City of Portland Alerts

City News Round Up: Friday, November 21, 2025

City News Round Up: Friday, November 21, 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 17 City Council meeting. The next City Council meeting is Monday, December 1. It is the Inaugural meeting, and so the start time is at 6:00 PM. 

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 next week due to the holiday closure. We’ll be back on Friday, December 5! 

Curbside Yard Waste Collection Ends November 30
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.

Tree Lighting Celebration in Monument Square Friday, 11/28
This week, our Forestry team coordinated with Keeley Crane to harvest and install a 40-foot Red Spruce tree, selected from a Portland Housing Authority property in Portland, which is now standing tall as the 2025 Monument Square tree! Watch a recap of the tree arrival. Join Portland Downtown on Friday, 11/28, in Monument Square for Portland’s Annual Tree Lighting Celebration (or watch via their Monument Square Tree Cam presented by Hood® Eggnog)! Festivities kick off at 4 PM with free hot cocoa, a holiday photobooth fun by FlashMe Maine, and much more, all leading up to the tree lighting at 6:30 PM.

Last Week:  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. Submit name ideas through November 30.  

Coming soon:  Participate in our Community Survey
We’re launching a community survey soon, and we hope you’ll take part. This important survey provides an opportunity for residents to share their feedback and insights regarding the services we provide. The survey will help City officials understand community needs, as well as satisfaction with services and programs, and may help inform future City initiatives and policies. A random sampling of residents will receive paper copies of this survey in the mail from the consultant helping us with this process. There will also be an online survey available to anyone interested in participating. Be on the lookout for more details soon!

Take Our Bike Survey! State & High Two-Way Project
Did you miss the 11/13 State & High Two-Way public meeting? Review the presentation slides on the project website to learn the outcomes of an alternatives analysis for bicycle accommodations in association with a two-way conversion of State and High Street. A new survey is now open to share your feedback! Take the survey by Monday, 12/1.

New Statewide Food Access Map Launched
This week, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) announced the launch of the Maine Food Access Map, a statewide interactive resource that helps individuals and families locate nearby food pantries, meal sites, school-based programs, WIC clinics, and other free or donation-based food assistance services. Learn more and access the map.

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. \

FREE Infant/Child CPR and First Aid Choking Class
The City's Public Health Nurses will be hosting a class for parents and caregivers to learn infant/child CPR and first aid choking on Thursday, December 4, from 4:30-5:30 PM. The class is free, but donations of baby wipes and/or size 2-4 diapers are appreciated. Spots are limited - register by November 28 to reserve your spot!

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! 

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 Soon Have to Register
The 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. 

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. 

Sand Shed at Payson Park Now Open for Portland Residents
The City’s residential sand and salt pile is located at the Little League parking lot at Payson Park. This sand and salt pile is for residential use only; contractors are not allowed. Residents can take two 5-gallon pails at a time.

Ticket Fee for Failing to Move Vehicles During Parking Ban is now $130
The ticket fee for failing to move vehicles this winter during a parking snow ban is now $130. Vehicles are still subject to towing. The fine has been increased to achieve greater compliance so we can better perform snow removal operations. 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: we’ve added six new snow ban parking locations with 750 spaces, on top of the existing 22 locations already approved. Read the full parking ban update.

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!

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

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