City News Round Up: Friday, August 29, 2025

Meetings & Agendas
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings, and to view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings. Read a recap of the August 25 City Council meeting. The next City Council meeting is Wednesday, September 3 at 5:00 PM. The agenda will be published by the end of the business day on Friday, 8/29, read the full agenda in our agenda portal once published.
 

Upcoming City Hall and Office Closures
City Hall and City offices will be closed Monday, September 1 in observance of Labor Day; trash and recycling will be collected as normal. The Finance office will be closed on Thursday, September 4, beginning at noon, for a staff outing.

Congress Square Reconstruction Work Begins September 15
The Congress Square Intersection reconstruction work is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 15. The public should expect traffic delays during construction. This project includes mill and overlay of the intersection, sidewalk and ADA improvements, installation of new traffic signal infrastructure, and lighting and landscaping improvements within the Congress Square intersection. Read the full traffic details and project timeline.

Mil Rate Set for Fiscal Year 2026
The Revaluation Project is now complete and as such the mil rate for Fiscal Year 2026 has been set. The new mil rate will be $11.98 per thousand dollars of assessed value, a decrease of more than 25% from the projected FY26 mil rate prior to any revaluation. Read our full update to learn more. Property owners will receive their tax bills in the mail in early-to-mid-September. The first half of property tax payments are due on October 17, 2025 and the second half is due on March 20, 2026. Property tax bills can be viewed and paid online.

Request Your Absentee Ballot for the November Election
Absentee ballots can now be requested online for the November 4, 2025, State Referendum and General municipal election. To learn more about other ways to request your ballot, please visit our Absentee Voting Information webpage. Ballots will be sent out once they are ready in October. 

Apply by Tomorrow! Neighborhood Mini Grants
Do you have an idea for a project to make your neighborhood more socially connected, sustainable, resilient, or inclusive? Do you need help covering the costs? Our Sustainability Office is currently accepting applications for our first round of Neighborhood Mini Grants until August 30, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST.

Ribbon Cutting: Back Cove South Storage Facility + Preble Field
We’re hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Back Cove South Storage Facility and Preble Field at Back Cove Park — and we hope you will join us! The event will take place on Friday, September 5 at 10:00 AM at Preble Field. The project, which has been a collaborative effort, is designed to improve both the city's infrastructure and public green spaces. 

Portland Water Department Launches Major Meter Replacement Project
We want to make sure you’re aware of recent news from the Portland Water Department (PWD). Beginning this fall, PWD will launch a three-year effort to replace nearly all 55,000 water meters across their service area with new Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology. The new system will improve accuracy, enhance customer service, and allow customers to better track and manage their water use. Customers are being alerted and can learn more on the PWD website.

Maine CDC Rabies Notice and Mosquito Warning
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed a bat in Portland tested positive for rabies on August 25, 2025. Residents are reminded that rabies is common in Maine's wild animal population and to always take caution. Visit the Maine CDC Rabies website for the full information on prevention exposure concerns. 

Last week, the Maine CDC also announced that mosquitoes in the city of Portland tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). Read the full update and learn recommended precautions.

Congratulations to our Summer Employees of the Month
Get to know our June and July Employees of the Month! John LeGassey works in the Department of Public Works (DPW), and Benjamin Wells, works in our Information Technology (IT) Department. Read each of their full recognitions on our website. 

Portland Office of Economic Opportunity Teams Up with Hearts of Pine
Our City of Portland Natural Helpers, who represent marginalized communities across various economic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, are working with Hearts of Pine to distribute tickets from the Hearts of Pine Community Ticketing Program for the full season. Tickets have been distributed to 130 people so far this year!

Our Work to Revitalize Downtown
Like cities across the country, Portland faces complex challenges. Remote work, among other things, has reduced the number of downtown workers and left more storefronts vacant. Housing shortages, inadequate funding for mental health and substance use treatment, and the lingering impacts of the opioid epidemic are driving more people into homelessness. These are long-term issues that demand new ideas and sustained effort.

Each resident, worker, and visitor deserves a city center that reflects the best of who we are: welcoming, dynamic, creative, and full of possibility. That’s why we’re working with partners from the business, social services, and creative arts communities to bring out the best in downtown Portland. Discover how our efforts to revitalize downtown will help reinvigorate where we gather, play, and work together.

Volunteer on City Boards & Committees - Apply by 9/5
The best way to shape your city is by getting involved! The City Clerk's office is seeking a few more volunteers to serve on various boards and committees, which all play an important role in Portland’s government. Residents can find the full position descriptions, along with application directions, on the City’s website. Still needed: Board of Assessment Review, Fair Hearing Officer, Portland Fish Pier Authority, Land Bank Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals. The deadline to apply is Friday, September 5th; applicants will be contacted for interviews. 

Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the End of WWII
Please join us for a special ceremony to honor the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and the sacrifices made by both Portland residents and all those who served. The event will be held on September 5, at 12:00 PM, at the USS Portland Memorial in Fort Allen Park, located on the Eastern Promenade in Portland, Maine.

Five City Loan and Grant Recipients Featured, Travel + Leisure
A recent Travel + Leisure article featured five local businesses, among others, that we've supported through City loan and grant programs: Burundi Star Coffee⁠, Leeward⁠, Longfellow Hotel⁠, Norimoto Bakery⁠, Sur Lie⁠. Congratulations to all!⁠ Visit our Business Financing page to learn how our programs provide financial assistance to new and existing Portland businesses.
 

