City News Round Up: Friday, May 2, 2025

Meetings & Agendas
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings, and to view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings. Read a recap of the 4/28 City Council meeting. The next City Council meeting is Monday, May 5, at 5:00 PM. Read the agenda preview at the end of this message.

City Manager Danielle West presented her recommended $365.6 million Fiscal Year 2026 budget to the City Council at its April 14 meeting; 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.

Council Committee To Consider Proposals for Affordable Housing Creation
The City Council's Housing & Economic Development Committee is scheduled to consider proposals for the Lease and Development of Affordable Housing at 1125 Brighton Avenue on Tuesday, 5/6 at 5:30 PM. The City is encouraging members of the public to attend the remote meeting. Public comment can be made during the meeting via Zoom or submitted in writing before May 5 at 12:00 PM. Read the full update and find links.

Portland Public Schools Student Art Show Opens Today
Start your First Friday Art Walk at City Hall today, 3:00 to 8:00 PM, for the opening reception of the annual Portland Public Schools Student Art Show. The artwork of hundreds of talented students in kindergarten through grade 12 will be on display in City Hall hallways from May 2 to May 19.

First Friday Art Walk, Creative Portland "Acceptance" Opening
Fourteen local Maine artists have been selected for Creative Portland’s eighth juried art exhibition, "Acceptance," which will open to the public tonight during the First Friday Art Walk 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. 

“Winged Kelp” Temporary Art Coming Soon to City Hall
On March 25, 2025, a Temporary Art Review Panel approved a new TEMPOart commission - “Winged Kelp." This installation will be coming to City Hall in June 2025. Artist Gillian Christy hopes to encourage us to think about Manie’s environment and the essential role seaweed plays in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Join the artist, TEMPOart, and Side x Side (at 636 Congress St) during First Friday Art Walk, 5/2 (5-8 PM) and help create “Winged Kelp” by attaching grommets to vinyl mesh that will be transformed into flowing kelp.

The Great Portland Pickup is This Saturday!
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.

Sundays on the Boulevard Starts This Weekend, May 4
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.⁠ 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. (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.)

Staff Celebrates Second “Take Your Child to Work Day”
Our second “Take Your Child To Work Day” was a sunny success on Thursday, April 24! City staff and their children, ages 6-17, had fun learning all around the city -from Fire and Police departments to Council Chambers, Parks to Public Works, and Health & Human Services. We love hosting this day to inspire the next generation of public servants! 

Meet Our March 2025 Employee of the Month
Congratulations to Sarah Sarkozy! Sarah is our March 2025 Employee of the Month and works as a Certified Permit Technician in our Permitting & Inspections department. Sarah has over seven years of City Service and is recognized for her exemplary customer service and dedication to her work. City staff describe Sarah as patient, kind, and helpful. She has a very positive energy and relationship with co-workers. Always on her game, Sarah takes initiative, is good at her job, and has very high standards and an excellent quality of work. 

Join Us for a Ribbon Cutting - New Tennis Court Lights at Payson Park
Join Portland officials, USTA New England, and the National Recreation and Park Association on Thursday, May 8, at 4 PM for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new lights at the Payson Park tennis courts! We're grateful to the US Tennis Association for funding this project. It's also National Tennis Month, so come play Red Ball Tennis and enter to win lots of tennis raffle prizes! Wilson Sporting Goods will be attending, and there will be gifts for each person who attends as an added bonus. RSVP by Sunday, May 4.

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 ⁠Ongoing Through May 9
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.

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 a 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 partnership with Maine Audubon, they are also offering free native yard trees. They will plant a free native tree or shrub in your yard, you choose the location. ReForest will help you choose the best species for your yard from 17 native options. Planting will take place from mid-May to mid-June. Apply for a free tree/shrub through their form or direct questions to trees@WENAMaine. 

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.

Save the Date! Downtown Worker Appreciation Day, Thursday, May 15
If you work downtown, you're invited! Portland Downtown is offering two chances to celebrate downtown workers in 2025, and you’re invited to both! Spend your midday break at the Lunchtime Event in Monument Square from 11 AM - 1 PM, then head to Boothby Square after work for drink discounts and more fun at Happy Hour from 4-6 PM. Find all the details.

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 approved the donation at its April 28, 2025, meeting. Read the full story.

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. 

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 Replaced
As of May 1, 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. 

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. 

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. 

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates
Read all the latest updates in their April 2025 newsletter or subscribe to receive the newsletter once a month. Please note: As of Monday, 4/21, the basketball courts at Lyman Moore School and the tennis courts at Talbot School are currently closed for renovations until the end of June. Seasonal kayak/dinghy rack rental registration opened on April 1. We’re hiring for seasonal positions now! 

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.

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

5/5 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

Proclamations + 2 Consent Items (Public comment taken on Consent Items)
#33 Recognizing May 18 as National Asian American and Pacific Islander Day Against Bullying and Hate
#34 Declaring May 5, 2025, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's Day

Budget Items
Orders #181-187 FY'26 School Budget, please visit portlandmaine.gov/agendas to read the Orders in full.

The City Council will hold a First Read on the FY'26 School Budget at the 5/5 meeting and will accept Public Comment. The Second Read and Public Hearing on the School Budget will be held on 5/19 at 5 PM.

Communications (No Public comment, no Council action)
#9 Committee Work Plans
#11 Regarding FY26 Municipal Budget Hearings

Resolutions (Public comment taken)
#9 Adopting FY'25-'26 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)
#174 Accepting/Appropriating $28,000 Gulf of Maine Research Institute Community Resilience Education Project Grant
#175 Approving Collective Bargaining Agreement between The City + Portland Police Superior Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge ME 109
#176 Accepting/Appropriating a $5,995.00 Donation from Paul Rollins for Police Department Dive Team
#177 Extending for 180 Days the Moratorium on New Hotel Projects in the City Established by Order 77-24/25
#178 Amendment to Portland City Code Chapters 15 and 30 Re: Vehicles for Hire

Orders (Public comment taken)
#188 Accepting/Adopting the 2025 Jill C. Duson Housing Trust Fund Annual Plan
#189 Approving 2025 Affordable Housing Development + Tax Increment Financing Application
#190 Accepting Easement from Portland Housing Development Corporation at 17 Riverton Drive for Pump Station and Drainage Installation
#191 Accepting Easement from Portland Housing Development Corporation at 17 Riverton Drive for Public Sidewalk
#192 Approving Amendment to Riverton Park Affordable Housing Development + Tax Increment Financing District RE: 2 Riverton Park
#193 Approving Amended Credit Enhancement Agreement for the Riverton Park Affordable Housing + Tax Increment Financing District RE: 2 Riverton Park
#194 Accepting/Appropriating $10,000 Donation from Maine Community Foundation for Asylum-Seeker Soccer Program at City's Shelters

Amendments (First Read only)
#195 Amendment Portland City Code Chapter 14 RE: Institutional Overlay Zone for the UNE Campus
#196 Amendments Zoning Map RE: B-2 Community Business, Open Space Preservation, and Institutional Overlay Zone for the UNE Campus
#197 Amendment Portland City Code Chapters 15 and 35 RE: Requirements for Marijuana Retail Licenses Offering Non-Alcoholic Beverages Prepared on-Site