Happy Fall! As we’re adjusting to the season change, I hope you’ve found your scarves and jackets and are keeping your hands warm with your favorite seasonal beverage.

This month I want to provide information on our new utility billing service and remind you that Election Day is Tuesday, November 5^th.

NEW UTILITY BILLING SERVICE

The population of Tigard has grown by over 25,000 people since 1990, over doubling in size! This comes as no surprise to anyone who has seen it grow and change. Despite the growth, the city has continued to use many of the same systems.

You may know one of our City Council Goals is to Modernize City Services. I’m excited to share that we’re delivering on that goal by using Tyler Technologies to upgrade online systems that regularly service our community.

First up is our new Utility Billing system which goes live on October 28^th. It’s a new portal, so you’ll need to create a new online account and re-establish autopay for anyone who is currently enrolled in that – your autopay will not roll over to the new system. The new system will be easier to use and give you the ability to view usage data. By being able to see the usage data, this can help you quickly identify issues with usage, like a leak, so you can connect with the city’s customer service and address anything that’s been found.

To support you in navigating these changes, we are offering drop-in support sessions at the Tigard Public Library. Laptops and city team members will be available to help answer questions.

Drop-in Utility Bill Support Sessions at Tigard Public Library:

• Saturday, November 2, 2024 10AM-11AM
• Wednesday, November 6, 2024 12PM-1PM
• Thursday, November 14, 2024 4PM-5PM

Moving forward, you’ll see more updates as a result of our partnership with Tyler Technologies. Below is a sneak peak of what’s coming:

• A new online permit center services portal that will allow customers to submit payments and applications online, schedule plan reviews, and more
• A new service request system that will allow community members to manage and submit requests (such as a tree down, abandoned vehicle, graffiti) in one place
• A new mobile app that will make it easy to submit a request, pay a bill, reserve a park shelter, and more

As we embrace these advancements, our goal remains the same: to help Tigard become an equitable community that is walkable, healthy, and accessible for everyone.

As with any new change, we appreciate your patience during this transition and encourage you to find more information on the city webpages below:

https://www.tigard-or.gov/your-government/departments/utility-billing-updates

https://www.tigard-or.gov/business-development/current-projects/tyler-technologies-public-portals

ELECTION DAY

Voters’ Pamphlets and ballots have been mailed and they should be in your possession. If you’ve already turned yours in – thank you! And if you haven’t yet, you can return your ballot two different ways: by mail or in a ballot drop box. By mail there is no stamp needed and it needs to be postmarked by November 5^th to be counted.  Our closest ballot drop box is at City Hall and it needs to be there by 8pm on Election Day.

Regardless of your beliefs or positions, it’s critical to vote. There are many important things on the ballot here in Tigard, from the Presidential election all the way down the ballot to our City Council and local ballot measures and levies.

Please make sure your voice is heard – VOTE.

You can reach me at heidil@tigard-or.gov, or connect with the entire City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov.

This month, I’ve invited our Tigard Police Chief, Jamey McDonald to help me talk about some changes that recently took effect around Measure 110, or the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act. These changes have a substantial impact on our community and I wanted to make sure all of you are up to date on the impact.

For some background, the Oregon Drug Intervention Plan, comprised of House Bill 4002 and House Bill 5204 were passed in the Oregon’s Legislative session earlier this year. They passed with bi-partisan support and went into effect on September 1.

HB 4002 fundamentally recriminalizes possession of small amounts of hard drugs. What is important is that the bill provides multiple opportunities for community members to enter treatment after that first interaction with a police officer. HB 5204 was the funding companion bill that helps address the funding needs for mental health, addiction treatment, and corrections services.

What does that mean in practical terms? Now, officers encountering a person in possession of illegal drugs on the street will issue a citation for the possession of narcotics while also providing the individual with resources for the deflection program. Within a couple of days of that citation, the individual will be contacted by a resource worker who will work to connect them to the level of service that best fits their situation.

If the individual engages in the treatment, the criminal portion of their encounter does not move forward and they stay out of the criminal justice system. If they do not work with a service provider, they may then be entered into the criminal justice system, or directed to do so when they appear in court. People who do not enter treatment or if they fail to appear for their court appointments will be entered into the criminal justice system and held accountable.

Our Tigard Police Department (TPD) continues to work in partnership with Washington County on this issue. As it’s a new program, we expect updates and adjustments as it moves forward and appreciate your patience as we work through any issues that come up. We will keep you in the loop on any new changes to the legislation or our response on the ground.

This problem won’t be solved overnight and our TPD team will remain dedicated and focused on what the legislature intended with their reforms: deflection.

If you have questions you can reach us at heidil@tigard-or.gov and the Chief at james.mcdonald@tigard-or.gov, or you can connect to the whole City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov.

Summer is a busy time in Tigard. In addition to the community events, camps, block parties, and bike rides, summer is construction season. In a region like ours, weather has an outsized voice on when we can do infrastructure maintenance, especially for transportation where paving requires dry days. Now that we are partway through summer, I wanted to share the progress we’ve made on our transportation infrastructure to date. I hope that as you travel in Tigard, you enjoy the results of these investments throughout our community aimed at enhancing the safety, accessibility, and livability of our city.

