City News Round Up: Friday, April 11, 2025

Meetings & Agendas
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the March 17 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, April 14, at 5:00 PM. The City Manager’s recommended FY26 budget will be presented at this meeting and then referred to the Finance Committee for review. 

Upcoming Closure: Monday, April 21
City Hall and city buildings will be closed on Monday, 4/21, in observance of Patriots' Day. There is no change to trash and recycling collection.

Earth Day & Egg Scramble at Payson Park - Postponed to 4/19
Kick off spring at our FREE, family-friendly Earth Day Celebration and Egg Scramble postponed to next Saturday, April 19, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Payson Park! Enjoy a morning of egg hunting, photos with Bubba the Bunny, face painting, music, games, and more from 10:00 - 11:00 AM. Earth Day festivities will take over from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM, with City and local environmental organizations partnering to host a festival of fun, including e-bike demos, a free clothing swap, outdoor activities, games, painting, food trucks, and more.

Towing Alert:  Street Sweeping Parking Reminders
Street sweeping is ramping up over the next several weeks. In order for this work to be effective and done by the end of May, we need your compliance with parking restrictions! On the peninsula: Please help our operations team and follow the (overnight & daytime, check your zone) street maintenance parking restrictions to avoid tickets or towing.⁠ These parking regulations are in effect annually from October 1 - May 31. We always ticket to achieve compliance, but are hoping we don't have to tow! Street sweeping is a City regulatory requirement, reduces water pollution (by removing salt/sand), and prevents materials from clogging our sewer/storm drain systems. 

Portland Public Health Celebrates National Public Health Week
April 7-13 marks the 30th anniversary of National Public Health Week (NPHW)! This week our Public Health Division is celebrating by highlighting its commitment to community health and resilience. Portland Public Health strives to improve health for all through its 13 prevention, preparedness, and clinical programs, ensuring all residents, including underserved communities, thrive. Learn more about our local impact and delivery of critical services.

City Celebrates National Telecommunicators Week Starting April 13
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW) is an annual event that acknowledges the efforts of telecommunicators who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure help is on the way in times of crisis. Locally, the Portland Regional Communications Center’s (PRCC) Telecommunicators answer calls for service for the police and fire departments in the communities of Portland, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth.

Chickadee License Plates Will Be Replaced Starting May 1
As of May 1, 2025, the new Pine Tree/ No Tree plates will start to be distributed. Chickadee plates will no longer be issued. Plate exchanges with the NEW design will occur during your normal registration time frame. You do not need to come in before your registration is due.

If you have a low-digit vanity or want to retain your current number, follow this link to reserve your plate. Reserved plates will arrive 2-4 weeks prior to registration expiration date. If you have questions, please call the State at 207-624-9000 Ext 52149, or email them at platereserve.bmv@maine.gov. 

Reimagining Franklin Street Open House, April 17
We're hosting an Open House to kick off the Reimagining Franklin Street Project on Thursday, 4/17, 4:30-6:30 PM at the Portland Public Library, Main Branch (Rines Auditorium, 5 Monument Square). The interactive event invites attendees to learn about past planning efforts and discuss their ideas and priorities for an updated street design and land use plan. Listen to this podcast from the 3/27 GPCOG Let’s Connect Greater Portland show to learn more about the project.

Sundays on the Boulevard Starts May 4 Through September 28
Starting Sunday, May 4, 2025, Baxter Boulevard will be closed to vehicular traffic on  Sundays only, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and OPEN for walkers, bikers, pedestrian traffic + play! This year Sundays on the Boulevard runs through Sunday, September 28, 2025.⁠ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: Baxter Boulevard from Vannah Ave to Catafalque Drive (Payson Park east entrance), and the Payson Park west entrance road from the tip of the grass triangle to Baxter Boulevard shall be closed to traffic from 9AM to 4 PM every Sunday from May 4, 2025, to September 28, 2025 (Please note: Sundays on the Boulevard will be suspended on Sunday, August 3, 2025, to accommodate the Back Cove Music & Arts Festival taking place in Payson Park.)

Creative Portland Announces 8th Juried Art Exhibition "Acceptance"
Fourteen local Maine artists have been selected for Creative Portland’s eighth juried art exhibition, "Acceptance," which will open to the public during the First Friday Art Walk on May 2, 2025, and run through April 2026, Monday through Thursday, from 10 AM-4 PM and every First Friday thereafter, unless noted otherwise. The Creative Portland Gallery is located at 84 Free Street, directly across from the back entrance of Maine College of Art & Design.

Call For Artists: Payson Park Summer Concert Series
Friends of Payson Park is seeking four musical acts for their 2025 season of free, family-friendly outdoor concerts in the park! The confirmed concert dates are the second Tuesday of the month, June-September.

