City News Round Up: Friday, September 4, 2026 

UPCOMING MEETINGS

• 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 August 24 City Council meeting. The next City Council meeting is Wednesday, September 9 at 5:00 PM. Read the agenda preview at the end of this message.

NEED TO KNOW

• City Hall and City buildings are closed on Monday, September 7 for Labor Day.
• A new paving project is scheduled to start September 8 on High Street (Congress Square to Park Ave). Sections of High Street will be closed to traffic and detoured. Drivers should expect delays and avoid the area if possible. Final paving is expected to be complete mid-October, barring any unforeseen issues. This project is weather-dependent.
• Congress Square Project Update: The contractor is anticipated to return to the site on Tuesday, September 8, pushing the new substantial completion date to October 31, 2026.
• New start date: Construction work in and around City Hall's Ganley Plaza will now begin Tuesday, September 8; City Hall will remain accessible for the entirety of the work. Read the full details about this project.

LATEST NEWS AND CITY EVENTS

• A public meeting for the Reimagining Franklin project will be held Thursday, September 10 to share and receive input on the draft street design concept. Join us from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Portland Public Library, Rines Auditorium. Sign up here to stay up to date on the project!
• Join us Friday, September 11 for the annual 25th Remembrance and Wreath Laying Ceremony, 8:30 AM at the 9/11 Memorial at Fort Allen Park. 
• Learn how to tighten up your home and electrify to increase your comfort, reduce emissions, and lower energy costs at our next Coffee & Climate Friday, September 11, 9- 10 AM. Register to join us!
• Learn life-saving adult emergency skills with our Maternal & Child Health nurses at the Portland Public Library on September 17 (10:30 AM – 12:00 PM). The event is free and open to all; these hands-on skills will help you act fast and save lives! Pre-registration requested.
• Our next FREE Infant/Child CPR and First Aid class for parents and caregivers is September 24, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM. SPOTS ARE LIMITED; pre-registration is required! 
• We’re hosting the first-ever Waterfront Summit, September 29, 3 - 6 PM at Gulf of Maine Research Institute! Portland property owners, business owners, and all waterfront stakeholders are invited for a discussion on the future of our waterfront. 
• Join us Wednesday, September 30, at the Portland Museum of Art for A More Walkable Portland, a special presentation by Jeff Speck, renowned urban planner and author of Walkable City, the best-selling urban planning book of the 21st century. The event will feature a panel discussion on Portland in Motion, the City’s first comprehensive transportation plan in more than 30 years, and a conversation about a more walkable future for Portland. The event is free and open to the public; RSVPs are encouraged. Doors open at 6:30; program begins at 7 PM.

CITY SERVICES

• The mil rate for Fiscal Year 2027 has been set. Property owners will receive their tax bills in the mail by mid-September. The first half of property tax payments are due on October 16, 2026, and the second half is due on March 12, 2027. 
• Landlords & tenants:  please note that the new allowable rent increase per the consumer price index (CPI) as part of the rent control ordinance has been published for calendar year 2027. We also published the new limit on non-owner occupied short-term rentals for units on the mainland for 2027.
• Absentee ballots can now be requested for the November 3 election. Request online through the State’s website, or learn other ways on our website. Ballots will be sent out once they are ready in October. Maine residents can now register to vote, update registration details, or change party status online. 

SHAPE YOUR CITY

• Take the Safe Streets for All 2026: Post Installation Survey! Greater Portland Council of Governments wants to hear your thoughts about the temporary safety improvement projects in place on Commercial Street in Portland.
• The City of Portland’s 2025-2026 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) is available for review and comment. All interested persons are invited to submit written or verbal comments by September 21. This report, submitted annually to HUD, includes performance and evaluation measures concerning CDBG, HOME Investment Partnerships, and Emergency Solutions Grant programs.
• Take this quick community survey about the Portland Urban Forest Management Plan - open until September 20, 2026.
   

COMMUNITY NEWS

• Tonight is First Friday Art Walk! Download the map.
• Rally 4 Recovery, a free, family-friendly community event, will take place Sunday, September 13 at Payson Park.
• Creative Portland presents the 6th Biennial Portland Arts & Culture Summit on September 22 at the University of Southern Maine Portland campus to convene the arts community for connection and cultural updates!
• The Deering Center Neighborhood Association invites you to a Portland City Council Candidates Forum for the District 4 and 5 seats, on October 14 at The Light Church.
• Portland Downtown has opened a new public restroom at 87 Center Street that is monitored by a front desk attendant and cleaned regularly by Portland Downtown ambassador staff. The restroom is available to the public seven days a week during normal business hours, with the goal of expanding hours as capacity allows.
• Check out our Park Events Calendar for a list of local events..
• Volunteers needed! Help bring this year’s Porchfest to life on Sunday, September 13, 12–5 PM, in Deering Center.
• Affordable Homeownership at Dougherty Commons & Lambert Co-op: One 3 Bedroom Condo and one 1 Bedroom Condo ready for move-in at Dougherty Commons, and 1 & 2 BRs available at Lambert Co-op, move-in April 2027. Visit their website or call Richard at 207-560-4883.
• The Alpha Legal Foundation AmeriCorps Legal Access Navigator Program hosts free civil legal education workshops every Friday, 1-2 PM at the Portland Public Library. 