Both Highway 99W and Scholls Ferry Road, within and along Tigard, are seeing the end of important paving work performed by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and other agency partners. These corridors serve as key arteries for our city and for our neighbors, connecting our people, businesses, and community assets. These projects have involved extensive resurfacing, ensuring a smoother, safer drive for everyone who travels these roadways. I’m pleased to report that the essential work is almost done on both, providing needed improvements to some of our most traveled roads.

In addition to these projects, ODOT is working to improve Highway 217 and replace the Hall Boulevard Bridge that spans this corridor. I know it’s been hard getting around with this key connection bridge down – the new design will not only enhance structural integrity but also improve pedestrian access. As part of our commitment to modernizing our infrastructure, this project will ensure that our bridge meets the demands of today’s traffic while providing a safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists.

Speaking of Hall Boulevard, which is the road I hear about most often from our community, it’s being considered by a state committee to receive resources to improve this corridor where it runs through Tigard. It will also transfer the ownership from the state to the city, so that we can work to deliver on the community’s vision for this facility. We expect to learn in September whether Tigard’s application for transfer of this roadway is accepted. Learn more about the visioning of this corridor, as informed through our community engagement process. We look forward to the future with a Hall for All.  

You may have noticed the slurry seal work and other road repairs taking place throughout our city this summer. Slurry seal helps preserve and extend the life of our roads and is a smart investment. These efforts are essential to maintaining our roads and ensuring our pavement condition index—among the highest in the region—remains strong. Summer is the only time this work can be done because of how the material must be applied and cured. We have a short season for pavement maintenance, and it pays dividends by protecting our city’s investment in roads and allowing a smooth ride year-round.

As we prepare for the return of students to our schools, we are particularly focused on investments that prioritize the safety of our kids. Initiatives like Complete Streets, Vision Zero, and Safe Routes to School are not just programs; they represent our commitment to ensuring that every child can travel safely to and from school. Complete Streets initiatives are designed to create roadways that are safe and accessible for all users, whether they’re in a car, on a bike, on foot, or using a mobility aid. Our Safe Routes to School programs are vital in providing safe pathways, bike safety education, and encouraging families to choose walking or biking as a healthy, safe alternative for their daily commutes.

The work we are doing is about more than just paving roads; it’s about investing in our future. I am proud of the progress we’ve made, and I want to thank you, the residents of our city, for your patience and support as we continue to enhance our transportation system. 

As summer is about to wind down and we start to think about school supplies and first days, I want to remind us of the importance of safety when our kids head back to school. Even with these road and safety improvements, it’s critical we slow down and keep our focus to ensure kids can get to school and back home safely.

Together, we are building a safer, more connected community for everyone. You can always reach me at 971-435-0964 or heidil@tigard-or.gov, or you can connect to the whole City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov.

It’s officially summer here in Tigard and I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling the heat! I’m thankful for our many parks with shaded trees as well as playing around in the splash pad at Universal Plaza to keep me cool.

The extreme heat makes me think about how we prepare for these kinds of events. Tigard prides itself on being proactive and prepared, especially when it comes to public safety and emergency preparedness. We’re hosting the Public Works and Community Preparedness Fair on July 19 and I hope that you’ll join us. This event serves as an opportunity for you to learn more about how we can work together to ensure that Tigard is ready for any emergency.

The importance of emergency preparedness cannot be overstated. Natural disasters, health emergencies, and unexpected crises can strike at any time, and being prepared can make all the difference.

The Public Works and Community Preparedness Fair is designed to equip residents with the knowledge and resources they need to face such situations confidently. You’ll be able to meet with city officials, first responders, and community organizations dedicated to emergency preparedness. You will learn about the steps you can take to prepare your home and family for emergencies and find out more about the city’s efforts to enhance our infrastructure and readiness.

Emergency preparedness is not just about having a plan in place though – it’s about being proactive and ensuring that our community’s infrastructure can support those plans. Many of our city’s facilities face significant challenges that could cause our first responders to face delays in deploying, potentially putting lives at risk. Know that we’re taking steps to address these issues and actively seeking solutions to ensure that our facilities are safe, functional, and capable of withstanding emergencies.

I encourage you to attend the fair, engage with the available resources, and take an active role in our city’s preparedness efforts. By staying informed and prepared, you are helping increase the overall safety and resilience of Tigard.

In addition to the Public Works and Community Preparedness Fair, we invite everyone to join us for an evening of celebration, connection, and discovery as Tigard is excited to host its first-ever Empresarios Night Market on July 26.

This vibrant event aims to celebrate and strengthen Tigard's diverse business community by providing a platform for local entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services. This free event will transform Universal Plaza into an exciting fusion of local vendors, performers, and artists, showcasing the very best our city has to offer.

