City of Portland Alerts

City News Round Up: Friday, March 20, 2026

City News Round Up: Friday, March 20, 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 March 16th City Council meeting. The next meeting is Monday, April 13, at 5:00 PM. Read the agenda preview at the end of this message.

Property Taxes Due Today
Property tax bills can be viewed and paid on our Citizen Self Service website; the second half of the payment is due Friday, March 20. You can also find a Treasury payment drop box in the City Hall lobby.

Stormwater Online Billing - Payment Processor Changes
Due to a change in our online stormwater payment processor, all stored customer payment information has been deleted, and auto-pay status has been disabled. Beginning in March, customers can set up auto-pay again, and your information will be stored with our new online processor. Because of this change, auto-pay will be in a pending status until your next bill is imported. Please sign in to your account and select "Pay Now" if you have an outstanding balance. Although ACH payments were previously free, the new payment processor charges a fee. This fee goes to the payment processor and not the City. Maine state law allows municipalities to pass this cost on to customers.

Spring Street Sweeping is Underway
Happy spring! Street sweeping is underway and will be ramping up over the next several weeks. In order for this work to be effective and done by the end of May, we ask for your compliance with parking restrictions. These parking regulations are in effect annually from October 1 to May 31. Find parking restrictions by area and to try our web app for an estimated timeframe of when the City's sweepers will be in your neighborhood. On peninsula: Please help our operations team and follow the street maintenance parking restrictions (overnight & daytime, check your zone) to avoid tickets or towing. ⁠Street sweeping is a City regulatory requirement; it reduces water pollution (by removing salt/sand), and prevents materials from clogging our sewer/storm drain systems. ⁠

Portland Unveils Community Survey Results
The City conducted a community survey in late 2025, and the survey results are now available for the public to review! The survey provided an opportunity for Portland residents to share their feedback and insights regarding the programs and services provided by the City. Our staff worked with ETC Institute, a nationally recognized survey research firm specializing in municipal-level resident surveys, on this effort. ETC compiled and analyzed the results and will be presenting them to the City Council in a workshop on Monday, March 23, 2026. We hope you’ll tune in to watch! 

In the News
Visit our “In the News” webpage to find facts and context about recent topics you may have read or seen in the news or on social media. Read the City's statement this week regarding the Portland Expo event rental. Additional topics:

Cruise Ship Tariff Fees Increasing in 2027
We are increasing cruise ship tariff fees beginning January 1, 2027. The new rate structure includes a discounted rate to encourage the use of low-sulphur fuels while ships are at berth. The new rates are included in the City’s Tariff 11, which will replace Tariff 10 in 2027. The tariff rates, rules, and regulations apply to the two City-owned facilities at the Portland Ocean Terminal at the Maine State Pier and Ocean Gateway Terminal.

City Manager Releases Recommendations for FY27 CDBG Allocations
City Manager Danielle West has released recommendations to the City Council for FY27 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. The City Council will hold two public hearings on Monday, April 13 and Monday, April 27 regarding the CDBG funding, with a final vote at the second hearing.

Meet Our February 2026 Employee of the Month
Congratulations to Lillian Luttrell, our February 2026 Employee of the Month! Lillian is a Vital Records Clerk in the City Clerk’s Office, recognized for her exceptional customer service, dedication, and positivity. Lillian is praised for her hard work and strong work ethic. She goes above and beyond every day, assisting customers and is always ready to tackle any challenge. Lillian’s outstanding customer service, thoughtfulness, and genuine friendliness ensure every person feels safe, welcome, and validated. Whether issuing birth certificates or performing wedding ceremonies, Lillian does her absolute best to help everyone.  Lillian, thank you! You truly are an asset to the City Clerk’s Office and to the City.  

City Staff Moderates Roundabout Design and Safety Panel
Our Transportation Systems Engineer, Jeremiah J. Bartlett, moderated a recent event hosted by Greater Portland Council of Governments, "All Around Success: Modern Roundabouts for Safer Design," which was held at USM's McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success. Jim Brainard, former mayor of Carmel, IN -the 'roundabout capital' of the United States- was the keynote speaker.   The panel shared their experience and perspective on planning, design, community engagement, funding, and construction. 

Free Film Screening and Community Conversation
The Friends of Woodfords Corner and Odd Fellows Hall invite you to a free film screening on Thursday, March 26th, 6-8 PM to watch "Join or Die: A Film About Why You Should Join a Club". Follow the half-century story of the unraveling of America’s social fabric through the journey of Harvard social scientist Robert Putnam. After the show, stay for the rare 30-minute tour of the historic Odd Fellows Hall. 

Read the City Manager’s Recommended FY27 Capital Improvement Plan
The City Council’s Finance Committee hosted a public hearing and final review of the City Manager’s recommended FY27 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) at its Thursday, March 5 meeting. Following the committee process, the CIP budget will be sent to the City Council for consideration and adoption in April. Read our full update to learn more. 

Lambert Woods Housing Cooperative
This North Deering housing co-op is taking reservations now for move-in Spring 2027. Monthly expenses, including utilities, are: $1,750 for 1 Bedroom, $2,150 for 2 Bedroom, $2,750 for 3 Bedroom -plus $5,000 share cost.

Portland’s Co-op Tree Planting Program Returns
The City’s Co-op Tree Planting Program is a partnership in which a resident selects and purchases a tree from a local nursery, and Forestry staff completes the pick-up and planting process. Co-op trees can be planted in esplanades, tree wells, or lawns -learn more!

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 on our website via an online fillable form, a PDF fillable and printable form, and in-person at the Treasury Department. Please call our Treasury staff with questions at 207-874-8490.

Public Works Updates

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates

We’re Hiring!
We are hiring across several departments, 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.

Past Alerts