Dallas City Council approves multiple agreements, supplemental budget and grant application

Dallas City Council on March 17 unanimously approved a package of routine and substantive items including an intergovernmental agreement with the Dallas School District, a contract for city attorney services, a supplemental budget appropriation for fiscal year 2024–25, a budget transfer for a shared backhoe purchase and a resolution authorizing a grant application for new pickleball courts at Dallas City Park.

The consent agenda — approval of the March 3 meeting minutes, the February 2025 financial report and a full on-premises and brewery public house liquor license for Forest Pass Brewing Company — was adopted by voice vote. City Manager Brian Latta presented the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Dallas School District covering construction of Americans with Disabilities Act ramps at Southeast Ash Street and Holman; the council voted to approve the revised IGA that added language about selection of the lowest responsible bidder, an additional-insured insurance requirement, contractor background checks to meet district contracting requirements, and changes to expert-fee language.

Council later approved a contract for city attorney services with the law firm Sherman, Sherman, Johnny & Hoyt LLP to succeed retiring City Attorney Lane Shetterly. City staff said the firm met procurement exceptions cited in the meeting as “RS 279(a)” (referenced by staff) for a sole-source exception; the council voted to authorize the contract as presented.

Cecilia Ward, finance staff, introduced Resolution No. 35543, a supplemental budget for FY 2024–25 that increases appropriations and revenue estimates across several departments. The resolution includes a $70,000 personnel increase and matching revenue for the Dallas Aquatic Center, and increased personnel and overtime appropriations for the fire department (staff said much of the overtime is related to out-of-area conflagration deployments and expected reimbursements). The council voted 8–0 to adopt the supplemental budget.

Resolution No. 35544 authorized a $20,000 transfer from general-fund operating contingency into parks for equipment to cover the parks department’s share (about 13.5%) of a planned backhoe purchase; council voted 8–0. Resolution No. 35545 authorized staff to sign and submit an Oregon Parks and Recreation Department local government grant application to construct 10 new pickleball courts at Dallas City Park; the council voted 8–0 to send the grant application.

Roll-call votes announcing 8–0 outcomes were recorded for the appropriations and transfers; several other items (IGA and attorney contract) were approved by unanimous voice or roll call earlier in the meeting. No item failed or was tabled.

Votes at a glance: consent agenda — approved (voice vote; unanimous); IGA with Dallas School District for ADA ramps at Southeast Ash and Holman — approved (motion passed unanimously); city attorney services contract with Sherman, Sherman, Johnny & Hoyt LLP — approved (unanimous); Resolution 35543 (supplemental budget FY24–25) — approved, 8–0; Resolution 35544 (budget transfer for parks equipment/backhoe) — approved, 8–0; Resolution 35545 (authorize grant application for 10 pickleball courts at Dallas City Park) — approved, 8–0.

The actions clear the way for staff to finalize contract documents, submit the parks grant application (due April 1 per staff), and begin implementation tasks tied to the adopted supplemental budget and equipment transfer.