The Empresarios Night Market is more than just a market; it is a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives within the city. By bringing together a variety of vendors from different cultural backgrounds, the market highlights the rich diversity that makes Tigard unique. By joining us, you are helping to build a stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive Tigard.

I look forward to hearing your feedback on these two July events, as your input is invaluable in shaping the future of our community. You can always reach me at 971-435-0964 or heidil@tigard-or.gov, or connect with the entire City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov.

The message you sent came across loud and clear, Tigard: As a community, even when we don’t agree on everything, we’re united to move forward and to make progress – building a better Tigard!

That was what you said overwhelmingly with your votes in the May 21 election.

As of this writing, over 70 percent of Tigard voters in this election said yes to updating our City Charter for the first time since we became a city to make our city government more responsive and modern.

And nearly 80 percent of Tigard voters in this election said yes to continuing our investments in public safety by voting to renew our Tigard Public Safety Levy. 

So my message to you is: Thank you so much, Tigard!

That’s because both steps were vital to meeting the needs of our growing community. As the saying goes, it’s a big deal.

With your strong approval, our Public Safety Levy will renew on July 1, 2025 – keeping the current tax rate for property owners in place and renewing what’s already on the books for an additional five years. It will allow us to continue de-escalation and crisis intervention training for every single officer in our community; keep eight patrol officers on the job; and maintain one School Resource Officer.

The changes to the Tigard Charter you approved will take effect on July 1, 2024. We will keep our current form of government, officials will be elected in the same way, and we’ll pass laws in the same way. But we’ll increase the number of City Councilors from five to seven, and we’ll update our terms limits to be more clear and direct.

We are already looking ahead and working to turn your votes into action through the trust you showed us. Our focus will continue to be on being responsible stewards of our resources, and implementing the investments and changes Tigard voters embraced with their vote. We have a responsibility to you to deliver on the investments and changes we promised you. 

And I know there is more we can do together. That’s why we’ll continue our important community discussion about how we can best address our aging, overcrowded, and unsafe city facilities. We’ve acquired a new City-owned property on Wall Street so that we can have new, modern, and seismically safe facilities for the people who will be the first responders in the event of a major emergency, like a serious earthquake: Our Public Works and Tigard Police Department teams. Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing more about our plan for how we can sustain this investment in the future of Tigard – and how it would benefit all of us.

No matter how you voted in this election, we are grateful to every single one of you who made your voice heard and chose to be a voter in this election – especially for the next generation of voters who cast a ballot for the very first time.

Thank you again, Tigard! I’m excited about what else is ahead for our community. 

I also want to officially welcome you to the summer in Tigard. We have many events planned through our Recreation Team. We have everything going on, from the Farmer’s Market to Movies in the Park, the Tigard Festival of Balloons, and everything in between.

Some highlighted events include:

• Farmer’s Market – Sundays 9 – 1:30 
• Freedom Celebration Day – Juneteenth Celebration – June 15, 3 – 6 p.m.
• Festival of Balloons – June 21 – 23
• Fun Run 5K – June 22, 8:30 – 10 a.m.
• Festivals – Pride Festival and Parade – June 29, 2 – 5 p.m.
• Food and fabulous finds at Empresarios Night Market – July 26, 4 – 9 p.m.

You can find details and more events at www.tigard-or.gov/explore-tigard/community-events

I hope to see you at our events this summer!

You can always reach me at 971-435-0964 or heidil@tigard-or.gov, or you can connect to the whole City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov. 

April 2024 Mayor's Corner

I’ve spoken about the importance of public safety for our community since the beginning of my term as Mayor and during my service as a City Councilor. 

As elected officials, we have a responsibility to prepare and plan for different scenarios facing our City, including some of the potentially most impactful, like a powerful earthquake, a devastating firestorm, or a destructive storm. When – not if – it happens, our public works personnel and Tigard Police are our first responders. 

Currently, the buildings that house those teams are inadequate and don’t even meet state requirements for “critical and essential buildings,” which help ensure first responders can protect and serve our communities. 

Two of our Council Goals are to Modernize and Improve City Services and Enhance Community Safety and Access. We’re delivering on those goals by strategically planning to ensure the City of Tigard is fundamentally sound and delivering on the current and future needs of our facilities. 

Those are some of the reasons why the City of Tigard is zeroing in on a solution for our current facilities: Acquiring a 9.5-acre property on Wall Street for new, safer, and modern facilities. 

This is a solution years in the making. During my entire time on Council (since 2019), we’ve been trying to solve for this problem and have reviewed countless possible properties to purchase. I strongly believe that our facilities should stay in the City of Tigard, and it’s been a challenge to find a location that fits the needs of our facilities. 

So why a new building location and not another option? Even before my service, for decades, the City had studied different scenarios, including renovating existing facilities and building new facilities in the existing locations. Ultimately, the analysis showed that buying new property and building new facilities is the best way for the City to serve the community while being the best stewards of taxpayer money. It’s about moving Tigard forward.

It’s not just about responding to emergencies, though. The City of Tigard is also an employer, and it’s our responsibility to provide an adequate and safe space for every Tigard Teammate to work. Our current facilities also have safety issues and are overcrowded.

