Hillsboro City Council Meeting - August 4, 2026

The Hillsboro City Council convened a shortened evening meeting on August 4, 2026, primarily to hear public comments and provide council updates. The meeting began with a disruption warning from the Mayor, noting recent interruptions and establishing rules for respectful conduct. No presentations or action items were on the agenda, so the council moved directly to public testimony.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Pastor Ozzie Osborne (Stinging Hills Christian Church) submitted an eight-point evidentiary packet alleging a structural conflict of interest in the Hillsboro Police Department's complaint review process. He claimed a July 15th misconduct complaint was ruled unfounded, but a lieutenant admitted that shift supervisors self-clear team misconduct under policy 1000.2. He requested an independent external review of case #2026 IAP 170, a formal audit to strip supervisors of self-clearing authority, and a citywide policy for hazardous property issues.
• Laith Eccles testified about the Transportation Committee meeting he attended, highlighting a disconnect between the city and county on road safety projects. He noted contradictory statements from county project managers regarding the need for an environmental assessment for the Century Boulevard extension and criticized the lack of public engagement. He requested formal city-county collaboration and equitable outreach.
• Tori Lewis cited biblical passages to explain her practice of praying for elected officials, expressing her belief that Christians are called to support leaders.
• Mark Watson (Hillsboro School Board) gave a heads-up about a September school bond presentation, urging council members to show early support by filing a JVC form. He emphasized that bond funds cannot be used for salaries, citing the Liberty High School air conditioning repair costing over $1 million. He also personally expressed opposition to building more data centers in Hillsboro, but clarified that property tax abatements do not significantly reduce school funding due to state formulas.
• Mr. Brown delivered a wide-ranging statement about climate change, data centers, and social justice, claiming 99 wildfires across the U.S. and criticizing data center development as harmful to the environment and working-class communities. He accused billionaires and government policies of exacerbating the crisis.
• Antonia Lopez (representing the Washington County Chamber of Commerce stance) expressed strong opposition to a data center moratorium, arguing it would deter employers and set a dangerous precedent. She stated the business community is struggling under taxes and regulations, and that the city has continued approving applications under outdated land use rules. She criticized Mayor Pace for taking credit for police reform and urged the council to enact a state of emergency and sue the state. In a separate segment, she raised concerns about Flock cameras, citing documented abuse cases, misidentification risks, and low crime-solving rates (under 1% of scanned plates tied to crime). She urged the council to reconsider the city's use of Flock technology.
• Denise Kerr protested the removal of a 400-year-old white oak tree on Jackson School Road, attributed to an industrial park development. She described the tree's age and heritage value, and criticized the city for lacking heritage tree protections despite its 'Tree City' branding.
• Jenna Khala echoed Laith Eccles' concerns about city-county communication, citing issues with the Century Boulevard expansion and the Washington County Fair's new chaperone policy for teenagers. She urged the council to create a joint committee and expressed frustration that some council members were not paying attention.

City Manager's Report

• City Manager Robbie Hammond announced three items:
  • A new bilingual children's book, "Oro the Forest Giant," promoting Hidden Creek Park.
  • The Joint Water Commission (JWC) celebrated its 50th anniversary on July 17th, 2026, growing from a 20 MGD treatment plant to an 85 MGD facility, the largest in Oregon.
  • The new "Open Hillsboro Online Permit Center" went live on July 20th, allowing customers to apply, track, pay, and upload documents in one place.

Council Comments & Discussion Items

• Councilor Alcair shared positive feedback from a store owner about the council's public statements and noted the rarity of such engagement.
• Councilor Sinclair described listening to Latino immigrant and refugee families affected by ICE operations, and announced she would explore a city ban on Flock camera agreements. She clarified Hillsboro does not currently have a contract with Flock, but expressed concern about cameras at county-owned venues.
• City Manager Hammond clarified that the city owns no Flock cameras, is not part of the Flock network, and only uses a mobile automated license plate reader for specific incidents. He indicated that a ban on all Flock cameras within city limits (including private or county use) would require further study and asked council members to email him if they supported Sinclair's request.
• Councilor Harris reported on the Transportation Committee meeting, where city and county staff addressed safety concerns on Main Street and the Century Boulevard extension. He stated that the county will provide updates at the next three transportation meetings.
• Councilor Salgado thanked firefighters and their families for their work during the wildfires, sharing a personal connection to a relative fighting fires.
• Councilor Alcair added to Sinclair's ICE-related comments, stating that during a listening session, none of the immigrant attendees raised hands when asked if they would call 911 for help. She requested a public-facing police campaign to build trust and asked the city manager to confirm continued support for the codification agreement.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken during the meeting.
• Councilor Sinclair announced she would pursue a ban on Flock cameras in Hillsboro; City Manager Hammond requested council members to email him individually to indicate support for further exploration.
• The council agreed that county staff would provide safety updates on Main Street and the Century Boulevard extension at the next three transportation committee meetings.
• The city manager confirmed the city's position of not using Flock cameras and committed to continuing the codification agreement regarding ICE interactions.
• The next council filing deadline for candidates is August 21, 2026, at 5 p.m., and community members can sign up for newsletters for updates.