The Dalles, Ore., Oct. 28, 2026 — The City Council postponed a proposal to expand the city manager’s authority over construction change orders until Nov. 9, heard updates on winter shelter plans and approved revisions to recreational-property permitting rules.
The change-order proposal would let the city manager approve cumulative price increases of up to 20% on city council-awarded public improvement contracts over $100,000. Councilor Ben Wring questioned whether that could allow excessive increases on expensive projects and asked staff to consider a fixed dollar cap. The council delayed action to give Wring and staff time to work through the concerns.
Mid-Columbia Community Action Council Executive Director Leslie Naramore told the council the Glorious Center seasonal pallet shelter is expected to open Nov. 23. The agency is also converting 21 units at The Annex in The Dalles into permanent supportive housing, with five units completed and occupied.
The Next Door Executive Director Janet Amada reported that about $3,700 of a $19,000 city grant for counseling uninsured and underinsured children has been spent. She requested a no-cost extension to allow more time to use the remaining funds for eligible families.
The council also heard about a University of Oregon project surveying how residents find local news and civic information, and approved an audit services agreement with Sorren CPAs, P.C., for up to $210,600.
Council approved changes to city rules governing permits for designated recreational properties, including Lewis & Clark Festival Park. The ordinance clarifies which activities require permits and changes when insurance documentation must be submitted.
The code retains general liability minimums of $500,000 per occurrence and $1 million aggregate, while preserving the city manager’s authority to require higher coverage based on an event’s risks.
City Manager Matthew Klebes told council that a new city webpage collecting information about Google data centers, water use, infrastructure and tax agreements was expected to go live in early November. The city is organizing source documents and frequently asked questions to make the information easier for residents to find.
Data Center 1: Paid $4.7 million in property taxes 2025.
Data Center 2: Pays $800,000 annually, split among the City of The Dalles, Wasco County and School District 21. It is scheduled to go on the property tax rolls in 2031-32, paying millions of dollars in revenue to the county.
Data Center 3: Pays $1.81 million annually in fees split between the city and county. It is scheduled to go on the property tax rolls in 2034-35, paying millions of dollars in revenue to the county.
Data Center 4: Paid $9.81 million in fees, payments and property taxes in 2025.
Data Center 5: Still under construction. It is expected to pay more than $9.81 million annually in property taxes after receiving its certificate of occupancy some time in the near future.
He also reported that the city's computer-aided dispatch and records management system, developed in coordination with Wasco County and Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, was tentatively scheduled to go live in December.