Our Tigard Police station is nearly four decades old and is so severely overcrowded that it impacts our ability to recruit the talented and diverse personnel we need to help keep our neighborhoods safe. Due to lack of space, we have instances where our officers conduct crime victim interviews in public spaces rather than secure spaces to ensure the victims feel safe to share the details of their situation. We proudly have one of the highest percentages of women serving in our Police Department across the state, yet we lack adequate locker space for them. 

For our Public Works team, the Parks and Recreation Department holds their team check-ins outside because of the lack of meeting space. Our Public Works yard is also overcrowded, making it difficult to park and maneuver. I don’t believe our downtown district is an appropriate place for our Public Works vehicles and equipment. 

It’s not only these situations that are concerning for our team, but there is also a financial impact. The yearly operational cost for repairs and maintenance on these facilities increases every year because it becomes more expensive to maintain and repair these buildings. These are resources that could be invested back into our community priorities like building and maintaining city roads, parks and sidewalks.

This potential acquisition is an exciting first step. We have an opportunity to move from concept and plans to action and implementation. I want you to know what’s next in the process, what you can expect from the City, and how you can participate and help us shape the plan. 

From now through the end of April, the City will conduct a detailed due diligence to ensure the property is the best investment for Tigard and to finalize a sales purchase agreement, contingent on satisfaction of the conditions. That process includes commonsense steps like an architectural and engineering plan, and environmental review of the land. 

We will keep you updated on next steps. 

You can reach me at 971-435-0964 or heidil@tigard-or.gov, or you can connect to the whole City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov.

May 2024 Mayor's Corner

People. Partnerships. And Progress.

As I prepare to deliver my State of Our City address on May 13, I’ve been reflecting on our work together to move Tigard forward. And that’s a theme I’ve been thinking about- People. Partnerships. And Progress. On so many community priorities, we’ve been making progress thanks to people working together here in Tigard, and with our local, regional, state, and federal partners.

Even though Washington, D.C., is geographically far away, we regularly work with our federal partners to invest in key community projects here in Tigard. We’re fortunate to have Congresswoman Andrea Salinas as our voice in Washington, D.C. and as a champion for our community. She sought our input about specific projects that could help make life better for people in Tigard – and delivered federal investments for three key initiatives.

The first is badly needed upgrades to our library’s HVAC system. It also serves as an Emergency Heating and Cooling Center, so we can provide a safe place for all our neighbors, including those without shelter, when it’s simply too dangerous to be outside. Second, she helped us secure resources for a Community Service Officer, someone who works full-time building relationships with our houselessness neighbors, to connect them with services, like housing support. And third, she delivered federal funds for ODOT to build two new crossings on Hall Boulevard, so we can have a safer, more connected community.

Partnerships are a key part of our work to make progress on houselessness. That’s because houselessness neither begins nor ends at our city limits. Houselessness is a regional – and national – challenge that demands regional and national solutions. While Tigard is acting to support people and stem the crisis, real solutions will happen with cities, counties, states, and the federal government all working together.

Along with securing a Community Service Officer, we’re working with our regional partners to prevent evictions to prevent people from experiencing houselessness in the first place. For those people already experiencing houselessness, we’re also working closely with Washington County to grow the number of emergency beds in Tigard.

We’re also working with our partners to make progress on a challenge that Tigard has faced for decades: Our aging, overcrowded, and unsafe facilities. As I shared with you in my previous column, we’re making progress on acquiring City-owned property so that we can have new, modern, and seismically sound facilities for the people who will be the first responders in the event of a major emergency, like a serious earthquake: Our Public Works and Tigard Police Department teams. 

These are just a few examples that show how people and partnerships are delivering progress. I’m looking forward to sharing much more in my State of Our City address on Monday, May 13, at 6 p.m. at Broadway Way Theatre (www.tigard-or.gov/your-government/council/state-of-our-city) – and I hope to see you there for a community celebration. While the event is limited to 300 community members, we’ll also be livestreaming it across our City channels. 

In the meantime, you can always reach me at 971-435-0964 or heidil@tigard-or.gov, or you can connect to the whole City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov. 

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Special Mayor's Corner

Posted 2/8/24
From the February 7, 2024 Council Meeting

I want to take a moment to talk a bit about houselessness in Tigard.

Last week, here in Tigard there were two community discussions focused on ways we can support those experiencing houselessness.

Specifically, a church and a non-profit service provider brought our community together to discuss what providing shelter could look like.

Leaders of the church discussed that they are exploring providing safe parking for up to three vehicles. This would provide a safer setting for those experiencing houselessness and living in their cars while also having consistent access to services. This is an approach that many cities around the state and country have taken – and have had success with this model.

The crisis of houselessness in our community means that we need to explore new steps to support our neighbors. We need to understand what works, and what doesn’t, in providing people safe shelter, and helping them transition into permanent housing.

