– Topics –
- City Council
– City Council –
Attendance
Present: Mayor Slack, Council President Schilling, Councilors Barrientos, Blosser, Briggs, Fitzgerald, Jantz, Shein, and Virden.
Swearing in of Mayor and Councilors
The new Mayor and City Councilors elected in Nov. 2024, were sworn in.
- Sworn into office:
- Mayor Rich Slack
- Councilor Carlos Barrientos
- Councilor Anthony Blosser
- Councilor Kim Fitzgerald
- Councilor Debbie Virden
The Mayor serves for a 2 year term, with the next election in Nov. 2026. The Councilors serve a 4 year term, with their next election in Nov. 2028.
Introductions, Recognitions, Proclamations
None.
Public Comment
- President of the Friends of the Dallas Aquatic Center
- The group gave the city a $5,000 check for the trust account at the last city council.
- They gave another $5,000 check to the trust right before Christmas!
- This was due to an increase in their fundraising and donations.
- They gave another $5,000 check to the trust right before Christmas!
- 25 businesses have purchased banner ads at the pool.
- The Polk Resource Center will have some swim lesson vouchers to give out.
- Supported former Councilor Collins’ idea to stop the requirement of publicly stating your home address to give comment.
- The group gave the city a $5,000 check for the trust account at the last city council.
- Dallas resident – Various complaints.
- Dallas resident – Concerned about the intersection at Hwy 22 and 51, asked for more to be done.
- Dallas resident – Spoke about the Recovery Outreach Community Center and how Polk County Corrections wants to sell the property that the facility is on. Talked about services the center provides and its impact on the community.
Consent Agenda
This is a quick action, meant to pass routine procedural items.
What’s on the consent agenda?
- November 2024 Financial Report
- Approve the December 9, 2024 Work Session Meeting Minutes
- Approve the December 9, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes
- OLCC Application for Court Street Pub and Grub full on-premises license
What happened? This passed unanimously.
Mayor and council Reports
Council vacancy
Troy Hazelton was elected to the City Council in Nov. 2024, but then moved outside the city limits. This means Hazelton is no longer qualified to be a Councilor.
Hazelton asked to speak to the council. He thanked the citizens for their vote. Stated his family bought their forever home Nov. 15, 2024 outside city limits.
What happened next? The council voted unanimously to declare the seat vacant.
According to the city charter, the council will fill the seat with a majority vote. There are no other instructions on the process to fill a vacancy on the council.
- Previous methods used to fill a vacancy
- Nominate 1 person and ask if they are interested in serving
- Select the person with the next highest number of votes from the election
- Collect applications from people interested
Councilor Barrientos spoke about the criteria someone goes through to get on the ballot. With this in mind, he supports using the person with the next highest number of votes to fill the vacancy. This would be former Councilor Kirsten Collins.
Council President Schilling spoke about the history of the different options. Stated the previous Mayor warned they should have a process and not set prescient of using the next highest vote earner.
Councilor Virden stated the application and interview method will take more time. Asked if anyone from the community has shown interest in the vacancy yet. City Manager Latta stated there were 2 people so far. He also pointed out written answers will allow for a quicker review and comparison of candidates then oral interviews.
Virden asked to clarify, under the 1 person nomination method, if the person was interested they would just be appointed. Latta confirmed that is how it happened previously, with the majority vote. Councilor Shein mentioned if the 1 person was not interested, that would lose a lot of time.
Councilor Barrientos re-stated he felt the council would be ignoring the people by not choose the next highest vote earner.
Councilor Virden asked if any councilor had 1 person they wanted to nominate. No one replied.
Council President Schilling stated support for seeking applications, with time to ask each candidate 2 questions. Virden supported the application, but having 1 personal statement from each candidate instead.
Councilor Barrientos voiced his dissent. He argued for following the people’s vote to fill the vacancy. Councilor Shein said he was sympathetic with Barrientos’ view. He stated that while we are a democracy, we are not a direct democracy. Instead, we are a republic where the people vote representatives to make decisions for them. Shein made the argument that this application process was representatives making decisions.
- The following method was developed to fill the vacancy:
- Collect applications through Jan 15, 2025
- Applications will include written answers to questions a-p
- Questions a – p can be found on pg. 37-38 of the agenda packet
- The applicants should come prepared to give a 3 min. statement on Jan 21. 2025
- They should be prepared to take the seat on Jan 21, 2025.
