City News Round Up: Friday, October 25, 2024
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the October 21 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, November 4 at 5PM.

One Year Later:  Lewiston Strong
Today we recognize the one year anniversary since the horrific mass shooting that occurred in Lewiston. We have City employees who either live in Lewiston, call Lewiston their hometown, or have loved ones who reside there. Beyond that, many of us knew people who were directly impacted or were directly impacted ourselves. We also had many employees who were called in to assist during the response effort.

Over the last year, Mainers and many City of Portland employees have pulled together to show that we are ‘Lewiston Strong’. Funds have been raised to support victims and survivors and events have been held to aid in the healing process. But as we all know, grief and the grieving process is not linear and definitely doesn’t just impact us on the anniversary of an event. The healing process is ongoing, and this anniversary is sure to impact us all in different ways.

Take time with us today to pay tribute to those we lost and honor those whose lives were forever changed. Also, let us remember to always be kind to one another.

10/26: Spooktacular Songs and Storytime - FREE!
Wear your most spooktacular costumes and get into the Halloween spirit for a morning of fun, this Saturday at 10AM! Featuring the book-mobile from the Portland Public Library, a 10-minute kid-friendly silent film with musical overlay from James Kennerley on the Kotzschmar Organ, an amazingly spooky Kotzschmar Organ demo, and a costume parade across the stage. Perfect for little ghouls and goblins! This event is free, just reserve your spot here.

10/26: Drug Take Back Day
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held on Saturday, 10/26, from 10AM-2PM in the Back Cove Parking lot across from Hannaford Supermarket at 295 Forest Avenue. Law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be collecting unused or unneeded prescription medications so that they can be properly disposed of. Learn more.

Tree Planting Project Completed in Bayside Neighborhood
We're pleased to announce that 153 new street trees have been planted across the Bayside neighborhood over the last several months. The Bayside Tree Planting Project focused on adding trees to neighborhood streets in Bayside with insufficient tree canopy coverage, in addition to the Forestry Division’s annual tree planting work. This concerted planting effort began in June and was managed by the City's Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department, and was funded by a combination of federal American Rescue Plan Act and Community Development Block Grant funds. Read the full story. 

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week + Cleaning Kit Giveaway
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is a call to bring together communities to reduce childhood exposure to lead by increasing lead poisoning prevention awareness. Our Public Health team is highlighting the many ways parents, caregivers, and property owners can work together to reduce children's exposure to lead and prevent its harmful health effects. Enter their Cleaning Kit Giveaway for a chance to win $150+ worth of cleaning supplies!

10/28: Upcoming Recode Workshop and Public Hearing
Last week the Planning Board unanimously voted (7-0) to recommend the zoning map and text amendments as part of ReCode Phase II to the City Council with no amendments. The City Council will hold a workshop on Monday, 10/28 (check back for meeting details on Friday, 10/25), and a public hearing is scheduled for the Monday, 11/4 City Council meeting.

10/29: Upcoming “Reforest The City” Tree Talk
The next Tree Talk hosted by the West End Neighborhood Association will be on Tuesday, 10/29. The talks this fall focus on action-tree care and what you can do to help support our urban canopy in a changing climate. Find the full details here. 

Annual District Meetings Start October 30 - Save the Dates!
Annual District Meetings begin on Wednesday, 10/30 (District 4), with the rest of the meetings following in November. Mayor Dion, City Councilors, City Manager Danielle West, and City staff will be available to discuss neighborhood issues and answer questions from the public. ⁠These meetings are a perfect opportunity to provide feedback and discuss the issues that matter to you in our city. Visit portlandmaine.gov/DistrictMeetings to learn your district and find meeting locations, agendas, remote participation links + interpretation services.⁠ New this year:  Child care will also be provided at the in-person meetings; details will be shared at the above link when finalized. 

In-Person Absentee Voting Ongoing Through October 31
In-person early absentee voting for the November 5, 2024, Presidential and Municipal General Elections is going on now in the State of Maine Room, adjacent to the City Clerk’s Office, on the 2nd Floor of City Hall. Click here to view sample ballots. Regular hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The last day to in-person absentee vote is Thursday, October 31, unless you have a special circumstance. The Clerk’s Office will be open until 7:00 PM on Thursday, October 31, only for voter registration and in-person absentee voting. Find answers to all of your voting questions here. 

