City of Portland Alerts

City News Round Up: Friday, October 3, 2025

City News Round Up: Friday, October 3, 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 September 15 City Council meeting. The next City Council meeting is Monday, October 6, at 5:00 PM, find the agenda preview at the end of this message.

Tonight is First Friday Art Walk! Download the map here.

Maine Marathon Road Closures This Sunday
As a reminder, the Maine Marathon is this Sunday, October 5. Find the road closures on their website.

Upcoming Closures
City Hall and City offices will be closed Monday, October 13, in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day; trash and recycling will be collected as normal. 

City Hall & Canco Road buildings will also be closed Thursday, October 16, from 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM for an Employee Appreciation Event.

Congress Square Reconstruction Work Begins Monday, 10/6
The Congress Square Intersection reconstruction work is starting on Monday, October 6th. 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.

In-Person Absentee Voting Begins Monday, October 6
In-person early absentee voting for the November 4, 2025, State Referendum and Municipal Election begins Monday, October 6, in the State of Maine Room, adjacent to the City Clerk’s Office, on the 2nd Floor of City Hall. Regular hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. All ballots requested to date will begin going out in the mail Friday, 10/3. The last day to in-person absentee vote is Thursday, October 30, unless you have a special circumstance. The Clerk’s Office will be open until 7:00 PM on Thursday, October 30, only for voter registration and in-person absentee voting. Find answers to all of your voting questions here.

The external ballot drop boxes will be set up at City Hall and Canco Road and ready to receive completed absentee ballots 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Absentee ballots must be returned by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Absentee ballots must be returned via mail or the external ballot box outside of City Hall and Canco Road and not to your normal polling place.

10/6-17: Tukey’s Bridge Section of Back Cove Trail Closed
Unitil will be conducting gas pipeline maintenance on the Tukey’s Bridge section of the Back Cove Trail from Monday, 10/6, through Friday, 10/17. During this period, the trail will be closed to the public. Signage has been posted at trail entrances and at the main Back Cove Trail parking areas to alert trail users. Please contact Unitil for more information: 1-888-301-7700.

Council to Consider Funding an Overnight Winter Warming Shelter
The City has been awarded $400,303 by MaineHousing to run an overnight winter warming shelter in Portland this winter. The City Council must still accept and appropriate this funding prior to the warming shelter’s activation. The Council is expected to discuss this item at its Monday, October 6th meeting; public comment will be accepted.

HEDC Schedules Meeting to Consider Back Cove Festival Agreement
The Council’s Housing & Economic Development Committee (HEDC) has scheduled an additional meeting for Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 5:30 PM, to consider a three-year agreement with Portland Music Festival LLC for the production of the Back Cove Festival. Public comment will be taken.

S&T Committee to Consider Changes to Snow Parking Ban Violation Fee
The Council’s Sustainability & Transportation (S&T) Committee will consider recommending changes to the City’s snow ban parking policy at its next meeting on Wednesday, October 8, at 5:00 PM. Public comment will be taken on this item. City staff are proposing to increase the citation fine from $40 to $175 for failing to move a vehicle during winter storm parking bans. The goal of this change is to increase compliance and improve the speed and efficiency of snow removal from city streets. If a vehicle is towed to a private operator’s lot during snow ban hours, the vehicle owner would be required to pay the standard $135 tow fee, but the citation fee from the City would be reduced to $40, resulting in a more equitable penalty for not complying with the parking ban. In addition to increasing the citation fee, staff propose adding six new snow ban parking locations, on top of the existing 22 locations already approved.

Annual District Meetings Start October 16 - Save the Dates!
Annual District Meetings begin on Thursday, 10/16, with District 1. The rest of the meetings follow in October and November. All meetings are in-person and begin at 6:00 PM. Mayor Dion, City Councilors, City Manager Danielle West, and City staff will be available to discuss neighborhood issues and answer questions from the public. ⁠These meetings are a perfect opportunity to provide feedback and discuss the issues that matter to you in our city. Visit our website to learn your district and find the full details.⁠ Free childcare will be available for kids ages 5-12! 

