City News Round Up: Friday, January 14, 2022

Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. The next City Council meeting is on Wednesday, January 19 at 5:00 PM. The full Charter Commission also meets on Wednesday, January 19 at 6:00 PM. View the full Meeting Calendar.

Upcoming Closure: Monday, January 17, 2022

All City buildings will be closed on Monday, January 17 in observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There is no change to trash and recycling collection. 

Mask Mandate for Indoor Public Places Still in Effect

Masks are required when inside public places. Read our Mask Mandate FAQ. Businesses who still need mask supplies can visit City Hall via the Myrtle Street entrance between 9 AM and 4 PM  Monday through Friday as supplies last.

A New Brand for the City of Portland

This week we were excited to launch a new municipal brand for Portland! Our mission is to seek improved ways of communicating with you so that we can provide clear and efficient access to municipal services, unity of messaging across all City departments, and consistent approaches to sharing information. This leads to a more transparent picture of how we serve residents, workers, as well as property and business owners. Our hope is that this new brand and logo will help build and solidify trust and communication with you. Read the full details here.

Shape your city! Seeking Applicants for Vacancies on Boards & Committees 

We are seeking applications for vacancies on various boards and committees; find the full list on our website. Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter by Friday, February 4, 2022 to the Appointments Committee Chairman, c/o City Clerk, 389 Congress Street, Portland ME 04101 or klj@portlandmaine.gov. Learn more.

Portland Jetport Announces Spring Runway Closure, April 18 to June 22
The Jetport announced this week that for 56 days this spring, the airport's primary runway will be closed for a once in 15 year rehabilitation. Beginning April 18 through June 13, 2022 all air traffic in and out of the Jetport will be operating on the airport's secondary north-south runway. This will lead to a significant change in air traffic over Portland, South Portland, Scarborough, and Westbrook. A dedicated website with information for the community has been created;  flight paths will be posted there as they are finalized. Additional information will be available for the public at a Noise Advisory Committee meeting at 6:00pm on Thursday, February 3, 2022. Learn more: www.portlandjetport.org/runway.

TreeCycling - Don’t throw away your tree, recycle it! Jan 1-31, 2022
During the month of January, you can drop off your Christmas tree at these Portland locations: Cutter Street Parking Lot Eastern Prom (upper lot on right, not sliding hill lot); Payson Park (salt shed area, by little league field); Riverside Golf Course on the North Course (9th hole), 1158 Riverside Street. Trees must be clear of all ornaments, lights, and tinsel. Trees dropped off at these locations  will be chipped up. Curbside tree collection will also be available on your normal trash day during the month of January. Learn more.

Friends of Woodfords Corner wins MDC 2021 Downtown Project Award
Congratulations to Friends of Woodfords Corner for winning the 2021 Project of the Year Award from Maine Downtown Center! Working with the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and their “Imagine People Here" Project, and the City of Portland, Friends of Woodfords Corner installed a demonstration project around the intersection of Deering Avenue and Revere Street with the goal of calming traffic flow and creating a safer space for pedestrian crossing. All of the MDC awardees will be celebrated at the virtual MDC Annual Awards Celebration on January 27 event. Learn more and register here.

Applications Now Available: Maine Property Tax Deferral Program
In 2021 the Maine Legislature reinstated this property tax deferral program to help seniors and the fully disabled stay in their homes and age in place. For qualified and approved applicants, the State of Maine will pay the property taxes each year. The state will place a lien on the property and all deferred taxes (and accrued interest) are repaid to the state when the property is sold or the applicant passes away. Find the full qualification requirements here. Applications must be filed with the Assessor's Office between January 1 and April 1 each year. Please refer any questions to:Maine Property Services, Property Tax Division, 207-624-5600 or prop.tax@maine.gov.

Winter Recreation Updates
Winter has returned to Portland and there is so much to do! Be sure to bookmark the Parks and Recreation's Winter Recreation page where you can find details about where to go, what to do and what the conditions are. Don’t miss their interactive map - up to date info for sledding, skiing and skating conditions throughout our parks.

Reminder: Sidewalk Snow Removal

Our sidewalk snow removal ordinance requires business owners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property 12 hours following a winter storm, and residential owners to clear snow and ice abutting their property 18 hours following the end of a storm or when the City finishes snow removal operations, whichever is later.  There are fines associated with violations to this ordinance. Learn more here. 

KNOW SNOW Updates and Reminders

There is a new salt and sand shed in the parking lot of Deering Oaks in addition to the one at Payson Park; available to all Portland residents, two 5 gallon pails per residence. Bookmark our Winter Operations information here! During the winter months, the Public Works Dispatch office is open 24-hours a day, reachable at 207-874-8493, and crews are assigned to shifts to respond 24/7 to weather events. Major arterial roadways, hills and intersections are often treated before plowing operations begin, usually when 2” of snow falls. Plow teams concentrate first on major roadways and connectors to move traffic along before heading into residential areas.

Work With Us

We currently have multiple job openings across a variety of departments. For more information, visit: www.portlandmaine.gov/jobs.
 

**Construction Project Updates & Traffic Alerts**

Update: Back Cove West Storage Conduit
The 60-inch sewer pipe installation has been completed and about 250 feet of the conduit has been installed. The contractor continues to work on installing drainage within the completed pipe sections and once all of the utilities are in place, the road will be rebuilt and paved. The section of Baxter Boulevard from Dartmouth Street to Vannah Avenue is scheduled to reopen to vehicle traffic in June of 2022. The section of the Boulevard that spans from Vannah Avenue to Payson Park will remain closed until June of 2023. Sargent’s subcontractors continue to blast ledges within the area as well as installing sheet piling for the new box conduits. The blasting contractor is on George St currently, heading towards Vannah Ave. Read the full update here.

Fore Street - Eastern Promenade Sewer Separation Project

Good progress continues by the City's contractor on the installation of new combined sewer lines and storm drains on Fore Street; project work is currently approaching the intersection of Waterville Street. Fore Street will remain closed to through traffic for the time being to allow project work to continue efficiently and safely; please continue to use an alternate route to get to Munjoy Hill. The contractor plans to work throughout the winter in order to expedite the completion of the project. Learn more.

Staring 1/19: Metro Route 1 Service Change - Fore and Atlantic Streets
Due to construction on Fore Street, METRO Route 1 will not provide service along the Eastern Prom (near Fore St.) and on Fore and Atlantic Streets. Starting Wednesday, 1/19, METRO riders can access Route 1 service by using nearby bus stops at: Congress and Emerson Street (NEW) and Congress and North Street. Learn more here and via Metro Service Updates.

Brighton Avenue Sewer Separation Project

Construction work concluded for the season as of 12/23/21 and the work zone has been temporarily winterized to be operationally functional over the winter. Any  issues with temporary sidewalks and roadway patches will be addressed by the contractor over the winter; curb, sidewalk, and landscape restoration will continue in the Spring and final paving work starting in early April 2022. Learn more.