City of Portland Alerts

City News Round Up: Friday, May 1, 2026

City News Round Up: Friday, May 1, 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 April 27 City Council meeting. The next meeting is Monday, May 4, at 5:00 PM. Read the agenda preview at the end of this message.

Portland Public Schools Student Art Show Opens Today
Start your First Friday Art Walk at City Hall today! Don't miss the Portland Public Schools Annual Student Art Show at City Hall on display until Friday, May 15. Our hallways have been brightened up with a wide range of impressive student artwork from all of our schools, from elementary school to high school. An opening reception is scheduled for tonight, Friday, May 1, from 3:30-6PM.

First Friday Art Walk and New Creative Portland Exhibition
Eighteen local Maine artists from the Greater Portland area have been selected for Creative Portland’s ninth juried art exhibition, Resistance, which opens to the public tonight during First Friday Art Walk and runs through April 2027.

Get Your Game on at Monument Square
The Monument Square games have officially returned to the heart of the city! Challenge a friend to a match of ping pong, chess, or foosball. We also have classic favorites like Connect 4 and cornhole.

Vacant Storefront Art Initiative
In collaboration with Portland property owners and the creative community, we’re making the most of vacant commercial space. Look for new reproduced artworks by local artists when you are out strolling First Friday Art Walk this week! Visit our Revitalizing Downtown webpage to learn more.

Sundays on the Boulevard Starts this Sunday, May 3
Starting this Sunday, May 3, 2026, Baxter Boulevard will be closed to vehicular traffic on Sundays only, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and OPEN for walkers, bikers, pedestrians, and play! This year Sundays on the Boulevard runs through Sunday, September 27, 2026.⁠ Street Details: Baxter Boulevard from Vannah Ave to Catafalque Drive (Payson Park east entrance), and the Payson Park west entrance road from the tip of the grass triangle to Baxter Boulevard shall be closed to traffic from 9 AM to 4 PM every Sunday during this time. Read the Proclamation from the March 16, 2026, City Council meeting.

Last Chance:  Take Our "Midtown" Survey by Monday, May 4
We are seeking community input on the future of four City-owned parcels in the Bayside neighborhood, collectively known as the "Midtown properties." Before these sites are marketed for potential sale, we’d love to know your thoughts through an online survey by Monday, May 4.

May 4-8 is Downtown Worker Appreciation Week!
This year, Portland Downtown is expanding Downtown Worker Appreciation into a full week, making it easier for downtown workers to participate, connect, and feel appreciated! Check out all the events and join them if you can. Thank you for making Portland a special place!

Spring Crosswalk Painting 
Weather permitting, our Public Works staff will begin street painting on Monday, May 4, during daytime hours, starting on the peninsula first. Please be patient and cautious of our workers in the street and stay off the wet paint.

Next “Coffee with a Cop” May 5 at Portland Public Library
The Portland Police Department, in partnership with the Portland Public Library, will host “Coffee with a Cop” on May 5, and June 2 from 10:15–11:00 AM at the Library’s downtown branch. “Coffee with a Cop” brings officers and community members together, over coffee, to talk, ask questions, and get to know one another in an informal setting. For more information, please contact Jennifer Rogers at jrogers@portlandmaine.gov.

Finance Department Early Closure May 7
The City's Finance offices, including Treasury, will be closed to the public for a staff event on May 7 from 2:30 to 4:30 PM.

Meet our March Employee of the Month
Congratulations to Amy McNally, our March Employee of the Month! In her role as Associate Corporation Counsel, Amy is recognized for her exemplary dedication to her work, attention to detail, and readiness to support City staff wherever a need arises. Regardless of Amy’s own incredibly busy workload, she is always willing to assist others, no matter how big or small the project. Amy possesses a remarkable ability to listen to a problem and talk through the options and strategy. She is an invaluable sounding board to staff for new ideas and thoughtful insights when brainstorming a problem, and shares her knowledge and experience freely.

We’re Seeking Volunteers! Help Serve Your City
The City Clerk's office is seeking applications for various board and committee positions. Find the full position descriptions, and learn how to apply on our website; applications are due Thursday, May 14.⁠

Community Composting Program - Take our Survey
We want to hear your thoughts on Portland's Community Composting program! Please take a moment to complete this survey by June 2, 2026.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Design Survey
Take this public survey for the Gorham-Westbrook-Portland BRT Design Project and help Greater Portland METRO design bus rapid transit service between Gorham, Westbrook, and downtown Portland!

Police Department Launches Constable Program
The Portland Police Department is proud to announce the launch of its new Constable Program, an initiative designed to enhance safety, engagement, and stewardship throughout the city’s downtown, parks, and public spaces. The program reflects our continued commitment to enhancing public safety, strengthening community trust, and preserving the City’s vibrant network of parks and public spaces.

New: Let's Connect Greater Portland Podcasts
Don't miss these two latest podcasts: "Tight Budgets. Tight Choices" - Portland Mayor Mark Dion and regional mayors come together to talk through the financial challenges facing their communities; "Is an ADU right for you?" - Matt Grooms, City Deputy Planning Director, discusses all you want to know about ADUs with other local experts.

