City of Portland Alerts

City News Round Up: Friday, February 6, 2026

City News Round Up: Friday, February 6, 2026

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 February 2 City Council meeting. The next meeting is Monday, February 23, at 5:00 PM.

Warming Shelter Open Overnight Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
The emergency overnight warming shelter will be open this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 6-8, from 7:30 PM - 6:30 AM at 166 Riverside Industrial Parkway. A free shuttle service will be available to bring guests to and from the Warming Shelter. ⁠Check the City’s homepage or social media for latest updates. 

Tonight is First Friday Art Walk! Creative Portland Open Call and Salon
Tonight is First Friday Art Walk! You’re invited to an artist salon tonight, 6-7PM, for a last chance to view the current gallery exhibition at Creative Portland. Greater Portland artists are also invited to submit work for exhibition consideration in Creative Portland's upcoming 9th juried show, Resistance, which will hang for one year, between May 2026 through April 2027, at their Free Street gallery space. 

2/16: Upcoming Holiday Closure
Portland City Hall and City buildings will be closed on Monday, February 16 in observance of Presidents' Day. There is no change to trash and recycling collection.

Portland's Natural Helpers Fellowship Begins 3rd Year of Civic Leadership
Our Office of Economic Opportunity is proud to announce the newest cohort of the Natural Helpers Fellowship. Now entering its third year, the Fellowship is part of a nationwide initiative that bridges the gap between residents and community resources by identifying, training, and empowering trusted, community-rooted leaders. This year, the group consists of 14 amazing community leaders recognized for their leadership in the public sector, non-profits, cultural organizations, and in the local community. 

Portland’s Community Pool Has a New Name
The Portland City Council recently approved an order renaming the Kiwanis Pool the Rising Eddy Community Pool, to honor the enduring resilience and renewal of the city of Portland and the Libbytown neighborhood, and to evoke a safe place for people to swim, enjoy summers, and build a sense of community. The Council approved this order at its February 2 meeting following review by the Sustainability & Transportation Committee at its January 14 meeting, an open call to the public for names, as well as a review by the Naming Committee.

P-STEP Applications Now Available
Portland Senior Tax Equity Program (P-STEP) applications have been mailed to those who qualified last year and are now available via an online fillable form, a PDF fillable and printable form, and in-person at the Treasury Department.

Help Us Name Portland’s New Park & Design a Public Art Installation!
A new park is scheduled to start construction this March on a site currently occupied by the Ocean Gateway queuing lanes. The new 3.5 acre park site will consist of a public greenspace along the Eastern Waterfront transformed into an area with walking and biking trails, trees, native plantings, playful features, parking and more! Submit your name ideas through Friday, February 27.⁠ Learn more on the project page. 
The Public Art Committee is also running an open call for artists to submit qualifications for a new public artwork commission at this new park. The deadline to submit materials is Wednesday, February 11.

2026 City Council Common Goals
Through a 2026 goal-setting process, the Portland City Council has identified six Common Council Goals that will guide the Council’s collective work this year. These goals represent areas where councilors expressed shared commitment to advancing meaningful change. During the goal-setting workshops, councilors also identified concrete actions the Council could consider to translate these high-level goals into tangible policy work.⁠

New Waterfront Coordinator
Our Housing & Economic Development Department is pleased to announce it has hired a new Waterfront Coordinator. Heather Moretti stepped into the role just before the holidays in December 2025. The Waterfront Coordinator organizes, facilitates, and promotes balanced economic development along Portland’s waterfront, and administers the Portland Fish Pier Authority Board of Directors as well as represents the City on various boards and committees related to waterfront and maritime activity.

Affordable Condos Available at Dougherty Commons
The first families have moved in, and there are 1-bedroom and 3-bedroom homes available at Dougherty Commons! These homes are permanently affordable units, offering energy‑efficient systems and long‑term value in an area with strong community amenities close by, including recreation fields, transit access, and more. Take a tour, explore available units, and get your application started. Contact Liz Trice to schedule a tour: members@coophomes.me, 207-613-5227.

2/13: Coffee & Climate - Climate Resilience in Gulf of Maine Fisheries
Join the One Climate Future team for their monthly chat on Friday, February 13, from 9:00-10:00 AM, with guest Zach Whitener, from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. The group will discuss the challenges that climate change brings to the fisheries in the Gulf of Maine, as well as the community and science-driven strategies and lessons from the past that could be applied to achieve climate resiliency for fisheries. Register here.

Volunteer on City Boards and Committees
Help shape your city! The City Clerk's office is seeking applications for various board and committee positions, which all play an important role in Portland’s government. Residents can find the full board and committee descriptions, along with application directions, on our website. Apply by Friday, February 27th.

Department of Planning and Urban Development 2025 Accomplishments
In 2025, the Planning Board approved 1,347 new housing units, including 107 workforce and 285 affordable units, over $4 million in contributions earmarked for the Housing Trust Fund, and furthered the City’s sustainable goals by approving 244 street trees, 64 EV charging stations, and 645 bicycle parking spaces. Find the full 2025 recap in our agenda portal. The Historic Preservation Program approved 12 board reviews, 83 administrative reviews, and 452 permit reviews in 2025; read the full recap.

One Climate Future Celebrates Five Years of Climate Action
The Cities of Portland and South Portland are celebrating an important anniversary this year! Five years ago, the two cities joined forces to create and adopt One Climate Future, a bold plan charting a course to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050 and use 100% clean energy for municipal operations by 2040, while building resilience to the impacts of climate change. More than 70% of the climate strategies included in the plan are now underway. Read the full update and progress.

Public Works Updates

Parks, Recreation and Facilities 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. Come make a difference with us; our wellness benefits are award winning.

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