City News Round Up: Friday, November 13, 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 November 2 City Council meeting. The next regular City Council meeting is Monday, November 16 at 5:00 PM; read the agenda preview at the end of this message.

NEED TO KNOW

• Election Results: A recount of the District 4 Council race is taking place today, November 13. We will update our website once the recount is complete. View official results for the November 3, 2026 General State and Municipal Election for the City of Portland.
• Update! Payson Park Traffic Calming Project The Catafalque Drive pilot road closure in Payson Park will be removed on Monday, November 16. Vehicle travel patterns will return to previous conditions, with car travel permitted on Catafalque Drive. Six new speed humps were also installed in Payson Park on November 3.
• Updated Traffic Advisory: Maple Street and Center Street traffic changes start Monday, November 16 for this project, read the latest update. As of Oct. 26, Commercial Street traffic patterns were intermittently reduced to alternating one-way traffic from 9 AM to 3:30 PM (between Maple and Center Streets) to finish the Commercial Street and Portland Fish Pier Storm Drain Outfall Project until completion this winter. 

LATEST NEWS AND CITY EVENTS

• We're HIRING! We're opening a nightly, low-barrier shelter this winter and need to fill multiple roles as soon as possible. Want to learn more? Come to our Open Hiring Event at City Hall on Tuesday, November 17, 9 AM to 3 PM at City Hall. We have immediate openings for Senior Human Services Counselors, Human Services Specialists and Shuttle Drivers, Shelter Attendants, and Custodians. Apply today! 
• Coffee, Cider & Composting: A new composting drop-off location opened at Heseltine Park at the end of October! Join our Sustainability team to celebrate the new location on Saturday, November 14, 9:30 to 11:30 AM. There will be FREE composting buckets (while they last!) along with free donuts, hot apple cider, and coffee.
• Union Branch Pathway is open! Join us for the ribbon-cutting on Tuesday, November 17 at 3 PM to celebrate this major community milestone. Parking will be available behind the Deering Oaks Castle at 356 State Street. 
• Monument Square Tree: A 50-foot Red Spruce tree from Portland was selected to be the 2026 Monument Square tree! The City’s Forestry team will harvest and install the tree on Wednesday, November 18, arriving in Monument Square at about 11 AM. Portland Downtown will have their Monument Square Tree Cam presented by Hood® Eggnog, on for the day on Wednesday to watch the tree arrival - watch here. Then it will go dark until the annual Tree Lighting on November 27, lighting up downtown until January 1. Stay tuned to their website for updates. 
• Join us at upcoming Annual District Meetings! District 4 is next up on Thursday, November 19, hosted by Councilor Anna Bullett. Followed by District 5 on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Find your district and learn more; all meetings are in-person and begin at 6 PM. These meetings are a great chance to talk directly with your City Councilor, the City Manager, and City staff about what matters most in your area! Free childcare is available at each meeting for kids ages 5-12, provided by City Recreation staff.  
• Natural Helpers Program: Our Office of Economic Opportunity is now accepting applications for the 2027 Natural Helpers Fellowship! Applications will be accepted until November 16. The program brings trusted community leaders together to tackle complex issues, challenge perceptions, and strengthen critical thinking through rigorous experiential learning. Learn how to apply or to nominate a candidate. 
• Volunteers Needed! The City Clerk's office is seeking applications for various board and committee positions. Find the full position descriptions and how to apply on our website. The application deadline is Friday, December 4; applicants will be contacted for interviews. 
• Portland’s Plan 2040: The official kickoff of Portland’s Plan 2040, a new comprehensive plan for Portland, was announced last week by our Planning and Urban Development team! Explore the current conditions and trends, share your thoughts, and sign up for updates on their website. Plan development will take place through a multi-phase process designed to encourage meaningful community engagement, foster collaboration across City departments, and support in-depth topic-based analysis of the issues shaping Portland’s future. 
• New Vision Zero Yard Signs: We’ve launched a community-wide road safety campaign designed to encourage drivers to slow down and not drive distracted. Portland residents and local business owners can now request campaign yard signs to display on their properties to help foster safer driving habits across all neighborhoods. Email info@portlandmaine.gov with your address to request yard signs and we’ll deliver them to you!

