– Topics –
– Work Session –
Attendance
Present: Mayor Slack, Councilors Barrientos, Blosser, Fitzgerald, Jantz, Schilling, Shein and Spivey.
Absent: Council President Briggs, and Councilor Virden.
Economic & Community Development annual report
Economic & Community Development Director Charlie Mitchell presented part 2 of the annual report. Part 2 focused on the Building Division, Economic Development, and Urban Renewal.
Part 1 was presented on Jan. 21, 2025 and focused on Planning, Code Services, and Historic Preservation.
- What do they do?
- Building Division – enforces the provisions of the building code
- Economic Development – helps to stimulate economic development for the city
- Urban Renewal – tool to encourage private investment within a specific geographic area (district)
- Urban Renewal Agency – the agency is comprised of the Dallas City Councilors and typically meets immediately following the city council meeting.
- Urban Renewal District Advisory Committee – makes project and program recommendations to the Urban Renewal Agency for the Downtown District
- South Dallas Urban Renewal District Advisory Committee – makes project and program recommendations to the Urban Renewal Agency for the South Dallas District
Mitchell believes the trends of the building division valuations and growth in the city are good. The business retention and expansion project will have a big impact in the city’s economic growth. That program launched in July of 2024.
Councilors Shein and Schilling both discussed the need for commercial land in the city. There is not much additional commercial space added this year, but the La Creole Node and the 791 Main St. project will bring future commercial land.
The Dallas Farmers Market will enter its second year in 2025. The Dallas Chamber of Commerce and Dallas Downtown Association are working on a plan to continue the Farmers Market after the AmeriCorps RARE member leaves at the end of 2025.
The Chamber and Visitors Center just signed a lease for a new location and hope to be open soon.
Hwy 22 and 51 patrol update
Polk County Sheriff Mark Garton and Chris Zohner NW Region Captain for Oregon State Police (OSP), gave some updates and information regarding patrols around the intersection of Hwy 22 and 51. This was a new agenda item added.
Garton explained that traffic enforcement campaigns come from grant money and how shifts are scheduled to account for that enforcement time. In 2024, 4,100 traffic stops were performed in Polk County, and about 1,000 – 1,500 of those were around the 22 and 51 Hwy intersection.
Zohner, who used to be OSP’s Salem Area Command, reviewed the patrol areas and how staffing of those zones work. Polk County generally has 1 assigned trooper. Zohner stated OSP is still suffering from large layoffs back in 2003 (confirmed by Councilor Barrientos, retired OSP) and are still working to build numbers back up.
Councilor Fitzgerald asked for clarification on grant money paying for enforcement. Safety Corridors are determined by Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Those decisions are based on historical crash data. When an area gets identified as a Safety Corridor, it opens up additional funding for signage, and additional patrols and enforcement.
Zohner noted that most of OSP’s calls for service are generated on I-5, but most deaths are on secondary highways.
Councilor Barrientos asked for an update on any meetings with ODOT about Hwy 22 and 51. Zohner is in constant contact with the area’s ODOT rep. and they are aware of the dangers of the intersection. ODOT is working on long term design plans and short term changes to improve safety.
Councilor Schilling asked to clarify where Polk County’s current Safety Corridor is. Zohner confirmed Hwy 22, from mile post 5 to mile post 15. Garton gave some insight into the history of getting the corridor assigned. To get the corridor extended to include the 22 and 51 intersection will require current data. Zohner thought the current data information is from 2022 or 2023.
Councilor Fitzgerald asked why its hard to fill the current positions. Asking if it was a budget issue or issue finding people. Zohner explained its hard to find qualified people. Salem is also a unique area to recruit due to many options with various state agencies for candidates to choose from.
Councilor Barrientos asked Sheriff Garton what the County’s current staffing is. There is budget for 16 patrol deputies, but they only have 12. There are 4 sergeants and 3 are currently in background.
– City Council –
Attendance
Present: Mayor Slack, Councilors Barrientos, Blosser, Fitzgerald, Jantz, Schilling, Shein and Spivey.
Absent: Council President Briggs, and Councilor Virden.
Introductions, Recognitions, Proclamations
No items.
Public Comment
- President of the Friends of the Dallas Aquatic Center
- The group just released video interviews with patrons and staff on their website
- To date, they have raised $180,000
- Dallas Resident
- Voiced complaints and concerns regarding national politics
- Doesn’t feel like the council answers his questions
- Dallas Resident
- Addressed complaint of their neighbor and unsanitary conditions in the neighbors back yard
- Has spoken with police, and code enforcement
- Has worked with DEQ in Eugene to clean up the backyard and to do future soil testing
- Stated the neighbor claimed no working toilet
- Asked for help from the council
Consent Agenda
What’s on the consent agenda?