Portland Police Expands Community Policing Offices 
The Portland Police Department announced the expansion of its Community Policing Offices, a step forward in strengthening relationships with residents, businesses, and community organizations across the city. New locations have recently opened at 443 Congress Street to serve the Monument Square area and at 80 Elm Street. 

City Council Executive Session Regarding Midtown Properties
The Portland City Council held an executive session on Monday, September 29, the first step in the process for developing the Midtown properties now that the City has reacquired them. Any potential development will include ample opportunity for public participation and comment before final decisions are made. 

10/10: Discuss Maine's Changing Climate with Rep. Chellie Pingree
Join the next Coffee + Climate virtual chat at 9 AM on Friday, 10/10, to discuss climate change and action being taken in the Pine Tree State with guest speaker, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, U.S. representative for Maine's 1st congressional district and former State Senator. Register to join the Zoom chat.

Volunteer for the 2025 Window Dressers Community Build
WindowDressers is looking for volunteers for the Portland build October 10-20 to help build insulating window inserts for the community. No experience necessary. Learn more and sign up for a slot that fits in your schedule! 

CDBG Pre-Application Meeting Coming Up on October 15
Is your organization planning to apply for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds this year? Learn more and register for the upcoming Pre-Application Meeting on Wednesday, 10/15 at 1:OO PM. This meeting is a prerequisite to receiving the application. ⁠Applications open Monday, 10/20, and close Monday, 11/17, 2025.⁠ Direct additional questions to cdbg@portlandmaine.gov.⁠

NEW: Gorham's Corner Mini Roundabout Project Public Meeting 10/23
The City, in coordination with Portland Water District, is actively designing a sewer separation and mini-roundabout project on Center Street and the intersection of Pleasant Street, York Street, Center Street, and Fore Street (known as Gorham’s Corner). A public meeting is scheduled for October 23, 2025, at 5:00 PM in the Kippy Richardson Room 24 in City Hall to hear public feedback and concerns.

Annual Street Maintenance Parking Restrictions Back In Effect
Attention residents who live or park on the peninsula! Overnight street maintenance parking restrictions went back into effect on Wednesday, 10/1 (daytime also, in some areas). This applies to all citizens who live or park on the peninsula (and the Nathan Clifford area). Regulations are in effect annually from October 1 - May 31. Cars not in compliance with City street maintenance signs are subject to ticketing and towing. View the residential parking zone map and read the full details on our website. 

Nominate Your Tree to Light Up Monument Square this Winter!
Along with Portland Downtown, we are excited to announce a community-wide effort to find the ideal tree to illuminate Monument Square this winter season! Visit portlandMaine.com/Tree to learn more + submit your tree by November 1, 2025. The chosen tree will be carefully removed and transported from its current location at no cost to the owner. 

GPCOG Invests $3.9 Million in Brownfields Redevelopment in Portland
This week, the Greater Portland Council of Governments announced it will be making $3.9 million in brownfields investments to transform old, vacant, and contaminated properties into new homes, childcare space, and community assets. Together, these projects will create 600 new homes — including 221 affordable apartments — double the capacity of a local childcare center, and generate hundreds of jobs.

City Expands Walk-In Hours for Vaccine Clinics

The City’s Public Health Clinic has expanded its fall vaccine walk-in clinic hours (39 Forest Avenue) for eligible members of the public. Read vaccination recommendations on our full release.

Take Our Survey - We Want Your Input on Emergency Planning! 
We want your input on emergency planning priorities. Please take our survey and tell us what is important to you! Visit our emergency planning project page to find more information about the work the City is doing to update our emergency operations plan and share your ideas for how we can share emergency preparedness information.

Help Us Keep the Neighborhood Association Directory Updated
A reminder to our Neighborhood Associations to update your City-hosted pages on our website. Please take a look and be in touch with us if your info needs to be updated - whether that be info related to new leadership or if an association is no longer active. Thank you!

