Community members, the City Council and hundreds of City employees contributed to developing the following statements that will help guide City of Hillsboro operations and service delivery in years to come.

Mission

The City of Hillsboro is dedicated to providing visionary leadership, delivering responsive municipal services and fostering collaborative partnerships that enhance Hillsboro's hometown livability.

Core Values

Excellence in Public Service

Striving for excellence in public service is the objective for all of our work.

Respect for Diverse Voices and Ideas

Incorporating the voices, ideas and cultures that reflect Hillsboro's rich personality.

Responsiveness in Customer Service

Offering fast, friendly, flexible and fair service.

Tradition of Reliability

Valuing the stability and successes of our history.

Stewardship of the Public Trust

Sound, reasonable, honest and transparent resource management.

Leadership with Ethics and Integrity

Ethical conduct and integrity as fundamentals of strong leadership.

Culture of Teamwork and Communication

Valuing our colleagues and working in collaboration.

Emphasis on Innovation

Creative and practical solutions.

Strategic Plan

The City's strategic plan was adopted by the City Council in January 2010.

Racial Equity

• In alignment with the City’s Equity Statement, utilize an equity lens to institutionalize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into the delivery of City services and policy-making
• Review and revise City staff recruitment and selection strategies to achieve equitable and inclusive outcomes
• Provide ongoing DEI training to City Council and staff

Housing Solutions

• Create policies to support and expand workforce housing and regulated affordable housing, including the City’s implementation of Metro’s Affordable Housing Bond
• Engage and collaborate with regional efforts to address homelessness  
• Support increased density in housing development 
• Evaluate pathways, such as inclusionary zoning, to increase regulated affordable housing in Hillsboro
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to encourage City employees to live in Hillsboro

HiLight Broadband

• Continue to develop Hillsboro’s municipal broadband utility, HiLight, to deliver reliable and affordable high-speed internet connections to Hillsboro residents, businesses, and schools 

Community Plan

• Continue to support the implementation of the Hillsboro 2035 Community Plan

Environmental Sustainability 

• Evaluate home energy retrofit opportunities for Hillsboro residents
• Identify opportunities to replace City equipment to reduce the City’s carbon footprint
• Organize a program that provides Hillsboro residents with trees or saplings in celebration of Arbor Day

Utility Services

• Conduct a comprehensive review of the City’s transportation utility program and fee structure
• Identify potential strategies to create income-based utility rates

Business Support & Economic Development

• Continue to cultivate a competitive and business-friendly environment by focusing on business recruitment, support, and retention
• Continue the revitalization of Downtown Hillsboro
• Support development of the City’s Cultural Arts District to grow a diverse arts and culture environment in Hillsboro and improve the economic strength of our creative sector
• In coordination with local partners, continue to support small businesses, and identify and implement opportunities to strengthen support for Latinx-owned small businesses

Community Engagement

• Review and enhance the City’s communication and engagement with community members to hear from more voices, with a focus on culturally competent engagement
• Redesign the City’s website using a mobile-first design strategy to improve the user experience 
• Begin planning for the development of a City mobile application to enhance the community’s engagement with City services

Public Safety & Safe Transportation

• Identify a location to site a new Hillsboro Police Department headquarters
• Explore the future co-location of Hillsboro Fire & Rescue Department and Hillsboro Police Department facilities to strengthen the coordination and efficiency of public safety services
• Strengthen relationships and grow trust between the Hillsboro Police Department and community members
• Identify opportunities to increase safety for people walking and biking 
  

We exemplify diversity, equity, and inclusion. Instill diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential parts of policy-making and the delivery of City services.

We are a full-opportunity, full-service City. 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, housing supply, civic engagement, and transportation. 

We are a safe community.  Provide exceptional public safety services with a continuous focus on improving relationships with all community members.

We are exceptional public stewards. 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.

We are leaders in supporting local businesses. Attract and support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes through strategic investments that grow prosperity in our community, region, and state.

We are transparent. Operate with transparency and openness.

We value accessible community engagement. Be intentional in our approach to engaging all community members in policy-making by designing accessible engagement opportunities, providing clear expectations, and removing barriers to engagement.

We balance growth by honoring our community identity.  Promote Hillsboro’s unique identity as an innovative leader that blends an urban lifestyle, a world-class local economy, agricultural heritage, and a welcoming, family-friendly community. 

We are prepared and resilient. Continue to plan ahead for the City’s future success by focusing on environmental, fiscal, and economic sustainability.

We value education and training. Support high-quality education, training, and workforce development in Hillsboro.

For the purposes of civic representation on the City Council, the City is divided into three wards, with two councilors residing within each ward. All councilors represent the entire City once elected. City Council is elected to four-year terms, and no person may serve more than two consecutive terms. Candidates must be registered voters in the State of Oregon who have resided in the City during the 12 months immediately preceding the election. Terms begin at the first City Council meeting of the calendar year following election, where the Oath of Office is administered. 

• Council Ward Map

For more than 90 years, the City of Hillsboro has utilized the Council-Manager form of government. Voters approved this form of government through the City of Hillsboro Charter, Hillsboro’s constitution, to create an exceptional place to live. Why is that? Let’s find out.

What is a Council-Manager form of government?

Hillsboro’s Council-Manager structure is a representative system that places political leadership in the hands of elected City Councilors. The structure also enlists the expertise and professional experience of an appointed City Manager to effectively deliver the services that the Council prioritizes for the City.

What are the advantages of a Council-Manager form of government?

Beyond professional expertise, the Council-Manager system brings accountability. The City Manager serves at the pleasure of the City Council, the elected representatives of the people. The Council-Manager system often leads to lower costs through improved productivity and efficient service delivery, and the effective use of technology. In addition, the local economy benefits from improved business development and retention strategies.

What role does the Council play?

The City Manager makes policy recommendations to the City Council, who decide whether to move forward on those recommendations. The Council also approves the budget, sets goals for the community, and evaluates the performance of the City Manager.

Because political power is concentrated in the entire Council rather than one elected official, more residents have an opportunity to serve the community in elected leadership.

What role does the Mayor play?

As a member of the City Council, the Mayor is a key political leader and policy developer, leading meetings and speaking on behalf of the community. The Mayor also facilitates communications between elected leaders and represents the City in discussions with other cities and governments.

What role do other community members play?

Residents and other stakeholders play a vital role in the decision-making process by electing representatives to the Council, by volunteering on advisory Boards and Commissions, by attending meetings, and by participating in planning for the City’s future, including the Hillsboro 2035 Community Plan.

Do other cities use a Council-Manager form of government?

As of 2017, roughly half of the more than 7,100 cities and towns in the United States with populations greater than 2,500 residents operate as Council-Manager governments. The structure also is used by more than 370 counties, for a total of more than 92 million Americans living in communities that use a Council-Manager form of government.

Nearly three in five cities with more than 100,000 residents use this form of government, including:

• Phoenix, Arizona - 1.5 million residents
• San Antonio, Texas - 1.4 million residents
• Dallas, Texas - 1.3 million residents
• San Jose, California - 1 million residents
• Austin, Texas - 900,000+ residents