Happy Fall! As we’re adjusting to the season change, I hope you’ve found your scarves and jackets and are keeping your hands warm with your favorite seasonal beverage.
This month, I want to provide information on our new utility billing service and remind you that Election Day is Tuesday, November 5.
New Utility Billing Service
The population of Tigard has grown by over 25,000 people since 1990, over doubling in size! This comes as no surprise to anyone who has seen it grow and change. Despite the growth, the city has continued to use many of the same systems.
You may know one of our City Council Goals is to Modernize City Services. I’m excited to share that we’re delivering on that goal by using Tyler Technologies to upgrade online systems that regularly service our community.
First up is our new Utility Billing system, which goes live on October 28. It’s a new portal, so you’ll need to create a new online account and re-establish autopay for anyone who is currently enrolled in that – your autopay will not roll over to the new system. The new system will be easier to use and give you the ability to view usage data. By being able to see the usage data, this can help you quickly identify issues with usage, like a leak, so you can connect with the city’s customer service and address anything that’s been found.
To support you in navigating these changes, we are offering drop-in support sessions at the Tigard Public Library. Laptops and city team members will be available to help answer questions.
Drop-in Utility Bill Support Sessions at Tigard Public Library:
- Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, 10 am – 11 am
- Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, 12 pm-1 pm
- Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, 4 pm-5 pm
Moving forward, you’ll see more updates as a result of our partnership with Tyler Technologies. Below is a sneak peek of what’s coming:
- A new online permit center services portal that will allow customers to submit payments and applications online, schedule plan reviews, and more
- A new service request system that will allow community members to manage and submit requests (such as a tree down, abandoned vehicle, graffiti) in one place
- A new mobile app that will make it easy to submit a request, pay a bill, reserve a park shelter, and more
As we embrace these advancements, our goal remains the same: to help Tigard become an equitable community that is walkable, healthy, and accessible for everyone.
As with any new change, we appreciate your patience during this transition and encourage you to find more information on the city webpages below:
- www.tigard-or.gov/your-government/departments/utility-billing-updates
- www.tigard-or.gov/business-development/current-projects/tyler-technologies-public-portals
Election Day
Voters’ Pamphlets and ballots have been mailed, and they should be in your possession. If you’ve already turned yours in – thank you! And if you haven’t yet, you can return your ballot two different ways: by mail or in a ballot drop box. By mail, there is no stamp needed, and it needs to be postmarked by November 5 to be counted. Our closest ballot drop box is at City Hall, and it needs to be there by 8 pm on Election Day.
Regardless of your beliefs or positions, it’s critical to vote. There are many important things on the ballot here in Tigard, from the Presidential election all the way down the ballot to our City Council and local ballot measures and levies.
Please make sure your voice is heard – VOTE.
You can reach me at heidil@tigard-or.gov, or connect with the entire City Council at CouncilMail@tigard-or.gov.