-Topics-
-Work Session-
Attendance
Present: Mayor Slack, Council President Briggs, Councilors Barrientos, Blosser, Fitzgerald, Holsapple, Schilling, Shein, and Spivey.
Absent: Councilor Jantz
Police Station Project Upcoming Steps
Councilors narrowed 2 financing options down to 1 for a future Police building in Dallas. While initial agreement on how to finance was found, the new budget is still unknown. The Dec. 15th Council meeting will reveal the final lower budget after it has been value engineered.
The goal of value engineering is to finds ways to reduce the cost of a project without losing quality. This can be done with things like changing materials used or finding creative solutions to improve function. The original 2 story building proposal went under a value engineering process at the request of the Council.
Get the history: Wrap up on previous discussion about Police building alternatives..
Background
City Manager Latta explained the 2 financing options available for the Council to consider. The key difference between the 2 options is how money is collected. Plan A is similar to the proposal from May 2025, with a property tax of $.52 per $1,000 of assessed home value. Plan B would add a fixed fee to the sewer bill.
Plan B lowers each person’s individual burden because there are more people who pay a sewer bill than there are people who own property. For example, think about an apartment building: 1 property owner, multiple sewer bill accounts.
In theory, Plan B would pay the debt quicker than Plan A. This would lower the overall debt cost since the time to pay it back is shorter.
GENERAL DISCUSSION
Council President Briggs asked where the $14 million number under plan B came from. City Manager Latta said the $14 million figured was simply used for running initial numbers. Final numbers from the value engineering should be known next month.
Latta shared that the Green Infrastructure Grant, if awarded, would cover the cost of the green roof and streetscape in front of the building. Councilor Shein asked how long the city would have to spend the grant money. The grant would be awarded in Jan. 2026 and have 18 months to use the funds.
Councilor Barrientos wondered what the reasoning was to chose the May election over the Nov. election. The City Manager noted the choice is the Council’s. One thing to consider when choosing a ballot date is what else will be on the ballot that could influence a voter’s decision. Currently there are no other financial asks on the May 2026 ballot to compete with the Police building.
Councilor Shein mentioned that if the sewer fee was the option chosen the Council is not legally required to ask the voters for approval. Given the current environment, Shein believes it is still best to ask the people. Recalled a time in the past when the city charged a fee and didn’t ask the people. Noted it was easily rejected in the next election.
City Manager Latta agreed it is smart to learn lessons from the past. Pointed to other outside factors to consider such as attitude towards the state & federal government. However, Latta noted the city can’t just wait and hope for better conditions in the future.
Councilor Barrientos asked if there was a financial reason to choose a ballot in May vs. Nov. There are no financial reasons to chose one election date over the other. Latta noted there is currently some effort to get a recall of the transportation funding bill recently passed in Oregon. If successful that recall would be on the Nov. 2026 ballot. It is possible that would have a negative impact on the Police building issue.
Council President Briggs inquired if there was any way to get the new building budget down to $10-$12 million. City Manager Latta confirmed that is not possible without missing critical components of the building. Briggs suggested that remodeling the Itemizer-Observer (IO) building might be the only option to fit the public’s budget desire.
Councilor Shein pointed out a couple possible future positives of remodeling the IO building. Logistical advantages of the IO building centered on the need to eventually still build a new Police station though.
Focusing on the Council’s future decision, City Manager Latta commented that the IO building is a short term, budget friendly option and is better than what Police have today. However, it would still be a sacrifice of what the Police need. The need for a full police building would exist again in maybe only 10 years down the road. The city would have to go back to the public and ask for more money again.
Financing options
Focusing on the methods of financing, Councilor Spivey asked how many sewer accounts the city has currently. There are about 7,200 sewer accounts today. Spivey asked, if more people move into Dallas and create more sewer accounts, could the debt be paid faster, or would everyone’s fee go down instead?
City Manager Latta noted that the funding has already built in growth projections. However, if growth was higher than estimated there could be a fee decrease or a faster pay down of the debt timeline.
Councilor Spivey then asked if there are any current bonds or fees due to expire that the new sewer fee could replace. The County Sheriff’s Levy is due soon but is expected to go out for again renewal. There are no other known bonds or fees due to expire soon.
Councilor Holsapple asked what the monthly fee would look like. Based on a total project cost of $15-16 million, the fee would be about $14-15 per month. Real numbers still need to be run when the final project budget is released.
Councilor Fitzgerald wanted to clarify if each apartment has a sewer account. Yes, if there are 50 apartments that would equal 50 sewer accounts. The same is true for a business. If a building has 5 tenants in it, there are 5 sewer accounts.
Building options
Councilor Barrientos recalled hearing a desire to remodel the IO building from the public. Personally, Barrientos doesn’t agree and believes the 2 story Police building is needed.
Council President Briggs agreed that the need for a Police building is more today than it was last year but the public is also hurting worse than they were last year. Briggs does not see a way to ask the public for a $15-16 million building.
“We should really do this right, do it the first time, and do it for a long term but I don’t think the citizens want to pay for that.”
