City News Round Up: Friday, April 25, 2025

Meetings & Agendas

Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. City Manager Danielle West presented her recommended $365.6 million Fiscal Year 2026 budget to the City Council at its April 14, 2025, meeting; read the recap and read the full budget letter. The Council’s Finance Committee began its budget review on April 15. Visit the Finance Committee page to view the full budget review schedule and related documents.

To view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings, please visit portlandmaine.gov/agendas. The next City Council meeting is Monday, April 28, at 5:00 PM. 

Drug Take Back Day - Saturday, April 26
TOMORROW is Drug Take Back Day, a national event that encourages the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and promoting safe disposal. Drop off unused or expired medications at the Baxter Boulevard parking lot across from Hannaford any time 10 AM-2 PM or find an alternative location by searching here.

City Health & Human Services Releases 2024 Annual Report
This report provides an in-depth look at the work and impact of HHS and showcases the department's commitment to serving the diverse needs of the Portland community, covering services that range from Housing & Homelessness, the State of Maine’s General Assistance Program, Substance Use, Disease & Prevention, and Aging, Older Adults, and Disability. Read the report and share your feedback here!

Spring Curbside Yard Waste Collection ⁠Begins Monday, April 28
Annual spring curbside collection of yard waste will start Monday, April 28, 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. 

Take Our Survey! Reimagining Franklin Street
Visit reimaginingfranklin.me to review the materials from the April 17 Open House, take our new survey, and sign up for the project updates mailing list.

Neighborhood Spring Clean-Up Events - Rain Dates
Residents are also invited to join these upcoming clean-up events: 

• Join the Runaways Run Club, now on Sunday, April 27, for their 8th Annual Plog, 11 AM-2 PM.
• Parkside Neighborhood Association, 10 AM-Noon, meet at 510 Cumberland Ave, Ends at noon at the Deering Oaks Ranger Station Castle.

The Great Portland Pickup: Join Us Saturday, May 3rd!
The Portland Parks Conservancy and the Sustainability Office are hosting The Great Portland Pickup, a citywide cleanup event on Saturday, May 3, 10 AM - 12 PM. Join us in cleaning up our local parks and communities, enjoy refreshments, and be entered in a raffle by attending and helping clean up trash and litter! No need to sign up to volunteer, just show up at one of the clean-up hub locations listed on the event page.

Rescheduled to May 10: Raised Bed-Building Volunteer Workshop
Cultivating Community is hosting a raised bed-building workshop at Common Share Community Garden at Eastern Prom on Saturday, May 10 (new date). Help us transform this in-ground garden into a beautiful raised bed garden before the growing season begins! Whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting, these workshops are designed to be informative and enjoyable for everyone. Learn more + register here.

Celebrating Community Development Week, April 21- 25th 
Visit our social media to read success stories we’ve shared this week to celebrate Community Development Week! Visit our CDBG page to learn more, where you’ll find a self-guided walking tour of recent CDBG projects. Follow upcoming City Council meetings discussing current CDBG applications.

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.

City’s Professional Connections Program to Resume
The City of Portland's Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) will relaunch its Portland Professional Connections (PPC) program in Spring 2025 in collaboration with the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, thanks to a $60,000 donation from the John T. Gorman Foundation. The City Council is being asked to approve the acceptance of the donation at its April 28, 2025, meeting. Read the full story.

Fire Department Hosts Graduation & Awards Ceremony
The Fire Department will host a graduation ceremony for four new firefighters on Friday, April 18, at Portland High School, as well as their annual awards ceremony on Saturday, April 19, at Portland High School. Learn more about these two great events. 

Portland Police Department Adds Comfort Dog to Its Ranks
Welcome, Archie! Our police department is proud to announce the addition of a new comfort dog to its team. Archie is a specially trained dog that will provide emotional support to officers, assist crime victims, and strengthen community relations. He’s a nine-week-old English Labrador and will be handled by Officer Les Smith, an officer with more than 30 years of experience. He even visited the City Council meeting this week. 

City Elder Affairs, Adult Day Program - Openings Now Available
Our Office of Elder Affairs provides a much-needed respite for family caregivers by providing safe daytime supervision and care to older adults with cognitive and physical health challenges. Now accepting new clients! Learn more about how this program can support you and your loved one by calling 207-541-6619 or find more details on our website.

