City News Round Up: Friday, February 3, 2023 

Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the City Council’s January 18 meeting. To view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings, please visit www.portlandmaine.gov/agendas. 

The next City Council meeting will be held on Monday, February 6 at 5:00 PM, view the agenda preview at the end of this newsletter or visit links above. 

Tonight is First Friday Art Walk. Download the map on the Creative Portland website.

2/3+4: Temporary Overnight Warming Shelter Open Due to Extreme Cold
A temporary overnight warming shelter is open at the Salvation Army gymnasium, 297 Cumberland Avenue: today, 2/3 at 3:00 PM through 8:00 AM on Saturday, 2/4; and Saturday, 2/4 at 3:00 PM through Sunday, 2/5 at 8:00 AM. A daytime warming shelter is available weekdays at the Portland Public Library Downtown branch (5 Monument Square) 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturday, as well as at the First Parish Church (425 Congress Street), open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Friday, 2/3 and Saturday, 2/4. Visit the Cumberland County EMA site, or call 211, for more resources.

Ends Today! Community Feedback Survey: City Manager Position
Share your ideas about the experience, management, and leadership qualities you would like to see in Portland's next City Manager.⁠ Take the survey here until Friday, February 3.

Trash + Recycling Collection: Storm Reminders
Even during snow storms your trash/recycling will still be collected! The crews may just be slower based on the weather conditions. We rarely cancel collection (sign up for a notification alert here in case we do). For the safety of all, trash bags and recycling carts should not be placed on top of a snowbank. We also recommend maintaining a shoveled spot for cart placement over the winter. Learn more on their webpage here. 

City Selects Firm to Conduct Historic Preservation Impact Study
Jon Stover & Associates has been selected to complete a Historic Preservation Impact Study for the City. The firm is a national leader in helping communities measure impacts of programs and policies, and combined with rigorous quantitative methods, brings an intricate knowledge of the value of preservation programs to communities.

Public Health Division Expands Immunization Program
Our Public Health clinic at 39 Forest Avenue has expanded its no-cost vaccination services for adults and children. Vaccinations are by appointment, Mon-Fri, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Learn more here, or call (207) 874-8446. Be prepared with the following information: full name, date of birth, contact phone number, previous vaccine record. 

Portland Public Library Welcomes New Executive Director
The newly appointed Executive Director, Sarah Moore, will begin her new role on April 19, 2023 at the Portland Public Library. Read the full story here.

2/10: Coffee + Climate, Being Bird Friendly and Bird Safe
Guests from Maine Audubon and the Portland Society for Architecture will join this month’s chat to discuss wildlife conservation and the importance of bird safe architecture here in Maine. Register here to join the chat on Friday, February 10 at 9:00 AM. Watch past event recordings here. 

Help Transportation Planners Reduce Traffic Hazards
The Greater Portland Council of Governments is working to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries in the region. Please take this short survey and/or drop a pin on this transportation hazard map to tell planners what roads, intersections, crosswalks,  make you feel unsafe. Your input will help shape their Vision Zero Action Plan, a draft of which will be ready this spring.

Feedback Wanted! Arts & Cultural Audience Survey
Have you attended a concert, cultural event, art opening or theatrical production in Portland recently? Please click here for a quick survey about connected expenses: dining, parking, overnight costs, and more. Answers are completely anonymous. This Americans for the Arts national study will help us understand the economic impact of the arts in Portland. 

Join Our Team! New Positions Open
Come make a difference with us! We have multiple job openings across a variety of departments including the Parking Division, Treasury Office, Health & Human Services, Parks and more. View the full list of openings here.
 

Property Tax Stabilization Program
Letters have been mailed for those who have applied to the property tax stabilization program and qualify, or need to submit their ID. Please direct questions to the Assessor's Office: assessors@portlandmaine.gov, or 207-874-8486.
 

Registering a Long-Term Rental Property? Be aware of new late fees
Voters passed new late fees for any rental units not registered on time as part of the annual long-term rental registration ordinance. If you haven’t registered by January 15, a $50 per unit late fee will apply, in addition to the rental registration fees. If you have not registered by February 15, a $200 per unit late fee will apply, in addition to the rental registration fees. 

Reminder: Long Term Rental License holders can renew their licenses on the City’s Citizen Self Service (CSS) Online portal. Applicants will need to register a CSS account if they have not already. If your licenses are not appearing in ‘View My Licenses’, please email your name and the address of the building you are trying to register to BLCSS@portlandmaine.gov

Parks and Recreation Updates
Read the Parks + Rec January newsletter here. Riverton Pool has reopened, learn more here. Don’t miss this great Portland Press Herald story featuring Jeff Tarling: Portland’s city arborist reflects on 34 years of service. 

• Portland Youth Corps is now accepting applications for the 2023 Spring & Summer sessions - apply here.

• Visit the Parks website for updates to the Winter Recreation Conditions Map along with more winter recreation ideas. 

DPW Paving Updates and Ongoing Construction Projects

Please visit portlandmaine.gov/PublicWorks for information links to all the most recent DPW project updates.
 

Agenda Preview, 2/6 City Council Meeting

Special Meeting of the Corporator of the Portland Fish Pier Authority
(Public comment taken)

Order 128 Appointing Ben Martens Class B Director, Board of Portland Fish Pier Authority 

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

Proclamations

Recognizing February 2023 as Black History Month

Recognizing February 7, 2023 as "2-0-7 Day" 

Appointments and 1 Business License (Public comment taken)
Order 129 Appointing Kelly Hrenko, PhD as a member of the Public Art Committee

Communications
Com 22 2023 East End Food Truck Program

Com 23 Portland Harbor Dredge Project and Funding Commitment

Unfinished Business
Order 117 Approving/Appropriating $3,257,004 in Housing Trust Funds & $1,000,000 in American Rescue Plan Act Funds for Avesta Housing Winchester Woods Affordable Housing Project (Staff recommends indefinite postponement due to applicant withdrawal of funding request.)
 

Order 125 Amendment to Portland City Code Chapter 14 re: Roux Institute Overlay Zone
 

Order 126 Amendment to Zoning Map Re: B-5 Urban Commercial Zone for Roux Institute
 

Order 127 Amendment to Zoning Map Re: Institutional Overlay Zone for Roux Institute 

Orders (Public comment on all except #135)
Order 131 Approving Modification 1 to Agreement between the MaineDOT, the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation

System and Portland Re: Improvements to Cumberland Ave

Order 132 Approving Modification 3 of Agreement with MaineDOT Re: West Commercial Street Trail

Order 133 Approving the Revised Remote Participation Policy of the Portland City Council

Order 134 Approving City Application, in a partnership with the MaineDOT, for Federal Funds to Dredge Public and Private Berthing and Vessel Support Resources and to Develop a Confined Aquatic Disposal Cell in Portland Harbor

Order 135 (FIRST READ) Approving Purchase & Sale Agreement with The Trust for Public Land for North Deering Park