PUBLIC WORKS UPDATES

• New Update: 2026 Ocean Ave Sidewalk Project
• New Update: Union Branch Pathway Project
• Check the full 2026 Paving Projects list for the latest updates.
• In August, our Public Works team installed five speed humps along Ocean Avenue as part of our ongoing Vision Zero initiative. These traffic calming installations will help moderate vehicle speeds along the Ocean Avenue Elementary School walking route.⁠ Three speed humps were also installed in Payson Park, in partnership with our Parks Division as part of the Payson Park Traffic Calming Project.⁠ 
• We also implemented new traffic signal timings designed to enhance pedestrian safety along the Washington Avenue/Auburn Street corridor as part of our ongoing Vision Zero commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
• Licensed Commercial Waste Haulers: Reminder to residents and contractors that City Code requires the use of a City licensed waste hauler for all building renovations or construction projects. Hiring a licensed hauler ensures compliance with City Code regarding disposal methods. 
• Ongoing: Neighborhood Drainage and Sewer System Repairs 2025-2028. Gorham Sand & Gravel plans to start work on Concord Street West on Tuesday, July 21. 

PARKS, RECREATION AND FACILITIES UPDATES

• Read the latest updates in the August 2026 newsletter or subscribe. 
• Park Ranger Hike Club continues this fall with walks Sept. 12 and Sept. 26, 10 AM- 12 PM.
• Portland Recreation is seeking childcare site staff to join our After the Bell program. Help us offer exciting and enriching activities for students (Kindergarten-5th grade), right in their own school.
• The Fall/Winter 2026-2027 Recreation program brochure is here! Find it now on the Portland MyRec portal and in mailboxes soon. Many of our upcoming fall and winter programs are already live.
• Join our Director Ethan Hipple and members of Portland Youth Corps alumni for the Portland Parks Conservancy Third Thursday Walk & Talk at North Deering Park on September 17 at 4 PM. Meet in front of the ball field at North Deering Park, 71 Ballpark Drive.
• The Portland Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the City, is developing an Urban Forest Master Plan to create a healthier tree canopy. Check out the project website to learn how to get involved! A public workshop will be held on September 17, 5- 7 PM, at Merrill Auditorium. 
• After a 9-year hiatus, the Maine Climbing Competition returns this year in Deering Oaks Park on Sunday, Sept 27.
• The Portland Youth Corps is accepting applications for its fall session. The Portland Youth Corps promotes personal and professional growth through community service, environmental stewardship, and hands-on conservation opportunities within Portland's beautiful parks and green spaces. Apply by September 11.
• Site improvements to the parking lot area at Riverton Trolley Park began August 3. The Reiche Playground Renovation Project is also now underway.
• A Portland MyRec account is the key to all recreation programs in Portland! Create your account household today so you can be ready to register for programs/activities, reserve facilities, access aquatics, and more!
• Safety Alert: Union Branch Multi-Use Pathway Under Construction. Please be aware that the Union Branch Path Trail is still an active construction site.

CITY STAFF & JOB OPPORTUNITIES

• We’re hiring! Learn more about the latest positions: Director, Housing & Economic Development and Housing Program Specialist. 
• We are also 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.

AGENDA PREVIEW Portland City Council Meeting

Join us for the next City Council meeting to discuss key community projects and updates.

When: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Where: Council Chambers, City Hall (2nd Floor)
Time: 5:00 PM

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Honors & Proclamations: Recognizing Michael Brennan with a Distinguished Service Award along with other proclamations.

Housing & Infrastructure Funding

• Appropriating $386,037 from Jill C. Duson Housing Trust Fund to Hope Acts for energy efficiency and structural rehabilitation at Hope House.
• Approving agreement with MaineDOT for traffic signal improvements across 14 intersections along State St., High St., and Forest Ave., allocating $100,000 for city-requested design changes (two-way conversion and bike facilities).

Opioid Settlement Funds: Amending Chapter 2 of  City Code to formalize a dedicated fund for managing national opioid settlement revenues, including adding emergency winter warming shelter services to the priority usage list.

Police & Justice Grants

• Accepting a $73,721 federal Justice Assistance Grant; Accepting $20,000 in additional grant funding for Victim and Witness Advocacy Services.
• Accepting a $151,500 grant from Workforce & Enterprise Operations for the Portland Jetport TSA K9 Unit.

Traffic & Environmental Infrastructure

• Adjusting Fore Street parking schedules to add residential parking capacity near Casco Bay Lines terminal.
• Accepting a $151,500 grant for the Portland Jetport TSA K9 Unit.
• Accepting $500,000 in assessment funding and $1,000,000 in clean-up funding from the U.S. EPA Brownfields program.

GET INVOLVED

Watch Live: Stream the meeting in our Agenda Portal.

Public Comment: Submit written comments by 12:00 PM the day before the meeting to publiccomment@portlandmaine.gov. Please include your name, address, and the relevant order number.