Signal Burst
A quick burst of what happened at this week’s meeting
Ranked by how much your voice could impact the outcome
Full Signal – Things that need your attention
None at this meeting
Moderate Signal – Items likely to affect you
Nothing to report
Low Signal – Topics to keep an eye on
SW Hill Street Vacation – The Council gave up 10 extra feet of an unbuilt street in a single meeting
Clay Street Parking Request – The plan to mark parallel spaces next to West Valley Hospital, with 5 reserved for emergency room patients, was approved by the Council
No Signal – For your information only
Aquatic Center Fee Waiver – The Council waived a $260 room rental for a Friends of the Dallas Aquatic Center donor thank-you event
Salem Health Right-of-Way License – The hospital can now run an oxygen line under SE Uglow Avenue after the Council approved the license
Nuisance Liens – 4 liens on 3 properties for unpaid cleanup costs were approved
Full Signal
Things that need your attention
No items reached Full Signal at this week’s meetings.
Moderate Signal
Items likely to affect you
Moderate Signal stayed empty this time.
Low Signal
Topics to keep an eye on
SW Hill Street Vacation
Why Low Signal: The change affects one neighboring property. No one testified at the public hearing.
The City of Dallas accepted some land south of SW Oakdale Avenue for a future extension of SW Hill Street back in 1984. The strip of land is 60 feet wide, the standard for local streets at the time, while today’s standard is 50 feet. The Council voted to vacate (give up) the extra 10 feet.
City Manager Latta explained the city initiated this vacation process. The total land is about 3,120 square feet and goes to the neighboring property owner, who supports it. The land will go back on the tax rolls, with no direct cost to the city.
Councilor Holsapple asked if this reduction would be noticeable in the future when cars cross Oakdale Ave., but Latta said drivers won’t notice a difference.
Why one meeting? The property owner plans to develop a residential subdivision and is ready to submit the application. The City Charter allows an ordinance to pass in a single meeting only with a unanimous vote of the members present.
During the hearing, no public testimony was offered and the Council had little discussion. Ordinance No. 1929’s text was read in full for its first reading, then by title only for its second. The unanimous vote let the whole process finish in one meeting.
Learn more: See the staff reports and Ordinance No. 1929 (council agenda, pg. 4-6 and 33-36)
Ordinance No. 1929 cleared both readings 7-0. Because the vote was unanimous, it takes effect December 2.
Clay Street Parking Request
Why Low Signal: The revised plan changes parking far less than the original request. A final resolution is still ahead.
With West Valley Hospital under expansion and renovation, Salem Health asked to have on-street parking changed on SE Clay Street between SE Lewis Street and SE Uglow Avenue.
Learn more: The original plan and reason for Council’s pause, in the Signal Prep post.
The City Council approved marking parallel parking spaces on the north side of Clay St. and adding signs to reserve 5 of them for emergency room patients only. Parking on the south side stays as it is.
The other 2 property owners on the south side supported the original plan. 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 address the driveway issue with curb paint.
- Follow the money
- <$1,000 – Signs and paint, plus city staff time
Construction update: According to Salem Health’s email, construction on the east side of the hospital will begin in a few months. Patients will still use the current emergency entrance until summer 2028.
YOUR SIGNAL: Speak during Public Comment on November 16, or email a Councilor before the resolution vote.
Approved, 7-0. This topic will come back to the Council for a vote again as a resolution on November 16.
No Signal
For your information only
Public Works Annual Report
Public Works Director Jennifer Ward presented the department’s 2026 annual report at the Work Session. The department has 8 divisions, covering everything from water and streets to parks, the Aquatic Center, and the city’s vehicle fleet.
There has been some turnover with staff in the past year. Several of those positions are now filled. Two support services openings are being reshaped, one to find an engineer and the other as an inspector and plan reviewer.
Council President Briggs asked how many vacancies remain. Ward counted 4 across the whole department, noting that was not bad for a department its size.
Aquatic Center
The Dallas Aquatic Center (DAC) had 1,369 more visits than last year, which was already up from the year before it. Councilor Barrientos asked if rising use meant a need for more full-time staff. Ward noted the pool runs on 39 part-time employees, so growth would likely mean more hours for them.
Additional use could come from Western Oregon University, whose pool is now closed until about May 2027. Also, the Osborn Aquatic Center in Corvallis is closed until Fall 2027. DAC has reached out to those pool users to offer to host events in Dallas.
Water
The city continues to work on securing water rights for the Mercer Dam expansion. Councilor Fitzgerald asked for a description of the pending mitigation plan for the dam. Because a new dam puts land under water, a mitigation plan addresses how that lost land will be replaced. That includes considerations for wetlands, and lost habitat. City Manager Latta noted a plan is required when more than one acre is affected.
The fish passage at the new dam is also being considered. Councilor Barrientos asked if state fish passage rules were still causing issues from 3 years ago. Ward said it’s too early to tell. A trap and haul fish passage method still looks like the best fit for the city’s water system. The city is meeting with agencies early so the plan isn’t sent back. Communication with the agencies has improved, but progress is slow.
