City News Round Up:  Friday, September 6, 2024
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the September 4 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 16 at 5PM. 

Tonight is First Friday Art Walk! Download the map here.

MaineDOT Casco Bay Bridge Project Paving 9/8-10
Please be aware of upcoming paving on Sunday-Tuesday nights, 9/8-10, at the Casco Bay Bridge & York St intersection. From the first bridge joint, just past Erskine Dr in South Portland, all the way through the York/State St intersection, including the on-ramp. There will always be one lane open in each direction on the bridge. Starting at 7 PM each night. Learn more.

City of Portland Seeks New Fire Chief
The City is seeking its next Fire Chief to manage Maine’s largest and most sophisticated Fire/EMS department following the announcement that the current Fire Chief, Keith Gautreau, is retiring by the end of this year. The Fire Chief also serves as a member of the City’s Leadership team helping to run Maine’s largest and most complex municipality. The recruitment brochure can be found here, and qualified individuals can apply directly here. 

FY25 Property Tax Bills Now Available
FY25 property tax bills are now available. Due dates are October 18, 2024 and March 14, 2025. Visit our web portal to view and/or pay your property taxes online.

Final Draft Land Use Code + Zoning Map
This week our Planning staff published the final drafts of the land use code and zoning map. This latest round of edits is based on hundreds of comments received from all of you in person at the ReCode Studio event, through our online map and code comment platforms, via emails, meetings, and phone calls - thank you! There’s still time to tell us what you think, dig into the final draft code and map here. Save these final dates for upcoming Planning Board dates: Tuesday, September 17, followed by a public hearing on ReCode on Tuesday, September 24. 

9/7: Last Raised Bed-Building Volunteer Workshop - Payson Park
Join our Sustainability team Saturday for the last raised bed-building workshop of their series, this time at the Payson Park Community Garden! 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.

Public Comment Being Taken at 9/10 Meeting on Allocation of Opioid Settlement Funds
At the Health & Human Services and Public Safety Committee meeting on Tuesday, September 10 at 5:30 PM, the Committee will take public comment on the agenda item discussing the allocation of opioid settlement funds in fiscal year 2025. The full agenda for this meeting, including backup material for this topic, can be found here.

City to Host 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
City officials along with the Portland Fire Department and the Portland Police Department will join on Wednesday, September 11 for a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial at Fort Allen Park. Fire Chief Keith Gautreau and Police Chief Mark Dubuois will participate in a wreath laying ceremony followed by a moment of silence at 8:46 AM to mark the 23nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Portland Downtown Opens New Seasonal Public Restroom
This week Portland Downtown proudly announced the 9/3 opening of a new seasonal public restroom in the Arts District of downtown Portland! This initiative, developed in collaboration with the City of Portland, marks a significant step in enhancing public restroom access across the downtown area. 

Biodiversity Research Institute Groundbreaking for Portland Expansion
Biodiversity Research Institute, a nonprofit ecological research group based in Portland, celebrated a milestone in its more than 25-year history—the groundbreaking ceremony that begins the expansion of the Institute’s headquarters. Read the full story.

Field Work for Business Personal Property Revaluation Begins
Portland business owners should note that the City's Personal Property Revaluation is now underway with field work beginning this month. KRT Appraisal has been hired to perform a Personal Property Revaluation of all businesses for Fiscal Year 2026. This revaluation includes an interior inspection of every business to list all taxable items such as signage, furniture, computers, machinery and equipment used to conduct business. Find the full details here.

Portland Trails Installs Traffic Calming Demonstration on Diamond Street
This August, Portland Trails and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine installed temporary features on Diamond St. in Portland to slow car traffic and improve pedestrian safety. The street, which has no sidewalks or curbs, now features painted “curb extensions” with vertical flex-posts, speed tables at the intersection with the Bayside Trail, and colorfully painted dots on the side of the road that act as a suggested sidewalk for pedestrians to follow. Learn more + share your feedback.

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.

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.

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.

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. Direct your questions to 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.

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
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.

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, and registration is now open. 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.