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
Transportation System Plan Update – The Planning Commission and Council reviewed the full transportation plan draft. The online open house opens soon
Moderate Signal – Items likely to affect you
La Creole Sewer Resolution – The Council approved a resolution allowing the city to make offers for sewer easements in the La Creole Node, with eminent domain as a backup
Low Signal – Topics to keep an eye on
Councilor Leave of Absence – A continued leave for Councilor Jantz through the end of the year passed unanimously
No Signal – For your information only
Nuisance Lien – The Council approved placing a lien on one property for unpaid cleanup costs
Full Signal
Things that need your attention
Transportation System Plan Update
Why Full Signal: This plan will guide street, sidewalk, and bike projects across the city through 2045. More chances for public input are opening soon.
The City Council and Planning Commission met in a joint work session to review the full draft of the city’s Transportation System Plan (TSP). Matt Bell, a transportation planner with Kittelson & Associates, presented the draft. A representative from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) also attended.
Bell described the TSP as an evolving document. New comments are still coming in, and changes can be made until the final version goes to print.
Projects are sorted by what the city can realistically pay for. High-priority projects make up the “planned” system. These cover critical gaps and projects with strong community input and fit within forecast revenue.
Medium and low-priority projects make up the “preferred” system, which would need more funding. Bell noted that many grants and other funding sources not shown in the plan are also available.
- Follow the money
- $155.2 million – Full TSP project list
- $17.4 million – High-priority projects
- $39.8 million – Medium-priority projects
- $98 million – Low-priority projects
- $17.9 million – Forecasted revenue for new projects through 2045
- $0.5 million left over after high-priority projects
- $155.2 million – Full TSP project list
One change from the last TSP draft lowers E Ellendale Avenue’s classification, reducing its future size from 5 lanes to 3.
Councilor Fitzgerald asked what additional safety improvements were recommended for the SW Levens Street and W Ellendale Avenue intersection, which was recently installed. A leading pedestrian interval, reflective backplate, and larger bulbs were a few suggestions pointed out. Fitzgerald and Councilor Shein both agreed reflective backplates could help with sunset glare at that intersection.
Many intersection improvements are focused on Ellendale Ave. and Kings Valley Highway. This area surrounds the future La Creole Node development.
The SE Hawthorne Avenue and E Ellendale Ave. intersection was brought up by Councilor Holsapple. No project has been planned there yet. The TSP calls for more studies first. Bell expected the intersection to see more use with new street connections planned nearby.
The need for more studies also applies to the future SE Barberry Avenue and current Fir Villa Road intersections on E Ellendale Ave. Bell added that changes to Fir Villa’s intersection will have ripple effects on the other Ellendale intersections.
The city has a nearly complete sidewalk system according to Bell. A crosswalk on Main Street for the Rickreall Creek Trail is marked as a high priority though.
Councilor Holsapple said this TSP draft did a good job taking the current uses of streets and parking into account and thanked Bell for applying the request to keep on-street parking on at least one side next to Lyle Sports Complex.
On low-traffic streets, the TSP assumes confident riders can manage without a bike lane. Safety risk grows as traffic increases. Bell said about 2,500-3,000 vehicles per day is the threshold for that risk. Some Dallas streets are already past that level.
Buffered bike lanes in the TSP draft are marked as a high priority on SE Fir Villa Road where the bridge crosses Rickreall Creek. Councilor Fitzgerald asked what the plan was since the road currently narrows at the bridge. Bell said options include widening the bridge or building a parallel bike and pedestrian-only bridge to save money. Any new bridge is marked as a low priority, however.
Councilor Schilling pointed to an earlier Council decision allowing sidewalks right next to the curb instead of behind a landscape strip. The TSP draft only shows that option on local streets. Schilling asked for the same option on major and minor collectors, noting most landscape strips aren’t well maintained and take space from parking. Bell noted the strips add separation on faster streets and room for mailboxes and garbage cans, but agreed to work it into the plan.
Councilor Shein shared that residents have asked why Dallas doesn’t have a circulator bus line like MI Trolley in Monmouth and Independence, Oregon. The TSP lists a local circulator as a medium priority, which would need more funding.
Planning Commissioner Whyte urged the group to avoid getting stuck on single-issue concerns with the TSP. Whyte recommended the city be prepared for possible single-issue concerns that can come up in public meetings. Councilor Shein agreed, saying one squeaky wheel can cause tunnel vision.
Bell reminded the group that the TSP is a 20-year vision, and each project still needs more vetting and analysis before it moves forward.
Councilors and Commissioners were encouraged to send comments for the TSP to the consultant through the end of October.
- What’s next?
- Coming soon – Online open house
- November 12 – Planning Commission public hearing
- December 7 – City Council public hearing
Learn more: See the presentation and full draft plan (work session agenda, pg. 3-111)
YOUR SIGNAL: Share your input at the online open house, or testify at the November 12 or December 7 public hearings. You can also email a Councilor at any time.
