Nothing reached Full Signal this week.

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LOC’s Priorities for 2027 Legislative Session

Why Moderate Signal: This vote was to select the city’s priorities for the League of Oregon Cities to focus on. This is not changing city policy.

The City Council finalized its top five 2027 state legislative priorities. Choices were collected before the meeting in order to help speed up discussion on the potential priorities.

• Top 5 priorities with vote totals
  • 8 votes – Infrastructure Funding
  • 7 votes – Public Meetings Law Clarity
  • 6 votes – Administrative Procedures Act Reform
  • 3 votes – Maintain Affordable Energy While Supporting Grid Hardening and Modernization
  • 3 votes – Strengthening Economic and Workforce Development

Learn more: See the League of Oregon Cities’ (LOC) 27 legislative priorities for 2027.

Councilor Schilling stated being comfortable with the top 5 selected from the group’s totals and voting them as-is. Councilor Holsapple and Shein agreed. The Council approved the top five priorities as compiled.

Vote: 7-0, passed.

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Public Comment: Dallas Pickleball Courts

Why Low Signal: Three residents spoke about shared concerns during public comment. Three Councilors responded to the comments. No official action resulted from this.

During the Public Comment section of City Council, 3 Dallas residents spoke about changes made to the pickleball court project at Dallas City Park.

• Dallas resident –
  • Vice President of the Dallas Pickleball Club
  • Was excited to see the posts being drilled for the new courts
    • But noticed a court was in the wrong direction
      • This has since been corrected
  • Concerned that the original plan has changed from what was previously discussed
    • First plan was 12 courts
    • Alternate plan changed to 8 courts
    • Now looking at 7 courts
      • 4 courts in phase 1
      • 3 courts in phase 2
  • The club can’t coordinate programming under the current plan
    • Requires 7 courts but 8 is the standard
    • Splitting courts across different sites hurts the club’s chance of hosting tournaments
  • Requested access to the dual-striped tennis and pickleball courts before they’re converted back to tennis-only courts

• Dallas resident –
  • President of the Dallas Pickleball Club
  • Dallas pickleball has grown from 6-7 players in 2013 to about 150 paid members today
  • The club used the tennis courts to cover the growing need
  • Pickleball needs players to be together, not split across different sites
  • Expressed disappointment that the number of courts planned was reduced from 8
  • Supported the earlier speaker’s request
    • Wants 7 courts at a minimum
    • Suggested using parking areas if needed

• Dallas resident –
  • Has played pickleball for 8 years
    • Described previously being depressed, emotional, and living in fear
    • Found pickleball in 2018
      • Has found a supportive and nurturing community
  • Pickleball is a multi-generational activity and builds community
  • Wants the Council to consult the people with history in the sport and group
  • Players come from outside Dallas and spend money locally
    • Tourists eat, sleep and shop here
    • They become part of the town, even for just the weekend
  • It’s not about the number of courts, but what the courts make possible

Later in the meeting, Councilor Schilling addressed the public comments directly. The current plan is for a phase 1. The area is big enough to expand in the future. Schilling agreed to talk with the City Manager about keeping the pickleball striping on the tennis courts until all courts are complete.

Councilor Barrientos spoke in support of pickleball which has grown since moving to Dallas. Barrientos said the courts are attractive to residents of all ages and abilities. Councilor Shein was also in support and noted the Dallas City Park site allows for expansion of courts in the future.

No formal votes resulted from the Public Comments and Council’s response.

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Ordinance No. 1926 – Franchise Agreement with Spectrum Pacific West, LLC

Why Low Signal: 2nd reading and vote to adopt. Terms were already negotiated and passed at 1st reading.

The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1926 after its 2nd reading. This will renew a franchise agreement with Spectrum Pacific West, LLC. The franchise fee will stay at 5% of gross revenue because cable fees are capped by federal law.

There was no discussion on this topic.

Vote: 7-0, passed.

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Ordinance No. 1927 – Franchise Agreement with Forged Fiber 37, LLC

Why Low Signal: 2nd reading and adoption. The insurance language previously pending was added.

The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1927 on its 2nd reading. This grants Forged Fiber 37 the ability to construct, operate, and maintain telecommunications services in the city. The telecommunication franchise agreement would carry a 7% fee on gross revenues.

There was no discussion.

Vote: 7-0, passed unanimously.

