City News Round Up: Friday, December 19, 2025

Meetings & Agendas
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Council, Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings, and to view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings. Read a recap of the December 15 City Council meeting. The next City Council meeting is Monday, January 5, at 5:00 PM.

Upcoming Office Closures & Round Up Holiday Schedule

• Portland City Hall and City offices will be closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays at 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, December 24, all day Thursday, December 25, and Thursday, January 1, 2026. 
• Due to the holidays and staff time off, we will be sending two special Round-Ups out on Wednesday, December 24, and Wednesday, December 31. These will be shorter with important holiday information.
• On Friday, January 9, City Hall will be closed to the public for a planned system upgrade of our Tyler Technologies software. Staff will still be working and accessible via phone and email. We are excited to debut these system enhancements to serve you better! All functions should be operational on Monday, January 12. 

Public Works Updates

• Holiday Trash + Recycling Collection Changes - With the holidays falling mid-week, please be aware of the changes to the trash and recycling collection schedule. Additional questions can be directed to solidwaste@portlandmaine.gov.
• NO collection on Christmas Day, Thursday, 12/25: ⁠Make-up collection will be on SATURDAY, 12/27.⁠
• NO collection on New Year's Day, Thursday, 1/1/26: The make-up collection will be on SATURDAY, 1/3/26.⁠
• TreeCycling will take place for the full month of January and curbside tree collection will take place for two weeks, January 5-19. Read the full details.  
• Find holiday recycling tips on our website.

98% of Portland Residents Now Live Within a 10-Minute Walk of a Park
We are excited to share that the City achieved a key milestone this year; 98% of the city’s residents now live within a 10-minute walk of a park, according to ParkServe, a data mapping initiative from the Trust for Public Land! Close-to-home access to parks and other natural areas is proven to provide numerous benefits to nearby residents, including reducing stress, improving both physical and mental health, and building stronger social ties. Read the full story.

Opioid Settlement Funds Support Five Remediation Programs in Portland
At its December 15, 2025, meeting, the City Council unanimously voted to expand the range of services funded through the City’s Opioid Settlement Funds (OSF) in response to the nationwide opioid crisis and its impact in Maine. The vote amends the initial allocation to now fund five remediation programs. The five initiatives include the continuation of Portland Public Health’s Syringe Redemption Program, a new pilot day space program, housing support for unsheltered individuals, community paramedicine substance use support, and contingency management treatment for those with substance use disorders. 

Read This: "Downtown Portland is Flourishing, Not Faltering"
The City's Director of Planning and Urban Development, Kevin Kraft, shared this opinion piece in the Portland Press Herald on November 14, 2025. 

New! City's Economic Development Team Offers Q&A Office Hours
Connect with our Economic Development staff every Wednesday, from 10:00- 11:00 AM! Come with questions or concerns relating to downtown activation initiatives, including the new storefront vacancy ordinance. Join via video call link, or dial: ‪(US) +1 470-635-0052‬ PIN: ‪954 693 546‬#. Read their quarterly newsletter for latest updates.

Meet our October Employee of the Month
Congratulations to Anthony Casale, our October Employee of the Month! Anthony is an Auto Technician II in the City's Public Works Department and was recognized for his attention to detail, technical expertise, and commitment to maintaining the operational readiness of our fire apparatus. He consistently demonstrates excellence in his role as a Fire Truck Technician, and his contributions are commended. Beyond his technical abilities, Anthony exemplifies professionalism and teamwork. He is always willing to assist fellow technicians, mentor new team members, and communicate effectively with operations staff to ensure their needs are met. Anthony’s positive attitude and problem-solving mindset have made him a trusted and respected member of the team. He is truly an asset to the Public Works Department and to the City.  

Flu Vaccines Now FREE to the Public
Flu vaccines are now FREE to the public at Portland Public Health! Regardless of insurance, any adult/child can stop by 39 Forest Avenue for a FREE flu vaccine; walk-in hours are every Monday and Friday, 9 AM-4 PM. Bonus: Qualifying patients can also get a free COVID vaccine.

Barron Center Helps Neighboring Facility in Winter Emergency
The City's long-term care facility, the Barron Center, executed a rapid emergency response last weekend, accommodating 33 clients from a neighboring senior care facility that lost heat during Maine's cold snap. Barron Center staff have continued to support the operation throughout the week. 

Winter Recreation Reminders
Attention Winter Recreation fans: please STAY OFF thin ice until it is safe for skating! Deering Oaks and Ludlow Ponds are now approved for skating. Find more safety information and a winter biking guide on our Winter Recreation webpage. Bookmark our Skating, Sledding, and XC Skiing Conditions Map to stay up to date on Portland Winter Rec conditions!

Take our 2025 Community Survey!
Please take our 2025 Community Survey and help shape your city! This important survey provides an opportunity for residents to share their feedback and insights regarding the services we provide, and is available in multiple languages, online and by phone.⁠ A random sampling of residents will receive paper copies of this survey in the mail from the consultant helping us with this process.

