-Topics-
-Work Session-
Police Station Project Upcoming Steps
With all of the Council in agreement to pursue a new Police building, discussions on how to get there are still ongoing. The Council needs to decide what to present to the public in their 2nd ask after voters declined a proposal in May 2025.
At the request of the Council, the original 2 story building proposal went under a value engineering process. The goal of value engineering is to finds ways to reduce the cost of a project without losing quality. This can be done with things like changing materials used or finding creative solutions to improve function.
Get the history: Wrap up for the last work session on this topic.
The results from that value engineering project will be presented to the Council in the Dec. 15, 2025 meeting.
In this work session, methods of financing the project will be discussed. City staff have prepared 2 financing options for the Council to consider.
Aside from different project costs in the above example, the key difference is how money is collected to pay the debt. Plan A is similar to the proposal from May 2025, with a property tax of $.52 per $1,000 assessed home value. Plan B would add a fixed fee to the sewer bill.
Plan B lowers each person’s individual burden because there are more people who pay a sewer bill than there are people who own property. For example, think about an apartment building: 1 property owner, multiple sewer bill payees.
In theory, Plan B would pay the debt quicker than Plan A. Though the lower project amount shown in the example above on Plan B also affects that timeline.
While the Council doesn’t need to make any decision now, there are some coming deadlines if the issue is going to be on the May 2026 ballot.
- Potential May 2026 ballot timelines
- Dec. 15, 2025
- Value engineering results will presented to the Council
- Jan. 2026
- Green Infrastructure Grant results announced
- Feb. 27, 2026
- Deadline to file ballot measure with Polk County
- Dec. 15, 2025
In addition to the financing question, the Council has more to consider and decide before trying for a 2nd ballot on the Police building. Final numbers for a bond measure would need to be run. Documents to get on the ballot would need to be completed. Decisions on forming a Political Action Committee, polling the topic, and getting public feedback would all need to take place before the Feb. deadline.
- Scheduled Council meetings to discuss this topic
- Dec. 15, 2025
- Jan. 5, 2026
- Jan. 20, 2026
- Feb. 2, 2026
- Feb. 17, 2026
What will happen? The Council can discuss and offer direction for city staff, but no official action is likely.
-City Council-
Introductions, Recognitions, Proclamations
Introduction of new Police Department employee
A new employee from the Police Department will be introduced to the Council.
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?
- October 2025 Financial Report (pg 3-33 council agenda)
- Approve the November 3, 2025 Work Session Meeting Minutes (pg 34 council agenda)
- Approve the November 3, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes (pg 35-36 council agenda)
Mayor and council Reports
This is a time for Councilors and the Mayor to give any reports they have.
City Manager report
Parks Reservations
As park offerings expand in Dallas, the options for park building reservations might increase too.
City staff will recommend that the Parks Advisory Board discuss this topic first to give the Council recommendations of which additional shelters to add 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
- Recommended additions
- New Shelter – John C. Barnard Park
- Rotary Performing Arts Stage – Rotary Park
- More additions?
- Various shelters at other city parks could be considered
What will happen? No official decision will likely be made. However, the Council will probably ask the Parks Advisory Board to consider the topic 1st.
RESOLUTIONS
No. 3555 – to levy nuisance assessments against real property
In this resolution, the Council will consider placing 17 liens on properties that did not pay their bill for removing obnoxious vegetation.
Did you know? City code requires all grass and weeds to be kept under 10″ in height.
City staff, following city Municipal Code procedure, can notify property owners of obnoxious vegetation and ask them to remove it. If the owners don’t take care of it, the city can hire a company to remove the vegetation and charge the property owner.
Important link: Learn more about Dallas’ Weed Abatement Program.
If the property owner doesn’t pay the bill, then the Council can consider placing a lien on the property until the bill is paid off.
- What is considered obnoxious vegetation?
- Poison oak
- Poison ivy
- Blackberry bushes that extend into a public thoroughfare or across a property line
- Vegetation that is
- A health hazard
- A fire hazard
- A traffic hazard because it impairs the view of a public thoroughfare or otherwise makes use of the thoroughfare hazardous
- Weeds or grass more than 10 inches high
- Weeds or grass going to seed
- Obnoxious vegetation does not include an agricultural crop, unless that crop is a health, traffic, or fire hazard
- Source: Dallas City Municipal Code
12 properties in Dallas had vegetation deemed obnoxious enough that the city had to take care of it between April 2024 & Aug. 2025. If this resolution is approved, each property’s balance due would also carry a 9% interest rate.
What will happen? The Council can discuss and then vote on the resolution. If passed, the resolution becomes effective immediately.
-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, Nov. 17th, 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 66 pages. Do you enjoy the nights getting darker earlier?
