City News Round Up:  Friday, May 31, 2024
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the May 20 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, June 3 (this meeting includes action on the municipal budget). Read the agenda preview at the end of this message. 

June 1: Community Volunteer Day, Libbytown Community Garden
Volunteers needed! Help fill the raised garden beds with new, clean soil and spread mulch at the Libbytown Garden (175 Douglass Street) on Saturday, June 1, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. All are welcome! This is a drop-in event; food and drinks will be provided. Learn more. 

June 2-8: Celebrate Clean Water Week With Us!
Our Water Resources team is excited to announce a roster of public events in celebration of Clean Water Week, June 2-8, 2024. Water Resources staff and local partners have organized clean-up events, educational tours, and volunteer opportunities to recognize and celebrate clean water in Portland. The public is invited to join and learn more about what they can do to help keep our waters clean! Learn more. 

MEMA Regional Training Exercise, June 3-6
Next week more than 30 agencies are participating in Katahdin Shield 2024, a full-scale inter-agency training exercise. Any observed Maine National Guard, law enforcement, and fire response activities during the exercise are part of a simulated scenario and not indicative of a real emergency. Learn more at maine.gov/mema/KatahdinShield.

June 4 + 5: ReCode Drop In Events at 1 Canal Plaza
Join our Planning and Urban Development Department for ReCode Studio: an opportunity to learn more and provide input on proposed changes to the land use code and zoning map. These drop-in events will be held Tuesday, June 4, 11:00 AM to 6: 00 PM, and Wednesday, June 5, 8: 00 AM to 2:00 PM at 1 Canal Plaza. Please visit www.recodeportland.me to learn more, or listen to a recent podcast with our Planning staff here.

In-Person Absentee Voting Ends June 6: State of Maine Primary
The last day to in-person absentee vote for the June 11 State of Maine Primary and School Budget Referendum is this Thursday, June 6, unless you have a special circumstance. The Clerk’s Office will be open until 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 6th only for voter registration and in-person absentee voting. Read the full election update here.

City To Host Walk the Working Waterfront Event on June 8
Now in its 9th year, this annual event welcomes visitors to explore the protected piers and wharves of Portland’s historic waterfront, engage with the marine community, sample seafood, tour commercial vessels, and more! The 2024 event takes place Saturday, June 8, 12:00-3:30 PM. Look for the orange flags on Commercial Street to grab a map at an information station! Visit the website for full details. 

Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon & 5K, Saturday, June 8
The Old Port Half Marathon & 5K returns to Portland on Saturday, June 8. Please be aware that starting at 2:00 AM, various streets will be closed in the Old Port area, emergency no-parking zones will go into effect, and passengers on the Casco Bay Ferry Lines will be impacted. For the full road closure information, please visit their website here.

City Celebrates Graduation of the 2024 Natural Helpers Cohort
Our Office of Economic Opportunity is honored to announce the graduation of its fourth cohort of the Natural Helpers program. Ten individuals, representing seven countries of origin, from Angola to Peru to the USA, and cities from Portland to Lewiston to Westbrook, successfully completed four robust months of leadership and advocacy community training and self-development courses. Read the full story here.

300 People Attend New England Brownfields Summit in Portland
Last week, Mayor Mark Dion delivered opening remarks to kick off the 2024 Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association two-day summit at the Holiday Inn by the Bay. The event is organized to advance understanding of State and Federal Brownfields programs. Read the full story to learn more about how our City Brownfields Program works to invest in Portland’s community.
 

Temporary Art Storymap Now Available
Our Planning & Urban Development Department does more than planning - they also support Portland's thriving arts scene. The Temporary Art Program, under the Public Art Committee, reviews and permits temporary art projects on public land in Portland. Take a look at the Temporary Art Storymap now available to explore current and past temporary art projects!

June 9: Resurgam Music and Arts Festival at Ocean Gateway
Don't miss this FREE and open to the public multi-stage music festival on Saturday, 6/9,  Noon to 7:00 PM, at Ocean Gateway on Commercial Street! Presented by Maine Academy of Modern Music, the day will showcase Portland’s creativity and youth. In addition to lots of music, including headliners, Oshima Brothers, there will also be vendors, food, and drinks. 

June 11: ReForest the City Tree Talk 
Join the West End Neighborhood Association Tuesday, 6/11 at 6:30 PM, in the Reiche School Community Room for their final "Tree Talk" of the year focused on Portland's Street Trees. Learn about joining our efforts to help newly planted street trees survive their first years and how to get involved in tree well maintenance and neighborhood beautification.

Riverside Recycling's Household Hazardous Waste Day
Hazardous waste events happen the first Saturday of the month, 7:30 AM to 1 PM, April through November. Find a detailed list of acceptable household hazardous waste items here.

