– Topics –
- Work Session
- City Council
– Work Session –
Attendance
Present: Mayor Slack, Council President Briggs, Councilors Blosser, Fitzgerald, Jantz, Schilling, Shein, and Spivey.
Absent: Councilor Barrientos.
Fire & EMS Annual Report
The Dallas Fire & EMS department is fully staffed and increasing their training according to Chief April Wallace. The City Council learned about the department’s vehicles, staffing, call times, & future planning in the annual report.
Wallace shared that the 1995 Pierce Engine was recently sold to a local area who needed an upgrade in their department. Though this vehicle is considered too old for Dallas, smaller cities have different age requirements for vehicles. The 1995 unit fit this area’s needs and requirements.
Did we replace the vehicle? Yes, the 1995 unit was recently replaced with a 2024 Spartan Engine. The 2024 unit was paid for by funds from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act.
Statistics from 2024 show that on average Dallas EMS travels to Salem 6.5 times a day. These are mostly hospital transfers from West Valley Hospital to Salem Hospital.
Council President Briggs asked if the Hospital is looking to expand & increase services in Dallas to avoid high transfer numbers. Chief Wallace & Councilor Schilling (who attended the Hospital’s conference last year) confirmed West Valley Hospital is planning on growth in the long term.
Councilor Spivey asked if the city is reimbursed for these Hospital transfers. Wallace explained reimbursements come through private insurance of patients, Medicaid, & Medicare. The city is also part of the Ground Emergency Medical Transportation program which gives reimbursement for money that is not paid upfront. Overall, the city does see a return for the transfers.
There is a new Career and Technical Education (CET) EMR program at Dallas High School. Dallas Fire & EMS participated in the CET program and had a wonderful response. They even picked up 2 students as volunteers from the program.
Chief Wallace was proud to share 2024 time statistic results:
- Average 2024 chute time
- 1 minute 23 seconds for EMS
- 1 minute 40 seconds for Fire
Councilor Shein asked if the central location of the Fire & EMS building was a key to the quick times. Wallace shared the low times was really due to having 24 hour staffing.
For example, in 2021 when the Fire Department was part time and only during daytime hours, the time statistic results were:
- Average 2021 chute time
- 2 minutes 35 seconds for Fire
- day time hours
- 9 minutes 22 seconds for Fire
- night time hours
- 2 minutes 35 seconds for Fire
In looking at time utilization (or how much time is spent on EMS calls), Dallas EMS employees in 2024 are at 62% utilization. That’s an increase from 50% in 2021, 53% in ’22, & 55% in ’23.
Industry standards for similar cities to Dallas are usually around 25-35%. Private ambulances companies are usually at 45-55%.
Council President Briggs asked what is causing the increase in utilization. Wallace stated call volume has gone up significantly in the last few years.
Councilor Schilling asked how the moral and mental health of the staff is. Wallace shared with the high demand of calls, and not being able to regularly sit and eat, can be hard at times. However, Wallace said employees have a servants heart and would rather help people than take care of themselves.
5 Chaplins check in to see how people are doing, and the staff do take care of each other and check in as well. Schilling stated he is concerned but glad Wallace is paying attention to it and letting the Council know.
Council President Briggs asked what the Council can do to help. Chief Wallace shared several ideas, including going for a ride along, or volunteering for a 24 hour shift. The Council was also invited to the monthly Fire & EMS dinners. Briggs encouraged the Council to take part.
What happen? No action took place. This was to share information with the Council only.
– City Council –
Attendance
Present: Mayor Slack, Council President Briggs, Councilors Blosser, Fitzgerald, Jantz, Schilling, Shein, and Spivey.
Absent: Councilor Barrientos.
Introductions, Recognitions, Proclamations
Police Week Proclamation
Mayor Slack read a proclamation in recognition of National Peace Officers Memorial Day & National Police Week. The proclamation can be found on pg. 3 of the council agenda.
