City of Portland Alerts

City News Round Up: Friday, January 9, 2026

City News Round Up: Friday, January 9, 2026

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 January 5 City Council meeting. The next City Council meeting is Wednesday, January 21, at 5:00 PM.

City Hall Closed for Planned System Upgrade
City Hall is closed to the public today, 1/9, for a planned system upgrade of our Tyler Technologies software. Staff are working and accessible via phone and email, but are unable to process or accept any of the following: Building Permit applications, Business License applications, Rental Registration applications, or payments. All functions should be operational by 8:00 AM on Monday, January 12. We are excited to debut these system enhancements to serve you better! 

Maine Coast Fishermen Fundraiser
In the wake of the recent fire, Maine Coast Fishermen has set up a fundraiser to help support the fishing businesses impacted by the 3-alarm fire on Custom House Wharf. All donations minus processing fees from online platforms will go to support those affected by the fire. Please visit their fundraising page if you would like to donate.

City Receives $2.1 Million Grant to Support Brighton Ave Safety Projects
We’re pleased to announce we’ve received a $2,120,000 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) federal grant to support a multitude of roadway, pedestrian, and bicycle safety projects as part of the Brighton Avenue Safety and Demonstration Project. 

Portland Professional Connections Program Relaunches
Our Office of Economic Opportunity, in partnership with the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, is proud to announce the relaunch of the Portland Professional Connections (PPC) program. PPC is a collaborative initiative that helps Portland’s highly skilled individuals from a range of cultural and professional experiences build meaningful relationships with local leaders and grow their careers in the Greater Portland area. 

Winter Weekdays Launches to Support Maine Restaurants in Off-Season
Visit Portland has launched Winter Weekdays, a statewide dining and hospitality promotion designed to boost midweek business during Maine’s winter season. The campaign will run January 5 through April 30, 2026. Find weekday deals from participating establishments or learn how to participate if you are a business.

New Podcast: Unpacking How Communities Prepare for Winter Storms
Don't miss this recent podcast with City staff! Hear from Mike Murray, our Director of Public Works, and Caity Hager, our Emergency Management Coordinator, to learn how plowing decisions are made, why parking bans matter, how roads are treated, what causes delays, and how communities plan for emergencies before a storm even hits.  

Public Works Updates

Call For Art: New Commission at Portland Harbor Common Park
The Public Art Committee is excited to announce an open call for artists to submit qualifications for a new public artwork commission at the forthcoming Portland Harbor Common Park. The park is expected to begin construction in March 2026 and open in September 2026, and will soon be going through a naming process to rename the park. 

Public Comment Open - Updated Historic Resources Design Manual Draft
After four workshops with the City’s Historic Preservation Board, the City has released the final draft of the updated Historic Resources Design Manual, a guide for historic preservation projects and reviews. Before the manual is finalized, take a look and let us know what you think, your input will help make this guide all the more useful! The review draft will be available for public comment through January 31st, after which staff will make final edits based on feedback before bringing the document back to the Historic Preservation Board for adoption. 
The existing manual was first adopted in 1990, but hasn’t been updated in over thirty years. The new version provides an overview of how historic preservation reviews work, simple explanations of the review standards, and examples of a variety of projects that have successfully undergone historic preservation review. Altogether, the revised manual should serve as a user-friendly resource for anyone embarking on or interested in construction projects involving historically-designated buildings. 

New Portland Music Festival Announced - May 15 & 16
All Roads Portland, in partnership with State Theatre, is a two-day festival & showcase of national and Maine music talent across multiple independent venues in and around Portland’s Arts District. The mission is to provide local artists the opportunity to connect with first-class touring talent on their home turf, while celebrating the independent stages of Portland, Maine. 

New! City's Economic Development Team Offers Q&A Office Hours
Connect with our Economic Development staff every Wednesday, from 10:00- 11:00 AM! Come with questions or concerns relating to new downtown activation initiatives, including: storefront vacancy ordinance, call for art (now extended to 2/1/26!), temporary use permit, and interest-free storefront loans. Join via video call link, or dial: ‪(US) +1 470-635-0052‬ PIN: ‪954 693 546‬#. Read their quarterly newsletter for latest updates.

Vacant Storefront Art Initiative - Call For Art Extended
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. The City is also currently accepting submissions for art (proposals due by 2/1/26) to be reproduced in vacant storefront windows. A juried art selection will be available for property owners to select from in the coming months. Owners of vacant properties in the PAD are also encouraged to take advantage of a new Temporary Use Permit.

Grants and Free Webinars for Small Businesses
Grants of $20,000 from the Amex Shop Small Grants Program are available to small businesses. Priority will be given to businesses that positively impact the community or address a community need; applications due January 16. SCORE Maine also offers free workshops and webinars on various topics related to running a small business.

Annual Rental Registrations Now Past Due
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. 

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates

Register Your Dog by January 31, 2026
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.) 

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.

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