Public Health Clinic Expands STI Hours
Our Public Health Clinic is excited to announce that it is expanding its sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing availability with the launch of new walk-in hours on Mondays. Beginning April 28, individuals can receive testing for HIV, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis without an appointment every Monday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at 39 Forest Avenue. Learn more about this expansion of services. 

Upcoming Free Webinars and Workshops 

• SCORE Maine will be hosting a free webinar on Monday, April 28 covering all the essentials of starting your own business. Learn more and register. 
• The Immigrant Welcome Center will host a free workshop, “The Immigrant Business Owner's Guide to Building a Website”, on Thursday, May 1. Learn more and register. 
• CEI's Free Food Biz Bootcamp Starts May 1, learn more and register. This hands-on, in-person training is for entrepreneurs ready to launch a food service business, and  is designed especially for those facing challenges due to limited financial resources, unfamiliarity with Maine’s business regulations, or language and cultural barriers.

Towing Alert:  Street Sweeping Parking Reminders
Street sweeping is ramping up over the next several weeks. 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 we 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. 

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. 

5/3: Re-Forest the City Mulching Party + Free Native Trees
For residents in Libbytown, Parkside, St. John Valley, West End, or Western Prom, the West End Neighborhood Association is hosting a Mulching Party on Saturday, May 3, from 2 - 4 PM with tree experts on site, refreshments, and raffle! Party location: Taylor Street Park in the 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. In addition, they are offering free native yard trees. They will plant a free native tree or shrub in your yard, you choose the location. Apply for a free tree/shrub through their form or direct questions to trees@WENAMaine for more info.

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, and 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 9 AM 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.

Absentee Voting Information for June 10 Municipal Election
Voters can now request their absentee ballot for the June 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. 

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. 

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates
As of Monday, April 21, the basketball courts at Lyman Moore School and the tennis courts at Talbot School are currently closed for renovations. Seasonal kayak/dinghy rack rental registration opened on April 1. This week the horticulture crew prepped the Casco Bay Community Garden for the upcoming raised bed workshop. 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! 

Co-op Tree Planting Program - Registration Ends April 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.

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.

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). 

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 and 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.

• NEW - Hersey St Sewer Separation Project - Begins Monday, 4/28
• Deering Ave Sewer Extension - 4/28 Construction Start
• NEW - Back Cove South Update 

4/28 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 online. 

5:00 PM: Public comment period on non-agenda items
Annual Meeting: Corporator of the Portland Fish Pier Authority

Proclamations
#31 Recognizing the 56th Anniversary of Municipal Clerks Week from May 4, 2025, to May 10, 2025
#32 Recognizing May 2025 as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

Appointments + 4 Consent Items (Public Comment taken)
#168 Appointing Warden and Ward Clerks for the 2025/2026 Year

Budget Items (Public Comment taken)
#173 Receiving/Referring to the Finance Committee the Portland Board of Public Education's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Estimate and Setting a Public Hearing Thereon

Resolutions (Public Comment taken)
#9 Adopting the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan Including Appropriations for the Community Development Block Grant Program, HOME Program, and Emergency Solutions Grant Programs and Certifications Pertaining Thereto

Unfinished Business (Public Comment taken)
#161 Accepting/Appropriating a $96,400 State of Maine Community Paramedicine Grant for the Portland Fire Department
#162 Accepting/Appropriating a $53,332.79 Donation from the Portland Parks Conservancy for the Portland Youth Corps
#163 Accepting/Appropriating a $60,000 John T. Gorman Foundation Grant for the Portland Professional Connectors Program
#164 Accepting/Appropriating a $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
#167 Amendment to Portland City Code Chapter 9 RE: Proportional Ranked Choice Voting

Orders (First Read only)
#174 Accepting/Appropriating a $28,000 Gulf of Maine Research Institute Community Resilience Education Project Grant
#175 Approving the Collective Bargaining Agreement between The City of Portland and Portland Police Superior Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge ME 109
#176 Accepting/Appropriating a $5,995.00 Donation from Paul Rollins for the Police Department Dive Team
#177 Extending for 180 Days the Moratorium on New Hotel Projects in the City of Portland Established by Order 77-24/25

Amendments (First Read only)
#178 Amendment to Portland City Code Chapters 15 and 30 Re: Vehicles for Hire