Absentee Voting Information for June 10 Municipal Election
Voters can now request their absentee ballot for the 6/10 Special Municipal Election; ballots will be sent out once they are ready in May.⁠ Please note: Since this is a municipal election only, voters must use the City’s online request form for this election, NOT the State of Maine’s absentee ballot request form. 

Food Safety Inspection Team Helps Keep ‘Foodie City’ Safest in Nation
Our food safety inspection team helps keep Portland, known as a ‘foodie city’, the safest in the nation following a report that showed that Maine ranked the safest state in 2024 based on foodborne illnesses. The City employs two food safety health inspectors who inspect all Health Licenses on behalf of the City and the State. Read the full story. So far in FY25, the City’s food safety health inspectors have performed 911 inspections; in FY24, they performed 1,347 inspections.

Seeking Volunteer Applicants to Serve on City Boards & Committees
We're seeking volunteer applications for various board and committee positions which all play an important role in Portland’s government. Find the full role descriptions, along with application directions, on our website. Apply by Friday, May  16. Interested applicants can apply online OR send a resume and cover letter to: Appointments Committee Chairman, c/o City Clerk, 389 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 (or via email to arand@portlandmaine.gov). Applicants will be contacted for interviews. 

City Seeks Volunteers to Serve on Social Housing Task Force 
Mayor Mark Dion is seeking volunteers to serve on a new Social Housing Task Force as passed by the City Council at the March 17 meeting. The deadline is Wednesday, April 30, or until filled. Volunteers needed must include: One representative from an affordable housing developer, one representative from a market developer; at least three Portland residents with relevant knowledge or skills (e.g. housing advocates, urban planners, financial and legal experts); at least two members of the community from underserved populations with lived experience navigating the challenging housing environment in Portland. Interested applicants can apply by submitting a resume and cover letter via email to cityclerk@portlandmaine.gov. 

New Hummingbird Grant, Applications Open April 1-15
Applications are open until 4/15 for a new annual grant opportunity from the City Department of Housing & Economic Development. The Hummingbird Grant will provide $1,000 to a Portland cosmetologist in honor of Shahnaz Mahager, an immigrant entrepreneur, made possible through a generous donation from her family and friends. Find the full story, guidelines, and application on our website.

4/26: Neighborhood Spring Clean-Up Events
Residents are also invited to join these upcoming clean-up events Saturday, 4/26: 

• Meet at 63 Federal Street for the annual Cloudport Community Clean Up, 10 AM-12 PM. Snacks, beverages, and cleaning supplies will be provided!
• Join the Runaways Run Club for their 8th Annual Plog, 11 AM-2 PM.

CDBG Recommendations and Upcoming Public Hearings 
City Manager Danielle West has completed her review and recommendations for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2025-26 applications. These recommendations, along with the scores of the CDBG Allocation Committee, will be provided to the City Council for their consideration and vote at their meetings on April 28, 2025, and May 5, 2025. Visit the City Council webpage for more information about agendas, written submissions, and other rules for public comment. Please reach out to cdbg@portlandmaine.gov with additional questions.

Co-op Tree Planting Program - Registration Ends 4/30
This collaborative program allows eligible Portland residents to purchase a tree while our Forestry team handles the pick-up and planting process. Space is limited, so get your registration in as soon as you can. Depending on demand, we may close registration before the April 30 deadline. Please email trees@portlandmaine.gov with any questions.

CEI's Free Food Biz Bootcamp Starts May 1
This hands-on, in-person training program is designed for entrepreneurs ready to launch a food service business. Gain essential knowledge, practical skills, and valuable business connections to help navigate the food service industry with confidence. This program is designed especially for those facing challenges due to limited financial resources, unfamiliarity with Maine’s business regulations, or language and cultural barriers.
 

Spring Curbside Yard Waste Collection ⁠Begins Monday, April 28 
Annual spring curbside collection of yard waste will start on Monday, April 28, and continues through Friday, May 9. Leaves must be in large, paper biodegradable leaf bags. Yard waste curbside collection MAY NOT coincide with your weekly trash collection day. Bags can remain curbside regardless of the weather or your trash collection day. Due to safety risks, crews will NOT collect bags of mulched leaves, sticks, branches, rocks sod, and/or bags of dirt. Public Works cannot accurately predict when the collection crews will be on your street as it depends on the volume of leaves they collect each day as they work their way through the city. 

5/3: Re-forest the City Mulching Party 
West End Neighborhood Association is hosting a Mulching Party Saturday, May 3, from 2:00-4:00 PM. Party location: Taylor Street Park-West End. They will have a list of recently planted street trees that could use a little mulching love and will provide mulch, compost, and mulching instructions.