Public Comment
- Dallas Resident
- Believes the City Council leads the way through challenges
- Asked the Council to be thoughtful in their selection of the new Council member
- Believes that vision comes through thinking in new and different ways from new and different people
- Asked the Council to choose someone who doesn’t share their background
- Encouraged the Council to look for someone who will bring something new to the position
- President of the Friends of the Dallas Aquatic Center
- Reported that the 2nd set of swimming lessons just started and is already full
- Shared that the kids pool has warm water again
- Gave a follow up on projects:
- Sand filters will be installed by the end of June
- Boiler is returned and fixed
- should be good for another 25 years
- Reported staffing for the center:
- 3 new lifeguards were just hired
- 2 new aerobics instructors were hired
- 2 new lifeguards should be finishing a new training program soon
- Shared the story of nail trimmings being found in the spa pool
- They emptied the pool, cleaned it, re-filled it, and then were able to re-open
- This is isn’t the first time this has happened
Consent Agenda
- Approve the April 21, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
What happened? This passed unanimously.
Mayor and council Reports
This is a time for Councilors and the Mayor to speak about any item.
Councilor Spivey attended the League of Oregon Cities conference, and despite having to take 2 days from work, thought it was worth the time. Reported the big stand out from the conference was how well Dallas is doing as a city. Spivey shared peer cities are struggling right now, and gave kudos to the City Manager and Mayor for how the city is run. Spivey recommended other Councilors attend future conferences.
Councilor Shein gave an update on the quaterly meeting of the Local Public Safety Coordination Council for Polk County. Most of the discussion and focus is on funding and budgets. Shared the news that the Police department is fully staffed right now, as most other cities are under staffed. Shein also noted the jail population is slightly up.
City Manager report
Hawthorne Avenue Intergovernmental Agreement
The Council approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to start a project to extend a sewer line on SE Hawthorne Ave. The work will take place on Hawthorne Ave starting at SE Academy St. to E Ellendale Ave..
Why does the city need an IGA? An IGA is needed because Hawthorne Ave is in Polk County’s jurisdiction not the city’s. The IGA between Polk County and the City of Dallas will allow the City to begin phase 1 of the project.
Looking to the future – Phase 2 of the sewer project will extend sewer access across E. Ellendale and northwest toward Kings Valley Highway. That phase is expected to be begin in 2026. (city website)
- What does the IGA agree to?
- City agrees to assume sole responsibility for operations, repair and maintenance of portions of Hawthorne Avenue.
- City and County agree to city paying for all annexation costs associated with the annexation of the roadway in the future.
- City and County agree to a jurisdictional transfer following annexation of the roadway.
- Staff report, pg. 6 of the Council agenda
City Manager Latta noted that the annexation is of the road only, not the properties on the road.
Both the County and City agree this IGA means the City can move forward with the sewer project construction. Permitting, oversight, quality control, and assurances with the project will also be handled by the City.
Traffic Alert – The County will grant a temporary easement between SE Hawthorne Avenue & SE Golden Chain Avenue so residents can access their properties during construction.
Councilor Shein asked what the timeframe of construction is if approved. City Manager Latta shared an unofficial timeline of 6-12 months, completing around Fall or Winter 2025. A contract has been issued and the work is ready to begin.
What happened? The Council voted to approved the IGA by a 7-0 vote.
VOTE BREAKDOWN
For: Council President Briggs, Councilors Blosser, Fitzgerald, Jantz, Schilling, Shein, and Spivey
Against: None
Ordinances
No. 1905 – La Creole Node Master Plan Update
The La Creole Node Master Plan (The La Creole Plan) was adopted with 1 vote against after Councilor Fitzgerald raised doubts and concerns.
The La Creole Plan and its 222 acres looks to address “the shortage of commercial land and higher density residential land identified in the most recent land analysis.” (city website)
Councilor Fitzgerald pointed to the Dallas 2030 Community Vision having several mentions of keeping a small town feel like, “Dallas balances new growth and development with its small town feel.” (Dallas 2030 Vision, pg. 5)
In Fitzgerald’s opinion, several parts of The La Creole Plan went against the “small town feel” in Dallas. Points of concern include the number of high and medium density housing, increased traffic, and adding more people to the city.
“I would ask if hundreds and hundreds of apartments in 5 story buildings is a small town vibe. Does that preserve our small town feel?”
– Councilor Fitzgerald
Noting having previously discussed and voted for the passing of The La Creole Plan on several different occasions, Councilor Fitzgerald now felt some things needed to be changed before the final reading and adoption.
City Manager Latta pointed out that most of the language being passed in the ordinance is already in current policies and are not new.
