City of Portland Alerts

City News Round Up: Friday, April 10, 2026

City News Round Up: Friday, April 10, 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 March 16 City Council meeting. The next meeting is Monday, April 13, at 5:00 PM. The City Manager will present her FY27 recommended budget at this meeting. Read the agenda preview at the end of this message 

Upcoming Closure: Monday, April 20
City Hall and City buildings will be closed on Monday, April 20, in observance of Patriots' Day. There is no change to trash and recycling collection.

Request Absentee Ballots for June 9 Election
Voters can now request their absentee ballots for the June 9, 2026, municipal election. Visit our website to request a ballot online and learn other ways to request a ballot. Ballots will be sent out once they are ready in May. Learn more about Elections & Voting in Portland.

New Waterfront Park Underway
After more than five years of planning and fundraising, the City and the Portland Parks Conservancy held a groundbreaking this morning for Phase 1 of a new waterfront park currently referred to as Portland Harbor Common. The park is the vision of the late Richard “Dick” Barringer, the first director of the Bureau of Public Lands, former commissioner of the Department of Conservation, former state planning director, and a co-founder of the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service. 

Envisioning the Future of James A. Banks, Sr. Portland Expo
We are working to envision the future of the James A. Banks, Sr. Portland Exposition Building (the Expo). After 110 years of service, the facility is now the oldest operating municipal arena in the United States and will require significant investment to continue operating in the same manner and meet modern safety and accessibility standards. The City plans to contract with a firm through a competitive process soon to determine the potential scope and cost, as well as to engage the Portland community regarding the future of the facility. The City Council will begin discussions regarding next steps, including whether or not to renovate or replace the Expo, at its Housing & Economic Development Committee  meeting on April 21, 2026. 

Portland Harbor Dredge Project Work Completed for Season
We're happy to announce that after a busy winter season along the waterfront, the Portland Waterfront dredging work is complete. On the Portland side of the Fore River alone, over 10,000 linear feet of berthing has been deepened and restored, resulting in over 45,000 cubic yards (equivalent to 4,500 dump trucks) of material relocated to the CAD cell disposal site.

Share Your Input! Future of "Midtown" Properties in Bayside
We are seeking community input on the future of four City-owned parcels in the Bayside neighborhood, collectively known as the "Midtown properties." Before these sites are marketed for potential sale, officials are inviting the public to share their vision through an online survey and upcoming public meetings: April 15, 12-2PM at 212 Canco Road, and April 29, 4-6 PM at City Hall, Kippy Richardson Conference Room 24. 

Celebrate Earth Day With Us! April 18 at Deering Oaks Park
Join us for a free, family-friendly Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 18 from 11AM–2PM at Deering Oaks Park by the Bandstand, just steps from the opening day of the Portland Farmer's Market. Enjoy live music, food trucks, interactive games, a clothing & bike repair station, facepainting, and more!

Runaways Portland Plog 2026 – 9th Annual
Join the 9th annual Runaways Portland Plog on April 18, 11 AM-2 PM, their annual city street clean-up project in the Bayside neighborhood. Plogging is "plucking" trash while "jogging" also known as "plogging." They have collected over 1,500 pounds of trash to date in partnership with the City and local businesses!

Job-a-Palooza: Community Hiring and Resource Event on April 23
Our Office of Economic Opportunity is excited to partner with the Career Center and the Maine Department of Labor for a Job-a-Palooza event on Thursday, April 23, 10 AM-1 PM at the Portland Expo (239 Park Ave). Municipalities play a critical role in supporting residents by creating meaningful workforce development opportunities. It’s wonderful to be able to collaborate with organizations that understand the challenges and barriers that many people face in the workforce and are committed to creating opportunities in a lively, engaging way. 

“Coffee with a Cop” at the Portland Public Library
The Portland Police Department, in partnership with the Portland Public Library, will host “Coffee with a Cop” on the first Tuesday of May, and June from 10:15–11:00 AM at the Library’s downtown branch. “Coffee with a Cop” brings officers and community members together, over coffee, to talk, ask questions, and get to know one another in an informal setting. For more information, please contact Jennifer Rogers at jrogers@portlandmaine.gov.

Mayor & Council Select New City Clerk
Mayor Mark Dion and the City Council have selected Abbey Lombard as the new Portland City Clerk. Her confirmation is set for the April 13 Council meeting. She currently serves as the Interim City Clerk. 

2025 Health & Human Services Annual Report
Our Health & Human Services Department released its 2025 Annual Report to share how its work is enhancing the health and well-being of Portland's residents. We hope you will take a few moments to look over the report and learn about their impressive work. 

