Hillsboro City Council Meeting - February 17, 2026

This regular City Council meeting included public testimony on Senate Bill 1586 (the Oregon Jobs Act), approval of the consent agenda, a public hearing on Pioneer Cemetery fees, approval of a revised plan for the Fairgrounds Sports Complex, and a work session on legislative priorities for the 2026 short session.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved unanimously (all present members voted aye). Items included routine approvals and were not discussed separately.

Public Comments & Testimony

Support for Senate Bill 1586 (Oregon Jobs Act):

• Jen Klotz, representing Genentech, expressed strong support for the Jobs Act, emphasizing that build-ready industrial land and incentives are essential for attracting capital investment and high-paying jobs. She noted Genentech's parent company Roche committed $50 billion in U.S. investment over five years and that without past state foresight, Genentech would not be in Oregon today.
• Adalie Mitchell, a former participant in the PCC Quick Start Semiconductor Program, described how the program helped her move from low-income to a career at Intel, and urged support for the Jobs Act to create similar opportunities.

Opposition to Senate Bill 1586:

• Denise Van Domlin (not present) – no testimony.
• Pam Code – not present.
• Ricky Noak opposed the bill, arguing that expanding the urban growth boundary (UGB) would upset the balance between farmland and industry, and would benefit AI corporations at the expense of human workers.
• Mary Mullen opposed the bill, linking it to budget cuts that harm people with disabilities and calling for prioritizing real people over tech companies.
• Brown (first name not given) expressed distrust in elected officials and argued that working-class people have the power, urging the council to listen and act.
• Leif Eccles, a parent and semiconductor industry worker, opposed SB 1586, stating it would absorb 1,700 acres of pristine farmland while plenty of land exists within the current UGB. He argued data centers create few jobs, use excessive water and electricity, and do not contribute meaningfully to tax revenue.
• Blaine Ackley, a 36-year resident, opposed the bill, noting no public hearings in Hillsboro and that it violates the 2014 Grand Bargain. He also raised concerns about lead contamination from the Hillsboro Airport affecting proposed softball fields.
• Nelly McAdams asked the council to withdraw support for SB 1586, calling it a waste of public resources that would benefit a few landowners while providing few jobs and high utility costs.
• Luce Vierones (name as spelled in transcript) opposed the bill, reading from Chief Seattle's letter and urging protection of the land for future generations.
• Scott Ellis, a farmer living on the 1,700 acres, opposed the bill, stating it would not save Oregon and that big businesses receive tax breaks while residents bear costs. He noted a 300,000 sq. ft. building sitting empty.
• Aaron Nichols, a neighboring farmer, opposed the bill, emphasizing damage to soils and the agricultural community. He noted over 600 people testified with 92% opposed, and that 15 years of growth-at-any-cost have failed to deliver high-paying jobs.
• Alexis Bastida Pinede (small business owner) opposed the bill, citing utility rate increases borne by residents and the risk of data centers exacerbating infrastructure costs.
• Myrna Munoz, a bilingual educator, opposed the bill, calling it a land grab and criticizing the lack of community engagement.
• Dirk Knutsen exposed what he called a linguistic fraud in the bill, arguing that an executive order redefined data centers as industrial infrastructure, making the “no standalone data centers” promise meaningless. He also raised questions about campaign donations.
• Denise Kerr opposed the bill, comparing it to a previous land-use effort and arguing it would fragment farming and violate the 2014 Grand Bargain.
• Jean Kristen spoke on a separate issue: an appeal of proposed street names in the Havenwood development, urging culturally appropriate names that reflect the land's history and tribal heritage.
• Alan Rappleyea, a retired land-use attorney, urged the council to oppose SB 1586, calling it rushed, a violation of the Grand Bargain, and bad planning. He noted the 500 acres of industrial land already available.
• Mickey Barnes opposed SB 1586 and also raised concerns about lead emissions from the airport affecting the proposed softball fields at the fairgrounds.
• Jody Clark Lampa criticized the short notice of the bill and the lack of community input, urging the council to prioritize schools, health care, and help for neighbors.
• Fawn Hosey provided historical background on the 2014 Grand Bargain, arguing that Hillsboro has acted in bad faith by repeatedly attempting to expand the UGB. She noted over 600 people have registered opposition to SB 1586.

Other Public Comments:

• Dr. Theme (Hillsboro resident 25 years) thanked the city for focusing on the fairgrounds sports complex and advocated for including pickleball courts.
• Regina (first name only) extended an invitation to Fest Femina, an International Women's Day event on March 8.

Discussion Items

Fairgrounds Sports Complex (Items 8.2, 8.3, 8.4):

• Staff presented a revised plan to mitigate the loss of fields at Gordon Faber Recreation Complex due to the new Hillsboro Hops ballpark. The plan is to build a sports complex at the Washington County Fairgrounds, including four artificial-turf softball fields (multi-use), improved grass fields with better drainage and lighting, a new north parking lot, and potential future courts. The 20-year lease with the county includes no rent; the city will maintain the fields.
• Councillor Sinclair requested environmental testing for lead emissions from the nearby airport before final approval. Staff agreed to include testing during the design phase.
• Councillor Harris declared a conflict of interest (daughter works for HHPR) and abstained from voting on items 8.2, 8.3, and 8.4.
• The total project cost is estimated at $25 million, funded by $20 million from Hops ticket surcharges and $5 million from system development charges.

Legislative Update (Work Session):

• Ariel (legislative affairs) provided an update on the 2026 short session. Key issues: budget cuts, federal tax disconnect, and transportation funding. The Senate Bill 1586 (Jobs Act) has been amended via a Hillsboro-Metro compromise: the UGB expansion would be reduced from 1,700 acres to 373 acres, with the remainder going into urban reserves. The 373 acres would be zoned for industrial use (high-tech and advanced manufacturing), with a prohibition on standalone data centers. Data centers are permitted only as an accessory to advanced manufacturing.
• Councillors and staff discussed the definition of “accessory use” and potential loopholes. Staff argued that similar language has been successfully enforced on existing sites to prevent standalone data centers. Councillor Case expressed concerns about the language and requested further clarification.
• Councillor Harris questioned the accessory language and noted that the city should monitor PGE’s allocation of infrastructure costs.
• The work session also covered the city’s three legislative priorities: federal immigration enforcement response, economic development, and housing production/homelessness response.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
• Resolution 2912 (Pioneer Cemetery rules, regulations, and fees): Adopted unanimously.
• Item 8.2 (Revised mitigation plan for GFRC fields and lease with Washington County): Approved (3-0, with Harris abstaining).
• Item 8.3 (Design contract with HHPR Inc. for $1,097,316): Approved (3-0, Harris abstaining).
• Item 8.4 (Exemption from competitive sealed bidding for Fairgrounds Sports Complex): Approved (3-0, Harris abstaining).
• Lead Testing: Staff committed to performing environmental testing for lead at the fairgrounds site before final construction approval.
• Street Naming Appeal (Item 8.1): Moved to a future meeting; no action taken.