- Approve the February 3, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
- January 2025 Financial Report
What happened? This passed unanimously.
Mayor and council reports
Councilor Shein asked for an update on the search for a new Police Chief. City Manager Latta shared the city sought applications for over a month. The applications were narrowed to 8. The 8 consisted of local, state, and national candidates. After interviews were completed, 4 candidates have been chosen to be brought back for a full assessment. The city plans to hold an open house for the public to meet the 4 candidates. Final interviews and assessments will follow.
City Manager Latta announced that Sen. Merkley will be holding a town hall in Dallas this weekend. Sunday, Feb. 23rd at noon at the Colonel Nesmith Readiness Center.
City Manager report
ADA ramps on SE Ash St.
Access to the sidewalks and streets around Dallas High School will be improved for accessibility. The Dallas School District and the city will work together under an intergovernmental agreement for this project.
How is this being paid for? The school district is responsible to pay for all work done on the frontage of the high school. The city’s project is estimated to be $750,000. It will be paid with about $222,989 from The Federal Fund exchange for street paving. Any remaining balance will be paid with the streets SDC fund.
System Development Charges (SDCs) are one-time fees charged on new development, and certain types of redevelopment, to help pay for existing and planned infrastructure to serve the development.
Councilor Barrientos asked if there are any anticipated delays. Michael Peirce, who works in Public Works, confirmed there are no expected delays.
Councilor Fitzgerald asked how long the work on Holman has been in planning. Peirce stated it has been a part of the ongoing street paving program for years. City Manager Latta explained that roads with conditions in the moderate to fair stage are resurfaced. Streets in worse condition need to be rebuilt which costs a lot more. Rebuilds are done as single projects.
What happened? The council voted 7-0 to approve the intergovernmental agreement. The City Attorney noted that the School District is still reviewing the agreement, but they are not expecting any changes. If there are changes, it would come back to the Council.
VOTE BREAKDOWN
For: Councilors Barrientos, Blosser, Fitzgerald, Jantz, Schilling, Shein, and Spivey.
Against: None
When will this work start? Construction can begin after school gets out for the summer and expects to be completed by August 30, 2025.
ODOT Safe Routes to School Grant
The city applied for and received a grant through Safe Routes to School (SRTS). Now, the intersection next to Lyle Elementary will get improvements to increase student safety.
How much will this cost? The total cost is estimated at $2,151,160. The grant through SRTS gives the city $1,930,235.87 for the project. That leaves $220,924.13 which will come from the streets fund, street SDCs and developer funds.
City Manager Latta thanked Michael Peirce from Public Works for his work in getting this grant. It is the largest grant received by the city in the past few years.
Peirce noted the project will include pedestrian push buttons for crosswalk signals, a flashing beacon at SW Levens St and SW Rainbow Ave, and the crosswalk at NW Hillcrest Dr. will remain.
What happened? With a 7-0 vote, the Council approved the agreement for the intersection improvements.
VOTE BREAKDOWN
For: Councilors Barrientos, Blosser, Fitzgerald, Jantz, Schilling, Shein, and Spivey.
Against: None
When will this work start? Construction can begin after school gets out for the summer and is expected to finish by Dec. 2025.
Ordinance reading
No. 1904 – Placement of solid waste and recycling receptacles
The Council had the 1st reading of an ordinance making changes regarding the placement of waste and recycling bins in the city code.
What would the change do?
- It would require waste receptacles to be placed on the street level of a right-of-way and within four feet of a curb.
- Where no curbing exists, the receptacles would need to be placed at the edge of the street surface but outside of any vehicle travel lanes.
Staff report, pg. 59 of the council agenda
Councilor Shein asked for clarification regarding how this applies to downtown commercial bins and dumpsters placement on collection days. After some discussion with the City Manager and City Attorney, it was decided there was no issue as this applies to residential customers.
What happened? The council passed the 1st reading of the ordinance.
What’s next? The 2nd reading of the ordinance is scheduled for March 3, 2025. If the 2nd reading passes and is approved by vote, it becomes effective on April 2, 2025.
– More Information –
- Work session full agenda
- City council full agenda
- Work session YouTube video archive
- Council meeting YouTube video archive