6/19: Free Webinar, Business Bank Loan Application Tips
Join this free lunchtime webinar hosted by SCORE Maine, 12:00 PM on Wednesday, 6/19, to learn about the necessary documents and information required for a successful business loan application. Learn effective strategies to  organize your financial documentation and craft a compelling case that resonates with lenders. 

𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔹𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕖𝕧𝕒𝕣𝕕, May 5 - September 29
Beginning this Sunday, May 5, through Sunday, September 29, 2024, Baxter Boulevard will be closed to vehicular traffic Sundays only, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and OPEN for walkers, bikers, pedestrian traffic + play! This year Sundays on the Boulevard runs. Street details: Baxter Boulevard closed to traffic from Vannah Ave. to Catafalque Dr. (Payson Park east entrance). Payson Park, west entrance road - from the tip of the Grass Triangle (by the softball field) to Baxter Boulevard.

Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates
Read all the latest updates on programs and more in their May 2024 newsletter. 

We’re Hiring!
We are hiring across several departments in the city, offering a variety of open positions including healthcare roles (RNs/CNAs), trades workers, before + afterschool counselors, 911 dispatchers, community health workers, and more> Connect with our city recruiter to learn more, or apply today. Come make a difference with us, our wellness benefits are award winning!

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

NEW: 6/2-7, Nightwork on Congress Street (Washington Ave to Pearl St.)
There will be NO PARKING along a majority of the road due to this work and cars will be detoured, learn more. 

6/3-21: NEUCO/Unitil Night Work on Congress Street
Night work (7:00 PM-7:00 AM) is now required on Congress St, from Bradley St to Massachusetts Ave.

Warren Avenue, Hicks to Hemingway Streets
Gorham Sand & Gravel resumes construction this week on Warren Avenue from Hicks to Hemingway Streets; we anticipate the project will be completed towards the end of June. Read the full details. 

Update: Sagamore Village Green Infrastructure Project
Starting the week of 4/28 the contractor will return to complete final landscape restorations and improvements over the next 2 months. Read the full update.

4/15-6/15: NEUCO/Unitil Gas Line Upgrades, Forest Ave + Congress St
Work replacing gas mains and service lines in Portland started 4/15 and is expected to last two months. Forest Avenue, from 845 Forest Ave to Belmont St. AND Congress Street, from Stevens Ave to Douglas St. Please direct questions to Bob Schnopp at (207) 653-2808 or rschnopp@neuco-inc.com.

6/3 City Council Meeting Agenda Preview

The City Council will conduct this meeting from Council Chambers, 2nd floor of  City Hall. The public may attend in person or watch via livestream. 

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

Special Meeting, Public comment taken
#215 Approving Merger of Portland Fish Pier Authority with Portland Fish Exchange and Other Actions

Proclamations
#32 Recognizing June 19, 2024 as Juneteenth

Appointments + 7 Consent Items
#216 Appointing Constables for Parks, Recreation & Facilities and The Jetport Garage for 2024

Budget Items
Council action on the Municipal Budget will take place after Public Comment. Public Comment and First Reads of all Municipal Budget Orders took place on May 20, 2024. Read the Municipal Budget Orders (# 198-# 211) on the full agenda at portlandmaine.gov/agendas.

Unfinished Business, Public comment taken
#213 Accepting and Appropriating $10,000 Anonymous Donation to Portland Fire Department for National EMS Week Fund
#214 Approving the Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the City of Portland and Local 740 International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO

Orders, Public comment on #224 only
#224 Extending the Declaration of a State of Limited Emergency at 654 Riverside Street
#225 Accepting/Appropriating $120,000 Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Grant from MaineDOT for Union Branch Pathway Project
#226 Adopting Development Program for Portland Downtown for FY'24-'25
#227 Establishing Maintenance + Implementation Assessments for Portland Downtown FY'24-'25
#228 Approving Agreement between the City of Portland and Portland Downtown FY '24-'25
#229 Adopting Development Program for the Portland Tourism Municipal Development District
#230 Establishing Implementation Assessments for Portland's Tourism Municipal Development District FY'24-'25
#240 Approving Development Program Manager Agreement between the City + Convention and Visitors' Bureau of Greater Portland Doing Business as Visit Portland
#241 Approving Amended Wage Scale and Additional Amendments to the Collective Bargaining Agreement with AFSCME Local 481-00, Labor and Trades

Amendments, All First Read, No Public comment
#242 Amendment Portland City Code Chapter 32 RE: Stormwater Regulation
#243 Amendment Portland City Code Chapter 24 RE: Discharge of Stormwater into Sewers
#244 Amendment Portland City Code Chapter 6 RE: Bird Friendly Building + Design Requirements
#245 Amendment Portland City Code Chapter 34 RE: Soil Tests + Fertilization Application