City News Round Up: Friday, January 17, 2025

Meetings & Agendas
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the January 6 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, January 22, at 5 PM; read the agenda preview at the end of this message.
 

1/20: Upcoming Holiday Closure
All City buildings will be closed on Monday, January 20 in observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There is no change to trash and recycling collection.

Warming Shelter Open Overnight: Monday-Wednesday, 1/20 - 1/22
CommonSpace will be opening the overnight Emergency Warming Shelter (7 PM-7 AM) Monday- Wednesday, 1/20-1/22, at First Parish Church (425 Congress Street) in Portland. The entrance is through the red door in “freshman alley” by Portland High School. We will continue to monitor the forecast during this cold snap and send notice if there will be additional nights as the extended forecast becomes more clear. Read our Winter Warming Plan here. ⁠

City Seeks Applicants to Serve on Boards & Committees
The City Clerk's office is seeking applications for various board and committee positions which all play an important role in Portland’s government. Residents can find the full descriptions and application instructions on the City’s website here. The deadline to apply is Monday, February 10. Applicants will be contacted for interviews.
 

Limited Funding Available for Microenterprise Grants
The City is accepting applications from now until January 27, 2025, for a very limited amount of Microenterprise Grants. Awards of up to $5,000 will be made on a reimbursable basis to Portland microbusinesses or nonprofits that are owned by or which serve low-income populations. Funding is provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was made available to the City of Portland by the federal government. Learn more and find the online application on our website here

Planning Project Spotlight: 197 Oxford Street
On January 14, 2025, the Planning Board approved a Major Site Plan application involving a phased-site plan development featuring a total of 96 residential units on three parcels within the R-6 zone. Phase 1 includes 20 affordable housing units and 28 Housing First units with on-site staff and support services. The second and third phases each have 24 market-rate housing units. This application will also include the reconstruction of sidewalks along Cedar, Oxford, and Lancaster Streets, as well as 34 new street trees in the Bayside neighborhood.

December 2024 Employee of the Month - Troy Moon
Congratulations to Troy Moon, our Sustainability Director, who has been selected as the December 2024 Employee of the Month. Troy has more than 27 years of service to the City of Portland! This award is in recognition of his excellent leadership, tireless dedication, comprehensive knowledge, and positivity. Troy is constantly listening to residents’ thoughts and concerns regarding climate change impacts in our area, and works tirelessly to help the City work toward the goals set in the City’s climate action plan – One Climate Future. City staff tell us he shines when talking about Sustainability Office achievements and the ever-growing opportunities to come. Read more about Troy's great work here, he is truly an asset to the Executive Department and to the city.

New Ventures Maine, Marketing Mini-Grants: Apply by 2/28
New Ventures Maine awards cash mini-grants (up to $1,000) to microenterprises for current marketing projects. This program supports the development of marketing tools, materials, and activities. Applications are due on February 28. Learn more + apply here.

1/24: Coffee + Climate, Ash Tree Protection
Register here to join the One Climate Future team on Friday, January 24, 9-10 AM, to discuss ash trees, the spread of the invasive Emerald Ash Borer, and the considerable effect this pest will have on ecosystems and traditions in our Northeastern forests. Joining the group will be John Daigle, Professor of Forest Recreation Management at the University of Maine and research member of the Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik team. 

City Receives $2M in Federal Funds to Support Franklin Street Redesign
Last week the City and MaineDOT were awarded $2 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program for the first phase of design for the Franklin Street redesign project. The federal funding will be matched by the City and MaineDOT, each contributing $250,000. Having these federal funds in place will allow the City to move immediately into the design phase after the final planning phase is complete. The final planning phase work is set to begin in the first quarter of 2025 after the City hires a consultant to lead the effort. 

Health & Human Services 2024 Community Impact
On Monday, January 6, Mayor Dion highlighted the work of our Health & Human Services (HHS) Department in his State of the City Address. Watch this quick recap of our 2024 community impact here, and stay tuned for our HHS 2024 annual report for a full look at how we're making a difference in our community. We're proud to serve you Portland, Maine! 

10 Portland Businesses Awarded Job Creation Grants
At their December 19, 2024 meeting, the Portland Development Corporation awarded $100,000 in grant funding allocated by the City's Community Development Block Grant program to 10 Portland businesses. Each business will receive $10,000 for creating a new job. This program will expand economic opportunities and contribute to the local economy. Read the full story here.

