City News Round Up: Friday, May 8, 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 May 4 City Council meeting. The next meeting is Monday, May 18, at 5:00 PM. The first read of the FY27 budget will take place at this meeting, and public comment will be taken.

Portland Sea Dogs Mother's Day 5K
Heads up for runners and road closures this Sunday, May 10 at 9:15 AM; there will also be a Kids Run beginning at 8:30 AM. Visit their website to see the full route.

Portland PD Celebrates National Police Week
Our Police Department will be celebrating National Police Week, May 12-18. National Police Week offers: honor, remembrance, and peer support, while allowing law enforcement, survivors, and citizens to gather and pay homage to those who gave their lives in the line of duty.

We’re Seeking Volunteers! Apply by May 14
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.⁠

Portland Public Schools Student Art Show Now Through May 15
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 3:30-6 P.M.

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.

Sundays on the Boulevard Ongoing May 3 - September 27
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.

Spring Crosswalk Painting 
Weather permitting, our Public Works staff is in the process of street painting 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.

Reminder! All Roads Portland - Music Festival May 15 & 16
All Roads Portland, in partnership with State Theatre, is a two-day festival & showcase of national and Maine music talent across multiple independent venues in and around Portland’s Arts District. The mission is to provide local artists the opportunity to connect with first-class touring talent on their home turf, while celebrating the independent stages of Portland. 

Upcoming Friends of Woodfords Corner Events

Join the Friends of Woodfords Corner for the following events:

• Spring 2026 Woodfords Corner Yard Sale Trail on May 16, 2026, from 9-2 PM. Maps will be available on Friday, May 15th. 
• Woodfords Community Garden Tour on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 1-4 PM, rain date is Sunday, June 14. Tickets on sale now! Tickets by donation (suggested donation of $20/attendee). Pay what you can: less is fine; more is appreciated! We welcome ALL community members to join us, regardless of their ability to donate. Event proceeds to benefit the Friends of Woodfords Corner and the Locker Project at Ocean Ave Elementary School. 

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 this spring! Visit our Revitalizing Downtown webpage to learn more.

Next “Coffee with a Cop” June 2 at Portland Public Library
The Police Department, in partnership with the Portland Public Library, will continue its series “Coffee with a Cop” on 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.

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 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.

Read the New Inclusionary Zoning Analysis
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.

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. 

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

• 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. Once collection begins, bags can remain curbside regardless of the weather or your trash collection day. 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
• 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

• Riverton Trolley Park Ash Tree removal and native replanting starts this month. 
• Hit the trails with the new Park Ranger Hike Club! See the list of May/June locations. Join us next at 10 AM Saturday, May 16, in Virginia Woods (meeting spot Stepping Stone Lane trailhead).
• Sign young athletes up for The Tiny Tri (ages 5-12)!
• Read the latest updates in the April 2026 newsletter or subscribe. 
• The Recreation Summer Program brochure is here! View the full 2025-2026 Parks & Recreation Program Guide. 
• Portland’s newest community pool is opening soon: Season passes now available!
• Spring Play Starts Here: Nets, Tracks, and Schedules. Spring and Summer 2026 Grass Rentals now open. Learn about spring park conditions - read the when and why we ask you to stay off the fields.

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.