City News Round Up: Friday, December 13, 2024
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the December 2 City Council meeting. To view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings, please visit portlandmaine.gov/agendas. The next City Council meeting is Monday, December 16, at 5:00 PM; read the agenda preview at the end of this message.

Pedestrian Trail South of Tukey's Bridge Closed Through 12/18
Drilling subcontractor, New England Boring Company, is drill testing borings along the pedestrian trail near the south abutment of Tukey’s Bridge this week through Wednesday, 12/18 (the weather may force them to extend). Full details.

12/18: Parking Office Closure
The Parking Office will be closed Wednesday, 12/18 from 11:45AM - 2PM for a staff event. During that time parking tickets can be paid in the Treasury office or online. 

Upcoming Holiday Closures
Portland City Hall and City offices will be closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays at noon on Tuesday, 12/24, and all day Wednesday, 12/25, and Wednesday, January 1, 2025. There will not be a City News Round Up on Friday, 12/27. We’ll be back on Friday, 1/3.

Holiday Trash + Recycling Collection Changes
With the holidays falling mid-week, please be aware of the changes to the trash + recycling collection schedule, learn more here. Additional questions can be directed to solidwaste@portlandmaine.gov. 

• NO collection on Christmas Day, Wednesday, 12/25: ⁠Make-up collection will be on SATURDAY, 12/28.⁠ 
• NO collection on New Year's Day, Wednesday, 1/1/25: Make-up collection will be on SATURDAY, 1/4/25.⁠
• Find the Peaks Island holiday collection schedule here, and the Riverside Recycling holiday closure schedule here.

Important Changes for Portland Employers Start January 1
Portland businesses are reminded of the following changes starting January 1, 2025:
1) Paid Family Medical Leave Contributions Begin; 2) Increase to Overtime Exemption Threshold; 3) Minimum Wage Increase. Read this update for the full information.

City of Portland Selects Next Fire Chief
Portland City Manager Danielle West has selected Deputy Fire Chief Chad Johnston to be Portland’s next Fire Chief. Johnston joined the Portland Fire Department in 1999 and brings 25 years of experience to this leadership role. The City Council must confirm his appointment at its December 16 meeting. Once confirmed, he will assume the role on December 17. Read the full update.

Request For Applicants - Day Space Pilot + Methadone Treatment Program
The City has issued a request for grant applications through its opioid settlement fund programs in order to create a day space pilot program and a methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) program in Portland. In 2017, the City joined several nationwide class action lawsuits against opioid manufacturers, which were intended to help pay for the social costs and massive damages caused by the opioid epidemic. As a result, the City has received approximately $1.38 million in opioid settlement funds to allocate toward opioid remediation and abatement uses. 

New City Zoning Map
On November 4, 2024, the City Council voted unanimously to approve ReCode, Portland’s first comprehensive rewrite of Portland’s entire land use code and zoning map in over 50 years. ReCode went into effect on December 4, 2024, one month after the City Council’s vote. Find the updated zoning maps + land use code, along with more information on ReCode here.

12/31: Rental Registration Renewals Due
Reminder to landlords and property managers: The annual rental registration process is currently open, and renewals are due by December 31, 2024. Rental Renewal Notices for 2025 were mailed out in November. If you did not receive a renewal letter for your rental property, please contact the Rental Registration office at rentcontrol@portlandmaine.gov. Visit the rental registration page for documents and information on rental registration.

Don't Miss Out! DIY Electrify Rebate Ends 12/31
Save money & save energy! The Sustainability Office is still offering rebates up to $250 to eligible Portland homeowners and renters for a list of eligible items - including weatherstripping, window and door caulking, pipe insulation, Window Dressers insulating window inserts, and more. This program expires on December 31, 2024; we do not anticipate having funding for this program again in the near future. Click here to learn more about DIY Electrify.

Grand Menorah Lighting at City Hall
Join Chabad of Maine for an unforgettable evening of light and joy featuring a spectacular Menorah lighting on Wednesday, 12/25 at 4PM. Savor the taste of the holiday with hot latkes and donuts, and take the celebration to the next level at their family-friendly Chanukah party.

Reminder: Time to Register Your Dog
State law requires you to license your dog each year. Residents can register dogs online or at the City Clerk's office, learn more here. Register annually by January 31 to avoid the $25 late fee.Fees: $6 per year; $11 unneutered/unspayed. (A $1 transaction fee + a $1.75 shipping/handling fee is added to online registration transactions.) 

Winter Storm Operations
It’s that time of year where we remind residents of winter storm operations information; read the full details here (+ bookmark the page for storm days!). Our Public Works crew cares for more than 560 lane miles of road, and our Parks, Recreation & Facilities crew cares for more than 100 miles of sidewalks during and following snow storms. The fastest way to receive parking ban notifications is to sign up for our city alerts; you can choose to receive these via email and/or text message. Sign up today by visiting portlandmaine.gov/stayconnected OR text PortlandParkingBan to 38276. ⁠

The City’s residential sand and salt pile is located at the Little League parking lot at Payson Park. This sand and salt pile is for residential use only, contractors are not allowed. Residents can take two 5-gallon pails at a time.