City Seeking Proposals to Utilize Federal Funds for Affordable Rental Housing + Services to Reduce Homelessness
The City of Portland/Cumberland County HOME Consortium (CCHC) is excited to announce the availability of a Request for Proposals for projects that will support individuals and households experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Read the full update to learn more. Applications are due Monday, February 3, at 2PM.

Request For Applicants - Day Space Pilot + Methadone Treatment Program
The City has issued a request for grant applications through its opioid settlement fund programs in order to create a day space pilot program and a methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) program in Portland. Applications are due January 24, 2025, by 4:30 PM. In 2017, the City joined several nationwide class action lawsuits against opioid manufacturers, which were intended to help pay for the social costs and massive damages caused by the opioid epidemic. As a result, the City has received approximately $1.38 million in opioid settlement funds to allocate toward opioid remediation and abatement uses. 

School Board Nomination Papers Now Available
Nomination papers are now available in the City Clerk's office to fill the vacant School Board At-Large seat for a six-month term to fill a vacant seat. Interested candidates will also have to file nomination papers subsequently for the November 2025 election to run for a full three-year term. Completed nomination papers must be returned to the City Clerk's Office by Monday, March 3, to qualify for the June 10 ballot. Please contact the Clerk's Office for more information: elections@portlandmaine.gov or 207-874-8677.

Rental Registration Late Fee Reminder
We're reminding landlords and property managers that the City’s annual rental registration process is currently open, and renewals were due on December 31, 2024; see the late fee schedule below. If you require any assistance, please contact the Rental Registration office at rentcontrol@portlandmaine.gov. Visit the rental registration page to learn more.

• Licenses not renewed by January 15, 2025 will be subject to late fees of $50 per unit. 

• Licenses not renewed by February 15, 2025 will be subject to late fees of $200 per unit. 

Important Changes for Portland Employers Started January 1
Portland businesses are reminded of the following changes starting January 1, 2025: 1) Paid Family Medical Leave Contributions Begin; 2) Increase to Overtime Exemption Threshold; 3) Minimum Wage Increase. Read this update for the full information.

Treecycling is back! Don’t throw away your tree, RECYCLE IT!
For the month of January, there are THREE drop-off locations in Portland where you can drop off your Christmas tree to be recycled. Trees dropped off at any of these locations will be taken to Riverside Recycling to be chipped and mulched.⁠   1) Cutter Street Parking Lot, Eastern Promenade, the upper lot on the right, not the sliding hill lot; 2) Payson Park, Salt Shed area, by the Little League field; 3) Riverside Golf Course, North Course (9-hole), 1158 Riverside Street. Please make sure all ornaments, lights, + tinsel have been removed from your tree.⁠

Winter Conditions Map + Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates
Reminder! You can view our real-time condition updates for Portland's five skating ponds and three sledding hills on this interactive map, updated daily. Ice skating is always at your own risk. Find more ice safety and winter recreation ideas on our website. Read all the latest updates in the December 2024 newsletter here. Registration is open for 2025 Recreation Programs here.

Reminder: Register Your Dog by January 31
State law requires you to license your dog each year. Residents can register dogs online or at the City Clerk's office, learn more here. Register annually by January 31 to avoid the $25 late fee. Fees: $6 per year; $11 unneutered/unspayed. (A $1 transaction fee + a $1.75 shipping/handling fee is added to online registration transactions.) 

Elder Exercise: Friday Drop-In Pickleball at Reiche
Join for a game of drop-in pickleball - ongoing now through May 2025! 50+ exercise takes place at Reiche Community Center on Fridays, 6 PM-8 PM, $5/residents. Contact cviney@portlandmaine.gov, 207-874-8873 for more information.

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.
 

1/22 City Council Meeting Agenda Preview

The City Council will conduct this meeting from the Council Chambers, 2nd floor of City Hall. The public may attend in person or watch here via livestream. 

5:30 PM: Public comment period on non-agenda items

Special Meetings, Public comment taken
Corporator of the Creative Portland Corporation
#120 Appointing Director to the Corporator of the Creative Portland

Corporator of the Portland Fish Pier Authority (Merged with Fish Exchange)
#121 Appointing Directors to the Board of the Portland Fish Pier Authority

Proclamations
#22 Recognizing Black History Month 2025

Appointments + 2 Consent Items, Public comment taken
#122 Appointing Members to Various Boards & Commissions
#123 Amending Order #110 by Adding + Removing Constables for Portland Housing Authority

Communications, No public comment, no Council action
#8 Annual Report of the Land Bank Commission

Unfinished Business, Public comment taken
#119 Approving/Appropriating Federal Aviation Administration Administered Airport Improvement Program and Airport Infrastructure Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Grants