City News Round Up: Friday, August 5, 2022
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read the recap of the July 11 City Council meeting here. The next City Council meeting is Monday, August 8, at 4:00 PM. This will be a special double meeting as the Council will only meet once in August. The City Council will meet in-person and remote participation via Zoom will be available. To view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings, please visit www.portlandmaine.gov/agendas.  

Tonight! First Friday Art Walk
It’s First Friday Art Walk tonight, download the map here.

August 5, 6: Cooling Center at Downtown Library
A cooling center is available to the public at the downtown Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square Friday and Saturday during regular library hours. The public is welcome to come inside to cool off from the heat; masks are required. See the hours and read the full cooling center information here.

I-295 Exit 7/Franklin St: Overnight Ramp Closure, Sunday August 7
The final layer of pavement will be placed within the intersection of Marginal Way and Franklin St. Sunday evening, August 7. Work will occur overnight, beginning at 7:00 PM through 6:00 AM, and be weather dependent; Monday, August 8 being the rain date. Both the on and off ramps of Exit 7 will be closed. The intersection of Marginal Way and Franklin St will also be closed in all directions, except for the allowance of a right turn from Marginal Way onto Franklin Street heading East (the METRO bus route). Access to Marginal Way will be available through local streets. Read the full traffic alert here.

August 8 City Council Meeting: Agenda Preview
Find the preview of the August 8 City Council meeting agenda at the bottom of this news update or use the link above to read the full agenda.

Riverton Trolley Park Expands After 100 Years
We were pleased to announce this week that the City’s Land Bank Commission has added a new parcel of land to expand the Riverton Trolley Park. The new park space provides significant wildlife habitat with mature white pines, water quality protection for the Presumpscot River, and protects the viewshed of the historic park located off Riverside Street and Forest Ave. This project was made possible by a generous donation from Allagash Brewing, which has brewed in the thriving Riverton neighborhood since 1995. Read more about the Riverton Trolley Park expansion here.

Apply Today! Volunteer for City Boards & Committees
Ready to get involved and help shape your city? Boards, commissions, task forces, and committees are an important part of Portland’s government. We’re looking for volunteers to help serve on several of those boards and committees. Find application information and read the full list of open seats on our website, or call 207-874-8677. Applicants will be contacted for interviews; the deadline to apply is Monday, August 22.

Save the date! August 12: Coffee and Climate
This month our Sustainability staff will be joined by Peter Dugas, En-ROADS Climate Ambassador and Citizens’ Climate Lobby Liaison, for an introductory tour of MIT’s En-ROADS Climate Simulator. Join the Zoom chat at 9:00 AM to learn how this tool informs which climate policies are most effective and equitable on a local, national, and international level.

August 13: Islands Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Household hazardous waste drop off for the islands will take place on Saturday, August 13. Visit our website to view the list of pick up times for each island. All items must be placed on dock before pick up time. Please direct questions to solidwaste@portlandmaine.gov, or call 207-756-8011.

ARPA Funds Pre-Application Process Extended to August 19
We have extended the pre-application process for the second round of ARPA funds. There is approximately $11.2M in funding that is anticipated to be available to businesses, nonprofits, and governmental entities. This is in addition to the 19 projects approved after the first participatory ARPA funding process in November 2022.The pre-application is due August 19, 2022 at 4:00 PM. Find the application and learn more: portlandmaine.gov/ARPA. 

ARPA Funds Survey: The public funding survey for the remaining American Rescue Act (ARPA) funds available to the City continues - please share your input! The survey closes August 19 at 5:00 PM. The new survey results will be presented to both the Finance Committee and City Council later this summer. For more ARPA information and a complete list of projects that have received funding, please visit: portlandmaine.gov/arpa.

Application Available: Property Tax Stabilization Program for Residents 65 +
The guidance documents and application are now available on our website for the new State of Maine law, L.D. 290 that goes into effect August 8, 2022 (and applies to property tax bills starting after April 1, 2023): “An Act to Stabilize Property Taxes for Individuals 65 Years of Age or Older Who Own a Homestead for at Least 10 Years.” This new law allows certain senior residents to stabilize, or freeze, the property taxes on their homestead. An applicant must be at least 65 years old, a permanent resident of the State, and must have owned a Maine homestead for at least ten years. For more details, please contact the State's Property Tax Division at (207) 624-5600 or prop.tax@maine.gov.

Creative Bus Shelter Initiative Shifts into Phase II
Creative Portland, in partnership with Greater Portland METRO (METRO) and the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), announced the installation of five new bus shelter designs coming this August, for a total of nine artistic bus shelters along METRO routes. This expansion of the Creative Bus Shelter Initiative was made possible by a $25,000 matching grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) as part of the “Our Town” grant program. Learn more about the artists and this second phase of the project here.
 

Update: New Downtown Public Restrooms
Two of three new public restrooms have been installed! There is one at the Fish Pier on Commercial Street and now one at the corner of Monument Way (should be fully open now after awaiting final fixtures) and Free Street. The third one, which will be located at the Central Fire Station, (on Pearl St, between Congress and Federal) will be installed later in August.