A housing & economic needs analysis done for Dallas showed there is a surplus of single family residential land, Latta reported. However, it showed a deficiency of medium and high density land see. The report also showed a large need for commercial land.
Councilor Spivey related to the tension Fitzgerald has with the small town feeling while growing in a healthy way. However, Spivey noted the school wants and needs more students and believes without the The La Creole Plan the city will be worse off. Shared the personal example of having 2 kids over the age of 21 who are struggling to find housing. Fitzgerald related to also having kids struggling to find housing.
Councilor Shein agreed with the need for the additional commercial space which is being fulfilled in The La Creole Plan. Also noted that commercial land produces more tax revenue than residential zones.
City Manager Latta pointed out, the commercial land zoned in The La Creole Plan is already inside city limits. Most of the residential zoned land is currently outside the city limits.
Councilor Fitzgerald was concerned about land owners not being able to develop their land how they want because of The La Creole Plan. Fitzgerald noted the need to ask questions to learn.
You can learn more about The La Creole Plan at the project website & city website.
- Get even more info:
- Read the full policy documents in the council agenda, pg. 14-86
- Read the Prep post on the Public Hearing for The La Creole Plan
- Then follow up with the Wrap up Post for the Public Hearing
Councilor Schilling explained that there are no restrictions on those outside the city limits. The La Creole Plan comes into effect when the property owners sell their land to a developer, or request annexation into the city. So there should be no concern for land owners as it would be self driven.
Schilling confirmed being in favor of The La Creole Plan. Stated a belief that this will help prevent Ellendale from becoming like Lancaster in Salem. Schilling believes we have to have growth in mind.
- What’s inside The La Creole Plan?
- 90 acres for commercial development
- 39.4 acres for medium-density residential
- 32.9 acres for high-density residential
- 29.94 acres for public right-of-way
- green spaces
- amenities
- infrastructure improvements
Councilor Shein pointed that commercial tax revenues can help balance out funding that is needed to maintain city services. Fitzgerald clarified that the concern is not with adding commercial but adding high and medium residential zones. The concern is adding more people to the city.
Councilor Fitzgerald expressed not wanting to see 5 or 6 story apartment buildings and believes that is not in line with a small town feel. City Manager Latta clarified higher stories are allowed in the Central Business District in downtown, but buildings in this zoning is 3-4 stories, not 5-6. The mixed used zoning in The La Creole Plan did not have a height limit yet, but that would come before the Council before being set.
What happened? The Council voted to approve The La Creole Plan 6-1, with Councilor Fitzgerald voting against it.
VOTE BREAKDOWN
For: Council President Briggs, Councilors Blosser, Jantz, Schilling, Shein, and Spivey
Against: Councilor Fitzgerald
What’s next for this project? Phase 2 of the The La Creole Plan will have separate sets of public notices, hearings, and appeal rights when it begins. A draft of the work for this phase is listed as Attachment C in a previous council agenda, pg. 18-34.
Phase 3 will be the annexing and rezoning of individual or groups of parcels to match The La Creole Plan. This timing will be driven by development.
– More Information –
- Work Session full agenda
- Work Session YouTube video archive
- City Council full agenda
- City Council YouTube video archive
Upcoming election – The Dallas Signal launched an Election page, dedicated to information on city wide elections. Currently, you can get informed on the upcoming Police building bond on the May 2025 ballot.
Do you want to be a City Councilor?
Link to begin your application for City Council
Complete the form and answer the questions. Then submit it in person to the City Manager’s Office at City Hall or email it to [email protected]
- Requirements to be a City Councilor
- Live in Dallas City limits for at least 1 year prior to appointment
- Registered voter in the City of Dallas
- Timeline to fill the vacancy
- April 22 – May 12, 2025
- Applications are open
- Including written answers to questions.
- All applications must be received by 5:00 pm on May 12, 2025
- Applications are open
- May 19, 2025
- City Council will hear from all qualified candidates in person
- Candidates will give a 5-minute statement about themselves and why they want to serve on the City Council
- Council will vote to fill the vacancy
- The appointed candidate will be sworn in and take their seat with the Council
- City Council will hear from all qualified candidates in person
- April 22 – May 12, 2025
For more information, contact Kim Herring, City Recorder, at 503.831.3502 or [email protected]