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Ordinance No. 1928 – Background Checks for City Employees, Volunteers, Vendors, and Program Participants

Why Low Signal: This was a 2nd reading and vote for adoption. This ordinance formalizes the current practice.

The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1928 on its 2nd reading, adding the city’s background-check process to the municipal code.

Police Chief Mott explained at the 1st reading, this ordinance is needed to pass a future audit to maintain access to the state’s Law Enforcement Data System (LEDS) used for criminal background checks.

Criminal background checks for people who are not hired or appointed will be kept for 3 years. If someone is hired or appointed, their background check is retained permanently.

There was no discussion from the Council.

Vote: 7-0, in favor.

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Resolution No. 3578 – Godsey Road Bridge Grant Application

Why Low Signal: A procedural funding step to apply for a grant to pay for design work. This is not a decision on the construction project itself.

Public Works Director Jennifer Ward presented to the Council about an application with a Business Oregon Regional Infrastructure Fund grant. It would cover remaining design work and permitting for the Godsey Road Bridge replacement.

The south section of Godsey Road (from the bridge to Monmouth Cutoff Rd) is currently being completely rebuilt. Councilor Holsapple asked if the bridge replacement would extend road work north to the railroad crossing on Godsey Road. Ward confirmed the road between the railroad crossing and the bridge would also be re-done along with the bridge replacement.

• Follow the money
  • $3.4 million – Total estimate for the Godsey Road Bridge Replacement Project
    • $2.5 million – Construction costs covered by the 2027-30 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
    • $950,000 – Funding remaining not identified
      • $217,300 – Design work and construction permit costs covered, if awarded the Business Oregon Regional Infrastructure Fund grant

The bridge replacement could start as soon as 2027.

The Council approved applying for the grant. The application is due next week, and the city should know if they won by the end of October 2026.

Vote: 7-0, passed.

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City Manager’s Office Annual Report

Why No Signal: This was an information sharing topic during the work session. No action or vote was held.

Assistant City Manager Emily Gagner presented the City Manager’s Office annual report. The office’s main duties are to implement the directives and policies set by the Council. The office also runs the city’s human resources, general administration, and the City Recorder’s functions which include elections, records management, and codification.

Gagner recalled securing $1 million in federal funding for two projects this year: the Water Reservoir Tank Project near James Howe Rd. and the La Creole Sewer Project.

The remodel of the Itemizer-Observer (IO) building into the new City Hall is underway. Design work on the new Police building has also started. Seismic plans are expected to be finished by the end of December 2026.

Learn More: Read the last update on the IO remodel and Police building plan.

The city plans to move into the new City Hall building by Christmas 2026. City Council meetings will continue to be held in the same building and room as now, into the future.

The city is working to digitize records with the goal of moving staff into the new City Hall and Public Works building with no paper. Councilor Shein asked where the digital records are kept. The City Recorder confirmed they are hosted on servers in Baker City, Oregon.

There are 183 city employees. Staff retention is at 88%, which Gagner said is high for a government. That retention percentage also includes lifeguards who are part time and seasonal.

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Finance Annual Report

Why No Signal: Informational update only. This was a work session item, so no action or vote resulted.

Finance Director Cecilia Ward presented the Finance and Municipal Court annual report. The department operates with 6.5 full-time employees which is the same number as last year. This is the 1st full year for the department’s procurement specialist. They oversee purchasing across all city departments and work to streamline those processes.

Ward reported in August 2026, 31 water accounts were disconnected. Asked by Councilor Barrientos about the process, Ward explained the stages of being billed, then charged a late fee, then sent a disconnect notice, all before service is disconnected. The entire process can take about 2 months.

The city switched to a new utility billing system with a company based in Portland, rather than the previous California-based company. Ward reported good results and cost savings from the switch.

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Public Comment: Friends of the Aquatic Center Update

Why No Signal: An informational update given during Public Comment.

• President of Friends of the Dallas Aquatic Center
  • Group’s mission is to raise money for the Aquatic Center
  • Therapy pool and spa were finished this summer
  • Lobby’s HVAC was also fixed
  • The account has gone from $93,000 to $68,000
    • About $16,000 raised annually from banner ad sponsorships
  • Thanked the community for donations and banner sponsorships

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Learn more

Attendance: All present for both meetings except Councilor Jantz and Council President Briggs (absent).

• Work Session agenda
• Work Session YouTube video archive
• City Council full agenda
• City Council YouTube video archive
  

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