City of Portland Alerts

City News Round Up: Friday, November 7, 2025

City News Round Up: Friday, November 7, 2025

Meetings & Agendas
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Council, Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings, and to view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings. Read a recap of the November 3 City Council meeting. The next City Council meeting is Monday, November 17, at 5:00 PM.

Upcoming City Hall Closure + Veterans Day Parade
Portland City Hall and city offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. Trash, recycling, and leaf collection will continue as normal. The 2025 Veterans Day Parade will assemble at Longfellow Square at 10:00 AM and proceed down Congress Street at 10:30 AM, ending at City Hall at approximately 11:00 AM with a ceremony/speeches to follow until approximately Noon. ⁠There will be road closures and traffic delays related to the parade; please seek alternate routes during this time.

Pumpkin-Cycle With Us Tomorrow! 
Don’t throw your jack-o-lantern in the trash or in the woods; bring it to Pumpkin-Cycle instead! Come chuck your slumpin' pumpkins in the Payson Park Little League Parking Lot on Saturday, November 8, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Please help us avoid the compost sites' pumpkin overwhelm if you can; we'll make sure the pumpkins get properly composted and don't go to waste. Pumpkin-Cycle is a free, kid-friendly event; bring as many pumpkins (and gourds) as you want! Crepe Elizabeth food truck will be there too, serving hot, sweet, and savory crepes.

City Reallocates $125,000 to Support Food Assistance Programs
We are reallocating $125,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to support programs that work to address food insecurity for individuals and families in Portland. Read the full update. City officials have made this decision in light of the uncertainty surrounding the issuance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, as well as the rise in the need for food assistance. There are approximately 9,100 people in Portland who currently receive monthly SNAP benefits. 

Portland Jetport Statement on National Flight Restrictions
Starting Friday, 11/7/25, the FAA is limiting air traffic into 40 high-volume markets by 10%. Jetport officials are still awaiting the formal federal order, but the Jetport has non-stop service to 15 markets that are likely to be included. Passengers are encouraged to check their flight status with the airline before heading to the airport. All airlines serving PWM have issued travel advisories allowing passengers to change flights to later dates or receive a refund if flights are cancelled. A complete list of airlines and links to their government shutdown impact websites is available on the Jetport website. 

Ticket Fee for Winter Storm Parking Ban Rises to $130
The ticket fee for failing to move vehicles this winter during a storm parking ban will now be $130. Vehicles are also still subject to towing. The City Council voted to approve changes to its snow ban policy at its November 3 meeting in an effort to achieve greater compliance in order to improve the speed and efficiency of snow removal from city streets. When vehicles do not move during declared parking bans, it greatly affects plow crews' ability to successfully clear snow and ice, leading to safety concerns for first responders, as well as residents' ability to get in and out of their neighborhoods. Please note: The City is adding six new snow ban parking locations, on top of the existing 22 locations already approved. Read the full parking ban update.

November 4, 2025 Election Results
Official election results for the November 4, 2025, State Referendum and Portland Municipal Election are now available on our website.

Help Us Name Portland’s New Community Pool!
We need your help naming Portland's new community pool! Expected to open in June 2026, the new pool is replacing the former Kiwanis Pool on Douglass Street, part of the Dougherty Field complex, in the Libbytown neighborhood. The public can submit name ideas through November 30.  

City Seeks Consultant for Comprehensive Transportation Plan
We’ve issued a Request for Proposals seeking an experienced consultant to help our Planning & Urban Development staff lead the development of a citywide Comprehensive Transportation Plan, the first since the early 1990s. The consultant will be expected to develop a comprehensive long-range transportation plan that builds off the work of our comprehensive plan, Portland’s Plan 2030, our One Climate Future climate action plan, and our land use code plan, ReCode. 

Geotechnical Exploration Work in Deering Oaks Park Next Week
One of our contractors will be conducting geotechnical investigation work in Deering Oaks Park on Monday or Tuesday, 11/11 or 11/12, weather dependent. Locations will be situated near the playing fields and courts on the north end of the park, between Deering Avenue and State Street. 

New Metro Service to Scarborough - Share Your Feedback
Greater Portland Metro is adding a new bus route between downtown Portland and Scarborough. Metro is hosting a virtual meeting on Wednesday, November 12, at 6:00 PM to discuss possibilities for this route and possible changes to the routes serving South Portland. Learn more and find participation information. If you need accommodation, please RSVP by Monday, November 10. This meeting will be recorded and posted on Metro's website. An in-person public meeting will be held on Saturday, November 15, from 2-4 PM at the Scarborough Public Safety building at 275 Route 1, Scarborough.

