– Topics –
- Work Session
- City Council
- More information
– Work Session –
Attendance:
Present: Mayor Woods, Council President Schilling, Councilors Adams, Barrientos, Briggs, Collins, Fitzgerald, and Shein
Excused: Councilors Jantz, and Virden
Transfer Facility
Polk County staff shared information about the proposed ReHub Center at the old Rickreall Dairy.
Polk County had already identified the need for a transfer station prior to the ReHub proposal. Learn more about the needs for a transfer station in the meeting prep post.
Questions from the Councilors:
- Councilor Shein –
- Best case scenario timeline for Rehub to open?
- 2027, if everything followed the applicants preferred timeline.
- It will be important to scale up the facility. Proposal from the applicant reflects that.
- Reminded that rates go up no matter what. Either for this ReHub Center or rising dumping fees at Coffin Butte.
- Best case scenario timeline for Rehub to open?
- Councilor Collins –
- What responsibility does the County have towards educating the public on this project?
- County reps have and are meeting with cities now.
- Then will go back to the County Commissioners with city feedback.
- Commissioners can ask for more education, if proceeding with the project.
- Will styrofoam be collected at Rehub?
- To be determined
- What responsibility does the County have towards educating the public on this project?
- Councilor Briggs –
- Is Rehub the only proposal/idea or are there other options?
- Rehub is the only proposal that has approached the County
- Is Rehub the only proposal/idea or are there other options?
- Councilor Barrientos –
- Are there any delays anticipated?
- None at this stage of the project. If they get into permits and land use, that will reveal more information.
- Are there any delays anticipated?
- Councilor Fitzgerald –
- When would rates increase if this proposal is approved?
- Rates would increase when your hauler starts using the center, not before.
- When would rates increase if this proposal is approved?
- Council President Schilling –
- Gave kudos to the County representative on this project.
City Manager Latta reminded the council, that no action means in 12 years (or less) we will have no where to take the waste generated in Dallas.
What happened tonight? The council agreed to give consensus to the Rehub plan and support moving forward.
What happens next? The County reps present to the City of Salem, next week. All cities (pending Salem’s decision) have joined Dallas in consensus of the Rehub Center so far.
– City Council –
Attendance:
Present: Mayor Woods, Council President Schilling, Councilors Adams, Barrientos, Briggs, Collins, Fitzgerald, and Shein
Excused: Councilors Jantz, and Virden
Introductions, Recognitions, Proclamations
Dallas Fire & EMS Chief Wallace – Dallas has its new fire engine! On Dec. 4th at 6pm they will have the Push In and ribbon cutting ceremony.
PUBLIC HEARING
Development Code Updates
City staff need to propose updates to the City Development Code. Those changes will 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.
What happened tonight? The hearing was postponed because the Planning Commission has not yet met on this item. The hearing is now re-scheduled for city council on Dec. 9th.
Public Comment
- President of the Friends of the Dallas Aquatic Center
- The group was founded to cover emergencies so the center can avoid closing down service.
- Last week, they had to fix a broken pipe. This set them back $9,000 from their sand filter fundraising goal.
- They are still seeking donations to meet their $15k goal.
- Dallas and Central HS teams have started using the pool now. Along with Perrydale and Charter schools!
- The group was founded to cover emergencies so the center can avoid closing down service.
- Dallas Resident – self identified as a Dallas School Board member.
- Announcing and asking support from the community for their current fundraiser: seeking new and gently used musical instruments.
- Specifically, brass and woodwind instruments, but they will accept all instruments.
- Drop off locations at Citizens Bank and Umpqua Bank now through Nov. 27th.
- Announcing and asking support from the community for their current fundraiser: seeking new and gently used musical instruments.
Consent Agenda
What’s on the consent agenda?
- Approve the November 4, 2024 Work Session Minutes
- Approve the November 4, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes
What happened tonight? This passed unanimously.
Mayor and council Reports
- Councilor Collins –
- Spoke about accountability. Stated the council attendance rules are too lax and some councilors are taking advantage of it. Called for stronger council rules for attendance policies going forward.
- Councilor Barrientos –
- Spoke about the Dallas musical instrument drive, and why its near to his heart. Couldn’t afford an instrument growing up but got access to one through the school. Stressed that music is an important part of life and childhood.
- Councilor Shein –
- Praised the Japanese Garden and gave kudos to Councilor Briggs who helped it happen.
City Manager report
Republic Services
Republic Services (Republic) collects waste and recycling in Dallas. Each year they review rates and propose changes. Those changes must be approved by the city council through a resolution.
