at Barnard Park
In this ordinance, the Council will consider whether to add the new picnic shelter at John C. Barnard Park to the city’s reservation system.
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 1st reading of the ordinance to add the new picnic shelter at Barnard Park to the city reservation system. If it passes, the 2nd reading will likely be scheduled for the next city council meeting.
RESOLUTIONS
No. 3556 – Stormwater Fee Updates
This resolution will keep the 2026 stormwater fee at $16.00 per month. This is a hold on last year’s fee.
The fee previously saw a 60% increase from 2022 to 2025 rising $2 each year from $10 to $16.
According to the staff report (pg. 45), the current fee of $16 is “sufficient to pay for current operating expenses, and planned capital projects, including setting aside funds for stormwater management projects that are several years in the future.”
The Council will also consider repealing Resolution No. 3497. This would remove the previous resolution that added a $2 increase to the fee each year.
What will happen? The Council will vote on keeping the storwater fee at $16 for 2026 and removing a resolution that raises the fee $2 each year.
No. 3557 – sewer Rate Updates
In this resolution, the Council will consider lowering the sewer rate in 2026 and make other changes related to category definitions.
The sewer rate has not increased since 2019, holding at $45.21 per month. However, the sewer fund balance has grown larger than is needed for future projects. City staff reviewed costs, debts, and expenses for the next 5 years and determined there is enough money in the sewer fund to allow for a draw down of the balance.
Currently there is just over $3 million in the sewer fund. Staff analysis suggests a target balance of around $2 million . With a 6% rate decrease, the fund is expected to fall to around $2.4 million by the end of 5 years.
The proposed resolution would also hold the rate in place for 5 years with no automatic increase.
Quick math: A single family home would see a 6% rate drop, from $45.21 to $42.50 per month.
Other changes will simplify commercial business definitions listed within the resolution. The Council will also consider repealing Resolutions 3365A and 3433. These are the previous resolutions setting definitions and rates as well as the annual rate increase (which was paused in 2020).
What will happen? The Council will vote on lowering the sewer rate in 2026 by 6% to $42.50 and holding the rate for 5 years.
No. 3558 – water Rate Update
In the final resolution for the meeting, the Council will consider a 6% increase to the water rate for 2026 and additional changes to categories and other fees.
Over the last 4 years, the water rate has increase 59% in an effort to save money for the future Aaron Mercer Reservoir dam. Each year the city has raised about $1.5 million for this project through the water rate.
After completing a review of the coming 5 years of costs, debts, and expenses, city staff recommend keeping a water fund balance between $1 – 3 million each year. The water rate would need an increase of 6% each year to keep the target balance overall. This includes planning for $2 million in cash payments for projects in 2029.
A new change to this resolution creates 2 base rates for different meter sizes in single family homes. One group is for meter sizes .75″ & 1″, while the second group is for 1.5″ & 2″ meter sizes. The larger sized meters will have a higher water base rate.
Remember: All base rates include the 1st 300 cubic feet of water.
There will be a $0.04 increase for the 2026 water rate for the .75″ & 1″ single family home meters from $34.96 to $35.00. The new 2026 1.5″ & 2″ meter rate starts at $42.40.
Quick math: A single family home would see a 2027 6% rate increase, from $35.00 to $37.10 per month. Larger meters will start at $42.40 increasing to $44.94 in 2027.
The water rate would increase 6% each year until the Council voted to stop the increase.
- Changes to the water resolution:
- Water service fees have been removed from the rate resolution
- Definitions have been added to the rate resolution
- Base rates are proposed to be charged according to meter size
- Commodity (usage) rates are proposed to be uniform for all customers
The repeal of Resolution 3497 is also under consideration. This is the old resolution setting water rates.
What will happen? The Council will vote on setting the new 2026 water rates and increasing the rate 6% each year starting in 2027.
-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 Tuesday, Jan. 20th, 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 101 pages. What are some of your goals this year?