What happened? The council voted to use the application method, passing 7-1.
VOTE BREAKDOWN
For: Council President Schilling, Councilors, Blosser, Briggs, Fitzgerald, Jantz, Shein, and Virden
Against: Councilor Barrientos
Council President election
The City Council President, is an elected position on the council. The Council President has 2 main duties. They act as a back-up for the Mayor to preside at meetings. They also act as the Sergeant at Arms, helping to maintain order and decorum at meetings.
Previously, Council President Schilling had served for 4 years.
What happen? Schilling nominated Councilor Briggs to be Council President. Stating they had almost the same amount of time serving on the Council, he wanted to see Briggs serve.
There were no other nominations given. That means the titles now changed to Council President Briggs, and Councilor Schilling.
City Manager report
Appointments to Committees, Commissions, and Boards
The city has several committees, commissions, and boards that citizens serve on. The Mayor recommends people to serve on most committees. Mayor Slack recommended people to serve on the Economic Development Commission, Library Board, and Historic Preservation Commission.
The Budget Committee’s members are selected by the council, without recommendation from the Mayor. There are 4 open positions, with 3 applicants.
Council President Briggs asked if there were any applications that were not selected for the committees. All applications received were presented for nomination.
What happen? The council unanimously passed all committee nominations.
Legislative Lobbying
Oregon’s 83rd Legislative Assembly starts on Jan. 21, 2025. The City Manager asked the council for direction on the city’s lobby efforts.
Previous councils have designated the City Manager as the city’s lead lobbyist. The Manager tracked bills of interest to the city, with some councilors acting as legislative advisors. Decisions on whether to provide testimony or not would be up to the Manager.
- Alternative options presented:
- Discuss bills and amendments at each city council meeting with the whole council.
- Create a legislative committee of councilors who would meet regularly and discuss bills and provide testimony.
- No city lobbying. Other groups like the League of Oregon Cities can be asked to advocate for the city.
Councilor Shein stated the previous use of the City Manager has worked well.
Councilor Barrientos asked who the back-up lobbyist is if the City Manager can’t act. The Assistant City Manager can step in or other city department directors as needed on their related subject.
What happened? The council agreed to have the City Manager act as the city’s lead lobbyist.
Ordinance reading
No. 1903 – Development Code Updates
This was the 2nd reading of an ordinance to update the City Development Code. These changes bring the code into compliance with Senate Bill 1537 (passed in 2024). The changes relate to how certain land use applications are treated, which will decrease the need for public hearings.
Previously, the council held a public hearing and 1st ordinance reading on the topic.
What happen? The 2nd reading passed. Vote to adopt, with an emergency clause, passed 8-0.
VOTE BREAKDOWN
For: Council President Briggs, Councilors Barrientos, Blosser, Fitzgerald, Jantz, Schilling, Shein, and Virden.
Against: None
Why an emergency clause? Per the Senate Bill, the ordinance must take effect January 1, 2025. The emergency clause allows for the ordinance to become effective immediately, only a few days past deadline.
You can see the proposed code changes on pg. 69-95 of the council agenda.
Other Business
Councilor Virden supported dropping the requirement to publicly state your home address to give comment. Stated the address is already on the comment form if the city needs to make contact.
Councilor Shein agreed with Virden. Asked what the origin was to publicly state the home address. City Attorney Shetterly said it predated his time on the council. Thought it was to follow up with more information to speakers. Stated the public access to addresses on the comment cards can be protected too.
Council President Briggs asked for an update on the Polk County Sheriff coming to discuss increased patrols for Hwy 22 & 51 intersection. City Manager stated he has been in contact with the County Sheriff. Hopes to get a work session scheduled in Feb. 2025.
Councilor Schilling stated he spoke with the Area Supervisor in ODOT (Oregon Department of Transportation). There are increased patrols from the 3 area jurisdictions at and around the intersection.
Councilor Virden asked about the polling for the proposed Police Station. City Manager Latta said the poll is live today and will continue through this week. This poll is being done via phone calls.
– More Information –
- City council full agenda
- Council Meeting YouTube video archive
- CORRECTIONS:
- 1/8/2025: 4th public comment
- Name of the organization was corrected from Polk Family and Community Outreach to Recovery Outreach Community Center.
- They are a non-profit organization and are not the same as the Polk County organization.
- Name of the organization was corrected from Polk Family and Community Outreach to Recovery Outreach Community Center.
- 1/8/2025: 4th public comment
