City News Round Up:  Friday, June 7, 2024
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the June 3 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 17. 

Tonight is First Friday Art Walk! Download the map.

6/8: Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon & 5K
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.

6/8: Walk the Working Waterfront
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. 

6/9: 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. 

GO VOTE! Tuesday, June 11 is Election Day
Tuesday, June 11 is Election Day for the State of Maine Primary and School Budget Referendum. The polls are open 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM; all polling locations are ADA compliant. Portland residents can register to vote on Election Day at your polling location. (Find your polling location.) Visit our website to view sample ballots and learn more. Absentee ballots must be returned to City Hall by 8:00 PM on election day to be processed and counted. Ballots are NOT to be returned to your polling location. Return your ballot to one of our 24-hour secure external drop boxes located at City Hall next to the Myrtle Street entrance or at the Public Works Building at 212 Canco Road.

Baxter Boulevard and Forest Ave Paving Begins Tuesday, June 11
Baxter Boulevard, between Cheverus and Vannah, will have a lane closure on Tuesday, 6/11 starting at 7:00 AM for milling. Forest Avenue at Dartmouth will also have a lane closure starting at 9:00 AM for milling. Both areas will  be paved on the same day if weather allows. All work is weather dependent and may change due to scheduling conflicts and other projects. Read full details.

6/17: Western Promenade Drainage Improvements Project To Begin
Residents are being notified by mail of this construction anticipated to begin during the week of June 17, 2024 and scheduled to be substantially completed by 10/31/24. Final project roadway paving will be completed in the late spring/early summer of 2025. Project work will typically run Monday-Friday between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM. Learn more.

Join us! Portland Pride Parade 🏳️‍🌈
City staff and officials will be marching in the Pride Parade Saturday, June 15 and we hope to see you there! Visit www.prideportland.org for the full details. 

150 New Trees Coming to Bayside Neighborhood
We're pleased to announce that 150 new street trees will be arriving soon across the Bayside neighborhood. The Bayside Tree Planting Project, managed by the City’s Parks Division and funded by a combination of federal ARPA and CDBG funds, places an emphasis on streets with insufficient tree canopy cover. Work is starting this month with the planting of 20 trees. Read the full story.

City Council Approves Fish Pier & Fish Exchange Merger
The City Council approved the merger of the Portland Fish Pier Authority with the Portland Fish Exchange into a single governance entity at its June 3, 2024 meeting. Learn more.

Portland Fire Recognized for Baby Delivery & Use of New Safety Device
Our Fire Department recently received recognition from Maine EMS for a field delivery of a baby that incorporated the use of a new safety device on 3/4/24. Read the full story.

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. 

ReCode Podcast + Share Your Feedback
Our Planning team continues to encourage everyone to learn more about the second wave changes to the land use code and share your feedback here. Please visit www.recodeportland.me to learn more, or listen to this recent podcast with our Planning staff. 

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!

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 is 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!
The Parking Division is currently hiring Parking Control Officers, if you enjoy working outdoors both independently and in a team setting, learn more here.
We are also hiring across several departments in the city, with a variety of open positions: 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.