I don’t believe anyone in Tigard should be in the situation of living in their cars. Everyone deserves the dignity of a safe home and a roof over their heads. A vehicle is not a home. But this is where we are right now trying to meet people where they are while working to expand shelter capacity and affordable housing options.

Last week, was an initial discussion, the first of many, about a potential step our community could take. It was a conversation to listen and learn.

I want to be clear, no decisions have been made. No contracts have been signed. No permits have been applied for or issued.

I recognize these are incredibly difficult conversations. There are absolutely legitimate questions about the program and we want to ensure any program is meeting the needs of the Tigard community.

Our city and our community will have to make some difficult decisions and not everyone will agree. We do need to agree to come to the conversation with the intent to listen to each other and exchange ideas.

But unfortunately, last week when a Pastor and a non-profit Executive Director opened their doors to start a conversation, they were met with not just disagreement, but insults, and attacks. It escalated to members of the Church and their family being harassed and their safety compromised.

Here in Tigard, there is no place for the kind of bullying, threats, and intimidation that we saw last week.

We can and we must do better.

When you come into our community, you are greeted with a sign that says “Welcome to Tigard, a place to call home.”

We mean it.

We welcome you. All of you.

We are here to support you, all 56,000 people who call Tigard home.

We all deserve to be welcomed, seen, and respected.

Thank you.

February 2024 Mayor's Corner

As the mom of a toddler, I know firsthand the awe of Elmo. Recently, Elmo, a beloved character on Sesame Street, posted a question online – How is everyone doing? A simple question that essentially opened the door to what can be a difficult conversation about mental health. 

These four words – How is everyone doing? – resulted in thousands of responses; even the President weighed in. We heard (or read) how people were feeling. From humorous to concerning, people are tired, overwhelmed, sad, at their limit. By simply asking a question, Elmo managed to create a safe environment where people shared how they were. 

We’ve talked a lot about safety in the last several months, even more so in the last few weeks. We’ve talked about safety with the Public Safety Renewal Levy, which will maintain eight patrol officers, retain one School Resource Officer, and continue funding for de-escalation training. Voters will consider that ballot measure in May. 

In January, we experienced a massive ice and snowstorm that resulted in damage and treacherous road conditions. Many were without power, mobility was limited, and physical safety was a concern. So many community members opened their doors to others, offering warmth, food, and a secure, safer place to be. The community came together to support each other in a time of need. 

Earlier this month, there were some complicated conversations about safety when a church held meetings around a Safe Parking Program. The church is exploring the possibility of hosting three vehicles in their parking lot, providing a safer place for those living in the vehicles. We heard from the community with many differing opinions, ranging from outright opposition to support and some just wanting to learn more. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about safety, what it means to feel safe, heard, and understood in a time when it can feel overwhelming, confusing, and honestly, exhausting. One of my jobs as Mayor is to create a safe place, and that often is about physical safety, but it’s more than that. You’ll hear in the coming months about mental safety and health. I am committed to creating an environment of safety, a city of care, where difficult conversations feel a bit easier, and are welcomed. 

Thank you, Elmo, for reminding us that safety is more than physical, it’s also mental health, and the importance of checking in.

Tigard, how are you doing? Let me know! You can reach me at 971-435-0964 or heidil@tigard-or.gov, or you can connect to the whole City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov.

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January 2024 Mayor's Corner

Happy New Year, Tigard! I hope you and your loved ones had a joyous, safe, and healthy holiday season.

As we welcome the new year, I find myself reflecting on the last year. In early 2023, Council and I met to create our goals based on what we heard from you – our community priorities. This leads our work for the next two years and essentially serves as our roadmap. These priorities include reducing homelessness, addressing climate change, modernizing and improving city services, and enhancing community safety and accessibility.

We’ve made huge strides in advancing Tigard. We’ve talked about the importance of enhancing public safety by renewing our investments through the Public Safety Renewal Levy. We heard from you that improving community safety must be a top priority. That’s why we have a plan in 2024 to place the Public Safety Renewal Levy on your May 2024 ballot.

When it comes to modernizing Tigard’s government, one key step we can take is to make our city government more accountable, accessible to the public, and efficient by updating our City’s Charter with our Smarter Charter. Our Charter lays out the organization, powers, functions, and procedures of the city government. It hasn’t been updated since it was first adopted in 1962, and it doesn’t meet the needs of today’s Tigard. We are planning to ask you to approve these updates on the May 2024 ballot. 

You can learn more about these two ballot measures on the Tigard website.

Later this month, Council and I will meet again to revisit our goals halfway through our two-year plan to celebrate our progress and talk about the ongoing work needed to continue meeting our community’s priorities. 

In the coming days, weeks, and months, you’ll hear more about what we are working on. 

You’ll hear more about our climate work, we’ll be hosting ongoing conversations to inspire everyday climate actions, build community, and help others to engage. 

We’ll share how we are embracing and investing in technology to improve city services by making systems more accessible and easier to interact with the city.  We want to make it easier for you – this includes changes like having the ability to pay your utilities online.