– Council President Briggs
Councilor Shein supported what Briggs said and reported hearing the same feedback from the public. Noting that the IO building is less than ideal, Shein commented “anything is better than what we’re dealing with now”.
Councilor Schilling has heard some feedback about remolding the IO building. But has also heared from people who are upset the Police building failed and want the city to try again with no changes. Schilling questioned why the city would want to throw money in a hole (what Schilling called the IO building). It is unsafe and would likely come down or be damaged in an earthquake.
Knowing the fight ahead to get a yes on the Police building, Schilling believes the city should ask for the 2 story building after the value engineering is complete.
Councilors Schilling, Shien, and the City Manager discussed the polling previously used. It was agreed that there is no need for additional surveys on the topic.
Councilor Fitzgerald inquired if the monthly sewer fee would go up or down (like the safety fee that the Council updates yearly due to the Cost of Living Adjustment). This building fee would not change. The city will estimate growth of population into the figures. If the city grows faster than it estimated it could either lower the fee, or pay the debt off faster.
Councilor Holsapple stated if there was faster growth, it would be better to not lower the fee and instead pay off the debt faster. Paying off faster would decrease the overall debt due, saving money in the long run. Holsapple stated hearing no feedback preferring to remodel the IO building. Supports doing the building the right way (2 story building).
Messaging
According to Councilor Holsapple, messaging should focus on meeting the needs of the community into the future. Wants to see clear information given to the public.
Since staff are not legally allowed to campaign during work time, City Manager Latta recommended the Council form and act as head of a Political Action Committee (PAC) for the Police Station. Latta suggested the PAC meetings could be live streamed on YouTube since open conversations can help build trust with the public.
Councilor Barrientos pointed to self research about costs of other Oregon Police buildings. The key take away is Police and safety buildings are more expensive to build.
- Oregon Police station building costs:
- Silverton
- $20 million
- Redmond
- $49 million
- Tigard
- $150 million
- Dallas (original ask)
- $17.2 million
- Silverton
City Manager Latta added the Redmond Police station is on par with the per sq. ft. cost of the originally proposed Dallas Police building. Public safety buildings are more expensive to build because of their critical need to stay standing in times of emergency and disaster.
Councilor Holsapple felt the information of why safety building construction is more expensive was missing in the last campaign. Also noted, remodeling the IO building can never bring it to the safety standards needed. Latta acknowledged that to harden the IO building for safety would be the same cost as building brand new.
Sharing an interaction with a new neighbor, Councilor Schilling said safety was this neighbors main draw to Dallas. Noted that a Police building will help retain and attract new officers to Dallas. Schilling compared the difference between Oregon State University vs. University of Oregon who spends a lot of money on their stadium. Ducks have an easier time to recruit and raise more funds because of their investment to the stadium.
“This is part of how we keep Dallas being the nice, quaint town that we are. We are known for our safety.”
– Councilor Schilling
Councilor Shein pointed out that everyone in the room agrees with the importance of needing a new building but the issue is figuring out what they can sell to the public.
Councilor Schilling reported hearing positive feedback on the service fee, because it shares the cost with property owners and renters in the city. The City Manager said a bonus to using the service fee is that it gets rid of the confusing messaging around assessed home value calculations. The fee is easier to explain.
Next steps
Council President Briggs asked for a show of hands from the Councilors who want to move forward with the sewer fee option. All 8 Councilors signaled support.
Councilor Spivey cautioned the Council to expect questions of why the project cost went down now. Suggesting everyone needs to be ready to answer questions like, “If it’s so good, why didn’t we do it this way the first time”.
Offering some reasoning, the City Manager explained that a property tax bond is the common and standard way to finance public improvement projects. The city offered that the 1st time and the public said no. So the city did some value engineer work and got creative with financing. The sewer fee will have a little higher interest rate than the property bond, but has more overall payers and pays the debt off faster.
In closing the discussion on this topic, Mayor Slack stated support for the sewer fee option. Noted this will be a hard ask of the citizens but believes we need to do something now.
“This station should have been built 25-30 years ago. It’s way past time and it only gets more expensive every year we wait.”
– Mayor Slack
What happened? The Council discussed and agreed to move forward with looking at financing the Police building through a monthly sewer fee. More information will be given in future Council meetings before a final decision is made.
-City Council-
Attendance
Present: Mayor Slack, Council President Briggs, Councilors Barrientos, Blosser, Fitzgerald, Holsapple, Schilling, Shein, and Spivey.
Absent: Councilor Jantz
Introductions, Recognitions, Proclamations
Introduction of new Police Department employee
Lieutenant Macartney was introduced to the Council and sworn in. Previously, Macartney served as Police Chief in Burns, OR, and worked in McMinnville as a sergeant.
