The Dalles council receptive to expanding city manager’s construction spending authority
Council wants an early warning when project costs approach the proposed 20% increase limit.
File photo - work on the Federal Street Plaza several months ago.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., Oct. 14, 2026 — The Dalles City Council is willing to give City Manager Matthew Klebes more authority to approve construction cost increases. The authority is expected to be granted at the councils next meeting as it was place on the Oct. 26 meeting consent agenda.
The change would likely speed construction by giving City Manager the agility to approve qualifying change orders without waiting for a City Council vote on each one, particularly when unexpected conditions threaten to delay work. Nobody likes delays, especially when access to roads or buildings is extended.
The proposal would let Klebes approve cumulative change orders of up to 20% of the original contract amount for qualifying public improvement projects exceeding $100,000 that were awarded by the council. Councilors asked staff to notify them when net increases reach about 15%, giving them time to review costs before the proposed limit is reached.
Councilor Ben Wring asked for additional language within the proposal to trigger a city manager report to council when the 20 percent mark is close to being reached.
City Attorney Jonathan Kara said the authority would cover projects such as streets, water and sewer infrastructure, but not professional services such as engineering or archaeology. Changes must remain within the original project scope, comply with legal requirements and be covered by available budget resources. The council could also limit the authority for individual contracts.
The change is intended to prevent construction delays when unexpected conditions require additional work but council approval cannot be obtained quickly.
The First Street project illustrates the issue. Ajax Northwest received approval for a $364,223 change order after crews uncovered a century-old, 27-inch clay sewer main. The work pushed the project’s expected completion date back 73 days, to July 13, 2027.
Other council actions
- Scenic Drive property: Council unanimously declared a 0.12-acre parcel off West Scenic Drive surplus. Neighboring property owners have maintained the land for decades, and Paul Clint, speaking for adjacent owner Barbara Baker, asked the city to give her an opportunity to buy it. The city will publish notice and give interested parties two weeks to contact the city manager. Any proposed sale must return to the council for approval. An easement for an existing water main will be preserved.
- Floodplain code: Council unanimously approved technical corrections that fix drafting errors and inconsistencies without changing floodplain boundaries or development standards. Updated federal flood maps are expected to come before the council in December and could add properties to designated floodplains. Notices to affected owners are planned for Oct. 16, with the maps expected to take effect March 30, 2027.
- Strategic plan: Of 110 actions scheduled for the first year of the city’s 2026-28 plan, 11 are marked complete. Councilors asked staff to make progress reports easier to follow and communicate accomplishments more clearly.