Vacant Storefront Ordinance Goes Into Effect
A reminder to commercial property owners in the Pedestrian Activities District regarding the April 1 registration deadline for the Vacant Storefront Ordinance. Designed to revitalize downtown and reduce street-level vacancies, the ordinance requires ground-floor spaces that have been unoccupied for 180 days—specifically those vacant since the ordinance took effect on October 1, 2025—to be officially registered with the City by April 1, 2026.

New Infant/Child CPR Class - May 7
Learn life-saving skills for infants and children (under age 8) from Portland Public Health's certified instructors. Free class offered May 7 from 4:30-6 PM for parents and caregivers. Spots are limited! Register by May 1, 2026.

Creative Portland Announces 9th Juried Art Exhibition
Eighteen local Maine artists from the Greater Portland area have been selected for Creative Portland’s ninth juried art exhibition, Resistance, which will open to the public during the First Friday Art Walk on May 1, 2026, and run through April 2027, Monday through Thursday, from 10 AM-4 PM and every First Friday thereafter, unless noted otherwise. 

Reiche Parent Cafe is BACK Through July
New and expecting parents are invited to Portland Public Health's free play group at Reiche Community Center. Caregivers of children ages 0-5 are invited! Let your children play while you connect with other caregivers.

The Great Portland Pick Up - Call For Volunteers
Join your neighbors for a fun morning of giving back and helping Portland shine! The Portland Parks Conservancy and the City's Sustainability Office are hosting a citywide cleanup event, The Great Portland Pick Up, on Saturday, April 25, from 10 AM–12 PM, at eighteen locations across Portland. Cleanup supplies & refreshments will be provided.

We’re Hiring! Summer Pool Staff
Be a part of the inaugural season at the brand new Rising Eddy Community Pool. Work with us as a Seasonal Lifeguard or Pool Guest Service Attendant. We're also offering Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor Courses to get you certified just in time! Bonus: Course participants hired as a Lifeguard by the City are eligible for full reimbursement of the course fee upon completion of 200 hours of work as a Lifeguard within the first year of employment!

Hummingbird Grant Applications Now Open Through April 15
We are accepting applications for the annual Hummingbird Grant now through  April 15. This $1,000 award supports Portland cosmetology businesses owned by Maine residents with a gross income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income. Read the full guidelines and apply, or tell a friend!

Spring Curbside Yard Waste Collection ⁠Begins Monday, April 27
Annual spring curbside collection of yard waste will start on Monday, April 27, and continue through Friday, May 8. Leaves must be in large, paper biodegradable leaf bags. Please do not place bags curbside until the collection period begins, to avoid interfering with winter cleanup operations. Once collection begins, bags can remain curbside regardless of the weather or your trash collection day. Yard waste curbside collection MAY NOT coincide with your weekly trash collection day. Due to safety risks, crews will NOT collect bags of mulched leaves, sticks, branches, rocks, sod, and/or bags of dirt. Public Works cannot accurately predict when the collection crews will be on your street, as it depends on the volume of leaves they collect each day as they work their way through the city.

Spring Street Sweeping is Underway
Happy spring! Street sweeping is underway and will be ramping up over the next several weeks. In order for this work to be effective and done by the end of May, we ask for your compliance with parking restrictions. These parking regulations are in effect annually from October 1 to May 31. Find parking restrictions by area and to try our web app for an estimated timeframe of when the City's sweepers will be in your neighborhood. On peninsula: Please help our operations team and follow the street maintenance parking restrictions (overnight & daytime, check your zone) to avoid tickets or towing. ⁠Street sweeping is a City regulatory requirement; it reduces water pollution (by removing salt/sand), and prevents materials from clogging our sewer/storm drain systems. ⁠

Greater Portland Metro Fare Policy - April Public Meetings
Greater Portland Metro is holding public meetings in April to present information and gather feedback about possible fare increases. The in-person meetings will be held on Thursday, April 9, 3:30 - 5:30 PM, at the Portland Public Library (Rines Auditorium), and Saturday, April 11, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, at the Westbrook Community Center (Elm Room). A webinar option will also be offered on Tuesday, April 14, 6:00 - 7:00 PM.

Food Business Bootcamp Starts April 30
The Women's Business Center at CEI will host a free, 6-week, in-person course for aspiring food entrepreneurs. Classes will take place every Thursday starting April 30, culminating with a full-day ServSafe Course and Exam on June 4. 

Community Survey Results Available for Review
Our community survey results are now available for review! The survey, conducted in late 2025, provided an opportunity for Portland residents to share their feedback and insights regarding the programs and services provided by the City. Our staff worked with ETC Institute, a nationally recognized survey research firm specializing in municipal-level resident surveys, on this effort. ETC compiled and analyzed the results and presented them to the City Council at a workshop on Monday, March 23, 2026.

In the News
Visit our “In the News” webpage to find facts and context about recent topics you may have read or seen in the news or on social media.