And we are continuing to explore ways to address our facilities needs. This has been a serious issue for years, decades even, and we are hoping that 2024 is the year when we have solutions – a path forward to address our needs and keep moving Tigard forward. 

2024 is here, there’s no doubt it’s going to be a big year of progress for our community. I am honored to represent you and look forward to working with you. 

You can always reach me at 971-435-0964 or heidil@tigard-or.gov, or you can connect to the whole City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov.

December 2023

It’s hard to believe – the holiday decorations are coming out and 2023 is almost over!

What a year. For many of us, 2023 has brought blessings big and small.

But it has presented some challenge, too. I know from my own family’s experience, and from hearing from so many of you across Tigard, that people are feeling squeezed. Across our region, whether you rent or own your home, housing prices are high, and options are few. Too many of our neighbors are living unhoused. Families and small businesses are continuing to struggle to recover from the impacts of the pandemic. And across the world, communities are being torn apart by war. At times, it can feel overwhelming. 

As the year comes to end, this is a perfect time to look back, reflect, and remind us that we have done so much. There’s still hope as we’ve worked to make life better for people in our community. I’m proud of what we’ve delivered so far in 2023.

To help make Tigard a welcoming and safe place for all, we adopted our first-ever Racial Equity Action Plan, and an accompanying Equity Declaration, actions that are import stances recognizing that our differences make us stronger.

Over the summer, we helped bring community together through City-hosted events like our Pride Parade, our Juneteenth event, our Pop-Ups, our annual 4th of July festivities, and our Concerts in the Park summer series. In August, dozens of our neighborhoods took over the streets for National Night Out, talking about safety and getting to know one another. We had a summer where we gathered and we connected.

In late October, we re-opened the Tigard Senior Center. And last month, we cut the ribbon right next door on the Alongside Senior Apartments, which will provide Tigard with much-needed senior affordable housing. Both examples of the progress we are making to serve everyone who calls Tigard home.

It’s also important that as a city, we also recognize where we didn’t quite hit the mark. We know we are not perfect, but we will always strive for excellence. That is our promise to you as one of our 5 E’s – Excellence, Economy, Equity, Engagement, and Environment. For example, I heard from you about the construction on Main Street and the impact it had. You spoke up, we listened, we learned, and we responded to your feedback. You made the project better.

This holiday season is a time to celebrate our community together. This past year has shown us that we are stronger together. And know we are grateful that you call Tigard home. I am especially grateful to be part of this community and to serve as your Mayor. Thank you for an amazing 2023. I believe 2024 will be even brighter.

My job is to listen to you. I need to hear about your priorities for the year ahead so we can keep Tigard moving forward. You can always reach me at 971-435-0964 or heidil@tigard-or.gov, or you can connect to the whole City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov. 

 

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October, 2023

Everyone has the right to feel safe in Tigard.  

We have heard over and over from community – families, small business owners, and workers – that public safety should be a core priority for the City Council. Over the summer, we launched a community survey and you said safety was your top priority. 

City Council agrees. One of our Council Goals is to Enhance Community Safety and Accessibility. As a Council and community, we’ve been talking a lot about our public safety services and the importance of maintaining our current investments in those services. We’re committed to creating a safer Tigard, and renewal of the Public Safety Levy will continue to help us do that.

Back in 2020, Tigard voters approved a City of Tigard plan for dedicated funding for public safety and additional de-escalation training. With that in place, Tigard has had resources we need to hire more Tigard Police Department patrol officers, a School Resource Officer, complete advanced training, and provide support. 

That’s been especially important as Tigard police calls continue to grow. In 2022, the Tigard Police Department saw 1,000 more calls for service compared to 2021. Many of these are increasingly complex calls, requiring several officers to spend significant time to resolve the issue.

The original Local Option Levy that was approved in 2020 is set to expire. In May 2024, the City of Tigard will ask our community to help preserve our investments in public safety and maintain emergency police response services through the Public Safety Renewal Levy.

If approved, it would preserve dedicated funding for training and personnel who provide essential services and respond to community priorities about public safety.

That includes:

• Continuing de-escalation and crisis intervention training for Tigard officers
• Keeping eight patrol officers so we can maintain existing emergency police response services in Tigard
• Maintain one School Resource Officer for school support

Renewing our public safety investments would continue the same tax rate that’s already in place, not increase it. The average homeowner would contribute less than $8 per month. We are asking you to continue the investments that are in place today.

So what’s next? Over the coming months, we will be talking with people across our community about our proposal, what these investments deliver for you, and to get your feedback. The City Council will continue to discuss the plan as we look toward a public vote in May 2024. This is an important opportunity for us to continue to build community safety and meet the needs of our growing city. Want to learn more? Visit www.tigard-or.gov/vote. 

You can always reach me at 971-435-0964 or heidil@tigard-or.gov, or you can connect to the whole City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov. 

Thank you for the chance to serve you as Mayor and to work to build safer, more accessible communities for everyone.

