City News Round Up: Friday, April 5, 2024
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the March 18th City Council meeting. To view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings, please visit www.portlandmaine.gov/agendas. The next City Council meeting is Monday, April 8th, read the agenda preview at the end of this message.

Tonight is First Friday Art Walk! Download the map here. Some venues may not be open due to inclement weather, please check website notices. 

Alert Reminder: Thursday Trash Collection Postponed to Saturday
Due to the storm this week, residents with Thursday collection will have Trash + Recycling pickup on Saturday, April 6th this week.

Crews Working Hard to Cleanup City Following Back to Back Spring Storms
Our Parks, Recreation and Facilities and Public Works crews, in coordination with private contractors, continue to clean up from tree damage resulting from the last two storms. The ice storm on March 24th caused damage not seen since the ice storm of 1998. We received over 400 tree damage reports and many of those were large trees or limbs that each took a day or more to remove. There are thousands of unreported limbs and branches that came down in the public right of way that need to be collected. Crews have made progress on cleaning up brush and branches, but there is still at least a month of work to do before all debris is removed from the right of way. The storm on April 4th complicated matters and will set us back another week or so on clean-up efforts as we have had to recommission all of our winter equipment that was being used for tree cleanup in order to move back into winter operations and snow removal. Please read the full update here.

New Senior Outreach Nursing Program
In December 2023 the Office of Elder Affairs added a Senior Outreach Nursing Program. Two part-time registered nurses are now available to help low-income Portland residents aged 60+ maintain health and independence at home. The program is free to low income Portland seniors who are not eligible for similar at-home support through any other agency or payor. Please call 207-541-6620 to learn more or to make a referral.

Storm Recovery Loans Available
The U.S. Small Business Administration has loans available to assist with recovery from the back-to-back storms on January 10th and January 13th that brought significant flooding and damage. Homeowners, renters, and businesses located in Portland that were impacted by these storms can apply for low-interest SBA Disaster Loans here.

New Business Recovery Grants, Apply by May 15th
Pandemic relief funding is available to help small business owners in Portland who started their businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic (on or after January 1, 2020 and no later than May 11, 2023.). Businesses can request $5,000, $7,500, or $10,000. The application window opened Monday, April 1st and will close Wednesday, May 15th at 11:59 PM. Learn more and apply here.

Review the Second Wave of ReCode Edits
After reviewing hundreds of public comments on the first wave of changes to the land use code under ReCode, our Planning team has released the second wave of ReCode edits. This second wave represents the sum total of ReCode changes altogether, reflecting the city’s efforts to support housing creation and affordability, climate resilience, complete neighborhoods, transit-oriented development, and more. We will be looking for feedback on this work over the next several months, first online, then through a series of events, including Planning Board meetings in the spring and summer. Take a look at the changes and let us know what you think!

4/9: Tuesday Tree Talk Features City Arborist Mark Reiland
City Arborist, Mark Reiland, will speak about the State of the Portland Urban Forest at "Tuesday Tree Talk" hosted by the West End Neighborhood Association and the Portland Parks Department on Tuesday, April 9th at 6:30 PM. Join them in the Reiche Community Room, 2nd floor of Reiche School, access from Clark Street, Room 11. 

4/10 Free Concert: United States Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus
Merrill Auditorium is pleased to welcome the United States Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus on Wednesday, April 10th at 7:00 PM. This elite 65 member instrumental ensemble is considered by music critics to be one of the most versatile and inspiring musical organizations in the world. Reserve your complimentary tickets here. 

4/12: Coffee + Climate, Our Energy Port
Join Portland and South Portland Sustainability teams for their regularly scheduled coffee chat next Friday, 4/12 at 9AM on Zoom. This month Tim Winters, VP of Operations at Sprague Energy, joins to discuss our petroleum tanks, coastal resilience, and forecast the regional energy transition. Register here.

Federal Disaster Declaration for January Storms
President Biden approved Maine's request for a Major Disaster Declaration to help eight coastal counties recover from back-to-back severe storms (January 10th + January 13th), which brought significant flooding and damage. Residents who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency App. Information on Disaster Recovery Center locations will be made available on maine.gov/flood soon for those who may prefer to meet in person with a FEMA representative.

FEMA Disaster Assistance Teams
Over the coming weeks, FEMA teams will be going door to door in neighborhoods impacted by the January storms; be aware in case a FEMA rep comes to your house.

4/20: Earth Day Celebration - Save the Date! 🌎 🌳 🥳
We're hosting a free, family-friendly Earth Day Celebration in Payson Park on Saturday, April 20, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM! City departments are teaming up with local green organizations to host a festival of fun: music, food trucks, facepaint, e-bikes and electric lawn equipment to try out, balloon animals, outdoor activities, and more. Join us and help us celebrate our sustainable City!

West End Neighborhood Spring Clean Up
Residents are also invited to join the West End Neighborhood Association for their Spring Clean-Up on April 20th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The event starts at the Reich Community Center. For more details, visit the WENA neighborhood webpage.

