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2/27
2/27
3/4
3/5
3/14
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Imagine Hillsboro
 2035!
 
Can you imagine the future of Hillsboro in the year 2035?

We want to hear your ideas for making that vision a reality.
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Thank you for choosing to "Stay Connected" with the latest news and event information from the City of Hillsboro! Whether you live in Hillsboro, work here or simply love to visit, you will find a variety of ways to get involved and make our community even stronger.
Community Open House Meetings on Medical Marijuana Facility Regulations

The State of Oregon will soon begin licensing Medical Marijuana Facilities, also known as "dispensaries," and the City of Hillsboro is considering whether, or how, to regulate these dispensaries. The Planning Commission has initiated Zoning Ordinance Amendment 001-14: Medical Marijuana Facilities, which would create additional regulations in the City of Hillsboro.

 

Under the proposal, dispensaries would be:
* Permitted only in commercial zones where retail use is allowed
* Located more than 1,000 feet from a single-family residential zone or multi-family residential zone

Two upcoming open house meetings are scheduled:
* Thursday, February 27 from 6 - 7:30 pm in the Ronler Acres Fire Station Training Room at 4455 NW 229th Avenue
* Wednesday, March 5 from 6 - 7:30 pm in the Hillsboro Civic Center - Rooms C113 B & C - at 150 East Main Street

 

In addition, a Planning Commission Public Hearing is scheduled:
* Wednesday, March 12, at or shortly after 6:30 pm, in the auditorium of the Hillsboro Civic Center

For more information about these meetings, please contact Planning Department Project Manager Debbie Raber at 503-681-6155. 

Hillsboro Mayor Jerry Willey and Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle excitedly announced last week that Hillsboro and Beaverton are on the short list of cities working with Google to explore the possibility of bringing the ultra-high-speed Google Fiber broadband network to the two cities.   

"Just as they did in the movie Top Gun, we have a need for speed," Mayor Willey said. "The next leap to gigabit Internet will spark innovations that are unimaginable today, just as the shift from dial-up to broadband did before."

 

The Hillsboro City Council agreed unanimously to extend the City's commitment to funding the Portland Community College (PCC) Future Connect Program by investing an additional $100,000 to provide two-year scholarships and services for a second group of 50 Hillsboro students enrolling at PCC.

 

The decision by the City Council increases Hillsboro's total investment in the Future Connect Program to $200,000 to support a total of 100 Hillsboro students at PCC.

 

Read more about the program and the City's commitment here. 

The Hillsboro City Council has identified ten top priorities for the City and City Manager Michael Brown to focus attention on in 2014.  In addition to the critical public services that the City provides every day - police, fire, transportation, sewer, water, library, parks & recreation, and more - the priorities represent the collective desire of the Council to continue to raise the bar in serving the community and delivering opportunities for an even higher quality of life.

 

Top Hillsboro City Council Priorities for 2014:

* 2014 Legislative Session - SIP/Gain Share
* Washington County Transportation Study
* Develop New Community Center
* North Industrial Development Strategy
* 50 Year Water Supply Source
* Support the 2035 Vision
* Identify and implement specific actions to support the Hillsboro School District and higher education
* Transportation Funding Focusing on Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety and Improvements
* Downtown Enhancements
* Park Land Acquisition including Secure Long-Term Agreement with Washington County for Fairgrounds Sports Complex

 

The renovation of the Shute Park Branch Library not only is giving the community additional space for learning and gathering, it also is leading to substantial energy savings.

 

When the facility opens to the public on Saturday, March 15, upgrades to the renovated 16,000-square-foot building are expected to reduce the building's energy usage by at least 20 percent for expected annual utility bill savings of $6,400.

 

 

Find out more about energy savings at the Shute Park Branch Library by clicking here.  

NOW ONLINE: State of the City 2014 Video

Watch Mayor Jerry Willey's 2014 State of the City Address, now posted on the City of Hillsboro website. With the help of students from the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council and the Portland Community College Future Connect program, the Mayor highlighted Hillsboro's 2013 accomplishments and opportunities for 2014.

Calendar Details
2/26
5-7pm
Groveland Drive/Brookwood Parkway Project Open House
Learn about the Brookwood Parkway project which will widen Brookwood between Meek Road and Shute Road to three lanes in each direction with continuous bike and pedestrian facilities. Also, the Groveland Drive project will construct a new two-lane roadway that will realign Groveland Drive starting east of Groveland Road and reconnecting to Helvetia Road at the current intersection with Schaaf Road. Hillsboro Main Library, 2850 NE Brookwood Parkway. 
 