This was an information-only session. The draft plan moves to public hearings starting November 12.
Moderate Signal
Items likely to affect you
La Creole Sewer Resolution
Why Moderate Signal: A small number of property owners are directly affected.
The Council approved Resolution 3579 for Phase B of the La Creole Node sewer line. This area is planned to bring new commercial, mixed-use, and residential land to the City of Dallas. Extending sewer service into the area is one of the steps needed before that development can happen.
Phase A of the sewer project was finished in 2025 along E Ellendale Avenue and SE Hawthorne Avenue. Phase B is in design and would run through private property, so the city needs easements from the current owners. The line will likely end up under future public streets once the area develops.
- A general overview of how the easement process works
- An outside company appraises each property (up to 6 weeks)
- A second, independent review of the appraisal (about 3 weeks)
- The owner is given the official value and offer for the easement (at least 40 days to respond)
- The owner can accept the offer, counteroffer, or reject
- If rejected, the city can make another offer or begin condemnation
The City Manager noted all affected owners are aware of the project, and the city expects a positive outcome with each of them. If the resolution isn’t in place before offers go out and an owner later refuses, the city would have to start over. That would add time and cost.
Council President Briggs asked whether the resolution covers only the La Creole Node or could apply across the city. It applies to this project only. If any condemnation process is needed, it would move forward in Polk County Circuit Court.
Learn more: Read the full resolution (council agenda, pg. 40-41)
Resolution 3579 passed. Vote: 8-0. Unanimous.
Low Signal
Topics to keep an eye on
Councilor Leave of Absence
Why Low Signal: The vote was mostly procedural, but it kept a Council seat from being declared vacant.
The Council approved a continued leave of absence for Councilor Jantz through December 31, 2026. The vote satisfies the City Charter, which says a seat becomes vacant if a member misses meetings for 60 days without the Council’s consent.
Councilor Schilling expressed appreciation for the service of Councilor Jantz and wished a healthy recovery. Councilor Spivey noted this leave of absence makes sense given the timing of the election and the end of the term.
The leave was approved. Vote: 8-0. Unanimous.
No Signal
For your information only
Nuisance Lien
The Council added a $4,500 lien to the city’s lien docket for cleanup costs on one property. Finance Director Cecilia Ward explained that previous liens were usually for weed abatement, but this was for other kinds of cleanup. The work was handled by a junk removal contractor. The lien carries a 9% interest rate.
Resolution 3580 passed. Vote: 8-0.
Charlie Mitchell Retirement
Economic & Community Development Director Charlie Mitchell is retiring at the end of October, after 30 years in the field. Mitchell joined the City of Dallas in April 2021.
City Manager Latta thanked Mitchell for transformative work and keeping a business-friendly approach. Mitchell was credited with building a strong team at the city and leading projects to benefit the future of Dallas.
- Some projects Mitchell led
- La Creole Node
- Mill Site Plan
- 791 Main Street
- Helped form Leadership Dallas
- The city’s business inventory program
Following Leadership Dallas tradition, a Mitchell street sign was given as a thank you gift. Mitchell received a standing ovation from the room.
Reports
City Manager Latta reported attending the League of Oregon Cities 101st annual conference last week. Sessions attended included engaging with the media, building trust, and Oregon franchise systems.
Councilor Shein shared that nominations are open for the Dallas Area Chamber of Commerce awards banquet through the end of the year.
Councilor Blosser congratulated Dallas High School football coach Andy Jackson, the coaching staff, and the team for beating the #1 ranked team while working through injuries. Blosser said the team is doing amazing things and is worth a watch.
Public Comment
A Dallas resident representing Dallas Church of Christ asked for confirmation on the direction of the sewer and water line coming off Polk Station Road in the La Creole Node. The church is looking to purchase land for additional parking and needed to know where the lines were in the property. The church hopes to connect to the city sewer and water and is willing to pay market value for the land needed.
City Manager Latta directed the resident to Public Works Director Jennifer Ward, who was in the audience. The two spoke in the hallway.
Learn More
Work Session Attendance: All present except Councilor Jantz (absent). Planning Commissioners Banford, Groh, Kowash, and Swanson were absent.
City Council Attendance: All present except Councilor Jantz (absent).
- Work Session agenda – YouTube video archive
- City Council agenda – YouTube video archive
November 2026 Election
Ballots are due by 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 3. Oregon’s Secretary of State is urging voters to mail ballots by Tuesday, October 27, or use a drop box like the one at the Polk County Courthouse (850 Main Street, Dallas, Oregon).
Learn more about the candidates running for Mayor and City Council with The Dallas Signal’s November 2026 Voter Guide.
