Nothing on this agenda rises to Full Signal.

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Nothing lands at Moderate Signal this week.

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SW Hill Street Vacation

Why Low Signal: This change mostly affects the neighboring property, and no owners have objected in writing. A public hearing gives anyone a chance to testify before the Council votes.

In 1984, the City of Dallas accepted land south of SW Oakdale Avenue for a future extension of SW Hill Street. That strip is 60 feet wide, the standard for local streets at the time. Today’s standard is 50 feet, so there are 10 extra feet of space.

The property next to the strip is now proposed for development. The city wants to vacate (give up) the extra 10 feet on the east side, about 3,120 square feet. The land would go to the neighboring property owner and back on the tax rolls. There’s no direct cost to the city.

Why so fast? City staff say the neighboring owner is ready to file a development application, so they recommend finishing the whole process in one meeting.

• How it can all happen in one meeting
  • Public hearing: testimony on the vacation, then a motion to approve
  • First reading: Ordinance No. 1929 is read in full
  • Second reading: the ordinance is read again by title, followed by a roll call vote

Section 31.2 of the City Charter allows an ordinance to pass in a single meeting, but only if the vote is unanimous among the members present. If unanimous, the ordinance takes effect December 2. If not, the second reading and final vote would move to November 16.

Learn more: See the staff reports and Ordinance No. 1929 (council agenda, pg. 4-6 and 33-36)

YOUR SIGNAL: Testify during the Public Hearing at the start of the Council meeting.

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Clay Street Parking Request

Why Low Signal: The revised plan changes parking much less than the original. A final resolution vote is still ahead.

Salem Health is expanding and renovating West Valley Hospital. In September, the hospital asked to change on-street parking on SE Clay Street between SE Lewis Street and SE Uglow Avenue. The original plan would have removed parking on the south side and added 15 angled spaces on the north side, with 6 reserved for emergency room patients.

On September 21, the Council paused a decision. City staff were asked to get more details from the hospital and feedback from property owners on the south side of the street.

• What the hospital said
  • Construction will shrink on-campus parking for the next few years
  • Work on the east side starts in a few months, leaving no parking lot spaces nearby for emergency patients
  • Patients will keep using the current emergency entrance until summer 2028
  • The hospital would like the change to be permanent

Councilors had originally asked whether angled spaces would be harder for patients with limited mobility. The hospital agreed and now prefers keeping parallel parking, as long as the spaces are marked and reserved.

The new recommendation: mark the parallel spaces on the north side of Clay St. and reserve 5 as emergency room patient parking only. The original idea to remove parking on the south side is not part of the new recommendation.

Signs and paint are estimated to cost less than $1,000, plus city staff time.

The two other property owners on the south side of the street were in favor of the original plan. One business, Dallas Family Care (green on the map), raised concerns about hospital staff parking in front of its building and cars blocking a driveway. City staff say Public Works can fix the blocked driveway issue with curb paint.

• What’s next?
  • November 16 – If approved, a resolution is scheduled for a vote

Learn more: Read the hospital’s answers and the property owner feedback (council agenda, pg. 20-26)

YOUR SIGNAL: Speak during Public Comment before the Council gives direction. The resolution is scheduled for November 16, so you can also comment then or email a Councilor in between.

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Public Works Annual Report

Public Works Director Jennifer Ward will present the department’s 2026 annual report at the Work Session. No other information was provided prior to the meeting.

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Aquatic Center Fee Waiver

Friends of the Dallas Aquatic Center (FDAC) is hosting a thank-you reception for its donors and banner businesses in January 2027. FDAC is asking the Council to waive the room rental fee. The pool’s party rooms rent for $130 an hour, so the 2-hour event would cost $260.

The group’s letter notes the rental would be paid from donations already raised for the pool. It also says the event won’t add pool costs the way a swim party would.

If approved, the $260 would stay in the Aquatic Center trust fund instead of moving to the city’s general fund.

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Salem Health Right-of-Way License

As part of the hospital expansion (see Clay Street Parking Request), Salem Health is moving its oxygen tanks to its property on the east side of SE Uglow Avenue. A 2-inch oxygen line and a 6-inch electrical conduit would run under the street to reach the hospital.

Salem Health first asked for an easement. City staff and legal counsel recommend a revocable license instead, which is easier for the city to cancel and comes with a yearly fee.

• What’s in the proposed license
  • $1,500 yearly fee, or $3 per foot of each line (if higher)
  • The city can end it with 9 months’ written notice
  • Salem Health carries the insurance and must restore the street after any work

Salem Health has agreed to the license agreement and, according to the staff report, is in the process of signing it. If the Council approves, the City Manager would sign the agreement for the city.

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Nuisance Liens

The city hired contractors to clean up nuisances on 3 properties between June and October 2026. The owners didn’t pay or object to the bills. Now, the Council will vote on adding 4 liens totaling $2,964 to the city’s lien docket.

• Proposed lien totals
  • $2,064 – Weed abatement on 3 properties
  • $900 – Administrative fee tied to the junk removal lien approved October 19

Each lien carries a 9% interest rate. The city currently has 29 active liens totaling about $17,740.

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Make your voice heard

• Attend in person:
  • Monday, November 2, 2026 – City Hall in downtown Dallas, Oregon
    • Work Session starts at 6:00 pm
    • City Council starts at 7:00 pm
• Speak at the meeting: Public comment happens near the start of the City Council meeting. Everyone gets up to 3 minutes
• Submit public comment by phone: Dial +1 (253) 215-8782, enter Meeting ID 213 855 0622, then press #. Log in before 7:00 pm to make sure your comment is received
• E-mail the Mayor or a Councilor: Contact your representatives to share information
• Watch live or later: The meetings stream on the city’s YouTube page live and are archived afterward
• Work Session agenda
• City Council agenda

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Congratulations!

You’re all caught up on 41 pages of agenda for this week’s meetings. Now, are you ready to get involved?

November 2026 Election

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Ballots must be returned by 8:00 pm. Learn more about the candidates running for Mayor and City Council with The Dallas Signal’s November 2026 Voter Guide.

Use a Drop Box

Right now, a drop box is the safest way to return your ballot.

• Closest drop box: The Polk County Courthouse, 850 Main Street
  • The 24-hour drop box is on the east side of the building
• Election Day: Drop sites close at 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 3
• Track your ballot: Sign up for alerts at OregonVotes.gov/track

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