City News Round Up:  Friday, August 23, 2024
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the August 19 City Council meeting. To view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings, please visit portlandmaine.gov/agendas. The next City Council meeting is Wednesday, September 4, at 5:00 PM.

8/24: MDOT Blasting on St. John Street Bridge
MDOT is working with paint contractor, Panther, to blast paint off the bridge girders; this work is extremely loud and may disrupt residents. The first day shift will be Saturday, 8/24, starting at 7AM ending at 7PM. This work schedule is subject to change, please check for updates on our website here.  

8/26-8/27: Stevens Avenue Paving, Clinton Street to Woodford Street
MaineDOT is scheduled to pave Stevens Avenue, from Clinton Street to Woodford Street, starting Monday, 8/26 at 7:00 AM. On Monday + Tuesday, 8/26-27, there will be No Parking within the entire project area, as well as one-way alternating traffic along Stevens Avenue within the project limits. Read the full road closure details here. Motorists should use alternate routes and should expect delays. 

9/2: Upcoming City Hall Closure
City Hall and city offices will be closed Monday, September 2 in observance of Labor Day. Trash and recycling will be collected as normal. 

Public Health Division Announces Upcoming Vaccination Clinics
In conjunction with Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, we’ve announced a series of upcoming influenza (flu) and COVID vaccination clinics open to the public (insured and uninsured). For those with insurance, you must bring your insurance card with you to the clinic. Read the full update here.

Monument Square Improvements Enhance Accessibility + Safety
The City has recently made improvements to Monument Square to enhance pedestrian accessibility, safety, and public enjoyment. Read the full update here. Parks Division staff have installed street furniture and planters in key locations to deter vehicle access to the core pedestrian zone. Public Works staff has identified additional commercial loading zone parking spaces adjacent to the Square with a 30-minute time restriction to increase turnover, and Parking staff will begin increased enforcement of current parking regulations to ensure pedestrian activity is prioritized.

2023 Year in Review Report, Office of Elder Affairs + The Barron Center
Our Health and Human Services Department has published a 2023 Year in Review report for its Office of Elder Affairs and the Barron Center, the City’s long-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation center. Learn more and read the report here. Providing support for an aging population is an especially urgent issue for communities in Maine, which according to current estimates is the state with the largest population percentage of people over age 65. 

MaineCDC Confirms Presence of a Bird in Portland with West Nile Virus
Our Public Health Division is informing residents that the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the presence of a West Nile Virus positive bird in Portland. Read the full update.

Community Development Block Grant Program Celebrates 50 Years
This week marked the 50th anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program in Portland, Maine! For half a century, CDBG has played a crucial role in revitalizing our neighborhoods, supporting local businesses, creating affordable housing, and enhancing public services. Our staff put together a Self-Guided Walking Tour in celebration. Starting from City Hall enjoy an hour long loop highlighting the transformative projects in the Bayside and East Bayside neighborhoods. 

Volunteer to Serve on City Boards & Committees, Apply by 8/30
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.

OPTIMUS GRIME Wins! Electric Trash Truck Naming Contest
Thank you to all who played along this summer and helped us name our new electric trash truck – the first in the state of Maine! After tallying your votes the winner is, drumroll please: OPTIMUS GRIME with 55% of the vote! Be on the lookout for the truck bearing its new name soon. View the full voting results on the project page here.

New Initiative Highlights Local Ethnic Grocers/Minority-Owned Businesses
The City’s Office of Economic Opportunity has launched a new collaboration with the Friends of Woodfords Corner to launch Shop Around the World, an exciting new initiative aimed at spotlighting and celebrating the vibrant diversity of ethnic grocers and minority-owned businesses in the Woodfords Corner neighborhood. Read the full story. 

8/31: Sign Up for the Tunnels to Towers Run
Join Portland Fire, starting at Payson Park, on Saturday, August 31 for their first ever Tunnels to Towers Foundation Run/Walk 5k benefitting the families of fallen first responders and military veterans. Learn more + register 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 for new entrepreneurs or existing business owners, starting September 3. Contact NVME staff, Alicia LaFosse, to learn more: alicia.lafosse@maine.edu or (207) 621-7457

9/5 Public Meeting: State and High Streets Two-Way Feasibility Update
Save the date! The City of Portland will be holding a public meeting for the State and High Streets Two-Way Feasibility Update on Thursday, September 5 from 4:00 PM to 6:45 PM (Open House, 4:00 to 5:30 PM, Presentation/Discussion 5:30 to 6:45 PM) at the Rines Auditorium, Portland Public Library. More info to come soon.

9/7: Last Raised Bed-Building Volunteer Workshop - Community Gardens
Volunteers needed! Join our Sustainability team for a  series of raised bed-building workshops in our City community gardens.  Learn more + sign up here. Whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting, these workshops are designed to be informative and enjoyable for everyone. Check out these great pics from the first volunteer day at the East End School.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.
 

Revaluation Time, Find the Details On New Website
Make sure you complete the revaluation data mailer that was sent out recently! Information about the revaluation process is available on a new website where residents can learn more + 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
The 2024-2025 Fall/Winter/Spring Recreation Program Guide is now available to the public! The guide has information for all Recreation services the department provides through the Spring of 2025. Registration opens Monday, 8/26 at 8:00 AM to residents of Portland. Non-resident registration will open at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, 9/3. Read their other latest updates in their July 2024 newsletter.
 

The Parks Division is also 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. 

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.

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

City Receives $3.6M from State to Improve Resiliency Along Waterfront
The State of Maine recently awarded $25.2 million in storm recovery grants to 39 communities across Maine to help them recover and build more resilient infrastructure following last winter's devastating storms. The City is thankful to have received $3.6 million to strengthen stormwater infrastructure in the Old Port, resulting in better drainage along the city's working waterfront. These funds will allow our Water Resources team to complete the Commercial Street and Portland Fish Pier Storm Drain Outfall Project.

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.