-Topics-
-Work Session-
Attendance
Present: Mayor Slack, Council President Briggs, Councilors Barrientos, Blosser, Fitzgerald, Holsapple, Jantz, Schilling, Shein, and Spivey.
Absent:
Library annual report
Andrea McAllister, an employee of the Library for the City of Dallas, presented the Library’s annual report to the City Council. The past year has been busy with lots of events and an increase in daily visitors.
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. This increase has been accommodated through Library staff and volunteers. McAllister noted that some volunteers who help stock the shelves have been volunteering for over a decade.
The library has over 72,000 items including books, videos, audio material, and other things. Councilor Shein asked what other things mean. Other things are musical instruments, cultural passes, WiFi hotspots, and more.
Council President Briggs asked how many WiFi hotspots the Library has and how frequently they are used. McAllister counted 10 WiFi hotspots and said they are very popular and always in use.
Available for rental at the library are free passes to places like Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, Gilbert House Children’s Museum, and the Willamette Heritage Center. These cultural passes allow users free entry to these sites every year.
New book display tables were purchased by the Friends of the Dallas Library. McAllister said staff noticed an increase in check outs after the new tables were set up. The City Manager asked if staff is refilling the tables when books are removed. McAllister confirmed staff keep the tables stocked. Councilor Shein noted as a frequent user of the library, the new tables have never been seen with empty spots.
Outbound services at the Library were highlighted. When someone is not able to go to the library (due to age, illness, or other reasons) the Library can deliver items through their outbound service. The delivery range is anywhere inside Dallas City limits.
The new Youth Services employee was highlighted due to the numerous children’s activities hosted by the Library. Children’s story time and events like a Pokemon party mean there is always something to do at the Library.
Important link: December activity list for the Library
The summer reading program, which is open to kids, teens, and adults, had over 900 participants this past year. Some 400 books were given away to local kids at a reading party and anytime a child gets their 1st library card they are given a free book to keep.
Councilor Shein asked were the money for the 400 free books came from. McAllister confirmed an early literacy grant provided money for the free books.
Teens have their own activities at the Library as well, ranging from making journals, creating sun prints (using special paper and the sun), and painting spooky art (using donated old paintings). Activities for adults span from paint nights, to poetry workshops, and author visits.
Library Con was held for the 1st time ever, and is already the largest Library event. Over 1,000 people showed up to hear from and meet with 5 authors and artists. Local vendors were also present at Library Con.
The City Manager highlighted the work of the Library and noted it’s not a place where people will be shushing you. This is a modern Library in the downtown core of the city. The use of local vendors for Library Con was acknowledged as a supporting role to the downtown core.
Councilor Shein agreed and added the Library generates traffic downtown which can help other businesses. Even as a long time user of the Library, Shein reported learning new things in this report.
What happened? The Council heard the Library’s annual report. No official action took place.
-City Council-
Attendance
Present: Mayor Slack, Council President Briggs, Councilors Barrientos, Blosser, Fitzgerald, Holsapple, Jantz, Schilling, Shein, and Spivey.
Absent:
Introductions, Recognitions, Proclamations
None.
Public Comment
- President of Friends of the Dallas Aquatic Center
- Recently recorded an upcoming episode of the Dallas, Oregon Podcast
- Sent out 30 banner renewals for the Aquatic Center
- Can raise up to $18,000
- Planning to re-do concrete flooring in locker rooms
- And re-plaster the leisure pool and lazy river
- Expected in Feb 2026
- 1st swim meet of the season is from 4-6pm this weekend
Consent Agenda
There was no consent agenda this week. The next meeting will contain any items needed.
Mayor and council Reports
None.
City Manager report
Planning Commission appointment
The vacancy on the Dallas Planning Commission is now filled. The Mayor recommended Scott Whyte for appointment which was approved by the Council.
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 commissioner who is a land use planner. Whyte would be the 2nd land use planner on the commission.
Whyte’s application for the commission can be found on page 4-6 of the council agenda.
