City News Round Up:  Friday, August 30, 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. When the agenda is published later today, you can view it here. 

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. 

Parking Survey for Downtown Workers and Business Owners
If you are a downtown worker or business owner in Portland, please visit portlandmaine.gov/survey to take our parking survey 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟲. We are collecting feedback about downtown parking options to ensure that we are meeting the needs of workers and business owners. 

City Still Seeking Applicants to Serve on Portland Fish Pier Authority
The City Clerk's office is still seeking applications to fill seats on the Portland Fish Pier Authority. Additional information including full descriptions and how to apply is available on our website. If you have additional questions, please contact Portland City Clerk at arand@portlandmaine.gov or by phone at 207-874-8614. Applicants will be contacted for interviews.

FY25 Property Taxes Available Soon - Due Dates Announced
FY25 property tax bills will be available soon. For now, please note that the due dates will be October 18, 2024 and March 14, 2025. To view and/or pay your property taxes online, visit our portal.

Don’t Miss Dr. Nirav Shah! 9/13 Coffee & Climate
The next Coffee + Climate virtual meetup on Friday, September 13, 9AM – 10AM, features guest speaker, Dr. Nirav Shah, the Principal Deputy Director for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and former Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Register here! Shah will join to discuss some of the less visible impacts of climate change, including the spread of diseases, food safety issues, longer allergy seasons, new invasive pests, and more.

Fill-A-Backpack Challenge Final Count
The ninth annual Fill-A-Backpack Challenge was a huge success - thank you all for your generous donations! Each bag is filled with school supplies and will be distributed by our community policing coordinators to children throughout the district. A special thank you to Telecommunications Supervisor Cheryl Brewster for organizing the event. The nine-year total of backpacks collected now stands at 2,926.

CMP Announces Completion of Rebuilt Forest Ave Substation
Central Maine Power has officially completed all construction at its newly rebuilt substation on Forest Avenue in Portland that serves approximately 5,000 customers in the Marginal Way area, including parts of Maine Medical Center. The project replaced a 50-year-old substation and expanded the facility’s footprint and capacity to serve increased electricity demand on the Portland peninsula. 

City Announces Allowable Rent Increases Per CPI for Calendar Year 2025
Per City ordinance, each September we determine the allowable rent increase per the consumer price index (CPI). Based on the most recent available data from the Bureau of Labor Standards, from July 2023 to July 2024, the CPI-U for the greater Boston metro area advanced 3.5%. Therefore, the Allowable Increase Percentage for calendar year 2025 is 2.5%. Read the full update.

Portland Magazine Cover Story, "Deep Roots"
Don’t miss this great read about the history of the linden trees along Back Cove in the August issue of Portland Magazine. Did you know you can learn more about the trees in your neighborhood with our Tree Map Viewer? Check it out here!

Fall Veteran Memorial Events
Memorial events will be held in Portland this fall for six U.S. Army veterans who died in the War of 1812 and for whom, until now, military markers have not been available: Friday, September 14, 11:00 AM, Captain Lemuel Bradford, Eastern Cemetery; Sunday, October 13, War of 1812 POWs, 1:00 PM, 1812 Cemetery, Eastern Promenade. Please contact Program Organizer, Larry Glatz, larry.glatz@gmail.com for more information.

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
We recently made improvements to Monument Square to enhance pedestrian accessibility, safety, and public enjoyment. Read the full update here. 

Join GPCOG Community Transportation Leaders
GPCOG is seeking passionate people to join their Community Transportation Leaders program! This program is an opportunity for community members to get involved in the transportation planning and decision-making process, and to influence and improve local transportation systems. Those who experience transportation barriers are encouraged to apply! Email mobilityforall@gpcog.org or visit the program website for more information.

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
Last 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. Check out the Self-Guided Walking Tour our staff put together in celebration.

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.

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.

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.

It’s 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 is now open for Portland residents, and non-resident registration opens at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, 9/3. Read all the latest updates in the August 2024 newsletter. 

Sundays on the Boulevard Ends September 29
Reminder: Baxter Boulevard is closed to vehicular traffic Sundays only, 9AM - 4PM, and OPEN for walkers, bikers, pedestrian traffic + play through Sunday, September 29, 2024! Street details: Baxter Boulevard is closed to traffic from Vannah Ave. to Catafalque Dr. (Payson Park east entrance). Payson Park, west entrance road - from the tip of the Grass Triangle (by the softball field) to Baxter Boulevard.

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.

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.
 

DPW Paving Updates and Ongoing Construction Projects

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.  

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.