11/13 Public Meeting - State & High Street Two-Way Project
On Thursday, 11/13, Public Works staff will hold a public meeting to review and discuss the outcomes of an alternatives analysis for bicycle accommodations in association with the State & High Street Two-Way Project. The meeting will be held at the Portland Public Library, Downtown Branch (5 Monument Sq), in the Rines Auditorium. An open house will be held from 4:30-5:00 PM, followed by a presentation and discussion. 

11/14 Coffee & Climate with Goodwill NNE - Donation to Difference
Join the One Climate Future team on Friday, 11/14, 9:00–10:00 AM, to hear from Goodwill Northern New England CEO, Tripp Harrison; learn about the lifecycle of your Goodwill donation and their commitment to sustainability and strengthening communities. Register today! Have a topic idea for the 2026 Coffee & Climate series? Share your ideas with the team!

Annual District Meetings End With District 2 on November 19
District 2 will be the final Annual District Meeting on Wednesday, 11/19. All meetings are in-person and begin at 6:00 PM.  Visit our website to learn your district and find the full details.⁠ Mayor Dion, City Councilors, and City staff will be available to discuss neighborhood issues and answer questions from the public. ⁠Free childcare is available for kids ages 5-12! Pre-registration is not required, but helpful for our team.

West End SNAP BACK Food Drive, November 11-21
The West End Neighborhood Association announced a 10-day food drive from 11/10-21 for West End residents who are affected by the SNAP cuts. They are collecting non-perishables as well as cash. Visit their website for the full details.

Save the Date! Portland Downtown Annual Tree Lighting
Get ready to celebrate the season on Friday, November 28, in Monument Square for Portland’s Annual Tree Lighting Celebration, sponsored by Hood Eggnog! Festivities kick off at 4 PM with free hot cocoa, holiday photobooth fun by FlashMe Maine, and much more, all leading up to the tree lighting at 6:30 PM. 
Find all the full schedule of events on the Portland Downtown website. 

City’s Natural Helpers Fellowship Goes National! 
We’re thrilled to announce that our Office of Economic Opportunity’s Natural Helpers Fellowship is going national thanks to a wonderful partnership with Welcoming America! Communities across the country will join a special webinar series exploring what makes this program so transformative and how local leaders can be empowered to create positive change in their own communities. Learn more and sign up, the next session is Tuesday, November 11. 

City to Honor Five Local Businesses for Contributions to Portland Economy
Congratulations to the 2025 recipients of our 27th Annual Business Awards! On Thursday, November 20th, five Portland businesses will receive awards for their contributions to our economy at a presentation ceremony at Ocean Gateway. ⁠ Congratulations to: ⁠Redfern Properties, Economic Achievement; SMRT, Business of the Year⁠; Factory 3, Small Business of the Year⁠; Matcha Mood, PDC Client of the Year⁠; David Wood Clothiers⁠, Legacy Award.

Volunteer Snow Shovelers Needed This Winter
Age Friendly Portland needs volunteers to help older neighbors safely clear snow from their walkways. Shovelers are needed in every neighborhood, and Volunteer Coordinators are needed in Rosemont and Deering Center. If you can help, or if you need assistance, please visit our Elder Services page to learn more!

Curbside Yard Waste Collection Happening All of November
Public Works crews will be collecting leaf bags November 1-30. Please note that the leaf bag collection MAY NOT COINCIDE with the day of your trash & recycling collection. There is no set day of the week that crews will service your location. Unpredictable leaf amounts at the curb, staffing issues, and weather conditions are all obstacles that make it difficult for us to predict the exact timeframe of your collection. Please follow the curbside guidelines to help our Public Works team work efficiently and smoothly.

Reminder: Time to Register Your Dog!
State law requires you to license your dog each year; residents can register dogs online or at the City Clerk's office. Register annually by January 31 to avoid the $25 late fee. Fees: $6 per year; $11 unneutered/unspayed. (A $1 transaction fee + a $1.75 shipping/handling fee is added to online registration transactions.) 

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. Come make a difference with us, our wellness benefits are award winning.

Past Alerts