City News Round Up:  Friday, August 9, 2024
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the July 15 City Council meeting. To view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings, please visit portlandmaine.gov/agendas. The next City Council meeting is Monday, August 19, which is a special double meeting at 4 PM and 5:30 PM. 

Upcoming Treasury Office Closure
The Treasury Office will be closed at 2:30 PM on Monday, August 12 for an all-staff training. Appointments for other dates can be booked directly online or by calling 207-874-8491.

8/12: Blood Drive at Merrill Auditorium

The next blood drive with the American Red Cross is coming up Monday, August 12, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, at Merrill Auditorium (20 Myrtle Street). All donors who come in and donate that day will receive a $20.00 Gift Card to Amazon! Direct questions to Blood Program Leader, Clare Norton, clare@portlandmaine.gov, 207-808-5435. Sign up here. 

Transportation Secretary Buttigieg Visits Portland 
This week Mayor Mark Dion joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg as well as Governor Janet Mills and Congresswoman Chellie Pingreein Portland to hail a major grant from the U.S. DOT that will help transform Portland’s East Deering neighborhood into an engine for innovation and economic growth for Maine. Read the full story.

City Staff Collaboration Leads to Special Achievement in GIS Award
Congratulations to our City Water Resources team in the Department of Public Works, Engineering staff, and staff of the IT Department, who all collaborated on a project to allow for the modernization of the City of Portland's GIS resources for the rest of the City's staff, and the public. They were awarded for their work this July with a Special Achievement in GIS Award from Esri, a market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping. Read the full story here.

Voters Can Now Request Absentee Ballots for November 5 Election
Absentee ballots can be requested online through the State of Maine’s website. Learn other ways to request your ballot on our website here. Ballots will be sent out once they are ready in October. Maine residents can now register to vote, update registration details, or change party status ONLINE! Get started here.

Volunteer to Serve on Several Boards & Committees
Volunteer positions on City boards and committees are an important part of our local government - get involved! Read the full position descriptions and learn how to apply by visiting portlandmaine.gov/Boards. Apply by Friday, August 30; applicants will be contacted for interviews. If you have additional questions, please contact Portland City Clerk at arand@portlandmaine.gov or by phone at 207-874-8614.

Maine Offers Free Collection of Unwanted/Unusable Pesticides
Homeowners and small family-owned farms are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by bringing their unwanted pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, disinfectants, and similar products used in agricultural production or around the home, to collection sites in Presque Isle, Bangor, Augusta, and Portland. Please pre-register here to attend this DEP Free Collection.

Celebrating Portland’s Newest Public Landing
The newest public landing, the “Captain Nicholas M. Mavodones, Jr. Landing”, is now open and ready for use! Named by resolution of the City Council for one of the City’s longest serving Council members, and a life-long contributor to the maritime vitality of Casco Bay, Mavodones Landing is the first significant expansion of public access to Portland Harbor in 30 years. You’ll find the landing at Amethyst Park adjacent to Ocean Gateway. 

HUD Features Portland Affordable Housing Projects
The August 2024 HUD Guide, "Creating a Public Funding Strategy to Maximize Housing Production", highlights the work Portland has undertaken to coordinate a public funding strategy towards developing affordable housing. Examples cited in the report include 83 Middle Street, 58 Boyd, and Deering Place. Read it here.

8/14 Hiring Event! Before and After the Bell Program
We’re seeking passionate individuals to join our Before and After the Bell program team! Meet our Recreation team AND our hiring team in person on Wednesday, August 14, 2PM-6PM, at 212 Canco Road (Parks, Recreation & Facilities Office). There will be on-the-spot interviews, fun activities, and refreshments. Help us spread the word! Registration is encouraged but not required. Walk-ins are welcome. Please reach out to Shae Gonzalez (City of Portland Recruiter) with questions: 207-874-8649, sgonzalez@portlandmaine.gov.

NOAA Announces $69 Million for Maine Climate Resilience
The U.S. Department of Commerce and NOAA recently awarded $69 million to the State of Maine to make the state’s coast more resilient to climate change and other coastal hazards. Read the full update.