New State Matching Grant - Businesses Impacted by 2023 Severe Storms
Portland businesses and nonprofits impacted by last year's severe storms can now apply for grants of up to $100,000. Grant recipients must match the grant amount with their own funds, insurance, or money from other sources. Applications are due by January 14. Visit the Maine Office of Business Development website to find the full information.

Fitzpatrick Stadium Closed for Construction
Fitzpatrick Stadium will be closed for construction through December 20 while new turf is being installed. Follow our Parks Division on Facebook or Instagram for updates.

Share Your Input - Public EV Charging Locations
The Greater Portland Council of Governments is identifying possible locations for new electric vehicle charging stations in our region. The regional planning agency uses transportation data and public input and wants to hear from you! Take their brief survey to let them know your priorities and concerns about EV adoption and where charging locations would be most helpful. 

Free Online Business Planning Class in January
Venturing Forth is a free online comprehensive business planning class hosted by New Ventures Maine. Anyone with a business idea or current business is welcome to apply. Learn more on their website and apply by 1/17; class begins Thursday, 1/23. Contact Banjo Ogunlela to request/complete an application, register for the orientation, or learn more at 207-262-7842 or Oyebanjo.ogunlela@maine.edu.

No Cost Monthly Legal Aid Clinic
Our Office of Economic Opportunity hosts a monthly virtual Legal Aid Clinic every second Thursday of the month. Appointments are available on Zoom from 12 PM-5 PM. Individuals may sign up for a one-hour appointment to speak with a volunteer immigration lawyer at no cost. Sign up online or contact them here: oeo@portlandmaine.gov, 207-874-8799. The Legal Aid Clinic can help with any immigration questions except those relating to asylum, please direct those to www.ilapmaine.org.

Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates 

Read all the latest updates in the November 2024 newsletter here. The 2024-2025 Fall/Winter/Spring Recreation Program Guide is now available to the public! The guide has information for all Recreation services the department provides through the Spring of 2025, and registration is now open. 

Elder Exercise: Drop-In Pickleball at Reiche
Join for a game of drop-in pickleball! 50+ exercise takes place at Reiche Community Center on Fridays, 12/6,13,20, 6PM-8PM, $5/residents. Contact cviney@portlandmaine.gov, 207-874-8873 for more information.

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

Western Promenade Project to Resume Spring 2025
The contractor will be wrapping up details to stabilize the site for the winter this week as well as the week of 12/09; traffic impacts will be minimal. The Contractor will return to the site in the spring of 2025, and final completion is expected by 6/15/25. Read full details.

Visit portlandmaine.gov/PublicWorks for links to all the most recent DPW project updates.

12/16 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 here via livestream. 

Presentation: State of the Schools - Portland Board of Public Education

Appointments + 3 Consent Items, Public comment taken
#98 Appointing/Setting Salary of Chad Johnston as Fire Chief
#99 Appointing Curtis Bohlen + Douglas Roncarati to Long Creek Watershed Management District Board of Directors
#100 Authorizing Special Council + Outside Board and Commission Appointments for 2025

Licenses, Public comment taken
#104 Declaring August 2+3, 2025 the Portland Music and Arts Festival at Payson Park

Communications,  No public comment, No Council action
#6 Regarding the 2025 Council Common Goals

Unfinished Business, Public Comment taken
#92 Accepting/Appropriating Housing and Urban Development Lead Hazard Reduction Grant + Appropriating $3,367,960 for Lead Abatement + Healthy Home Improvements in Residential Housing throughout Cumberland County
#93 Accepting/Appropriating up to $6,553,000 In Pass-Through Funding from MaineDOT for Wharf Repair Under the Working Waterfront Resiliency Grant Program + Approving Cooperative Agreements Between the City and MaineDOT
#95 Approving Collective Bargaining Agreement Between City of Portland + AFSCME Local 481–07, Supervisors
#96 Approving Collective Bargaining Agreement Between City of Portland + The City Employees' Benefit Association AFSCME Local 1373
#97 Approving Energy Efficiency Conservation Grant Block Program Technical Assistance Vouchers Agreement Between the City + United States Department of Energy

Orders, Public comment taken on #105-#107 only
#105 Accepting Derby Road as Public Easement + Utility Easement
#106 Setting Special Election Re: Portland Board of Public Education Election, June 10, 2025
#107 Approving Three-Year Renewal Agreement with Cumulous Global for Google Workspace
#108 Approving Amendments to the Rules of the Rent Board (First Read)
#109 Accepting/Appropriating $3,600,000 Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Grant from MaineDOT for Commercial St/Portland Fish Pier Storm Drain Outfall Project (First Read)