City News Round Up:  Friday, June 21, 2024
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the June 17 City Council meeting. To view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings, please visit www.portlandmaine.gov/agendas. 

The Battle of the Bridge is Tomorrow - Get Your Tickets!
On Saturday, June 22, the Battle of the Bridge brings together the courageous members of the Portland Fire Department and the South Portland Fire Department for an epic clash for the ages for a good cause! All proceeds will go towards supporting the Portland Firefighters Children's Burn Foundation. Buy tickets here. 

Upcoming Holiday Closure, July Fourth
City Hall and City offices will be closed Thursday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. Trash & Recycling will be collected as normal. Please have items curbside by 6:30 AM.
 

Fourth of July Fireworks Information
We are hosting a Fourth of July fireworks display once again on Thursday, July 4, in its usual spot on the Eastern Promenade with the fireworks set to go off around 9:15 PM. A rain date is scheduled for Friday, July 5. If the rain date is needed, the City will make that announcement by 7:00 PM on the 4th. Food trucks will be available on the Eastern Prom Roadway, and this year the Casco Bay Wind Symphony will perform starting at 7:00 PM until the beginning of the fireworks show. Find the full street closure information here.

First Electric Trash Truck in Maine - Help Us Name It!
This week we unveiled the first all ELECTRIC trash truck in Maine - soon to be on the streets of Portland! We're thrilled to take another step forward in our commitment to sustainability. The Mack LRE Packer truck is an all-electric, full-size refuse truck.⁠ In celebration, please help us give this truck a proper name! We're hoping for your best puns, but please keep suggestions clean. Submit ideas now through Sunday, June 30 at portlandmaine.gov/ItsElectric!. We'll narrow it down to the top 5 choices and then you can vote for your favorite. 

City Helps Fund MaineHealth’s New Mobile Health Unit
The City is proud to support MaineHealth’s new mobile health unit with an allocation of federal ARPA funds. The CONNECT service will help fill the void between the work of the City’s Mobile Medical Outreach team and the Portland Police Behavioral Health team, by providing an opportunity to access psychological care in non-crisis settings by choice.

City Announces Revaluation Timeline
Information about the revaluation process is now available on the City Assessor’s website. In July 2024, all residential property owners will receive data mailers requesting verification of property information. Read the full memo from the June 17 Council meeting to see a sample data mailer. Property owners are encouraged to visit the site and contact the Assessor’s Office with questions. Learn more.

Portland Fire Department Celebrates Two Graduating Recruit Classes
The Portland Fire Department is pleased to announce that six new firefighters will be graduating from initial training today, Friday, June 21. Their graduation follows rigorous advanced fire and EMS training in an academy format. This ceremony recognizes two distinct groups of new employees. One group, comprised of seasoned firefighters who successfully have joined us by transferring into the department, and another group who are newer to the profession.

New! Clean Elections Payment Portal Now Live
If you're a registered voter and resident of Portland you can now use this service to make contributions to support candidates seeking Maine Clean Election funding. 

Rate Increases Go Into Effect July 1
Visit our Parking webpage to view upcoming rate increases on parking garages and lots as well as parking tickets. The cost of the City of Portland purple trash bags will be the following rates: $1.90 per 15-gallon bag or $3.80 per 30-gallon bag. The cost per roll is $19.00; it comes with ten x 15 gallon bags or 5 x 30 gallon bags. The City Council approved the increases in these fees as part of its approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 municipal budget, which starts July 1, 2024.

Greater Portland METRO Service Changes
On Sunday, June 16, METRO began implementing several service changes. Portland Jetport, DHHS, and outer Congress Street will now be served hourly by Route 7. Route 5 service to these areas will be discontinued and will instead run directly between Elm Street and the Maine Mall. Details on service changes can be found on METRO's website.

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.

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 & “Dancing For Joy”
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. Don’t miss “Dancing for Joy” which opened last week and will be on view at Back Cove Park.

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.
The Deering Oaks Ravine opened for the 2024 season on Friday, May 24! Ravine hours are roughly 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM daily. The Ravine is cleaned by our Playgrounds and Park Ranger crews and is refilled daily with water from Sebago Lake. Find City Splash Pad hours + locations here. 

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.

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! Recent positions listed: Customer Service Representative, Treasury; RN Staff Development Coordinator, Barron Center; Budget Analyst, Finance.

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.

6/17: Western Promenade Drainage Improvements Project To Begin
Residents were notified by mail of this construction anticipated to begin during the week of June 17 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.