Community Profile

Pledge Status

Active

Pledge Date

Friday, March 21, 2025

Program Year

2025

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Action Item Report

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City of Hillsboro, Oregon

Hillsboro, OR

Beach Pace

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Among other related commitments, Hillsboro is a US Conference of Mayors' climate champion, Tree City USA, Bee City USA and partner in the Backyard Habitat Certification Program. The Hillsboro community has demonstrated its commitment to the conservation of nature and wildlife, including the Monarch butterfly. Nestled in the Tualatin Valley of western Oregon, Hillsboro is Oregon's 5th largest city with 108,000 community members. Known for its diverse community, strong local economy, and beautiful natural areas, for decades Hillsboro's leaders have placed an emphasis on environmental stewardship. Strong goals and actions guide stewardship efforts for both the city organization, which provides a full suite of municipal services, and for the greater community. Hillsboro prides itself as having one of the largest preserved natural areas within the community, the several-hundred acre Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, along with myriad other natural areas, parks and environmental assets.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2025

Communications and Convening

  • Issue a proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat. This proclamation must incorporate a focus on monarch conservation.
  • Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
  • Engage with city parks and recreation, public works, sustainability, and other relevant staff to identify opportunities to revise and maintain mowing programs and milkweed / native nectar plant planting programs.

Program and Demonstration Gardens

  • Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.
  • Facilitate or support a milkweed seed collection and propagation effort.
  • Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
  • Earn or maintain recognition for being a wildlife-friendly city by participating in other wildlife and habitat conservation efforts (i.e., National Wildlife Federation’s Community Wildlife Habitat program).
  • Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.
  • Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
  • Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.

Systems Change

  • Launch, expand, or continue an effort to change municipal planting ordinances and practices to include more native milkweed and native nectar producing plants at city properties.