The Hillsboro City Council agreed to its annual list of Guiding Principles and Priorities for 2018 during its January 16 City Council meeting.
With a seemingly endless number of priorities to consider, the Council unanimously adopted priorities that include timely topics such as transportation, cultural inclusion and engagement, housing affordability and homelessness, and support for entrepreneurs.
Council Priorities
* Support community mobility by continuing to improve our transportation system
* Work with community partners to increase public transportation access and service options
* Support cultural inclusion and expanded engagement with diverse community members
* Create partnerships to encourage and support the development of more market rate and affordable housing
* Continue working with community partners to resolve homelessness
* Support the development of entrepreneurs in Hillsboro
* Expand workforce training opportunities that benefit all residents
* Continue to plan ahead and position the City 50 years out for future success
* Support the planning and development of the Crescent Park Greenway
* Initiate exploration of receiving a Tree City USA designation
* Support the continued success of the Hillsboro Airport and the City's partnership with the Port of Portland
* Lead and promote sustainability initiatives, including energy-saving practices and renewable energy
* Emphasize the continued revitalization of Downtown Hillsboro
The Council's selected priorities for 2018 are not ranked or ordered by importance and are not an exhaustive list of all City of Hillsboro priorities. The selected priorities are ongoing and can be created and completed within a one-to-two-year period with specific budget implications for the coming fiscal year; or, they may be long-range projects and programs that benefit from strong City Council participation and support.
The annual list of priorities is developed from the Hillsboro 2035 Community Plan, the City's Strategic Plan, City departments' Strategic Plans, and current major focus areas for the City as identified by staff and supported by the Council. The 2035 Community Plan's vision statement reads:
"In 2035, Hillsboro is a diverse, sustainable city known for success in blending urban lifestyle, a world-class local economy, agricultural heritage, and a welcoming, family-friendly community for an outstanding quality of life."
The list of the City Council's Guiding Principles was renewed from previous years.
Council Guiding Principles
* Remain the full-opportunity, full-service City that serves all of our diverse community members in areas including, but not limited to, public safety, job creation, arts and recreation, libraries, school support, housing supply, and transportation
* Maintain community support for our public safety personnel and the vital services they deliver
* Continue the City's tradition of exceptional stewardship and accountability for City assets, including maintaining appropriate fiscal reserves and funding long-term asset maintenance programs
* Maintain Hillsboro's leadership role as a business-friendly City committed to strategic economic development that grows prosperity in the community, the region, and the State
* Operate with transparency and openness in engaging the community on decision making
* Promote Hillsboro's unique identity while ensuring we grow and develop with consideration of our community's agricultural roots and history
* Continue to plan ahead and position the City 50 years out for future success
* Support and show pride for high-quality education in Hillsboro -- from preschool through high school, and higher education
As the name implies, the principles provide guidance on how to fulfill the City's Mission Statement, which reads:
"The City of Hillsboro is dedicated to providing visionary leadership, delivering responsive municipal services, and fostering collaborative partnerships that enhance Hillsboro's hometown livability."
About the City of Hillsboro: Now Oregon's fifth-largest city, with 101,540 people, Hillsboro is helping to grow Oregon's future -- from microprocessors to vital industries, centers of commerce and green spaces. Hillsboro is a well-planned, affordable hometown with a strong economic base and one of the state's most diverse populations. It is the high-tech corridor for the state and home to a broad range of businesses, large and small, including one of Oregon's largest employers, Intel. Hillsboro also has the second-busiest airport in the state and the fifth-largest school district. Hillsboro hosts the second-largest 4th of July parade in Oregon, and annual events including a Latino Cultural Festival, Celebrate Hillsboro, and the Oregon International Air Show. Learn more at www.Hillsboro-Oregon.gov.