Fall 2023 Update from the Mayor

Leaves are changing and temperatures are dropping which means the summer has come to an end. It was a busy summer with so many fun activities and events. I hope you were able to join us this summer! It was also the third warmest summer on record - this speaks to the importance of addressing our climate as one our Council goals. Now it’s Fall and many of us have been busy preparing for school, arranging schedules, gathering supplies, preparing for homework, and enjoying pumpkin spiced anything.

I am doing my fair share of homework and one report that I want to highlight is from the recent National Community Survey. This survey, developed by Polco and the National Research Center, is conducted in over 600 cities across the country. This allows us to compare our results with national benchmarks. Tigard last conducted a similar survey in 2015 and this new one was conducted for six weeks from April-June this year.

This survey focused on our core services and the livability of Tigard. The questions and responses provide a picture of which areas of livability we should prioritize and what is needed to make our city even more livable and desirable for everyone.

There was a series of questions asked about services, from development to utilities, economy to engagement, and everything in between. We also included two customized questions to see how our community receives information and how our Council goals resonate throughout our city.

The good news is we are doing really well!

Some of the key findings:

Tigard residents experience a high quality of life.

• 9 in 10 residents positively reviewed Tigard as a place to live.
• 8 in 10 offered favorable ratings to the overall quality of life in Tigard, were pleased with the city as a place to raise children, and planned to remain in Tigard for the next five years.

Residents feel safe in their community, and safety is a top priority.

• 9 in 10 residents expressed feeling of safety was essential over the next two years.
• 91% feel very safe in their neighborhood.

Residents value the quality of our services provided by Tigard.

• Drinking water: 88% feel service is good to excellent.
• Power (electric and/or gas) utility: 84% feel service is good to excellent.

Our Council goals resonated with community as well. All four goals received favorable support, with enhanced community safety receiving 86% of responses stating this was very important or essential.

We also learned that community relies on local media outlets, our website, and our newsletter as their major sources of information. Yet another reason why I value this monthly column in Tigard Life!

Every city must balance available resources with needs and community asks. That’s why this survey is so helpful in letting us know where we are excelling and where we have opportunities to improve. It’s a valuable guide for future discussions, especially as we ramp up for the next budget cycle. I am so grateful we were able to launch this in 2023 and will do so again in 2025. To the Tigard community, thank you for your input. We are listening!

To learn more about the survey and the results, I encourage you to view the September 19 Council meeting and listen to the presentation about what we learned and next steps.

I value input from all parts of our community. You can always reach me at 971-435-0964 or heidil@tigard-or.gov, or you can connect to the whole City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov.

Summer 2023 Newsletter

This summer, I’ve been talking with our community about our progress on the four City Council goals: Reducing houselessness, addressing our impact on the climate crisis, modernizing city services, and enhancing community safety and accessibility.

As we remain focused on these goals and delivering results for Tigard, we also know that there are challenges in our community that we can’t solve alone.

That’s why we work closely with our partners in the region and all levels of government that represent Tigard, including neighboring cities, Washington County, our state legislators, and our federal delegation who represent us in Congress. We all have different roles, positioned at different levels, but we are all on the same team. I wanted to share with you all some of the results and progress that these partnerships are delivering.

Working with Our Partners in Salem: Priorities for the State Legislative Session
One of our key priorities for the state’s legislative session that ended on June 25 was to seek a jurisdictional transfer of Hall Boulevard from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to the City of Tigard, along with state resources for repairs and safety investments.

As a city, we engaged the state legislature throughout the session. Tigard City Council President Yi-Kang Hu testified before the chief budget-writing committee, and I testified in Salem on HB 2756, the legislation to direct and authorize the transfer of Hall Boulevard. You, our community, also showed up by sending over 70 public comments in 48 hours to Representative Bowman’s office.

That advocacy showed results - the City was allocated $3 million in state funds for safety improvements on Hall Boulevard in the budget agreement. The legislature passed HB 2793, sponsored by Representative Bowman, to establish a process to prioritize applications that are ready for a jurisdictional transfer. While we weren’t allocated the full amount for repairs and safety improvements, with an upcoming transportation package in the 2025 session, Tigard’s application will be well-positioned. We’re thankful to Representative Bowman and the Oregon Legislature for their show of support.

While Hall Boulevard was one of our main focuses, we also advocated for a variety of other bills and issues, such as homelessness support, climate bills, housing, and others. We will continue to work for you outside of the session, too.

Partnering with Our Congressional Delegation to Secure Federal Investments
Working closely with Congresswoman Andrea Salinas, this year, we have secured a total of $1.8 million in federal investments for three of Tigard’s projects:

• Emergency Heating and Cooling Center - $500,000 – Replace HVAC system in Tigard Public Library to serve as relief for all community members during extreme weather events.
• Houselessness Community Service Officer (CSO) - $300,000 – Fund a full-time CSO and services to provide support and resources to our houseless community members.
• Hall Blvd - $1 million (ODOT) – Safety improvements

Our U.S. Senators, Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Ron Wyden, are working to secure federal investments for the construction of a community room and canopy at Universal Plaza.

We are hopeful these investments will be included in the final funding agreement that Congress will approve later this year.