City Manager Releases Recommendations for FY27 CDBG Allocations
City Manager Danielle West has released recommendations to the City Council for FY27 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. The City Council will hold two public hearings on Monday, April 13 and Monday, April 27 regarding the CDBG funding, with a final vote at the second hearing.

Read the City Manager’s Recommended FY27 Capital Improvement Plan
The City Council’s Finance Committee hosted a public hearing and final review of the City Manager’s recommended FY27 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) at its Thursday, March 5 meeting. Following the committee process, the CIP budget will be sent to the City Council for consideration and adoption at the April 13 meeting. 

Lambert Woods Housing Cooperative
This North Deering housing co-op is taking reservations now for move-in Spring 2027. Monthly expenses, including utilities, are: $1,750 for 1 Bedroom, $2,150 for 2 Bedroom, $2,750 for 3 Bedroom -plus $5,000 share cost. 

P-STEP Applications Now Available
Portland Senior Tax Equity Program (P-STEP) applications have been mailed to those who qualified last year and are now available on our website via an online fillable form, a PDF fillable and printable form, and in-person at the Treasury Department. Please call our Treasury staff with questions at 207-874-8490.

Public Works Updates

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates

We’re Hiring!
We are hiring across several departments, 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.


April 13 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

Special Meeting - Corporator of the Portland Development Corporation
(Public comment taken)

#164 Approving  Portland Development Corporation Business Continuity Loan Program/Guidelines

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

#165 Appointing Mike Alfiero Class B Director of the Board of the Portland Fish Pier Authority 

Appointments and 2 Consent Items (Public comment taken)

#166 Appointing Elizabeth Kampsen as Constable for the Portland Police Department 

#167 Appointing Wardens and Ward Clerks for the 2026-2027 Election Year

#168 Appointing Election Clerks for 2026 to 2028

#169 Appointing Members to Various Boards & Committees

#170 Confirming the Appointment and Setting the Salary of Abbey Lombard as City Clerk

#171 Appointing Abbey Lombard as Registrar of Voters for the Duration of Appointment as City Clerk 

Budget Items (Public comment will be limited to the referral action only)

#174 Receiving and Referring City Manager's Fiscal Year 2027 Municipal Budget to the Finance Committee and Setting Date of Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2027 Municipal Budget and Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriation Resolve. The first read of the FY27 Appropriation Resolve and Public Hearing is scheduled for the May 18, 2026 City Council meeting.  

Resolutions (First read only)

#9 Adopting the FY '26-'27 Annual Action Plan, including Appropriations for Community Development Block Grant Program, HOME Program, and Emergency Solutions Grant Program and Certifications Pertaining Thereto 

Unfinished Business (Public comment taken)

#158  Accepting/Appropriating $500 Donation from Alireza Shahin Khojastehzad to Shahnaz Mahager Hummingbird Grant Program

#159  Approving Subaward Agreement Between MaineHealth and the City and Accepting/Appropriating $23,815.42 for Project DHARMA 

#160  Approving Memorandum of Agreement and Accepting/Appropriating $300,000 from Trinity Episcopal Church RE: Trinity Park

#161  Appropriating Bond Proceeds and Other Funds for the City's FY2027 Capital Improvement Program

#162  Authorizing General Obligation Bonds to Finance a Portion of the City's FY27 Capital Improvement Program 

#163  Accepting/Appropriating Federal Aviation Administration grants, State of ME Matching Grants, and Portland International Jetport Unrestricted Matching Funds 

Orders  (Public comment taken except for #179) 

#175 Accepting 2025 Land Bank Commission Annual Report

#176 Re-Establishing Community Development Block Grant Priority Setting Task Force and Appointing Members 

#177 Amending Order 18-24/25 to Adjust Project Name and Address and Reallocate Funding 

#178 Approving the Renewal of Portland's Participation in the Cumberland County HOME Consortium 

#179 Appropriating 10.1 Million Dollars from Jetport Unrestricted Funds to Commence Design on the Phase 3 Parking Garage and Improve and Expand a Public Surface Parking Lot at the Portland International Jetport 

Amendments (First read only except for #180)

#180 Amendment Portland City Code Chapter 2 RE: Immigration Enforcement
(Councilors Ali & Phillips request item be passed as an emergency, Public comment taken)

#181 Amendment Portland City Code Chapter 14 RE: Definition of Main Entrance for Entertainment Businesses in B-3 and WCZ Zones 

#182 Amendment Portland City Code Chapter 14 RE: Large Theater and Performance Hall Dispersal Requirements

#183 Terminating the Moratorium on Theater and Performance Hall Projects with a Capacity Exceeding 2,000 People in the City of Portland Established  by Order 9-25/26 and Extended by Order 131-25/26


 
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