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 this week
- Moderate Signal – Items likely to affect you
- Economic Development Strategic Plan Update – Council gave staff feedback and priorities before the process to rewrite the city’s Economic Development Strategy begins
- Clay Street Parking Request – Council asked staff to gather more information and reach out to a resident and business before deciding on the parking proposal
- Waste Management and Transfer Site IGA – The agreement with Polk County was approved. A conflict with the city’s current agreement with Republic Services will need to be resolved to comply with the County IGA
- Low Signal – Topics to keep an eye on
- Fire Marshal Services IGA – The agreement with Polk Fire District #1 for fire marshal services was approved
- Godsey Road Waterline Project – Council gave general support to a change order up to $650,000 to replace an aging water line while Godsey Road is under construction
- Pickleball Courts Update – The Council learned why the project dropped from 8 courts to 7 and agreed to proceed
- Resolution No. 3579 – Technology Fee for Planning and Public Works Fees – It adds a 4% technology fee to most planning and public works permits. It was approved with 1 Councilor voting against
- No Signal – For your information only
Full Signal
Things that need your attention
Nothing reached Full Signal this week.
Moderate Signal
Items likely to affect you
Economic Development Strategic Plan Update
Economic Development Specialist Tyler Ferrari presented the City Council with an update on the rewrite of the 2022-2026 Economic Development Strategy. The Economic Development Commission has also been helping guide the initial stages of this process.
The Council was asked to give feedback on the proposed process to update the strategic plan and to identify priorities. An outside facilitator would also help guide the process.
Most of the discussion was focused on the lack of available commercial land in the city. Councilors Shein and Schilling offered suggestions on improving the strategic plan’s focus on commercial land. Councilor Holsapple added industrial land to the discussion, with others agreeing with its importance.
The La Creole Node was also discussed with its planned 90 acres for commercial development. Councilor Fitzgerald asked how much land deficit would be left after the La Creole Node gets developed. Ferrari was unsure how much would still be needed after adding the 90 acres. City Manager Latta believed the La Creole Node gets close to closing the gap but the city can always use more commercial land.
It was pointed out that the zoning in the La Creole Node has not been updated to match the approved plan yet. Latta said rezoning could start after the updated Transportation System Plan is finished.
Council President Briggs wondered if development is ready to start once the sewer line is in. Ferrari explained the city has been talking with a retail recruiting firm. They would work with the city to recruit businesses to locate in Dallas. One large landowner in the La Creole Node area has received some initial inquiries but nothing more. Finding the right development partner is the ongoing need, according to Ferrari.
Councilor Schilling explained the west side of the La Creole Node is going to be easier to develop than the east side. The City Manager added the west side is mostly planned for commercial zoning, and the east is planned for medium- and high-density residential land.
The Council agreed to receive brief email summaries after each stakeholder meeting and throughout the update.
There was no official vote, but the Council gave their support for the proposed process and offered suggestions on priorities.
Clay Street Parking Request
Salem Health requested to change the on-street parking on SE Clay Street between SE Lewis Street and SE Uglow Avenue. This is part of its larger expansion and renovation of the West Valley Hospital.
Usually, street parking decisions are left to the City Manager. However, this request was brought to the Council because City Manager Latta felt it was more substantive.
The request would remove on-street parking on the south side of Clay Street and add 15 angled parking spaces on the north side. Out of the 15, 6 parking spots would be reserved for emergency room patients only. That means about 4 parking spots would be lost from today.
Councilors asked for more information before making a decision. Additional information from the hospital will be requested, including whether this proposal is temporary during construction or permanent. The Council also asked for the city to reach out to the affected resident and business on Clay St for input.
Councilor Fitzgerald confirmed Clay St would remain a two-way road. Councilor Spivey expressed concerns with tight spacing for the angled ER parking.
Council President Briggs asked who would cover the cost of the work to change the parking setup. City Manager Latta said the hospital would pay for the restriping.
The Council did not make a decision and directed staff to continue gathering information. This topic will come back to the Council in the future.
Waste Management and Transfer Site IGA
The City Council approved an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Polk County for cooperative post-collection waste management.
The IGA with the county is for an initial 10 years and then renews automatically every 5 years.
Currently, Republic Services (Republic) determines where waste collected in the City of Dallas goes. This is part of the city’s franchise agreement with Republic. The IGA with the county would shift that decision authority to the county. City Manager Latta didn’t think that issue would be difficult to resolve with Republic, but it does need to be negotiated within 12 months.
Republic takes collected waste to its own disposal site at Coffin Butte, but it’s getting full. According to Republic’s report, dated June 21, 2024, the Coffin Butte Landfill has about 12.9 years of remaining life from the end of 2023.
This county IGA anticipates waste being directed to a future transfer site. The City Manager added that no land use applications have been submitted yet to the county for the proposed transfer facility in Rickreall.