Tax Bill Payment Dates
All property tax bills were mailed the week of September 8. The first half of property tax payments are due on October 17, 2025, and the second half is due on March 20, 2026. Please remember we only mail the bills once. Property tax bills can be viewed and paid online. As a reminder, the new mil rate is $11.98 per thousand dollars of assessed value, a decrease of more than 25% from the projected FY26 mil rate prior to any revaluation. 

Join the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer's October 18
Age-Friendly Portland invites you to the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer's on Saturday, October 18, 2025! The Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's is the world's largest fundraiser for Alzheimer's care, support, and research. Learn more about the event, registering a team, and volunteering here!

New 2026 Allowable Rent Increases and Short-Term Rental Regulations
Landlords and tenants should be aware that the new allowable rent increase per the consumer price index (CPI) as part of the rent control ordinance has been published for the calendar year 2026. 

October Re-Forest the City Events
Save these dates for fall events hosted by the West End Neighborhood Association: Oct 7 (Tree Walk), Oct 21, Oct 28 (Film). Learn more about Re-Forest the City on their website.


Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates

Public Works Updates

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: Housing Program Manager. Come make a difference with us, our wellness benefits are award winning.

October 6 City Council Meeting - Agenda Preview

The City Council will conduct this meeting in the Council Chambers, 2nd floor of City Hall. The public may attend in person or watch online.

5:00 PM: Public comment period on non-agenda items

Special Meetings (Public comment taken)
#52 Appointing Matthew Moretti and Robert Odlin as Class C Directors of the Portland Fish Pier Authority 
#53 Appointing Directors, Board of the Creative Portland Corporation 
#54 Appointing Sam Dargan, Board of the Portland Development Corporation 

Proclamations
#9 Recognizing October 13, 2025 as Indigenous Peoples' Day
#10 Recognizing October 19 as the Portland Lantern Walk 
#11 Recognizing October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Appointments + Consent Items (Public comment taken)
#55 Appointing Members to Various Boards and Committees
#56 Appointing Constables for Parking Division 

Communications (No Public comment, no Council action)
#5 Forest Avenue Unscheduled Bridge Repairs - Maine Department of Transportation
#6 Re: Tukey’s Bridge/Back Cove Trail Closure - Danielle P. West, City Manager

Unfinished Business (Public comment taken)
#48B Accepting/Appropriating $118,184 in Health and Wellness Grant Funding from Maine Department of Public Safety Portland Police and Fire Departments 

#49 Approving Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City and Labor & Trades, AFSCME Local 481-00 
#50 Accepting/Appropriating $22,500 Donation from Estate of Louise Adams to Portland Fire Department 
#51 Accepting/Appropriating $400 Donation from Marianne Tapp to Portland Fire Department 

Orders (Public comment taken #59-#62, First read only #63-#66)
#59 Accepting Portland Public Art Committee FY25 Annual Report + FY26 Budget Plan 
#60 Approving Amendment to Condominium Declaration for Dougherty Commons Unit 2 
#61 Accepting/Appropriating a $400,303 in Maine State Housing Authority Funding for Winter Warming Emergency Shelter 
#62 Approving Second Amendment to Service Provider Subcontract between the City, DC Management LLC, DC Blueberry LLC
#63 Accepting/Appropriating $2,000,000 in United States Environmental Protection Agency Funding to the City's Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund
#64 Appropriating $360,000 from Jill C. Duson Housing Trust Fund to Lambert Woods North LLC 
#65 Appropriating $5,500,000 from Portland International Jetport's Unrestricted Funds for Battery Energy Storage System + Authorizing Acceptance of Grants and Incentives
#66 Appropriating $9.3 million Jetport Unrestricted Funds to Improve and Expand Public Surface Parking Lots 

Amendments (First read only)
#67 Amendment to Portland City Code Chapter 25 RE: Naming of Assets

Past Alerts