Please Return Your Ballots Quickly
Due to the high volume of absentee ballots, the City Clerk is asking that residents return their completed and signed absentee ballots to the Clerk's Office as quickly as possible. Our secure external ballot drop boxes are set up at City Hall (Myrtle Street side) and at 212 Canco Road and are ready to receive completed absentee ballots 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Absentee ballots must be returned by 8:00 PM on Election Day via mail or via one of our two ballot boxes, and NOT to your normal polling place.

11/9: Pumpkin-Cycle 2024
Don’t throw your jack-o-lantern in the trash or in the woods, bring it to Pumpkin-Cycle instead! Come chuck your slumpin' pumpkins in the Payson Park Little League Parking Lot on Saturday, 11/9, from 10AM-1PM. We'll make sure the pumpkins get properly composted and don't go to waste. Pumpkin Cycle is a free, kid-friendly event; bring as many pumpkins (and gourds) as you want! The Eighty-8 Donut truck will be there too, serving hot donuts.

DIY Electrify! Rebate Still Available
Our Sustainability Office is still offering rebates up to $250 to eligible Portland homeowners and renters for a list of eligible items - including weatherstripping, window and door caulking, pipe insulation, Window Dressers insulating window inserts, and more. Save money & save energy, click here to learn more about DIY Electrify.

Thirteen People Move out of Emergency Shelter Into Permanent Housing
Yesterday, 13 people received their lease orientation and will be transitioning out of the City’s Homeless Services Center (HSC) emergency shelter and into permanent housing at CHOM’s newly opened Winter Landing affordable housing development. Kudos to our Social Services team for providing housing counseling services to help make this happen. 

These 13 clients had a combined 5,003 bed nights at the HSC, which represents nearly 14 years of homelessness combined. Our housing counselors will continue to follow these clients and provide landlord navigation/support to ensure it’s a lasting success. Not only will this be transformative for some of our long-term stayers at the HSC, it will also create more capacity with new beds opening up for others that will need them. 

Committee Considers RFP of City-Owned Parcels for Affordable Housing
The City’s Housing and Economic Development Committee meeting on 10/22 included an item related to a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for the leasing of city-owned property to create affordable housing. The two sites are located at 1125 Brighton Avenue and are part of the larger property that includes The Barron Center, the City owned and operated long-term care facility. Read the full update. 

Final ‘Shop Around the World’ Initiative Highlights Tesoro Market
Last week was the final spotlight in our Shop Around the World collaboration with the Woodfords Corner Farmers Market organized by our Office of Economic Opportunity. Tesoro Market was featured and specializes in authentic Central American products. ⁠Learn more about this program as well as the story of how Tesoro Market landed here in Portland. ⁠

Volunteers Needed to Shovel Snow for Elderly Neighbors
Age-Friendly Portland needs help maintaining and expanding the Snow Shoveling for Seniors Program. Each year, a growing number of older Portland homeowners (aged 65 or older) are seeking help with snow removal. In order to keep up with demand, additional volunteers are needed in all areas of the city. Volunteers are asked to shovel steps, walks, and sidewalks for an elderly neighbor. We are also looking for individuals willing to coordinate the volunteer matches within their own neighborhood. Volunteer coordinators are needed in the Back Cove, West End, Munjoy Hill, Deering Center, Nason's Corner, and North Deering neighborhoods. If you are interested in volunteering or just need more information, please call Linda Weare at 207-541-6620 or email LSW@portlandmaine.gov. 

Save the Date: Monument Square Tree Lighting
Join us on Friday, 11/29, for the Monument Square Tree Lighting Presented by Hood® Eggnog! This free, family-friendly event kicks off at 1:00 PM with a princess and superhero meet and greet, followed by an outdoor movie watch party, along with complimentary Hood® Eggnog tastings. Enjoy live dance and music performances leading up to the tree lighting ceremony at 3:30 PM, with the tree illuminating around 4:30 PM. Check back for schedule updates here.