CITY SERVICES

• Reminder for Landlords and Property Managers: Our annual rental registration process is currently open, and renewals are due by December 31, 2026. Long-term rental renewal notices for 2027 have been mailed. If you did not receive a renewal letter for your rental property, please contact the Rental Registration office at rentcontrol@portlandmaine.gov.
  Renewing is faster and easier using our Citizen Self Service Portal (CSS)! Please log in as soon as possible to ensure that your Long Term Rental Licenses are displayed on your account. 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.
• Yard Waste Collection: Our Public Works crews will be collecting leaf bags through November 27. Please follow the curbside guidelines to help our Public Works team work efficiently and smoothly.
• Snow Shoveling Volunteers: Age Friendly Portland is looking for volunteers willing to shovel snow for an elderly neighbor this winter! 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 contact Linda Weare at 207-541-6620 for more information or email AgeFriendlyCommunity@PortlandMaine.Gov. 

PUBLIC WORKS UPDATES

• Upcoming Neighborhood Meeting - Join us to learn more about Spring 2027 construction projects. Learn more about the Palmer Ave Detention Basin Retrofit Project on Tuesday, November 17 at 5 PM. 

PARKS, RECREATION AND FACILITIES UPDATES

• Improvements are underway at Dougherty Athletic Field! Visit our newly launched webpage - a dedicated space for you to find the most up-to-date news, construction progress, and project milestones.
• Deering Oaks Park: A paving project started on Monday, November 9, in Deering Oaks Park on Tennis Court Road; the road will be closed to vehicle traffic on weekdays for approximately two weeks. Please follow detour signs and seek alternative routes. The Farmer's Market will still take place on Wednesday; however, parking and access will not be permitted along Tennis Court Rd. Courts, fields, and the playground will be OPEN; please follow the pedestrian route signage. Thank you for your patience as we improve the road surface on Tennis Court Rd!
• The new Longfellow Playground is now open!
• The Riverton Trolley Park parking lot is open. Please be mindful of the grass growing and the snow fencing located around the lawn areas.
• Read the latest updates in the October 2026 newsletter or subscribe. 
• Looking for the Reiche pool schedule? Find it on Portland MyRec. 

COMMUNITY & STAFF NEWS

• Join the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, Vision Zero Maine, and more community partners on Sunday, November 22 for a FREE Winter Fashion Show for Maine Needs! Bring some winter attire to donate to Maine Needs so all of our neighbors can be warm outside this winter.
• Looking for a home? Attend an open house to learn about our homeownership, co-op, and rental options in City- sponsored projects: Dougherty Phase 3 Condos, Lambert Woods Co-op, and Lambert Woods North Apartments in Portland. Sign up here to hold your spot for Saturday, November 14 or November 21, 12 to 5 PM.

AGENDA PREVIEW: Portland City Council Meeting

Join us for the next City Council meeting to discuss key community projects and updates. The full agenda with backup materials will be available by the end of the day today.

When: Monday, November 16, 2026
Where: Council Chambers, City Hall (2nd Floor) or via livestream
Time: 5:00 PM

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Recognitions and Annual Meeting

Recognizing outgoing Councilors and holding the Creative Portland Corporation Annual Meeting to review its FY 2026 activity and financial reports.

Appointments: Appointing Phillip Cruess as a Police Department constable 

Transit and Marine Policy

• Communication: Reviewing the Greater Portland Transit District's 2027 budget; no Council Action, no Public Comment.
• Cruise Ships: Voting on a resolution to prohibit commercial vessels from discharging open-loop exhaust "scrubber" water discharges at City-owned marine terminals.

Urban Planning and Zoning

• Reimagining Franklin Street: Considering the plan to add housing, expand Lincoln Park, and improve pedestrian/bike infrastructure.
• Conditional Zoning: Amendment for the St. Lawrence Arts property (76 Congress St.) to allow a single 424-seat auditorium.

Infrastructure and Public Safety Grants

• Accepting an additional $74,572.50 grant for Riverton Trolley Park improvements.
• Accepting $20,000 Maine Emergency Management Agency Grant on an emergency basis.
• Approving emergency funding modification (increasing the total to $300,000) for pedestrian and bicycle safety upgrades on West Commercial Street.

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.⁠