City News Round Up:  Friday, July 19, 2024
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the July 15 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, August 19, which is a special double meeting at 4 PM and 5:30 PM. 

TONIGHT:  Join the Coffee & Climate Bike Party
Join the One Climate Future team at 6:00 PM on Friday, 7/19 for a bike ride with Portland Trails, Bicycle Coalition of Maine, and Portland Bike Party! Meet at Orange Bike Brewing (31 Diamond Street) for the pre-ride gathering to engage with fellow commuters; the group ride takes off at 7:00 PM. No registration required, just bring your bicycle, helmet, and high-visibility gear for safety if you plan to ride.

Community Solar Virtual Webinar July 31
Curious about community solar? Join the Portland Sustainability Office and experts from EnergySage and Revision Energy on Wednesday, July 31 from 12pm-1pm for an online webinar to learn more about your different options for community solar and how it works. Learn more about Go Solar.

Free Class for Entrepreneurs hosted by New Ventures Maine
New Ventures Maine (NVME) will offer Venturing Forth: Business Planning for Entrepreneurs, a free and online 60-hour course in business planning, starting September 3. For new entrepreneurs or existing business owners, Venturing Forth helps businesspeople create a written business plan from start to finish. The comprehensive course includes in-class activities, guest speakers and homework assignments that lead to a completed business plan and road map for success.

To learn more, contact NVME Microenterprise Specialist Alicia LaFosse at alicia.lafosse@maine.edu or (207) 621-7457 or visit newventuresmaine.org.

DIY Electrify! Rebates Still Available
The Sustainability Office is still offering rebates up to $250 to eligible Portland homeowners and renters for a list of eligible items - including Energy-Star certified air conditioners, cellular window shades, smart thermostats, and other energy efficiency items. Save money & save energy, click here to learn more about DIY Electrify.

Annual Fill-A-Backpack Challenge
The Portland Police Department and the Portland Regional Communications Center are holding their annual Fill-A-Backpack Challenge now through 8/15! Over the past eight years, 2,577 backpacks have been donated to students in our schools from donations within the City of Portland, and from citizens from around Maine. Backpacks should be filled with the following supplies: pencils, pencil sharpener, crayons, colored pencils, ruler, spiral bound notebooks, scissors (blunt edged), erasers, glue. Bags can be dropped off in the lobby of the police station (109 Middle St.) or pickup can be arranged if needed. Please direct questions to: cherylb@portlandmaine.gov.

Tax Relief for Low-Income Seniors - Apply by Wednesday, 7/31!
The 2024 P-STEP application deadline is coming up on July 31. The Portland Senior Tax Equity Program (P-STEP) provides tax relief to low-income seniors. To qualify, applicants must be 62 years of age or older with a homestead in Portland. ⁠Find the application + learn more on our website or visit City Hall in person. Our Office of Elder Affairs is also available for application assistance, please contact them at 207-541-6620.⁠

Property Owners to Receive Revaluation Data Mailer Starting July 29
All residential property owners will begin receiving data mailers requesting verification of property information starting July 29. Information about the revaluation process is available on a new website. View a sample data mailer. Property owners are encouraged to visit the site and contact the Assessor’s Office with questions.

Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates
Read all the latest updates in their June 2024 newsletter. We’re actively recruiting people to work for our Before & After the Bell program as well as in Aquatics. These are great, flexible positions! Learn more by visiting our jobs portal and help us spread the word. 
Visit the Parks & Rec website to learn more about new registration changes.
Find City Splash Pad hours + locations here. 

Sundays on the Boulevard: May 5-September 29
Reminder:  Baxter Boulevard is closed to vehicular traffic Sundays only, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and OPEN for walkers, bikers, pedestrian traffic + play through Sunday, September 29, 2024! 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.

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

DPW Paving Updates and Ongoing Construction Projects

Upcoming MaineDOT Construction - Casco Bay Bridge Project
MaineDOT will be doing night work on the Casco Bay Bridge starting with traffic control improvements on Monday, July 8. The additional milling/paving dates are currently subject to change: milling is tentatively scheduled for August 4, and paving the first week of September. Learn more.

Ongoing: Baxter Boulevard Construction at Hannaford Plaza Road
Two weeks of construction started Monday, July 8 to install a new catch basin and pipe at Baxter Boulevard and Hannaford Plaza Road. Read full details.

Ongoing: Western Promenade Drainage Improvements Project
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. Read full details.

Visit portlandmaine.gov/PublicWorks for links to all the most recent DPW project updates, or find all paving updates here.