Portland Growing Child Care Grant
Reminder: New childcare businesses can receive grants of up to $15,500 for start-up costs associated with the opening of a home-based childcare business. Existing childcare businesses that serve more than 50 children can receive grants of up to $5,000 to hire new staff, and existing childcare businesses of any size can receive up to $11,000 for existing childcare businesses to expand and grow their business, including home-based, out-of-school (before and after school), and centers. Visit our website to learn more or apply here. Direct questions to Kaela Gonzalez, ARPA Program Coordinator, at kgonzalez@portlandmaine.gov or 207-756-8233. 

No Cost Monthly Legal Aid Clinic
Our Office of Economic Opportunity hosts a monthly virtual Legal Aid Clinic every second Thursday of the month. Appointments are available on Zoom from 12PM-5PM. Individuals may sign up for a one hour appointment to speak with a volunteer immigration lawyer at no cost. Sign up online or contact them here: oeo@portlandmaine.gov, 207-874-8799. The Legal Aid Clinic can help with any immigration questions except relating to asylum, please direct those to www.ilapmaine.org. 

Curbside Yard Waste Collection: November 2024
Public Works crews will be collecting leaf bags November 1-30. Please note that the leaf bag collection MAY NOT COINCIDE with the day of your trash & recycling collection. There is no set day of the week that crews will service your location. Unpredictable leaf amounts at the curb, staffing issues, and weather conditions are all obstacles that make it difficult for us to predict the exact timeframe of your collection. Please follow the curbside guidelines found here to help our Public Works team work efficiently and smoothly.

New Round of Job Creation Grants Available
Our Housing and Economic Development Department is now accepting applications for the latest round of job creation grants. The Business Assistance Program for Job Creation (BAP) will provide reimbursement grants of up to $20,000 to for-profit Portland businesses to create net new jobs for low and moderate-income individuals at $10,000 per full-time job (or two part-time jobs). Applications must be received by Friday, November 15, and applicants will be notified in late December. Find the full details and apply here.

11/12: Final Public Health Vaccination Clinics
In conjunction with Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, we’re hosting 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. Find the full list of dates and locations here.

Parking Updates 

• To better assist downtown workers, Spring Street parking meters are now available for 9 hours of time.
• Street maintenance parking restrictions are in effect annually from October 1 - May 31. Cars not in compliance with City of Portland street maintenance signs are subject to ticketing and towing. Learn more here.

Sharps/Needles on Public Property
Remember, if you come across syringes on City-owned property, please call the Department of Public Works at 207-874-8493 or submit a request through Portland 311 and a City employee will be dispatched to pick up the items and dispose of them properly.

Grants Available for Immigrant-Owned Microenterprises
The Business Hub at the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center is accepting applications for Immigrant Entrepreneur Microgrants. Applications are due November 8. Grants will be for a total of $4000 each and require participation in a series of business skills workshops. Businesses must be owned by low/moderate-income immigrants and the business must be located in Portland. Learn more and apply 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. Data mailers for condominiums will be sent in the next few weeks. Property owners are encouraged to visit the site and contact the Assessor’s Office with questions. 

Pickleball at Reiche
Join for a game of drop-in pickleball! 50+ exercise at Reiche Community Center on Fridays, 10/18+25, 6PM-8PM, $5/residents. Contact cviney@portlandmaine.gov, 207-874-8873 for more information.

Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates 
Read all the latest updates in the September 2024 newsletter here. 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. 

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

Rescheduled: Striping Preble Street Extension (Forest Ave to Marginal Way)
Striping will be scheduled soon but the exact date is to be determined. This will require NO PARKING along the entire road and there will be detours throughout. Check for updates here.

Western Promenade Drainage Improvements Project
Construction is on target for 10/31 completion and currently approaching the intersection with Vaughn St where work will continue for the next 1-2 weeks. Vaughn St and Danforth St will remain open to traffic, but drivers are encouraged to drive with caution. Full details. 

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