Did you know: Coho salmon are trapped and hauled around the dam. This has been the practice since 2009.
Councilor Schilling suggested releasing more water in low summer months, which would help make the case for keeping trap and haul for fish passage. Ward agreed with the suggestion and noted the city prefers trap and haul. Ward also pointed out that the dam helps to keep Rickreall Creek flowing year round. Records from the 1950s show it used to dry up in summer.
Streets and stormwater
Ward said half of the city’s catch basins have been cleaned and 21 were replaced. This helps meet some state water quality rules. Also, starting this year, crews will use flow monitoring and cameras to find where stormwater leaks into the sewer system.
Councilor Holsapple praised the work on the new SW Levens Street and W Ellendale Avenue intersection and asked about recent vandalism there. A police report has been filed. Ward will get repair quotes to decide whether to file an insurance claim.
Parks
- Dallas City Park – 4 new pickleball courts are opening Fall 2026
- Mayor Slack reported already seeing people playing on the courts
- Learn more: The history of these pickleball courts
- Dallas City Park – Brandvold Kitchen Area – ADA upgrade in 2027 partnered with Dallas Rotary
- Dallas City Park – Seibert Frederickson Memorial Shelter – new supports in 2027
- Rickreall Creek Trail – Mill Section is now open. Runs from Crystal Estates past the new city shops (between SE Mill Street and Rickreall Creek)
- Adult sports leagues – being explored for the future
Support services
Ward explained this division supports all the others in Public Works and has been helping finish the new City Hall building, which is nearing completion. The department is also in process of going paperless.
See photos from inside the IO building, the future City Hall, taken in September 2026
Purchasing easements in the La Creole Node is now underway. Construction on phase B of the sewer line could start as early as 2027. Extending sewer service into the area is one of the steps needed before new development can happen.
Councilor Holsapple passed along a resident question about delays on construction of SE Godsey Road. Ward explained that a new water line added some time, and they are still waiting for some utilities to be moved. Updates on that construction are expected soon.
Council President Briggs asked about a bridge repair listed in the report. Ward explained the city shored up the Godsey Rd bridge with state approval and hopes the fix holds until a full replacement in 2028. The bridge on Monmouth Cutoff Road over North Fork Ash Creek also needs work. Polk County will help with that bridge.
Wastewater
The wastewater plant, which the city contracts out to Jacobs to operate, received an updated discharge permit this year. The previous permit was more than 15 years old. The new permit adds testing requirements and requires a plan to keep treated water released into Rickreall Creek from being too warm. Options like shading or building a cooling tower are being considered.
Crews recently emptied both biosolids drying ponds. Solids are dried before the wet season and then hauled to the landfill. The drying is important because dry solids weigh less and cost less to haul. About 2 years ago, a change in management led to confusion about how often the ponds needed turning and solids piled up. Clearing the ponds out will help with storage going forward.
Fleet and facilities
In the last year, the fleet shop added a new vacuum truck, a 3rd mechanic, and a larger shop space. A mechanic completed training in Washington, giving the shop 2 certified emergency vehicle technicians. The fleet shop also maintains vehicles for Monmouth, Falls City, and Independence, and is looking to add more.
With a new street sweeper arriving this winter, Councilor Schilling asked how long a street sweeper usually lasts. Ward said wear starts to show at about 5 years, which Schilling felt was frequent.
Ward reported that facilities is now fully staffed. Crews replaced the police annex HVAC and are re-roofing 2 water pump houses.
Aquatic Center Fee Waiver
Friends of the Dallas Aquatic Center (FDAC) is hosting a thank-you event for its donors and banner businesses in January 2027.
The Council approved waiving the $260 fee for both of the pool’s party rooms, which together rent for $130 an hour. The City Manager can’t waive fees, so the request needed Council approval.
The waiver was granted with a unanimous 7-0 vote.
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 will run under the street to reach the hospital.
Salem Health first asked for an easement, which is permanent. The Council approved a license for the right-of-way instead. City staff and legal counsel had recommended a license because it can be revoked.
- What’s in the 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
The City Manager noted the 9 months’ notice before any revocation was negotiated down from Salem Health’s request of 12 months’ notice. Salem Health has agreed to the license agreement and, according to the staff report, is in the process of signing it.
7-0 vote in favor. The City Manager will now sign the agreement for the city.
Nuisance Liens
The Council approved adding 4 new liens, totaling $2,964, to the city’s lien docket. Each carries a 9% interest rate. 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.
- Lien totals
- $2,064 – Weed abatement on 3 properties
- $900 – Administrative fee tied to the junk removal lien approved October 19
Finance Director Cecilia Ward said this is the last lien batch of the year. The $900 administrative fee was accidentally left off when the October lien passed, so it was added now. The city now has 29 active liens totaling about $17,740.
Resolution No. 3581 passed. Vote: 7-0.
Learn More
Work Session and City Council Attendance: All present except Councilors Jantz and Shein (absent).
November 2026 Election Results
Election Day is over. Check the results for the Dallas Mayor and City Council races on The Dallas Signal’s November 2026 Voter Guide.
See the latest results and learn more about each candidate.
