City Council Wrap up – Feb. 3, 2025

– Topics –

City Council

– City Council –

Attendance

Present: Mayor Slack, Council President Briggs, Councilors Barrientos, Blosser, Fitzgerald, Jantz, Schilling, Shein, and Virden.

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Introductions, Recognitions, Proclamations

Presentation by Energy Trust of Oregon

A 25 year old disinfection system was recently replaced at the city waste water treatment facility. The upgrade allows the system to adjust power usage based on water flow.

The city gets a check and future energy savings? Yes! This new system is expected to cut energy costs. Saving about $17,000 each year in energy costs, and $25,000 in maintenance costs. That savings comes in part with using 2 of the 3 systems installed. Currently the city is able to operate on 1 of the 3, which will likely increase savings even more, according to Public Works Director, Gary Marks.

The projects total cost was $1,500,000. The Energy Trust of Oregon (a non-profit working to bring energy efficiency and renewable energy to people) presented the city with a check for $127,000 to support the upgrade.

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Public Comment

Dallas Resident –
- Thanked the city for being willing to apply for a federal grant to help locate and build a facility for The Dallas Food Bank.
  - Hopes the grant is successful.
- Thanked the City Manager for answering questions on what the city is doing to celebrate Black History Month.
  - Banner, street signs, and library staff involvement.
- Stated this shows the city is willing to be a diverse and welcoming city.
  - Believes we can do more.
  - Challenged the city to do 1 more thing to celebrate each month.
  - Looking forward to how we build our reputation that Dallas is safe and celebrates diversity.

Dallas Resident –
- Complaints on fee structure regarding water and sewer bills.
  - Feels the fees favor certain types of people in the city.
    - A family household vs. single/couple household.
- Complaints about federal government and it’s direction.
- Believes city councilors should be elected by people and not appointed.

President of the Friends of the Dallas Aquatic Center
- The group has raised $178,648 since 2019 for the pool.
  - About $70,000 is from banner ad sales
  - $30,000 from special memorial gifts
  - The rest is donations from people at the pool
- Gave another $5,000 check to the city.
- Shared a recent story about a lifeguard.
  - Watched a 2 yr old running away from his mom towards the corner of the therapy pool.
  - Lifeguard jumped up and into the pool just as the little boy fell in.
    - Little boy, “hardly got wet”.
  - 2nd time lifeguard saved someone.

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This is a quick action, meant to pass routine procedural items.

What’s on the consent agenda?

Approve the January 21, 2025 Work Session Meeting Minutes
Approve the January 21, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes

What happened? This passed unanimously.

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Mayor and council Reports

Councilor Shein gave a update from the Polk County Local Public Safety Coordinating Council. Polk County is moving forward with building a dog kennel. Explained to the council what the phone number 988 is. Like 911, calling the number 988 helps people who are experiencing any type of behavioral health crisis.

“You may never need it, but you might know people who should know about it.”

Councilor Shein

If you are struggling and need help, you can call 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org.

Councilor Schilling shared he attended the City Day at the Legislature with Councilor Jantz, Councilor Blosser, and City Manager Latta. They talked with Sen. Starr and Rep. Scharf about projects including the La Creole sewer project and the reservoir. 216 different cities attended the event.

Councilor Barrientos stated he believes he serves for the community. The key is community. Lately there is a divisiveness in the country and maybe even in the community. Encouraged everyone to engage in positivity. Not focusing on what makes us different but what we have in common. Hopes to see the community do better and the council do better representing it too.

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City Manager report

None.

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RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 3542 – Calling a Measure for the Police Building

The council easily voted to officially start the process for a bond measure to build a new Police building in Dallas, Oregon.

*Current rendering of the proposed Dallas Police building.*

What’s your expected cost? The total bond will be for $17,200,000. That is estimated to be $0.52 per $1,000 of assessed home value per year. For an average home value of $250,000, it would be just over $125 per year.

Want even more information?
- Detailed look at the math in the Dallas Signal wrap up from Dec 9, 2024.
- Information on the Police building project from the city.

So what happened? With no discussion needed, the council passed the resolution 9-0. Now, the process to make it all official starts. First comes advertising a public notice, and then filing election forms with Polk County. The measure will appear on the ballot in May 2025.