Community Garden Volunteer Event Series
Volunteers needed in an upcoming series of raised bed-building workshops in City community gardens. Whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting, these workshops are designed to be informative and enjoyable for everyone. Learn more and see dates for August + September.

Host a Neighborhood Block Party - FREE!
Block parties are a great way to connect with neighbors, build community, and have fun! For a limited time, the City is waiving the block party permit fee and offering free block party kits to reserve. Details: portlandmaine.gov/blockparty.

Free Solar Workshop for Small Business Owners
Learn how to save money and boost the sustainability of your business through transitioning to solar energy at this free CEI workshop on August 12 at 4:00 PM. Participants will learn about options for solar installation and how to determine financial viability of solar investments. Learn more + register here.

8/13: West End Annual Summer Picnic
The West End Neighborhood Association annual summer picnic will be Tuesday, 8/13, at Harbor View Park (York Street). It's bring-your-own supper (water + dessert will be provided) and there will be music and art activities: MUSIC with Ukuleles Heal The World, SCIENCE with ReForest the City, and ART with Love Lab Studio. Just bring your own blanket or chair.

Annual Fill-A-Backpack Challenge, Donate by 8/15
The Portland Police Department and the Portland Regional Communications Center are holding their annual Fill-A-Backpack Challenge now through 8/15! Over the past eight years, 2,577 backpacks have been donated to students in our schools from donations within the City of Portland, and from citizens from around Maine. Backpacks should be filled with the following supplies: pencils, pencil sharpener, crayons, colored pencils, ruler, spiral bound notebooks, scissors (blunt edged), erasers, glue. Bags can be dropped off in the lobby of the police station (109 Middle St.) or pickup can be arranged if needed. Please direct questions to: cherylb@portlandmaine.gov.

DIY Electrify! Rebates Still Available
The Sustainability Office is still offering rebates up to $250 to eligible Portland homeowners and renters for a list of eligible items - including Energy-Star certified air conditioners, cellular window shades, smart thermostats, and other energy efficiency items. Save money & save energy, click here to learn more about DIY Electrify.

Revaluation Time! Data Mailers Have Been Sent Out
All residential property owners are receiving data mailers requesting verification of property information. Information about the revaluation process is available on a new website. View a sample data mailer. Property owners are encouraged to visit the site and contact the Assessor’s Office with questions. 

Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates
Read all the latest updates in their July 2024 newsletter. We’re actively recruiting people to work for our Before & After the Bell program as well as in Aquatics. These are great, flexible positions! Learn more by visiting our jobs portal and help us spread the word. Visit the Parks & Rec website to learn more about new registration changes. Find City Splash Pad hours + locations here. 

9/3: Free Class for Entrepreneurs hosted by New Ventures Maine
New Ventures Maine will offer Venturing Forth: Business Planning for Entrepreneurs, a free, online 60-hour course in business planning, starting September 3. For new entrepreneurs or existing business owners, the class helps businesspeople create a written business plan from start to finish. Contact NVME staff, Alicia LaFosse, to learn more: alicia.lafosse@maine.edu or (207) 621-7457

We’re Hiring!
Come make a difference with us, our wellness benefits are award winning! We are hiring across several departments in the city, with a variety of open positions: healthcare roles (RNs/CNAs), trades workers, before + after school recreation counselors, 911 dispatchers, community health workers, and more. Connect with our city recruiter to learn more, or apply today. 

DPW Paving Updates and Ongoing Construction Projects

Baxter Boulevard Construction at Hannaford Plaza Road
Two weeks of construction started Monday, July 29 to install a new catch basin and pipe at Baxter Boulevard and Hannaford Plaza Road. Read full details.

Ongoing: Western Promenade Drainage Improvements Project
Residents were notified by mail of this construction anticipated to begin during the week of June 17 and scheduled to be substantially completed by 10/31/24. Read full details. Starting on Wednesday, 7/31, the Western Promenade Roadway from Bowdoin to Vaughan Streets will be closed to local traffic only.

Visit portlandmaine.gov/PublicWorks for links to all the most recent DPW project updates, or find all paving updates here.