TD Council adds meeting for Tourism Contract, Airport Decisions
The Dalles, Ore., May 27, 2025 — The City Council will convene a special meeting on Monday, June 2, at 5:30 p.m. to deliberate on several financial matters, including tourism promotion contracts and infrastructure upgrades.
This meeting is significant as it addresses key fiscal decisions impacting The Dalles' infrastructure and economic development.
Agenda highlights include:
Tourism Contract
The Dalles Chamber has historically used funds to support events such as the Cascade Bass Masters fishing tournament, which brought 13 boats in 2021.
Authorizing a $465,000 contract with The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce for tourism promotion services.
The contract follows a competitive proposal process in which five submissions were received: Noble Consulting LLC, Granada Theatre/Spotlight Tourism Center, The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, The National Neon Sign Museum, and Watson Creative. One proposal was disqualified for being submitted after the deadline, as required by Oregon law.
The City Attorney reviewed the remaining proposals for compliance with Oregon’s “responsibility standards,” which are intended to ensure public contracts are awarded to qualified and capable entities. Of the four eligible submissions, The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce and Watson Creative were deemed fully responsible to perform the entire scope of work. The National Neon Sign Museum was found partially responsible, and one proposer was disqualified for failing to demonstrate a satisfactory performance history with similar contracts.
Staff recommends Council to authorize the City Manager to enter a personal services Agreement with The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce for tourism promotion services, in an amount not to exceed $465,000, as presented.
Airport Hangar Loan
Approving agreements related to hangar development and a $5 million federal grant at the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport.
Council will consider authorizing the city manager to execute an Estoppel Certificate and Agreement with Planecave, LLC, a ground tenant at the airport. This agreement would enable Planecave to secure a $1.37 million Small Business Administration (SBA) loan for constructing two hangars with room for 18 planes on leased airport land.
An Estoppel Certificate and Agreement is a legal document used in commercial real estate to assure a third party—such as a lender—that the terms of a lease are valid, that the tenant is in good standing, and to establish the rights of the lender if the tenant defaults.
The 40-year ground lease, established in August 2024, stipulates that ownership of the hangar will revert to the airport upon lease expiration.
In addition, Council is be asked to support Klickitat County’s $5 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for developing an aviation workforce training hangar at the airport. The council will consider authorizing the city manager to execute an Agreement and Mortgage and a Covenant of Purpose and Use, both required by the EDA. These documents grant the EDA a 20-year lien on the property and mandate its use for the grant’s intended purpose. Without these agreements, Klickitat County cannot access the federal funds, potentially jeopardizing the project.
The total cost of the aviation training hangar project has escalated to $5.9 million, up from the original $3.5 million estimate. The City of The Dalles and Klickitat County have jointly contributed $700,000, and the county has secured a $1 million loan from the Washington Department of Transportation. Efforts are underway to address a remaining $1.4 million shortfall through additional funding sources.
Library HVAC Replacement
City Staff recommends both actions to secure continued airport development and ensure access to federal funding to award the Library HVAC Replacement Project to Air X under Contract No. 2025-004, in an amount not to exceed $423,640.00.
Staff Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to execute the contract with Air X for the Library HVAC Replacement Project.
The meeting will be held at City Hall Council Chambers, 313 Court Street, and will also be live-streamed at www.thedalles.org/Live_Streaming. Residents wishing to speak online must register with the City Clerk by noon on the day of the meeting.
For the full agenda packet, visit www.thedalles.org/agendas.