Public Comment
- Dallas resident
- Referred to recent article in the Itemizer-Observer (IO) about John C. Barnard Park
- Unhappy city staff didn’t talk about Mr. Barnard in their comments
- Asked people in charge to do better
- Dallas resident
- Let son use time
- Placed son on the ground in middle of room
- Showing son abilities
- Placed son on the ground in middle of room
- Wants things in the community for son to do and be a part of
- Son has family and friends as support
- Deserves more
- Hoped visual of son’s abilities will be helpful to the Council
- Let son use time
- Dallas resident
- Handed out a packet to the Council
- Included a picture from the Barnard Park grant acceptance
- Included information on all abilities playground
- Keyword being all abilities, not just accessible
- Harper’s Playground
- All abilities playground in Portland, Or.
- Unhappy with recent article in the IO
- Believes it’s not honest when it says Barnard Park includes all abilities equipment
- Handed out a packet to the Council
- Dallas resident
- 1st moved here in 1976
- Everything changes over time
- Some for good, some for bad
- Family has worked with the disability community for many years
- Unhappy with the direction of Barnard Park
- Believes it should be an outreach to all of the community
- Not a Dallas resident
- Representative from Oregon Resource Family Alliance
- formerly known as Oregon Foster Parent Association
- Encouraged the city to install an ADA swing at a park
- Noted residents are disappointed with Barnard Park
- Important that kids with disabilities don’t feel isolation
- Representative from Oregon Resource Family Alliance
Consent Agenda
The consent agenda is used to pass procedural items. If any Councilor has a question, or wants to discuss something, they can pull the item to discuss.
What’s on the consent agenda?
- October 2025 Financial Report (pg 3-33 council agenda)
- Approve the November 3, 2025 Work Session Meeting Minutes (pg 34 council agenda)
- Approve the November 3, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes (pg 35-36 council agenda)
What happened? This passed unanimously.
Mayor and council Reports
No reports from Councilors or the Mayor were given.
City Manager report
Parks Reservations
Currently the city offers the public the ability to reserve 3 shelters at city parks for private use. With a new shelter at John C. Barnard Park, the Council wants to consider adding additional structures to the reservation system.
First, the Parks Advisory Board will consider recommendations for other shelters to add and then present those options to the Council to decide.
Councilor Shein stated this was a good idea. Asked when the next Parks Advisory Board meeting is. They meet next on Dec 17, 2025. This topic would likely come back to the Council in Jan, 2026.
Council President Briggs wanted to clarify this would open all shelters to being considered for reservations. Also asked if this process would be completed before summer reservations start in May. The City Manager confirmed both.
- Currently available for reservation
- Seibert-Frederickson Memorial Shelter – Dallas City Park
- The Gazebo – Dallas City Park
- Brandvold Kitchen – Dallas City Park
- Recommended additions
- New Shelter – John C. Barnard Park
- Rotary Performing Arts Stage – Rotary Park
- More additions?
- Various shelters at other city parks could be considered
What happened? The Council agreed to ask the Parks Advisory Board to consider the topic 1st and offer recommendations of shelters to add to the reservation system.
RESOLUTIONS
No. 3555 – to levy nuisance assessments against real property
In this resolution, the Council had to consider placing several liens on properties. 12 total properties in Dallas had vegetation deemed obnoxious enough that the city had to take care of it between April 2024 & Aug. 2025.
- What is considered obnoxious vegetation?
- Poison oak
- Poison ivy
- Blackberry bushes that extend into a public thoroughfare or across a property line
- Vegetation that is
- A health hazard
- A fire hazard
- A traffic hazard because it impairs the view of a public thoroughfare or otherwise makes use of the thoroughfare hazardous
- Weeds or grass more than 10 inches high
- Weeds or grass going to seed
- Obnoxious vegetation does not include an agricultural crop, unless that crop is a health, traffic, or fire hazard
- Source: Dallas City Municipal Code
Councilor Shein couldn’t recall the last time this had been done and asked if it was common. The City Manager said this is done almost yearly.
Councilor Fitzgerald asked if the interest rate of 9% stays on the lien until the bill is paid. City Manager Latta confirmed.
Council President Briggs, like Shein, couldn’t remember doing this before. Latta explained the last time this was done was about June 2024, with about the same number of liens being considered.
Did you know? City code requires all grass and weeds to be kept under 10″ in height. Learn more about Dallas’ Weed Abatement Program.
Councilor Barrientos asked for explanation on how the city notifies people before a lien. City staff, following city Municipal Code procedure, notify property owners of obnoxious vegetation and ask them to remove it. If the owners don’t take care of it, the city can hire a company to remove the vegetation and charge the property owner. If the property owner doesn’t pay the bill, then the Council can consider placing a lien on the property until the bill is paid off.
Council President Briggs asked to review in a future meeting the full list of liens the city has. Councilor Shein agreed with a full review.
What happened? The Council voted 8-0 to pass the resolution. It became effective immediately.
VOTE BREAKDOWN
For: Council President Briggs, Councilors Barrientos, Blosser, Fitzgerald, Holsapple, Schilling, Shein, and Spivey.
Against:
-More Information-
- Work Session full agenda
- Work Session YouTube video archive
- City Council full agenda
- City Council YouTube video archive