2/27
6-7:30pm

Open House Meeting #1: Medical Marijuana Facility Regulations

The City of Hillsboro is considering whether, or how, to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in the City's Zoning Ordinance, and wants to hear what residents, business owners and interested parties have to say. Attend a meeting on Thursday, February 27 at the Ronler Acres Fire Station Training Room at 4455 NW 229th Avenue. 

2/27
 6-8pm
Share your thoughts and ideas about a proposed community recreation center in central Hillsboro at a presentation and open house on Thursday, February 13. The meeting will be held in the Main Library Event Room at 2850 NE Brookwood Parkway. Child care will be provided.
3/5
6-7:30pm

The City of Hillsboro is considering whether, or how, to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in the City's Zoning Ordinance, and wants to hear what residents, business owners and interested parties have to say. Attend a meeting on Wednesday, March 5 in the Hillsboro Civic Center - Rooms C113 B & C - at 150 East Main Street. 

3/8
2-3pm
The Oregon Mandolin Orchestra gives eclectic and unique performances that highlight the historically-rich and dynamic sounds of the mandolin family. Walters Cultural Arts Center, 527 E. Main Street. Free. 
Will Your Smoke Alarm Save Your Life? 
On an average day in America, 1,315 homes catch on fire. Smoke alarms are the single most important means of preventing house and apartment fire fatalities by providing an early warning signal, so you and your family can escape.

The Hillsboro Fire Department's goal is to have a working smoke alarm in every home in Hillsboro. In an effort to reduce injuries or fatalities in residential fires, the Hillsboro Fire Department provides Hillsboro residents with smoke alarm checks and home safety visits upon request. This service is provided at no charge in an effort to increase awareness and safety in our community.

Find out more by clicking here.
Public Works Department Studded Tire Phase-Out Saves Money & Time

This winter marks the first season that the City of Hillsboro's Public Works Department has not used studded snow tires on its vehicles. Public Works employees transitioned  away from road-surface damaging studded tires in favor of new, technologically advanced winter-traction rated or snowflake tires.

   

In addition to reducing road surface damage, the winter tires perform at the same levels as conventional tires on dry road surfaces, absent the noise, drifting, and wet road surface issues that studded tires have. Furthermore, Public Works employees can leave the winter tires installed on vehicles year-round, saving both storage space and money!

Housing Needs Survey Now Online

Wondering how your voice can be heard on community development needs? During the month of February, there is an online survey to gather information about community and housing needs throughout Washington County. 

 

Washington County, the City of Beaverton, and the City of Hillsboro all receive grant funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a variety of housing and community development projects that benefit people with low or moderate incomes. A household of four people making less than $55,500 per year is considered at the low or moderate income level.

 

Every five years our communities are required by HUD to write a 5-year Consolidated Plan, which identifies and prioritizes our communities' needs for improving housing, community programs, services, and infrastructure. It outlines how grant funds will be invested to address those needs. Take the survey online at  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WaCoSurvey. Questions? Contact Aaron Bogle with the City of Beaverton at 503-526-2425.

Jacobson Road Shifts West for Traffic
ODOT reports the U.S. 26: Brookwood/Helvetia Interchange project hit a milestone this month when the contractor opened up the new section of Jacobson Road, which connects to Helvetia Road approximately 800 feet further north of the old intersection.  This is a permanent traffic pattern change.  All road users on Jacobson Road will now use this new section when going to/from Helvetia Road.  The old Jacobson Road intersection just west of the new section is now closed. 
Celebrate Hillsboro to Expand for 2014

Heading to the next Celebrate Hillsboro, presented by Tuality Healthcare, on Saturday, July 19, from 9 am to 4 pm? If so, you will see the free family festival's footprint in Downtown Hillsboro expand to stretch from the Hillsboro Civic Center at First Avenue and Main Street to the City's Walters Cultural Arts Center at the intersection of Fifth and Main. The Arts Center is joining in and will offer activities and events all day in celebration of its 10th anniversary in 2014.

 

Celebrate Hillsboro, presented by Tuality Healthcare, will bring Hillsboro neighbors together in the streets of Downtown to enjoy live music, local food, arts and crafts, health and wellness information, a Sustainability Village with eco-friendly activities, the Saturday Farmers' Market, community information booths, and event "village" areas that showcase a wide variety of interactive activities for families, children and adults.

 

 Learn more about Celebrate Hillsboro   

Hillsboro Library at 100

In celebration of the Hillsboro Library's centennial year this year, The Washington County Museum has opened an exhibit called "100 Years of Change: The Carnegie Library in Hillsboro 1914-2014". Head on over to learn about the interesting history of our Library. The Museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 am until 5 pm, and on Sunday from Noon to 5 pm.

 

Learn more about the Carnegie 100 Library exhibit 

Visit Hillsboro-Oregon.gov to get answers to all of your questions: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
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