Weekly pick up feedback? Republic has received positive feedback for the weekly recycling and yard waste pick ups. This was the last change the council approved, with an associated rate increase.
Republic shared they use the Refuse Index and CPI to standardize their rate increases. They want to spread out small increase each year. The other option is some years with no increase and others with large increases.
Councilor Briggs asked what would happen if the council said “no” to the rate increase tonight. Republic said they would need to return to figure out what can be done. Costs are only going up in the future. Natural gas and electricity rates are facing even bigger increases.
What happened tonight? By a vote of 5 – 2, the rate increase passed. The 4.1% increase (or $1.11) will go into effect Feb 01, 2025.
VOTE BREAKDOWN
For: Council President Schilling, Councilors Adams, Barrientos, Collins, and Shein
Against: Councilors Briggs, and Fitzgerald
Public Works Building Project Update
Staff plan to ask for funds in 2 stages. First, a smaller inter-fund loan. Then, next year staff will ask for a larger infrastructure loan to finish the project.
Why are they funding this in stages? To keep the project moving and avoid delays. The city is waiting to hear about a grant award to fund the SW Levens St. and W Ellendale Ave. intersection project. That answer is expected to come in Jan-Feb 2025.
The larger loan will also include funds to fully rebuild Godsey Road (from Olive Street to Monmouth Cutoff Road).
Council President Schilling reminded the council this new building will increase space for the Fleet Department. That department generates revenue for the city! Councilor Briggs confirmed this new building allows all firetrucks to be worked on in a sheltered space instead of outside.
What happened tonight? The council learn about the building project. The city plans to come back to the council soon to ask for the initial inter-fund loan.
Creation of Technical Advisory Committee
The city and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will be updating the city’s Transportation System Plan. This technical advisory committee helps review and give feedback to the city and ODOT.
What happened tonight? The council voted unanimously to create the committee and approved all recommended members.
FEMA Pre-implementation Compliance Measures
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a coming mandate that affects Dallas. The council got information about the 3 pre-implementation options at a previous meeting.
Lots of discussion tonight about the effects of the mandate and how it works. Councilor Collins asked if any other local cities have made a decision on this yet. While Monmouth is scheduled to vote on Tuesday, no other cities have decided. City Attorney Shetterly mentioned that the model ordinance option isn’t in-line with Oregon State law, and can’t be implemented as-is.
Councilor Briggs asked about the possibility of a new presidential administration reversing the mandate. That is unlikely, since the mandate started from a court settlement. However, there is already litigation on this new mandate in the beginning stages.
What happened tonight? The council agreed the permit-by-permit option is likely, but needs more information from FEMA before deciding. No decision was made.
Veteran’s Day Celebration
The city currently celebrates Veteran’s Day with a fireworks display. Each year the city gets complaints from Veterans and others about the negative effects fireworks have on those with PTSD.
City staff suggested the council discuss how the city celebrates and wants to celebrate our Veterans in the future.
What happened tonight? The council moved this topic to the Buildings and Grounds Committee (a sub-committee of the council) for more discussion.
Ordinance reading
No. 1901 – Annexation 1080 West Ellendale Avenue
This was the 1st reading of an ordinance to rezone and annex a property into Dallas, Oregon. The property is at 1080 W. Ellendale Avenue.
The council had a public hearing for this zone and annexation previously.
What happened tonight? The 1st reading of the ordinance passed.
What’s next? The 2nd reading and final vote for the ordinance is scheduled for Dec 9, 2024.
No. 1902 – Annexation SW Cherry at 11th Avenue
This was the 1st reading of an ordinance to rezone and annex a property into Dallas, Oregon. The property is at SW Cherry at 11th Avenue.
The council had a public hearing for this zone and annexation previously.
What happened tonight? The 1st reading of the ordinance passed.
What’s next? The 2nd reading and final vote for the ordinance is scheduled on Dec 9, 2024.
Resolution
Resolution No. 3538 – Renaming Birch Park to Mark O. Hatfield Park
The Mayor thought the city should honor, Mark O. Hatfield. Born in Dallas, Oregon, Hatfield went on to serve as US Senator for 30 years and Governor for 8 years.
Mayor Wood’s shared some thoughts about Hatfield and told the council his father grew up playing with Hatfield in Dallas. No one was sure the exact house Hatfield grew up in. City Attorney Shetterly mentioned the NE Corner of SW Ellis St. and SW Hayter St.
What happened tonight? The council voted unanimously to rename Birch Park to Mark O. Hatfield Park!
– More Information –
- Councilor Collins Facebook video recap
- Work session full agenda
- Work session YouTube video archive
- City council full agenda
- Council Meeting YouTube video archive
