City of Portland Alerts

City News Round Up: Friday, November 14, 2025

City News Round Up: Friday, November 14, 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. Read the agenda preview at the end of this message.

Upcoming Holiday Closure - Thanksgiving - November 27 & 28
Portland City Hall and City offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28, for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

  • There is NO trash & recycling collection on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, 11/27. The makeup day is Saturday, 11/29. Collection on Friday, November 28, is normal. 
  • Please have trash + recycling curbside by 6:30 AM on your collection day. Find the Holiday Collection Schedule.
  • There will NOT be a Friday News Round Up the week of Thanksgiving due to the holiday closure. We’ll be back on Friday, December 5! 

City Hall Accepting Non-Perishable Food Donations
Coming to City Hall soon or in the area? We are collecting non-perishable food items in the City Hall Rotunda (1st floor) for donation to Project Feed on Brighton Avenue. If you have items you'd like to donate, please leave them in the box in front of our digital kiosk. We thank you in advance for your help and support of those in our community who benefit greatly from this assistance. 

World Day of Remembrance Event this Sunday, November 16
This Sunday, November 16, communities across the U.S. and around the globe will observe World Day of Remembrance (WDoR), a time to honor those killed and injured in traffic crashes and to prioritize safety over speed in policies and street designs to prevent further tragedies. Vision Zero Maine is hosting an event on Sunday at 10:00 AM at the corner of India and Fore Streets with local organizers, including crash survivors, grieving families, City Councilors, and advocates, in honor of Joe Lewis, who was killed in a crosswalk in Portland in January of 2025. Loved ones will speak about a memorial fund in Joe’s memory, and the City of Portland will highlight the City’s efforts to make Portland’s streets safer. 

11/18: Hersey Street Paving and Closure 
The City’s Hersey Street Sewer Separation project will be closing Hersey Street from Clifton Street to Ocean Avenue on Tuesday, 11/18, to pave the street. No traffic or parking will be allowed on Hersey Street, and short closures of Clifton Street at Vannah and Hersey will also occur. This work is weather-dependent. 

Applications Now Open for 2026 Natural Helpers Fellowship Program
Our Office of Economic Opportunity is now accepting applications for the 2026 Natural Helpers Fellowship. This program brings trusted community leaders together to tackle complex issues, challenge perceptions, and strengthen critical thinking through rigorous experiential learning. Learn more and apply by December 2, 2025. The program recently went national thanks to a wonderful partnership with Welcoming America! 

District 2 - Join Us for the Last District Meeting on November 19
District 2 will be the final Annual District Meeting on Wednesday, 11/19. The meeting will be held in person 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.

Monument Square Tree Move Next Week, Tree Lighting Celebration 11/28! 
A 40-foot Red Spruce tree, currently located at one of Portland Housing Authority’s properties at 9 Boyd Street in Portland, was selected to be the 2025 Monument Square tree! Our Forestry team is coordinating with Keeley Crane to harvest and install the tree on Wednesday, 11/ 19 with a start time before 7:00 AM. The rain date is Thursday, November 20. Portland Downtown will have their Monument Square Tree Cam presented by Hood® Eggnog on for the day on Wednesday to watch the tree arrival. 

Save the date! Join Portland Downtown on Friday, November 28 in Monument Square for Portland’s Annual Tree Lighting Celebration! 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 the full schedule of events on their website. 

27th Annual Business Awards at Ocean Gateway Thursday, 11/20
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.

Annual Rental Registrations Due December 31st
Attention landlords and property managers! The City’s annual rental registration process is currently open, and renewals are due by December 31, 2025. Read the full details and learn more. Long-term rental Renewal Notices for 2026 were mailed out in the first week of November. We strongly encourage landlords and property owners to renew their registrations online via our Citizen Self Service Portal. 

  • Licenses not renewed within 14 days of their expiration date will be assessed a $50 per-unit late fee. 
  • Licenses not renewed within 45 days of their expiration date will be assessed a $200 per-unit late fee. Incomplete renewals are subject to late fees. 

Volunteer on City Boards & Committees - Apply by December 12
The best way to shape your city is to get involved! The City Clerk's office is seeking 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 and application instructions on the City’s website. Apply by Friday, December 12; applicants will be contacted for interviews. 

Vacant Downtown Commercial Storefronts Will Have to Register with City
The Portland City Council recently passed an order that will soon require vacant commercial storefronts in the Pedestrian Activities District (PAD) that have been empty for six months or more to register their vacant property within 30 days of their property becoming vacant. Owners of vacant properties in the PAD are encouraged to take advantage of a new Temporary Use Permit. The City is also currently accepting submissions for art to be reproduced in windows. A juried art selection will be available for property owners to select from in the coming months. Read the full update. 

Portland Jetport Update on National Flight Restrictions
Following the US Government reopening, an updated Emergency Order was issued freezing the flight reductions at 6% until further notice. Continuing updates and a complete list of airlines and links to their government shutdown impact websites is available on the Jetport website. Passengers are encouraged to check flight status with their 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.

Seeking Real Estate Broker for City-Owned Properties in Bayside
We’ve issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a commercial broker to potentially market and sell up to four City-owned, vacant properties in the Bayside neighborhood. The issuance of the RFP is based on guidance received from the City Council in September; the City reacquired these properties after the Council approved a settlement agreement at its July 14, 2025, meeting. 

Seeking Consultant for Comprehensive Transportation Plan
We’ve also issued a RFP 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. 

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. 

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.  

New Metro Service to Scarborough - Share Your Feedback
Greater Portland Metro is adding a new bus route between downtown Portland and Scarborough. 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. Watch a recent public meeting recording and take their survey. 

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.

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.

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!

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.

November 17 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

Annual Meeting
Corporator of Creative Portland to Accept as a Communication the Annual Report of Creative Portland for FY2025

Proclamations
#15 Recognizing Kevin J. Battle for a Lifetime of Service

Communication + 3 Consent Items
#7 Greater Portland Transit District 2026 Budget and Local Assessments
(Communications - No Public comment, no Council action)

Unfinished Business (No Public comment)
Reconsideration of Order # 83 Amendment to the Portland City Code Chapter 28 RE: Snow Ban Fee

Orders (Public comment taken except #91)
#88 Approving Police Department's Acquisition of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in Accordance with 25 M.R.S.A. §4501

#89 Approving Partial Release and Restatement of Deed Covenants between the City and MCDP Douglass, LLC re Dougherty Commons Phase 3

#90 Accepting/Appropriating $167,741.80 in Assistance to Firefighters Grant Funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency

#91 Accepting/Appropriating $27,450.00 in Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity Grant Funding from Cumberland County (First read only)


 
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