Our collaboration with our regional, state, and federal partners is paying off and delivering results for Tigard. We’ll keep working with them to make progress – and I will continue to keep you updated.

I value input from all parts of our community. You can always reach me at 971-435-0964 or heidil@tigard-or.gov, or you can connect to the whole City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov.

April 1, 2023

Centering community members has been my focus since starting my term as Mayor. It’s been critical to understanding where we want our priorities for Council Goals over the next two years. After much collaborative discussion amongst the City Council and the City of Tigard team, we have established four key Council Goals for 2023-2025 that I wanted to share with you. Each goal has clear outcomes and strategies. While they are ambitious, they are also achievable.

Reduce Houselessness: We will actively address houselessness in the Tigard community. That includes creating more transitional housing and addressing the root causes of houselessness with our regional, state and federal partners. We are also committed to supporting our community members and businesses who are feeling the impacts of this crisis directly.

Improve Climate: We will support climate action that reduces our impact on the climate crisis and makes our community more resilient to its inequitable impacts. That means exploring strategies to reduce our City’s climate pollution and centering climate in the Council’s decisionmaking in all areas – from how we power our City fleet of vehicles to how we can build new, greener buildings.

Modernize and Improve Our City Services: We are going to focus on the fundamentals: Delivering core services to the public. To do that effectively, we need to modernize Tigard’s government so it can better serve you at a lower cost to taxpayers. We will make progress on our City Facilities Modernization Project which will produce City facilities that are safer and more cost-effective and we will continue to upgrade our City-wide software that can modernize our business functions

Enhance Community Safety and Accessibility: Everyone has the right to feel safe in Tigard. Through our levy, the City took important steps by allocating funding for additional hiring, specialized training in crisis intervention, and de-escalation for Tigard Police Department officers. We’ll continue creating Safe Routes to School, improving those vital connections. We are also working hard to build a Hall for All. We must keep our focus on building safer, more accessible communities for everyone.

You can read more about our goals for the year ahead on the City of Tigard website by searching for “Council Goals.”

Next month, you will see these goals and values in action with the release of Tigard’s Proposed Budget for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year (FY 2024). With our budget, we show our where our priorities are and commit to making much-needed investments while upholding our commitment to Tigard’s long-term fiscal health. You can learn more about our budget process and read the Proposed Budget when it’s released in April.

You will also hear more about these goals and our vision for the year ahead – and beyond — on April 24, when I have the honor of delivering Tigard’s annual State of the City address. Stay tuned for more details on how you can watch my speech, either live or whenever you have the time!

In the meantime, please know you can always reach me at 971-435-0964 or heidil@tigard-or.gov, or you can connect to the whole City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov.

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February 2023

A Hall For All. This is the simple and important message that we’re delivering to federal and state legislators.

Hall Boulevard in Tigard is not safe because it’s been underfunded for many years. Pedestrians and bicyclists face a nearly impossible task of commuting on Hall Boulevard due to sidewalk gaps, missing bike lanes, and a lack of pedestrian crossings. Vehicles traveling on Hall Boulevard in Tigard encounter failing pavement and a myriad of potholes. Everyone traveling on Hall Boulevard will cross deteriorating bridges that were not built to support the level of traffic or variety of road users today.

We’ve seen the tragic results of the neglect of Hall Boulevard in recent years, most recently when Karen Kain was killed and her mother seriously injured while crossing Hall Boulevard near Lucille Court last spring. We need to prevent another tragedy from happening.

Change is needed and we've never been closer to realizing the Hall Boulevard that meets the needs of our community. What remains is commitment from the State and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to fund the necessary repairs to the road. Once the corridor is improved to a state of good repair, the city would take ownership of Hall Boulevard where it runs through Tigard and manage it to meet the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, neighbors, workers, students, and older adults. In addition, a complete Hall Boulevard will foster more connections with other key areas of our community – Downtown, Tigard Triangle, and the Washington Square Regional Center. Most importantly, a Hall Boulevard, owned and maintained by the city, will be inclusive and serve everyone, especially those from historically marginalized and underserved communities.  This aligns with our vision to be "an equitable community that is walkable, healthy, and accessible for everyone".

In early February, I was able to take our federal and state legislators on a tour of Hall Boulevard and saw firsthand the condition of the road that many community members have to use every day. We’re all in agreement that Hall Boulevard needs improvements and we’re working with our representatives Congresswoman Andrea Salinas, State Senator Aaron Woods, and State Representative Ben Bowman to make this vision a reality. At the same time, we are engaging the community in a conversation about the future of Hall Boulevard. We held our first community forum on this topic in late 2022 and these conversations will continue throughout 2023. I need your voice to play a role in advancing a safer, connected, equity Hall Boulevard.

Please reach out today to Senator Woods and Representative Bowman and let them know that a Hall For All is a priority for you in this legislative session.

You can always reach me at 971-435-0964 or heidil@tigard-or.gov, or you can connect to the whole City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov. I look forward to working together to make our community safer for everyone.

Mayor Heidi Lueb