Council President Briggs asked to look at renegotiating the termination clause in Republic’s agreement. That would allow the city to line up with the county once their services are ready.
Vote: 8-0, passed.
Low Signal
Topics to keep an eye on
Fire Marshal Services IGA
The City Council renewed its Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Polk Fire District #1 for fire marshal services. Those services include reviewing building permits and planning projects plus some building inspections. This agreement has been renewed every year since 2023.
City Manager Latta said this work has averaged about 5-10 hours per week. However, that is expected to increase a little going forward, up to 7-12 hours a week.
The hourly rate in the IGA is being raised from $90.60 to $102.38. The rate has been increasing annually to match up with the actual rate of the employee doing the work.
Vote: 8-0, passed.
Godsey Road Waterline Project
The city will move forward with replacing a 60+ year-old water line on Godsey Road. While the road is already under construction, there will be 2,200 lineal feet of pipe replaced from Monmouth Cutoff to Olive Street.
A 12-inch pipe will be replacing the 10-inch pipe that currently sits between 4 and 10 feet underground. That is deeper than normal. The replacement line will be set about 3 feet deep.
City Manager Latta reported there is enough money in the water fund contingency ($3.7 million) to cover this change order up to $650,000. The replacement will also be funded in part by System Development Charges.
Related information: The Council recently approved a grant application to cover remaining design work and permitting for the Godsey Road Bridge replacement.
The Council gave consensus to move forward. Once the project is complete, a budget transfer resolution will come back to Council for an official vote.
Pickleball Courts Update
Public Works Director Jennifer Ward presented the Council with the updated pickleball court plan for Dallas City Park.
Ward recalled the original proposed location had to move because of an old buried pool on the north side of Branvold Drive. The plan was then changed to add 8 courts on the south side of Branvold Dr.
After a closer look, staff determined the site would require extra fill on the west side of the courts to hold all 8. That extra fill would add cost to the project and increase the environmental impact on Rickreall Creek. So the plan was changed to 7 courts.
There are 4 courts currently under construction and expected to be completed by the end of October. Then, 3 more courts are planned for spring 2027, for a total of 7 courts. The delay of the 3 courts is due to running out of time in the summer to add the additional asphalt needed.
Councilor Fitzgerald asked questions about the original project and if the city is getting 7 courts for the price of 8. Ward said it will come in a little lower than originally planned.
The Council also discussed additional future courts and parking in the area. Councilor Shein described additional courts as a discussion for a future Council.
Councilor Barrientos wondered why needing more fill for an 8th court was missed in the original engineering report. Ward said the report was for the original pickleball courts on the north of Branvold Dr. No engineering work was done for courts on the south side.
City Manager Latta made the final call to move forward with building 4 courts now. A Dallas Pickleball Club member helped to develop the 7-court design.
- Follow the money
- $240,000 – Estimate for 7 pickleball courts
- Paid for by Parks System Development Charges
- $240,000 – Estimate for 7 pickleball courts
The Council supported continuing with the project as presented. No formal vote was taken.
Resolution No. 3579 – Technology Fee for Planning and Public Works Fees
The City Council approved a resolution that adds a 4% technology fee to planning and public works permits. This is due to the city moving from paper permits to software.
This technology fee will match the same fee currently used for building permits. City Manager Latta said the fee covers credit card processing costs (1-3%) with the rest going towards the cost of the software itself. Fleet Services fees will be exempt from the 4% tech fee.
Vote: 7-1, approved with Fitzgerald voting opposed.
No Signal
For your information only
A Look Inside the Future City Hall
After the work session ended early, the Council was invited to tour the remodel of the Itemizer-Observer (IO) building. The IO is being remodeled into the new City Hall, and the old City Hall will become the new police building.
- City Manager Latta shared the following information during the tour
- There was a lot of asbestos removed
- The project is currently about $3,000 under budget
- The IO building won’t get a new exterior sign
- Vinyl window lettering will be used as a sign for City Hall
- The current IO signage will be auctioned off on a government website
- The parking lot will be repaved, including a new ADA spot and ramps
- Not part of the original plan
This was an informal tour. No official action took place.
Public Comment: Community Group Updates
The President of Friends of the Dallas Aquatic Center recapped a busy summer for the group. A new concrete walkway was poured in the locker rooms, paid for by the city. FDAC bought a new water fountain and bottle filler. The facilities manager was given a shout-out for repairs that saved money.
Dallas Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tara Townley brought 2 friends to help invite the City Council and community to Bigfoot Stock 2026 (September 26th). It is unconfirmed if the Bigfoots are Dallas residents or just live nearby. The event is supported by a grant from America 250, and Townley thanked the Parks Department for its support of community events.
Learn More
Attendance: All present for both meetings except Councilor Jantz (absent).
- Work Session agenda – YouTube video archive
- City Council agenda – YouTube video archive
Are you going to Bigfoot Stock 2026?
