Innovative Public Outreach Flourishes During the Pandemic

As the pandemic restrictions wind down, some things in Tualatin can get back to normal. It will be possible to hold in-person meetings again, rather than on a computer screen. Won’t that be nice!  

Some of the virtual communication methods and other innovations tested in 2020 are likely to become permanent. They are efficient, attract more participants than face-to-face meetings, and include some folks who don’t often participate. 

Early in the pandemic, City leaders decided to maintain proactive public outreach for Tualatin Moving Forward, the City’s bond-funded transportation program. In March 2020, Sherilyn Lombos, Tualatin City Manager, said “We need to be willing to experiment – try new things – be creative.”  

That’s what happened. Tualatin Moving Forward is now in its third year, with 14 projects built and another 14 underway. Every project continues to benefit from public input. Residents and businesses in each project area are invited to share their opinions and help design projects that meet the community’s needs. 

The innovative outreach in 2020 included an interactive map and a first-ever text message survey to select the best location for a new crosswalk on 65th Avenue near Meridian Park Hospital. Neighbors and hospital workers were invited to use the interactive mapping tool to pinpoint their safety concerns and locations in the area. Later, sidewalk stickers marked two options for the crosswalk location and directed people to the survey.  

Earlier, 148 respondents took time over their Christmas holiday to rank traffic safety solutions for 93rd Avenue near Avery Street using an online survey. Along the Boones Ferry Road Corridor, another 94 online votes/comments were received on plans for sidewalks and bike lanes when participants placed virtual “pins” to identify problem spots.  

"La ciudad de Tualatin se ha comprometido a mantener a la comunidad informada y involucrada invitando a socios clave a participar, por ejemplo, como el grupo TuaLatinos. The City of Tualatin has committed to keeping the community informed and engaged by inviting key partners to participate for example the TuaLatinos group," said Betsy Rodriguez Ruef, Community Engagement Coordinator. 

Outreach to the Spanish-speaking community also increased during the pandemic. TuaLatinos, a community group that meets to discuss local issues, met virtually to weigh-in on the transportation projects and other City programs. All printed materials for the bond program are doublesided – one side in English and one in Spanish.  

“We want to capitalize on the lessons learned, to reach more people than ever and involve them in decisions,” said Megan George, Tualatin’s Deputy City Manager who also serves as the City’s public information officer.