City of Portland Alerts

City News Round Up: Friday, May 23, 2025

City News Round Up: Friday, May 23, 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 May 19 City Council meeting. The next City Council meeting is Monday, June 2, at 5:00 PM.

Upcoming Closure - Memorial Day Holiday
Portland City Hall and City offices will be closed on Monday, 5/26 in observance of Memorial Day. There is no change to trash and recycling collection. 

Memorial Day Parade in Deering Center, May 26 at 2 PM
On Monday, May 26, at 2:00 PM, starting at the Longfellow School, the Deering Memorial Post 6859 VFW Honor Guard will join drummers, honor guards, a pipe band, and more to recognize Memorial Day. Young children are welcome to participate in the Deering Center Memorial Day Procession. For more information or to participate, contact Bobbi Cope: call/text 207-415-5833 or email bobbicope@icloud.com.

Revaluation Notices Distributed to Portland Property Owners
Our Assessor's Office has distributed revaluation notices to property owners this week, marking a key step in our Revaluation Project. Residents should receive these notices by mail in the coming days. Property owners can review their new values online. 

New Parks Youth Mentoring Program Thanks to Grant Funding 
We're excited to announce that our Parks Division has started a new youth mentoring program that serves youth who are living in communities impacted by substance misuse. The City received roughly $74,000 in grant funds from the National Recreation and Park Association to pay for additional staff, translation costs, and to purchase an evidence-based curriculum that has been used to build a structured positive youth mentoring program at East End Elementary School. 

In-Person Absentee Voting Now Through June 5
In-person early absentee voting for the June 10, 2025, Municipal Election began May 12 in the State of Maine Room, adjacent to the City Clerk’s Office, on the 2nd Floor of City Hall. Regular hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday. The last day to in-person absentee vote is Thursday, June 5, unless you have a special circumstance. The Clerk’s Office will be open until 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 5, only for voter registration and in-person absentee voting. Visit portlandmaine.gov/absentee to learn more. 

Planning Department Updates

  • The 2024 City of Portland Housing Report has been released and shows strong housing production in 2024, building on similar success in 2023. There have been more housing units produced in the last two years in Portland than in any year in the prior decade. Read the 2024 report and past reports here.
  • Share Your Feedback: Draft Complete Streets Policy Update

We’re looking for feedback on a draft update to the 2012 Complete Streets Policy. This policy is focused on making sure all of the City's streets are planned, designed, and constructed with all users and all modes in mind. Take a look and share your thoughts by Friday, May 30.

  • 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.

  • “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 with an opening reception planned for June 12. Artist Gillian Christy hopes to encourage us to think about Maine’s environment and the essential role seaweed plays in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

Portland Fire Department Celebrates National EMS Week 
This week, the Portland Fire Department (PFD) has been celebrating Emergency Medical Services Week. This is the 51st annual National EMS Week, and this year's theme is “We Care. For Everyone.” This year marks the 50th anniversary of MedCU and EMS in the city of Portland. As an organization, PFD has long embodied this year’s motto of caring for everyone in Portland while meeting ever-growing service demand. PFD is the largest municipal EMS service in Maine, having responded to 14,682 emergency medical calls for service in 2024, transporting 9,832 patients to local hospitals. 

10th Annual Walk the Working Waterfront 

Please join us for the 10th annual “Walk the Working Waterfront,” a free event on Saturday, May 31, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM along Commercial Street in Portland. The event celebrates the diversity and history of the people, businesses, and infrastructure that comprise the heart of Casco Bay’s working waterfront. From Becky’s Diner to the Maine State Pier, attendees are encouraged to explore the protected piers and wharves of Commercial Street.
 

Help Us Celebrate Clean Water Week, June 1-7
We are getting ready to celebrate Clean Water Week, June 1-7! Established in 1983, the event recognizes the value, importance, and need to protect and conserve our water resources. Help our Water Resources team spread the word about the importance of clean water and celebrate those doing their part in keeping our local waters clean. Please join us! Save the dates for these events we are organizing with local organizations.

First Hummingbird Grant Recipient Announced
Congratulations to Zagon Beauty, owned by Darious Zagon, the first recipient of our inaugural Hummingbird Grant! This new grant will provide $1,000 each year to a Portland cosmetology business in honor of Shahnaz Mahager, an immigrant entrepreneur. The grant is made possible through a generous donation from Shahnaz's family and friends.

Spring Cleaning, But Make It Social! 
During the months of May and June, three separate Portland neighborhoods will host “Yard Sale Trails”: day-long events where households throughout a neighborhood hold yard sales at the same time, and visitors can follow a map to go from one to the next. Neighbors in Libbytown will hold theirs on Saturday, 5/31 (rain date: 6/1), and Munjoy Hill will hold theirs on Saturday, 6/7 (rain date: 6/8).

6/3: Free Workshop "So You Want To Be An Entrepreneur"
This one-time workshop for immigrant women who want to explore entrepreneurship will take place on Tuesday, 6/3, 3-5 PM, at 24 Preble Street, 3rd floor. Topics to be covered: Steps to starting a business, how to develop a strong business idea, and how to know if you are ready to be an entrepreneur. Learn more and register. 

Meet Our April 2025 Employee of the Month
Congratulations to Becky Masele, our April 2025 Employee of the Month! Becky is a Senior Human Services Counselor in our Health & Human Services Department and is recognized for her exemplary teamwork and strong leadership skills. Becky goes above and beyond every day; she is driven and dependable. Staff express their appreciation and gratitude for her dedication to the program, to her team, and to the guests at 166 Riverside. Becky, you are truly an asset to the Health & Human Services Department and to the City, thank you!

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.

New Pine Tree License Plates Replace Chickadee Plate
As of May 1, the new Pine Tree/ No-Tree plates are being 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 questions, please visit the Secretary of State’s website or email them at platereserve.bmv@maine.gov. 

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates

  • Riverton Trolley Bike Park: We celebrated the opening of Riverton Trolley Bike Park with a ribbon cutting last week. Thanks to a partnership between the City, Portland Parks Conservancy, and local supporters, the park has been turned into a vibrant hub for biking and community connection. 
  • Payson Park Courts: New SmartAccess System Starts June 2
  • The Athletic Facilities Fall Request Period closes Saturday, 5/31.
  • Your Parks, Your Voice: Party in the Park on June 18: The Parks Commission is holding the annual community gathering, Party in the Park, on June 18 at Payson Park from 4:30-6:00 PM. There will be music, food trucks, and a variety of activities for community members. Several community groups will have tables to share information with attendees, and we’d be happy to host interested park Friends Groups. Please email Commissioner Donna Gartland at donnagartland@gmail.com.

  • Read all the latest updates in their April 2025 newsletter or subscribe to receive the newsletter once a month. 

  • Courts:  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. Schedule Change, Deering Oaks Courts: Due to a rescheduled PHS Boys Tennis match, Courts 1–5 at Deering Oaks Park will be reserved on Mon., 5/26, 10AM to 2PM. This will temporarily impact Pickleball Open Play, reducing available courts during that time. 

  • 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! Ages 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.

  • Sundays on the Boulevard:  Now through September 28, Baxter Boulevard is closed to vehicular traffic on Sundays only, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and OPEN for walkers, bikers, pedestrian traffic, and play!
     

Public Works Updates

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. Recently posted: Payroll Manager, Certified Code Enforcement Officer/Housing Safety, Telecommunicator (911 Dispatcher). Come make a difference with us, our wellness benefits are award winning.

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