Parks and Recreation Updates
Don’t miss this great story in the Portland Press Herald featuring our Park and Play program. Park and Play runs at various times weekdays through Aug. 12 at Kennedy Park, Stone Street Playground, Munjoy South, Pleasant Street Playground and the Deering Oaks Playground. Get all the details on our website here. 

Did you know Portland kids can swim free (under 18) at Portland Pools this July and August? Thank you Portland Kiwanis Club! Music is also returning to Lincoln Park this summer. Learn more about these updates, and more,  via the July Parks and Recreation newsletter.

Help Us Protect and Grow Our Canopy Cover
Despite a labor shortage and other logistical challenges, our Forestry Team planted 150 trees city-wide this season! (Read more in the Letter from our Parks Director.) Each year after they plant trees for the season, our Forestry staff embark on a weekly watering program, visiting each tree planted City-wide in the past two years (over 330 trees total) to get them through the dry summer season. Can you help us protect and grow our canopy cover? If you have recently planted a tree in front of your home or business, give the young tree about 5 gallons of water each week. Water directly over the root zone, and the slower you water, the better so the water has a chance to soak in. Our crews will continue with their regular watering of each and every tree for two years after planting, the additional weekly watering will help the young trees reach maturity. 

Work With Us!
We currently have multiple job openings across a variety of departments, view the full list of openings here. 

DPW Paving Updates and Ongoing Construction Projects

Please visit portlandmaine.gov/PublicWorks for information links to all the most recent DPW project updates. The current and ongoing paving projects have been updated on our website here

*New* Forest Ave. and Avalon Rd Sewer Separation Starts August 15
Construction is anticipated to begin the week of August 15 on the Forest Ave. at Avalon Road sewer separation project for six weeks. Read the full traffic alert here.

Monday, 8/8: Beginning at 7:00 AM Glidden Excavation will be on Somerset St through 9/2/2022.

*Updated* Starting Tuesday 8/2, Forest Ave at Dartmouth St Lane Closures
Beginning at 6:00 AM, on Tuesday August 2, for two weeks, Forest Ave at Dartmouth St will have lane closures for the installation of sewer, storm and water mains associated with the Back Cove West Storage Conduit Project. Read the full alert details here. August 14-18: Nightly closures of Forest Ave. at Dartmouth St. with a detour for traffic from 7PM to 7AM, through Friday August 18.

Marginal Way Temporary Closure
Marginal Way, between Franklin and Diamond Streets, will be closed to traffic for approximately two more weeks for continued Back Cove Sewer Separation Project construction work. Read the full alert details here.

Forest Ave: August Proposed Paving
MaineDOT is preparing to pave Forest Avenue from Congress Street to Park Avenue. This street is currently proposed for repair and resurfacing during the 2022 construction season. We will share updates with dates as they are received. 

Brighton Ave Gas Main Work Begins
Unitil System Upgrade for Reliable Energy program began work the week of July 1 on Brighton Ave, from Douglass St. to Belfield St.. Parking will be disrupted in short sections and follow the crew excavations.

Project Update: Fore Street/Eastern Promenade Sewer Separation Project
Read the full project update here. 

August 8 City Council Agenda Highlights

2 Staff Appointments and 7 Business Licenses, Public comment taken
Communications, No public comment or Council action
Monkeypox Update

Unfinished Business, Public comment taken
Amendment to Portland City Code Chapter 35 Re: Panic Alarms & Retail License Revisions
Approving Contract between the City of Portland & City Employees Benefit Association
Approving Collective Bargaining Agreement, Communications Employees Association
Confirming Maine Public Employees Retirement System Special Plan 3C for Certain Union Members, Communications Employees Association
Increasing Tow Company Fees

Evening Meeting, 6:15PM
6:15 PM: Public comment period on non-agenda items

Orders
Public Hearings: Citizen Initiatives 1-5
City Council Vote: Whether To Set Public Hearings On Proposed Charter Changes For September 1, 2022

Setting Election Dates, Citizen Initiatives
1 Amendment City Code Re: An Act to Regulate Short-Term Rentals
2 Amendment City Code Re: An Act to Reduce the Number of Short-Term Rentals in Portland
3 Amendment City Code Re: An Act to Protect Tenants
4 Amendment City Code Re: An Act to Eliminate Sub-Minimum Wage
5 Amendment City Code Re; An Act to Restrict Cruise Ships
Setting a Public Hearing on Council-Initiated Charter Amendment Re: Gender-Neutral Language
Setting an Election Date on a Council-Initiated Charter Amendment

First Reads, No public comment, except on ballot question approval
Setting a Public Hearing on the Charter Commission's Ballot Questions and Summaries
Approving Proposed Ballot Questions & Summaries Re: Modifications to City Charter & Placing on 11/8/22 Ballot
Appropriating Additional $255,800 in HOME Investment Partnership Program Funds, Community Housing of Maine: RE 83 Middle Street
Accepting/Appropriating Federal Aviation Admin Airport Infrastructure Grants, Federal FY22 as provided under theBipartisan Infrastructure Law
Accepting/Appropriating $279,000 Grant, Land ForMaine’s Future Program, North Deering Conservation & Recreation Land Project
Accepting/Appropriating $161,000 Donation, Portland Parks Conservancy, Riverton Trolley Park Project