2023 Year in Review Homeless Services Report
Our Health and Human Services (HHS) Department has issued a 2023 Year in Review Homeless Services report detailing the work of its Public Health and Social Services divisions. In conjunction with local community partners, these two divisions have provided wide-ranging services and programs to people at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness in Portland. Read full update. 

Domestic Trade Grants available from Maine DECD

The second round of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Domestic Trade Grants is now open. Please review the Guidelines, Frequently Asked Questions, and the application templates carefully. Applicants will need to set up an account with Maine DECD’s Salesforce database to apply. Applications are due on Thursday, April 11 at 5:00 PM.

All applicants are encouraged to attend a weekly webinar hosted every Tuesday at noon until April 9th. The webinars will provide prospective applicants and partners with an overview of the program, including eligibility requirements, application guidelines, and additional assistance. These webinars will function as office hours, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions. Sign up to attend a webinar here. A recording of a recent webinar is located here. For more information, please email domestictrade@gpcog.org or call (207) 387-2919. You can also click here for more details.

Revaluation Process Underway
Our Assessing Office is beginning the process for the next revaluation for assessment purposes in accordance with Maine property tax law and the City Council’s June 16, 2021 Resolution. The process is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025 and implemented in FY 2026. Read the full update.

Spring Curbside Yard Waste Collection ⁠🌷 April 22 - May 3
Annual spring curbside collection of yard waste starts Monday, April 22nd and continues through Friday, May 3rd. Leaves must be in large, paper biodegradable leaf bags. Yard waste curbside collection may not coincide with your weekly trash collection day. Once you place the leaf bags curbside, please leave them curbside so they are accessible for the crew regardless of the weather or your 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 leaf 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. ⁠Visit portlandmaine.gov/YardWaste to learn more.

Libbytown Safety & Accessibility Project Awarded $22 Million
Congresswoman Pingree recently announced $22.4 million to reconnect the divided Libbytown neighborhood—improving accessibility, safety, and sense of community. In partnership with MaineDOT, our Libbytown Safety & Accessibility Project will convert the one-way sections of Park Avenue and Congress Street to two-way, with accompanying bicycle, pedestrian, and streetscape improvements to better the streets' safety and function for all users. Learn more.

Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates
Read all the latest updates on programs and more in their March 2024 newsletter. Registration for racks rentals on East End Beach opened April 1st. Registrations will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, learn the full details here. It may be snowing now, but all tennis nets and basketball hoops will be out by next week, and most are up this week.

4/26-4/28: Casco Bay Garage Spring Cleaning
The annual garage Spring Cleaning has been scheduled for the weekend beginning Friday, April 26th. This will require all Casco Bay Parking Garage customers to vacate the garage from 7:00 PM Friday, April 26th through 5:00 PM Sunday, April 28th. For your convenience, your Casco Bay Parking Pass will allow you to park at the Custom House Garage during this period. You will be able to access the Custom House Garage 24 hours a day with your parking card. Please direct questions to: customerservice@mhrmanagement.com. 

Work With Us!
We have multiple job openings across a variety of departments, view the full list of openings here. Recent positions listed: Director of Planning & Urban Development; Director of Health & Human Services; Program Coordinator (HOPE): Health and Human Services; Principal Financial Office: Portland PD; Licensing + Registration Assistant: Rent Control; Parking Garage Cashier – On Call; 62+ Program Activity Driver. Come make a difference with us, our wellness benefits are award winning.

DPW Paving Updates and Ongoing Construction Projects
Please visit portlandmaine.gov/PublicWorks for information links to all the most recent DPW project updates. See all paving updates here.

City Council Agenda Preview: Monday, 4/8

The meeting will be held in-person in Council Chambers and remote via Zoom.

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

Proclamations + 8 Business Licenses, Public comment on Licenses
#17 Recognizing April 8-12, 2024 as Telecommunicator Appreciation Week
#18 Recognizing April 2024 as Arab American Heritage Month

Resolutions, Public comment taken
#8 Adopting FY '24-'25 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
#151 Accepting/Appropriating a $64,000 Grant from the MaineDOT for Bicycle/Pedestrian Program on Forest Ave.
#152 Approving Agreements Between the MaineDOT, Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System, + Portland re: Improvements to Riverside Street, Ocean Ave, + Washington Ave
#153 Approving Service Contract between Maine Historic Preservation Commission + the City and Accepting and 5 Appropriating a Pass-through Grant in the Amount of $9,153 to the Lions Club of Peaks Island
#154 Approving Service Contract between Maine Historic Preservation Commission + the City and Accepting/Appropriating a Pass-Through Grant in the Amount of $15,000 to the First Parish Church
#155 Traffic Schedule Amendment Re: Removing Time Limited Parking on Kenwood St.
#156 Amendment to the Portland City Code Chapter 6 Re: Repeal Rental Housing Advisory Committee  

Orders, First read only
#165 Approving Agreement between MaineDOT, Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System, + Portland RE: Improvements to Canco Road