Inclusionary Zoning Analysis Now Available
The Inclusionary Zoning Study for the City of Portland is now available on our website. The study, prepared by CZB, LLC, was commissioned by the City to better understand the efficacy of its inclusionary zoning policy.

Jetport Starts Using New Approach
This week the Portland International Jetport announced that as of April 16, the Federal Aviation Administration published a new approach to PWM that will keep more aircraft over the water when approaching from the east. 

City Manager Presents FY27 Recommended Budget
City Manager Danielle West presented her FY27 recommended budget to the City Council at its April 13 meeting. The proposed budget includes an estimated 4.2% tax rate increase. The Finance Committee has now begun its review before the budget goes before the Council for approval. Two public hearings will be held at the May 18 and June 1 Council meetings.

Request Absentee Ballots for June 9 Election
Voters can now request their absentee ballots for the June 9, 2026, municipal election. Visit our website to request a ballot online and learn other ways to request a ballot. Ballots will be sent out once they are ready in May. Learn more about Elections & Voting in Portland. 

Do You Rent in Portland? 
Find out if your rental unit is covered by Rent Control and what your past rent amounts have been. Check your rent information by visiting portlandmaine.gov/RentHistory. You’ll see whether your unit is a rent-controlled unit, plus your base rent, past rent, and any banked rent. Rent increases for 2026 can be increased by 2.2% (based on the Consumer Price Index). For new tenants, landlords may also add 5% of the base rent. If a landlord didn’t take the full allowed increases in past years, they may apply that banked rent or unused amount in 2026. Rent for a controlled unit can’t go up more than 10% in a 12-month period.

Infant/Child CPR Class Registration- June 11
Learn life-saving skills for infants and children (under age 8) from Portland Public Health's certified instructors. Free class offered June 11 from 4:30-6 PM for parents and caregivers. Spots are limited! Register by June 1, 2026.

Reiche Parent Cafe is BACK Through July
New and expecting parents are invited to Portland Public Health's free play group at Reiche Community Center. Caregivers of children ages 0-5 are invited! Let your children play while you connect with other caregivers.

We’re Hiring! Summer Pool Staff
Be a part of the inaugural season at the brand new Rising Eddy Community Pool. Work with us as a Seasonal Lifeguard or Pool Guest Service Attendant. We're also offering Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor Courses to get you certified just in time! Bonus: Course participants hired as a Lifeguard by the City are eligible for full reimbursement of the course fee upon completion of 200 hours of work as a Lifeguard within the first year of employment!

Public Works Updates

  • New: Back Cove South Athletic Field Work Begins May 4 - expected to last approximately two weeks.
  • Licensed Commercial Waste Haulers: Reminder to residents and contractors that City Code requires the use of a City licensed waste hauler for all building renovations or construction projects. Hiring a licensed hauler ensures compliance with City Code regarding disposal methods. 
  • Annual spring curbside collection of yard waste began Monday, April 27, and will continue through Friday, May 8. Leaves must be in large, paper biodegradable leaf bags. Please do not place bags curbside until the collection period begins, to avoid interfering with winter cleanup operations. Once collection begins, bags can remain curbside regardless of the weather or your trash collection day. Yard waste curbside collection MAY NOT coincide with your weekly trash collection day. Due to safety risks, crews will NOT collect bags of mulched leaves, sticks, branches, rocks, sod, and/or bags of dirt. Public Works cannot accurately predict when the collection crews will be on your street, as it depends on the volume of leaves they collect each day as they work their way through the city.
  • Ongoing: Hersey St. Sewer Separation Project Ocean Ave reduced to a single lane as of April 20.
  • Update on 2026 Paving Projects
  • Commercial Street and Portland Fish Pier Storm Drain Outfall Project - Scheduled to begin in early July 2026.
  • Ongoing Neighborhood Drainage and Sewer System Repairs 2025-2028
  • Last week we honored National Work Zone Awareness Week, held each spring to bring national attention to motorist and worker safety and mobility issues in work zones. 
  • 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.

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.


May 4 City Council Meeting - Agenda Preview
Visit our agenda portal to find the full meeting details. 

5:00 PM - Public comment period on non-agenda items

Proclamations and 6 Consent Items (Public comment taken on Consent Items)
Recognizing:
#29  May 5, 2026 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Day

#30 May 8, 2026 as Provider Appreciation Day

#31 May 10 to May 16, 2026 as National Police Week

#32 May 11 to May 17, 2026 as National Salvation Army Week

#33 May 17 to 23, 2026 as Arbor Week

#34 May 17 to 23 as National Public Works Week

Budget Items (Orders #196 - #202)
The City Council will hold a First Read on the FY 2027 School Budget at this meeting and will accept Public Comment. The Second Read and Public Hearing on the School Budget will be held on May 18, 2026, at 5 PM.

Unfinished Business (Public comment taken)
#180 Amendment to Portland City Code Chapter 2 RE: Immigration Enforcement

Orders (All First Read only)
#202 Approving Cooperative Agreement between the City and MaineDOT RE: Improvements to Brighton Ave.

#203  Approving Cooperative Agreement between the City and MaineDOT RE: Improvements to Forest  Ave.

#204  Accepting/Appropriating $200 Anonymous Donation to the Portland Police Department for Victim Services

#205  Approving Gold Cart Lease Agreement with Country Club Enterprises LLC 

Past Alerts