Council President Briggs recalled Council’s planning goals being mentioned in Whyte’s application. Briggs expressed a desire for some time to work with the Planning Commission to discuss and align on those goals.
Having previously served on the Planning Commission, Councilor Shein said they never had a meeting with the Council regarding goals of planning, and so agreed with Briggs’ suggestion.
Councilor Schilling agreed it is a good idea to meeting with the Planning Commission, given all the recent changes made around land use.
A future meeting with the Planning Commission will be set for Feb. or March 2026, according to the City Manager.
What happened? The Council approved the Mayor’s recommendation of Whyte to the Planning Commission with a 9-0 vote.
VOTE BREAKDOWN
For: Council President Briggs, Councilors Barrientos, Blosser, Fitzgerald, Holsapple, Jantz, Schilling, Shein, and Spivey.
Against:
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 was provided for the Council’s review (pg 8-9 of the council agenda).
Council President Briggs asked for clarification on timing of placing liens on properties. City Manager Latta explained that the city needs to have a lien placed on a property before that property is sold. If the property is sold and no lien was placed, the city can’t place a lien on the new owner. A lien must be placed before the property is sold for the city to be paid.
Given that understanding of timing, Briggs wondered if the city should be placing liens monthly. Cecilia Ward, Finance Director for the City of Dallas, commented that weed abatement is a seasonal issue, so monthly isn’t needed. Latta added there is about a 2 month turn around from invoicing the property owner and being ready to place a lien.
Councilor Spivey asked for the total number of liens that were not placed in time before a property was sold. Ward estimated it was about 2-3 liens that were missed.
- Quick facts on current lien docket:
- 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
Councilor Shein acknowledged the seasonal timing is reflected in the dates of the weed abatement invoices. Asked if the docket shows the starting balance of the lien or the current total with accrued interest. Ward confirmed the numbers shown are only the starting balance of the liens. Interest figures are calculated when it is paid in full.
Councilor Fitzgerald wondered if there is a way for property owners to avoid the interest on the lien. City Manager Latta noted property owners can ask the city for a repayment plan but that would need to be done before the lien is placed.
What happened? This item was to share information and no official action took place.
City Municipal Code review
Each year, new ordinances are passed by the City Council. Over time some of those ordinances can be preempted by state or federal law. Sometimes the need for the ordinance is no longer present or has changed. Due to these changes, city staff recommended the Council regularly review ordinances.
Council President Briggs suggested the city staff bring forward any urgent or important changes right away, but otherwise the Council should review all ordinances. Councilor Holsapple agreed, noting staff has a better understanding of any important and immediate need for changes.
The City Manager asked if the Council wants to review as a full body or have sub-committees review ordinances. Councilor Shein recommended the sub-committees review. Councilor Schilling wondered if it might be better education for all Councilors to review as a full body, but finally recommended sub-committees review first.
With agreement from the full Council, ordinances will be reviewed in full by different sub-committees. Changes will then be presented to the full Council for approval. 2 ordinances staff recommend for discussion will be sent to the appropriate sub-committee for further discussion.
- 2 ordinances for review by sub-committee:
- 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 happened? The Council agreed to have sub-committees review all of the current city ordinances. The sub-committees will recommend any changes to the full Council for approval. If there are any urgent or specific ordinances city staff are concerned about they can be presented as needed. This will be an ongoing and continual process.
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. The site review was approved but 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 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” (pg. 15 council agenda).
With multiple interested parties in the land, city staff recommended this topic be discussed further in the Buildings and Grounds Committee (a sub-committee of the Council).
Council President Briggs stated his opposition to the solar project and wants to look at other options.
Councilor Shein noted everyone involved knows there is no commitment to build the solar site. It is important that the city does due diligence to make sure the property is used in the best way possible.
The City Manager confirmed all parties are aware that a commitment to build is not guaranteed, and the solar project is a question mark for the city.
What happened? The Council will send this topic to the Buildings and Grounds sub-committee for more discussion.
-More Information-
- Work Session full agenda
- Work Session YouTube video archive
- City Council full agenda
- City Council YouTube video archive