Portland and South Portland Advance Harbor Infrastructure
We are working with the City of South Portland to move forward a critical marine dredging project aimed at restoring and maintaining working harbor operations in the Portland Harbor and Fore River area. Prock Marine has been contracted to perform this work, which will begin on Monday, December 15, and take place over two dredging seasons, which run from November 15 to March 15.

Resilience Education Project
Have you seen our Resilient Education signs across Portland? These signs highlight city infrastructure that helps us adapt and prepare for climate change. Learn more about Portland's climate-resilient infrastructure and find all the signs across the city through the Portland Resilient Education Project story map. 

2026 Minimum Wage Rate in Portland
The City would like the public to know that effective January 1, 2026, the minimum wage in Portland is $16.75 per hour. Section 33.8(a) of the Portland City Code requires every Portland employer to post a notice informing employees of the current minimum wage rates in a conspicuous place. This poster is available to download at no charge on our website.

Reimagining Franklin Street Update
The project team has been hard at work turning your input into action; visit our website to see what we've been doing! This work has involved synthesizing public input, refining the project’s vision, goals, and objectives, and analyzing the many different ideas for Franklin Street that were presented and heard in June 2025. We'll have opportunities for you to weigh in on draft street design and land use concepts early in the new year - stay tuned! 

Reminder: Winter Storm Operations Information
Please visit and bookmark our Winter Operations webpage to find our full winter storm operations information and reminders! The Department of Public Works is ready for the season, in which they care for more than 560 lane miles of road, and the City’s Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department cares for more than 100 miles of sidewalks during and following snowstorms. The fastest way to receive parking ban notifications is to sign up for our city alerts; you can choose to receive these via email and/or text message. 

Sidewalk Snow Removal Rules: Business and Residential Owners
Reminder! Once City plow operations end after a winter storm, the clock begins for business and residential owner sidewalk clean up. For properties that are not on a city sidewalk plow route, the City ordinance requires that abutting property owners clear snow and ice from sidewalks. Business owners have 12 hours following a winter storm to do so. Residential owners have 18 hours following the end of a storm or when the City finishes snow removal operations, whichever is later.

Sand Shed at Payson Park Now Open for Portland Residents
The City’s residential sand and salt pile is located at the Little League parking lot at Payson Park. This sand and salt pile is for residential use only; contractors are not allowed. Residents can take two 5-gallon pails at a time.

Volunteer Snow Shovelers Needed This Winter
Age Friendly Portland needs volunteers to help older neighbors safely clear snow from their walkways. Shovelers are needed in every neighborhood, and Volunteer Coordinators are needed in Rosemont and Deering Center. If you can help, or if you need assistance, please visit our Elder Services page to learn more!

City Hall Continues To Accept Non-Perishable Food Donations
City staff have organized a collection for non-perishable food items in the City Hall Rotunda (1st floor) for donation to Project Feed on Brighton Avenue. If you are coming to City Hall this month, or if you are nearby and would like to donate, please leave items in the box in front of our digital kiosk. ⁠We thank you in advance for your help and support of those in our community who benefit greatly from this assistance. 

Annual Rental Registrations Due December 31st
Attention landlords and property managers! The City’s annual rental registration process is currently open, and renewals are due by December 31, 2025. Read the full details and learn more. Long-term rental Renewal Notices for 2026 were mailed out in the first week of November. We strongly encourage landlords and property owners to renew their registrations online via our Citizen Self Service Portal. 

• Licenses not renewed within 14 days of their expiration date will be assessed a $50 per-unit late fee. 
• Licenses not renewed within 45 days of their expiration date will be assessed a $200 per-unit late fee. Incomplete renewals are subject to late fees. 

Vacant Storefront Art Initiative - Call For Art
The City Council recently passed an order that will soon require vacant commercial storefronts in the Pedestrian Activities District (PAD) that have been empty for six months or more to register their vacant property within 30 days of their property becoming vacant. Owners of vacant properties in the PAD are encouraged to take advantage of a new Temporary Use Permit. The City is also currently accepting submissions for art to be reproduced in windows. A juried art selection will be available for property owners to select from in the coming months. Read the full update. 

Register Your Dog by January 31, 2026
State law requires you to license your dog each year; residents can register dogs online or at the City Clerk's office. Register annually by January 31 to avoid the $25 late fee. Fees: $6 per year; $11 unneutered/unspayed. (A $1 transaction fee + a $1.75 shipping/handling fee is added to online registration transactions.) 

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates

• Read all the latest updates in the November 2025 newsletter or subscribe! Kick off 2026 with exciting activities for all ages! Check out the 2025-2026 Parks & Recreation Program Guide.
• Public Landing Temporary Closure at Bell Buoy Park Begins 1/1/26
• Locally crafted wreaths are once again available to honor those resting at Evergreen Cemetery and Forest City Cemetery.

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.