-Topics-
- Work Session
- City Council
-Work Session-
National Community Survey results
If asked about where to live, 77% of Dallas residents would recommend living in Dallas to a friend. Results from the National Community Survey in Dallas will be presented to the City Council. A representative from Polco will go over results and compare them to the same survey taken in 2023.
Public safety is the highest rated topic with 93% of residents saying they feel safe in their neighborhood and downtown. Feelings of safety stayed high or increased across most categories, though opinions on police services saw a drop from 82% in 2023 to 75% in 2026.
Generally, opinions about the economy are lower now than in 2023 and views on the local government also dipped across categories. However, the opinion that all residents are treated fairly went up a little since 2023.
Follow the money: It cost $21,400 to conduct this survey.
3,000 survey invitations were sent out to households across Dallas. There were 586 responses, which gives a 4% margin of error to survey results. The next survey is planned in 2028. This collection of survey results will offer the city important information that is tracked over time.
What will happen? No official action will take place. Information from the survey results will be shared and the Council will be able to ask questions.
-City Council-
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Mixed Use Zoning District
The City Council will hold a public hearing on a newly proposed mixed-use zone category to be added to the city Development Code. This new mixed-use zone is planned for future development in the new La Creole Node.
There are 2 options of the mixed-use zone approval for the Council to choose from. The difference between the 2 options comes down to whether or not businesses would have direct driveway access on state highways like Ellendale Ave and Kings Valley Highway.
Option 1 does not allow direct driveway access to the state highways. According to the staff report, this will preserve a pedestrian environment on the major roads. Traffic would be focused instead on La Creole Drive, Polk Station Road, and Bovard Avenue. This would be similar to the Barberry and Wyatt Node designs.
Option 2 requires driveway access to the state highways. This would keep traffic out of the future neighborhood areas but increase points of conflict on the state highways.
The Planning Commission previously held a public hearing on this topic and reviewed both options. They are recommending Option 1, but wanted the Council to consider both.
The addition of the mixed-use zone to the development code would include information like building height limits, required lot coverage percentages, and residential density requirements. Specifically, any residential buildings in this mixed-use zone would require a non-residential use on the ground floor (like commercial). This combination of uses in the same building is where the mixed-use name comes from.
Learn more: Read the full proposed code for a new mixed-use zone in the council agenda pg. 11-22.
How does a public hearing work? The staff report will be given to the Council first. Then the public can offer comments on the proposal. After public comment, the Council will discuss and then vote on the topic. Discussions and decisions should be based on how the proposal does or does not fit with the Dallas Comprehensive Plan and the Oregon Statewide Planning Goals.
What will happen? The Council will hold a public hearing about adding a new mixed-use zone category to the city development code. If the Council votes to approve, an ordinance will come back to the Council for 2 readings before the final vote to adopt.
Introductions, Recognitions, Proclamations
None expected.
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 May 4, 2026 Work Session Minutes (council agenda pg. 23)
- Approve the May 4, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes (council agenda pg. 24-25)
- April 2026 Financial Report (council agenda pg. 26-58)
Mayor and Council Reports
This is a time for Councilors and the Mayor to give any reports.
City Manager report
None expected.
ORDINANCES
No. 1923 – Open Burn Registration
The city is looking to learn more about open burning inside the city limits. To get more information, a 2 year open burning registration pilot program will be considered by the City Council. The information collected from this program would help determine if any future regulations on open burning are needed.
The program would require people to register with the city if they plan to open burn in city limits. There is no enforcement with this program, only the collection of information. Open burning does not include recreational fires, barbecues, or agricultural burning.
The Council’s Public Safety standing committee recommended the program to the Council for approval in their April 27, 2026 meeting.
This ordinance also has an emergency clause on it. The clause allows the ordinance to take effect immediately if adopted after the 2nd reading. The cause for emergency is due to the fire season approaching.
What will happen? The Council will have their 1st reading of the ordinance to start a 2 year open burning registration pilot program.
No. 1922 – Ownership and maintenance of mid-block sidewalks
The City Council will have the 2nd reading and vote on an ordinance regarding mid-block sidewalks. The changes to city code 3.500, 3.505 and 3.510 will clarify what a mid-block sidewalk is, and set ownership of the sidewalks.
According to the ordinance, a mid-block sidewalk is “a sidewalk built in a public right of way between two or more properties that is not adjacent to a street.” (council agenda, pg. 63) An example of mid-block sidewalks are paths that connect the Rickreall Creek Trail to a street’s sidewalk.
This ordinance will set the City of Dallas as owner of these mid-block sidewalks. With that ownership, the city will be responsible for any maintenance costs and liability issues.
Learn more: See all of the proposed changes in the council agenda, pg. 63-65.
The Public Works Committee (a standing committee of the Council), discussed these changes in their April 27, 2026 meeting and voted to recommend them to the City Council.
What will happen? The Council will have the 2nd reading for the mid-block sidewalk ownership ordinance followed by a vote. If adopted, it would become effective on June 17, 2026.
RESOLUTIONS
No. 3567 – application for a Grant for the construction of the Rickreall Creek Trailhead at Fir Villa Avenue
The Council will vote on whether to apply for a grant to build the next portion of the Rickreall Creek Trail at Fir Villa Road. This trailhead will connect the eastern portion of the trail to sidewalks on Fir Villa Rd. According to the staff report, this will increase access to communities in the Barberry Node.
If approved, the city would apply for the Local Government Grant Program which comes from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. This grant is used to build and rehabilitate parks and recreation amenities across the state.
- Follow the money:
- $344,143 – Total project estimate
- $206,485.80 – Total requested amount from the grant
- $137,657.20 – Remaining amount covered by Park System Development Charges
- $344,143 – Total project estimate
Learn more: Read the full proposal and see the construction bid from Locke Engineers in the council agenda, pg. 66-72.
What will happen? The Council will vote on approving the application for a grant to build a portion of the Rickreall Creek Trail on Fir Villa Rd. If approved, the construction is estimated to begin in the summer of 2027.
-More Information-
Learn more: View the entire work session agenda and city council agenda for a lot more information.
Attend the meeting: Come attend City Council meeting in person on Monday, May 18th, 2026. Work Session starts at 6:00 pm and 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 129 pages. Did you return your ballot yet? The election is May 19, 2026.
- Important dates and links for local candidate websites
- Polk County Clerks Office 2026 Election Page.
- Links for state wide candidates websites
- Oregon Capital Chronicle 2026 Voter Guide.
