City News Round Up: Friday, February 4, 2022

City News Round Up: Friday, February 4, 2022

Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. The next City Council meeting is on Monday, February 7, at 5:00 PM. View the full Meeting Calendar.

City Council Meeting - Agenda Preview

You can always read the full agenda for any upcoming City Council meetings via our website (portlandmaine.gov/agendas), or read the highlights on social media. A few noteworthy items include:

• Amendment to Portland City Code Chapter 17 Re: Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products Prohibited (PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE TAKEN)

• Extending the Face Covering Mandate to March 7, 2022

• Amendment to the Portland City Code Chapter 17 Re: Change to Date of Review of Mask Mandate

• Amendment to the Portland City Code Chapter 33 Re: Hazard Pay in Effect during Mask Mandate (FIRST READ, NO PUBLIC COMMENT)

Winter Overnight Parking Reminders

With repeated winter snowstorms taking place, don't forget to follow the overnight street maintenance signs that are in effect on peninsula and near USM. Our Public Works crews will use those restrictions to remove and push back snow following a storm. Cars not in compliance with the City's Street Maintenance Signs will be subject to towing. Learn more.

2/7: Nomination Papers Available for June Special Municipal Election
This week the City Clerk  alerted Portland residents that nomination papers will be available on Monday, February 7 for the June 14, 2022 Special Municipal Election. Papers can be taken out via the City Clerk's Office at City Hall, please use the Myrtle Street entrance. Masks are required. Learn more.

2/8: Public Meeting: Community Housing Needs
On Tuesday, February 8, at 6:00 PM, the City of Portland and Cumberland County will co-host a public meeting to collect public feedback on reducing homelessness and increasing housing stability. Public input is a vital element in assessing needs and gathering feedback from the community. Learn more.

2/9: Portland Walk-in Vaccine Clinic
Williston-Immanuel United Church is hosting a walk-in Covid vaccine clinic on Wednesday, February 9 from 4-6PM. The church is located at 156 High Street in Portland. Vaccines and boosters will be available at no cost, including: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson + Johnson. Volunteer shifts are also available that day, 3:30-6:15PM, to help direct foot traffic and hand out consent forms to patients. For more information: office@williston-immanuel.org.

2/11: Coffee & Climate, Energy Efficient Housing

Join City Sustainability staff on Friday, February 11, 9-10AM for this month’s Coffee & Climate on energy efficient housing! This month Jesse Thompson, principal at Kaplan Thompson Architects, will join them to discuss the synergies between energy efficiency and housing affordability. You can find and save the Zoom link on Eventbrite when you sign up!

2/15: Mayor’s Monthly Zoom

Join Mayor Kate Snyder on Tuesday, February 15 at 4:00 PM for her monthly Zoom chat; an opportunity for residents to get recent updates from the Mayor and discuss any issues. Find Zoom details here.

New Survey: Recode Portland

We're still looking for your feedback on our recently-released land use code evaluation! Learn about the code evaluation and tell us what you think of its recommendations. Take the survey.

Apply now! Paid Positions on our Elections Team

This week we celebrated the second annual National Poll Worker Recruitment Day! We are grateful to all past and present poll workers who have aided in our efforts to execute the duties of electing our leaders. We are hiring for important roles needed on Election Day; no experience is necessary, and training will be provided. You do not need to be a Portland resident to apply. Learn more.

Better Bikeways Initiative: Share Your Ideas

Attention Portland bike community! Last week the Planning and Urban Development Department  launched a new project in need of your ideas. The Better Bikeways Initiative aims to take Portland's bikeway network to the next level. Two new online tools were created, a questionnaire and a crowdsourcing mapping tool, to collect your input and to start the community conversation. Learn more about the project here.

New EV Chargers Operational in the West End
The Sustainability Office announced that four new EV chargers are operational and ready for public use in the West End, in the small parking lot at the corner of Spring and High. Visit our website for other locations available throughout the city.

Real Estate Taxes Due: Friday, March 18 

Please visit selfservice.portlandmaine.gov to find your bill or check amounts due.

Any questions can be directed to treasury@portlandmaine.gov or call 207-874-8490.

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.

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. The Mask Mandate will be discussed by the Council again at its February 7 meeting. 

Winter Recreation Updates
The Playground crew has been working diligently to resurface ice skating rinks this week and announced all ponds are ready for skaters! Be sure to bookmark the Parks and Recreation's Winter Recreation page where you can find details about where to go, what to do. Don’t miss their interactive conditions map - up to date info for sledding, skiing and skating conditions throughout our parks.

Work With Us

We currently have multiple job openings across a variety of departments. For more information, visit: www.portlandmaine.gov/jobs. See how we are working together to serve the community with other local agencies -in this recent video. 

Veranda Street Traffic Alert

Reminder to drivers: Veranda St/Route 1 in Portland was converted to two-way traffic in August 2021. Although this traffic pattern was put in place back in August, winter plowing and weather conditions have made the yellow paint lines on the road hard to see. There have been numerous instances of people driving in the wrong lane when making the left turn onto the I-295 on-ramp. MaineDOT is

updating signage  to remind drivers to keep right, and coordinating a repaint and maintenance of the yellow lane lines. Learn more.