City News Round Up: Friday, January 31, 2025

Meetings & Agendas

Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the January 22 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, February 3, at 5:00 PM; read the agenda preview at the end of this message.

Saturday, 2/1: Emergency Warming Shelter Open Overnight
CommonSpace will open the overnight Emergency Warming Shelter on Saturday, 2/1 (7 PM-7 AM) at First Parish Church (425 Congress Street) in Portland. The entrance is through the red door in “freshman alley” by Portland High School. Read our Winter Warming Plan here. ⁠

Volunteer on City Boards & Committees! Apply by 2/10
The City Clerk's office is seeking applications for various board and committee positions which all play an important role in Portland’s government. Residents can find the full descriptions and application instructions on the City’s website here. The deadline to apply is Monday, February 10. Applicants will be contacted for interviews.

Portland Senior Tax Equity Program (P-Step) Applications
Our Treasury staff has mailed new applications to residents who were approved for the P-Step program last year; a new application must be filed every year that you are eligible for the program. Applications are available online and in-person at City Hall; this year’s application period runs from January 1 through July 31, 2025. Learn more about the Portland Senior Tax Equity Program (P-STEP) on our website.

Declaration Forms Mailed for Upcoming Tax Year
Business owners were recently mailed a 2025 Personal Property Declaration form in preparation for the upcoming tax year. In addition, commercial property owners were mailed a 2025 Commercial Real Estate Declaration form. Anticipated delivery of these forms should be this and next week. Please contact the Assessing Office with any questions: (207) 874-8486, assessors@portlandmaine.gov. Completed forms should be returned to the Assessing Office on or before May 1, 2025. 

Property Taxes Due March 14th
The second portion of property taxes are due March 14, 2024. Tax bills can be viewed and paid on our website, learn more here. 

Maine's First Confined Aquatic Disposal (CAD) Cell
Dredging Portland Harbor to keep our waterfront working has been an identified need and priority for decades and now it's underway! Last fall, we signed a contract with Cashman Dredging, and they'll be performing this work throughout the rest of January and February. The CAD Cell will be the disposal facility for dredged materials from more than 40 marine sites throughout Portland Harbor. This project is a collaboration between the City of Portland, the City of South Portland, and the Portland Harbor Commission. Critical funding and project support are provided by the State of Maine, MaineDOT, and the EPA Brownfields program. 

Winter Wednesdays: New Dining Campaign Launches 
Enjoy great deals and support your local eateries in Greater Portland + beyond on Wednesdays now through March 26, 2025! Find participating restaurants and deals, or sign your establishment up here. All restaurants across the state are encouraged to participate and spread the word!

New Age-Friendly Portland Business
Congratulations to Novel Book Bar & Cafe on becoming a certified Age-Friendly Business in Portland! This award highlights their dedication to accessibility and inclusivity for older adults. Does this sound like an organization or business you know? Contact AgeFriendlyCommunity@PortlandMaine.gov to learn more or apply online.

NEW: Grant Funding Available: STEP Financial Assistance Award
Portland businesses can apply for financial assistance of $5,000 to $10,000 through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s State Trade Expansion Program, a grant initiative that provides funding to states and U.S. territories to increase the number of businesses that export. Administered by Maine International Trade Center, the objective of the STEP Financial Assistance Award is to encourage Maine companies to seek new international sales through financial support for costs associated with such export growth activities. Learn more + apply by 2/28.

Planning Project Spotlight: 197 Oxford Street
On January 14, 2025, the Planning Board approved a Major Site Plan application involving a phased-site plan development featuring a total of 96 residential units on three parcels within the R-6 zone. Phase 1 includes 20 affordable housing units and 28 Housing First units with on-site staff and support services. The second and third phases each have 24 market-rate housing units. This application will also include the reconstruction of sidewalks along Cedar, Oxford, and Lancaster Streets, as well as 34 new street trees in the Bayside neighborhood.

New Ventures Maine, Marketing Mini-Grants: Apply by 2/28
New Ventures Maine awards cash mini-grants (up to $1,000) to microenterprises for current marketing projects. This program supports the development of marketing tools, materials, and activities. Applications are due on February 28. Learn more + apply here.

School Board Nomination Papers Now Available
Nomination papers are now available in the City Clerk's office to fill the vacant School Board At-Large seat for a six-month term to fill a vacant seat. Interested candidates will also have to file nomination papers subsequently for the November 2025 election to run for a full three-year term. Completed nomination papers must be returned to the City Clerk's Office by Monday, March 3, to qualify for the June 10 ballot. Please contact the Clerk's Office for more information: elections@portlandmaine.gov or 207-874-8677.

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates - Frozen Funk This Saturday!
Frozen Funk is back! This Saturday, 2/1, join us at Deering Oaks Park for an evening of ice skating, music, and winter fun starting at 5:30 PM. Lace up your skates and dance the night away to some funky tunes. Brought to you by 107.9 WJZP. Read all the latest updates in the January 2025 newsletter here.

Reminder: View real-time condition updates for Portland's five skating ponds and three sledding hills on this interactive map, updated daily. Ice skating is always at your own risk. Find more ice safety and winter recreation ideas on our website.

We're seeking a passionate and experienced Recreation Division Director to lead our vibrant and growing community programs, learn more and apply. Save the date! Registration for Camp Venture opens on Tuesday, March 4 at 8:30 AM. Set up a MyRec account today to save time on registration day!

Elder Exercise: Friday Drop-In Pickleball at Reiche
Join for a game of drop-in pickleball - ongoing now through May 2025! 50+ exercise takes place at Reiche Community Center on Fridays, 6 PM-8 PM, $5/residents. Contact cviney@portlandmaine.gov, 207-874-8873 for more information.

Rental Registration Late Fee Reminder
We're reminding landlords and property managers that the City’s annual rental registration process is currently open, and renewals were due on December 31, 2024; see the late fee schedule below. If you require any assistance, please contact the Rental Registration office at rentcontrol@portlandmaine.gov. Visit the rental registration page to learn more.

• Licenses not renewed by January 15, 2025, will be subject to late fees of $50 per unit. 
• Licenses not renewed by February 15, 2025, will be subject to late fees of $200 per unit. 

We’re Hiring!
We're on the lookout for lifeguards and aquatic instructors to join our Parks Division team. Whether you're looking for part-time excitement or on-call flexibility, we’ve got a spot for you! Connect with our recruiter here to learn more, or APPLY here today!

We are also 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. Come make a difference with us, our wellness benefits are award winning!

2/3 City Council Meeting Agenda Preview
The City Council will conduct this meeting from the Council Chambers, 2nd floor of City Hall. The public may attend in person or watch here via livestream. 

5:00 PM: Public comment period on non-agenda items

Proclamations + 3 Consent Items
#22 Recognizing Black History Month 2025
#23 Recognizing 50th Anniversary of Medical Crisis Unit "MedCU" 

Orders, Public comment on #129 only
#129 Accepting the Portland Public Art Committee Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report and Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Plan
#130 Accepting/Appropriating a $15,500 StrengthenME Grant for the Coastal Cumberland County Project FIRST READ

Amendments, First Read only
#131 Amendment to Portland City Code Chapter 10 RE: Regulation of Explosives