Hear Here: A Maine Music Weekend Festival, September 5-7
The inaugural Maine Music Weekend Festival will take place the weekend after Labor Day and will debut in Portland, Maine, on 9/5-7! Creative Portland, in collaboration with the City, is proud to announce that Hear Here 3 is back in its third edition since the Pandemic shutdowns to celebrate and showcase Portland's performing arts gems on the big stage at Merrill Auditorium on Sunday, September 7 at 6:00 PM. Tickets are on sale NOW at PortTIX.

Volunteers Needed for Porchfest on September 7
Deering Center Neighborhood Association is looking for volunteers to help bring Porchfest to life again this year on Sunday, 9/7, from 12–5 PM in the Deering Center neighborhood of Portland. This neighborhood music festival transforms front porches into stages and sidewalks into gathering places—and your help is needed to make it happen! Volunteer roles include Traffic Guardians and Roadies; shifts are just 1-2 hours. Learn more and sign up!

Upcoming Re-Forest the City Events
Join the West End Neighborhood Association on Tuesday, 9/9 at 6:30 PM, for the next Tree Talk focused on Small Tree Care & Mulching at the Reiche Community Room on Clark Street (Door 11). Save these dates for more fall events: 
October 7 (Tree Walk), October 21, and October 28 (Film). Learn more about Re-Forest the City on their website.
 

Portland Opportunity Crew Summer Update
Since relaunching in June, the Portland Opportunity Crew has removed TWO tons of litter from parks, trails, and other public areas to keep these spaces enjoyable for our community! ⁠This program keeps our city clean and beautiful while also empowering Homeless Services Center guests with paid work opportunities, hands-on job training, and employment support. Donations and sponsorships help us offer this program to more participants and run it on more days.

Age-Friendly Portland: Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults
September is National Preparedness Month! Age-Friendly Portland is hosting a summit on Thursday, 9/18, to help you both feel prepared for, and know how to respond to, emergencies. Learn from experts about the support and resources available for older adults in our community and develop critical skills. Spots are limited, learn more and register today!

Celebrate Park(ing) Day With Us!
On Friday, September 19, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Portland will join global cities in transforming parking spaces into vibrant pop-up parks! This event, organized by the City of Portland Sustainability Office, transforms metered spots into playful, interactive parklets for a day of connection, creativity, and fun. Join us to explore the parklets downtown Portland or claim your very own Park(ing) Spot here.  

In Action: New Street Safety Project on Washington Ave.
New roadway paint, flexible traffic posts, and speed bumps have been added temporarily to Washington Avenue from Veranda Street to Ocean Avenue. The goal: test improvements aimed at making the roads safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers—before committing to permanent infrastructure changes. Read the full update and share feedback here.

City-Sponsored Affordable Condos at Dougherty Commons 
Maine Cooperative Development Partners is still taking applications on a first-come, first-served basis for 20 new affordable condominium homes at Dougherty Commons, located at 57 & 65 Dougherty Court in Portland, Maine. This high-quality housing opportunity offers energy-efficient, zero energy ready homes at prices accessible to working Mainers earning up to 100% of Area Median Income. 

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates

• Riverton Pool Update: Over the course of the ongoing reconstruction project, our staff learned that additional work will be required prior to completion. They are working to solve this new challenge and taking other steps to expedite the project. Completion is now expected in 2026, and unfortunately, the pool will not be available for the winter season this year. Staff will share updates on the Aquatics webpage. 
• Our Recreation team is hiring! Help us provide programs and safe, fun childcare experiences for our community. Learn more and apply! Current openings: Recreation Supervisor; Recreation Programmer II - After School; Childcare Site Staff; Recreation Programmer II; Childcare Site Staff - After School; Childcare Site Staff - Before School.
• Portland Youth Corps Fall Applications Now Open - Apply by 9/12.
• Read all the latest updates in the JULY 2025 newsletter or subscribe.
• Athletic Field Allocation Process: Read updates for the 2026 calendar year.
• See the schedules for free live music in City parks July - early Sept. 
• Reiche Pool is OPEN - join us for open swim!
• Summer Session registration is open for residents and non-residents.
• Sundays on the Boulevard: Now through 9/28, Baxter Boulevard is closed to vehicular traffic on Sundays only, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and OPEN for walkers, bikers, pedestrian traffic, and play! 
• Dive into Summer Savings! Our 2025 Summer Discount Ticket Program is here to help you save on your favorite local attractions.

Public Works Updates

• Visit portlandmaine.gov/PublicWorks for links to all the most recent DPW project updates. 
• New Updates: Check here for late August + September paving projects.
• 8/8 Update: Western Prom Project Resumed Monday, 7/21
• Ongoing: Hersey St Sewer Separation Project + Deering Ave Sewer Extension
• Back Cove South Update: Finishing touches are being applied now and a full grand opening is being planned for September 5th!
• Pesticide Disposal Resources Bring unwanted pesticides to a collection site in Portland; pre-register by 9/26 for free collection.

We’re Hiring!
We are hiring across several departments in the city, with a variety of open positions: healthcare roles (RNs/CNAs), trades workers, before and after school recreation counselors, lifeguards, 911 dispatchers, community health workers, and
more. Recently posted: Senior Accountant, Certified Code Enforcement Officer/Housing Safety, Telecommunicator (911 Dispatcher). Come make a difference with us, our wellness benefits are award winning.