Community Corner
City Of Hillsboro Facility Closures Will Continue Through June 1
City of Hillsboro libraries, recreation buildings, and other public facilities will remain closed to public through at least Monday, June 1.
May 15, 2020
City of Hillsboro libraries, recreation buildings, and other public facilities will remain closed to the public through at least Monday, June 1, as part of continued efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The next community update will be shared no later than June 1 on the City’s website.
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Previously, the City announced that Hillsboro libraries and Parks & Recreation facilities will remain closed through the end of May. During the closures, City crews are performing maintenance and facility improvements. Library staff continue to provide online services and work with WCCLS on resuming services throughout Washington County.
City leaders continue to monitor guidance from Governor Kate Brown and the health experts at the Oregon Health Authority and Washington County Public Health. The continued closures balance the City’s prioritization of the health and well-being of employees and the community at large with City employees’ role as trusted public servants.
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Continuing essential services
Essential City services that have continued uninterrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic include:
- Police services
- Fire & Rescue services
- Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
- Drinking water and other utility services
- Public Works and Parks Maintenance services
- Development services
- Capital projects
The City’s website and social media channels remain fully operational to connect the community with City services and important COVID-19 information. City phones continue to be answered and employees continue to work remotely whenever possible.
“When City facilities reopen, it will be with great caution and responsibility, in line with the expert recommendations of health authorities,” said City Manager Robby Hammond. “We know many people in our community look forward to returning to SHARC, to our libraries, and to seeing life return to some semblance of ‘normal’. But in the age of COVID-19, our new reality requires all of us to care for our friends, our families, and our neighbors more than ever.”
Slowing the spread of COVID-19
On April 14, 2020, Governor Kate Brown announced that, in order to begin reopening communities, Oregon must first slow the spread of COVID-19, as well as acquire adequate personal protective equipment to protect health care workers and first responders.
In March, the City announced that all facilities would remain closed through Tuesday, April 28. The City Council has twice voted to extend the State of Emergency declaration first issued on March 13. The emergency declaration is expected to continue into May as well.
Other recent actions by the City of Hillsboro in response to the COVID-19 pandemic include:
- Awarding $1 million in emergency grants to more than 400 small businesses in Hillsboro
- Donating $75,000 to the Hillsboro Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund to support local nonprofits
- Partnering to open an emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness without COVID-19 symptoms
- Launching the Food 2 You food pantry delivery program to help food pantries meet the basic needs of those who are medically fragile or cannot leave home
- Partnering with Washington County to open a respite shelter in Hillsboro
- Closing playgrounds and sport courts to protect public health
- Offering rental assistance for those struggling to pay rent, and a moratorium on evictions during the emergency
Helpful resources
Visit the City’s COVID-19 webpage to see the full timeline of the City’s response, and get more information and resources:
This press release was produced by the City of Hillsboro. The views expressed here are the author’s own.