Household Hazardous Waste Reminder
Riverside Recycling accepts household hazardous waste the first Saturday of the month, April through November, 7:30 AM - 1:00 PM (except July 2025 due to the holiday). 

Road Safety Tips with Bicycle Coalition of Maine
We continue to urge motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists to please exercise caution when traveling. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine also helped us share more road safety tips. We want everyone who is walking and riding at night to be safe and seen when using the roadways. Please take the time to refresh your knowledge and share to help us keep our community safe. 

Spring Cleaning of Casco Bay Garage April 25-27
The annual Spring Cleaning of the Casco Bay garage requires all customers to vacate the garage from 7:00 PM Friday, April 25, through 5:00 PM Sunday, April 27. 

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates
Seasonal kayak/dinghy rack rental registration opens on April 1. Read all the latest updates in the March 2025 newsletter or subscribe to receive the newsletter once a month. We’re hiring for seasonal positions now! Face Painters Needed: Join our vibrant volunteer face painting squad and use your creativity to brighten the days of children and families at Portland events (like the 4/12 Egg Scramble!). Learn more and sign up or direct questions to Jessica: jteesdale@portlandmaine.gov, 207-808-5200.

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.

Survey Time: Share Your Experience Taking the Bus
The Greater Portland Council of Governments is looking to learn about your experience taking the bus! Take the survey. Your input will help GPCOG create the plan for a free and reduced-cost bus pass that works across bus agencies in Southern Maine, making public transit more accessible for all.

We’re Hiring!
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, lifeguards, 911 dispatchers, community health workers, and
more. Come make a difference with us, our wellness benefits are award winning.

DPW Paving Updates and Ongoing Construction Projects
Please visit portlandmaine.gov/PublicWorks for information links to all the most recent DPW project updates. See all paving updates here.

4/14 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 via livestream. 

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

Proclamations
#27 Recognizing April 7-13 National Public Health Week
#28 Recognizing April 13-19 National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
#29 Declaring May 1, 2025, as National Day of Prayer
#30 Recognizing April 21-25 National Community Development Week

Appointments + 4 Consent Items (Public comment taken)
#154 Appointing Tony Wirkus, Mathew Pendexter + Elisabeth Salisbury as Constables for the Parking Division

Budget Items
(Referral to Finance Committee, Public comment taken on the referral only)
#159 Receiving/Referring City Manager's FY26 Municipal Budget to Finance Committee + Setting Date of Public Hearing on the FY26 Municipal Budget + FY26 Appropriation Resolve

Resolutions  (Public comment taken)
#8 Calling for the City to Adopt Greater Portland Council of Government's Regional Vision Zero Action Plan

Unfinished Business  (Public comment taken)
#146 Appropriating Bond Proceeds and Other Funds in an Amount Not to Exceed $41,070,000 for the City's FY2026 Capital Improvement Program
#147 Authorizing General Obligation Bonds to Finance a Portion of the City's Fiscal Year FY26 Capital Improvement Program in an Amount Not to Exceed $30,370,000
#150 Accepting/Appropriating a $50,000 Grant from the State of Maine's Housing Opportunity Program for Housing Policy Evaluation Study
#151 Approving Agreements Between MaineDOT + City Re: Improvements to Woodford Street, Route 9, Deering Avenue, and Route 25
#152 Approving Agreements Between MaineDOT + City Re: Improvements to Route 22 (Congress Street), West Commercial Street, and Fore River Parkway

#153 Approving Collective Bargaining Agreement between City + the Communications Employees Association

Orders (All First Read only except for # 160)
#160 Accepting/Appropriating $200,000 State of Maine EMS Grant for the Portland Fire Department EMS Operations 
#161 Accepting/Appropriating $96,400 State of Maine Community Paramedicine Grant for the Portland Fire Department 
#162 Accepting/Appropriating $53,332.79 Donation from Portland Parks Conservancy for the Portland Youth Corps 
#163 Accepting/Appropriating 60,000 John T. Gorman Foundation Grant for the Portland Professional Connectors Program
#164 Accepting/Appropriating $205,000 Greater Portland Council of Governments United States Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Sub-Grant for Clean-up of a Stockpile of Contaminated Soil at Fitzpatrick Stadium
#165 Establishing a 180-Day Moratorium on Theater and Performance Hall Projects with a Capacity Exceeding 2000 People in the City of Portland
#166 Accepting/Appropriating at $10,000 Maine Bureau of Highway Safety Grant Amendments

Amendments (First Read only)
#167 Amendment to Portland City Code Chapter 9 RE: Proportional Ranked Choice Voting