City Of Hillsboro Extends Emergency Declaration To April 30

Press release from the City of Hillsboro:

April 1, 2020

City Council changes City code, allow emergency declaration for 30 day

The Hillsboro City Council agreed to change the City’s Municipal Code to allow the City’s ongoing emergency declaration to continue for an additional 30 days in support of the COVID-19 public health response. In extending the emergency, the Council also extended the timeframe that residential and commercial renters are protected from eviction in Hillsboro.

The Council held its March 31 meeting by teleconference to protect community members’ health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the meeting, the City Code required the Council to extend the declaration every seven days after an initial emergency period of 14 days.

City Manager Robby Hammond first formally declared a state of emergency for the City of Hillsboro on the morning of Friday, March 13. The Hillsboro City Council then met on Tuesday, March 17, to adopt a resolution declaring a State of Emergency. Declaring an emergency provides the City with increased flexibility and enables the City and staff to serve the community where needed most.

"To be clear, we are not declaring a public health emergency. That is not our role," Hammond said on March 13. "Rather, this action will allow us to buy the necessary equipment and supplies related to our response, if necessary, without being slowed down by certain processes. It will also allow us to adjust our staffing and City operations to best serve the community should that become necessary."

Other recent actions by the City of Hillsboro in response to the COVID-19 pandemic include:

• Increasing emergency grant funding for small businesses to $1 million
• Closing playgrounds and sport courts to protect public health
• Extending the closure of City facilities through April 28
• Offering rental assistance for those struggling to pay rent, and a moratorium on evictions during the emergency

Get more COVID-19 information and resources from the City of Hillsboro:

• COVID-19 Information
• Business resources
• Community resources
• Questions and answers

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