City News Round Up: Friday, February 28, 2025

Meetings & Agendas
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the February 24 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, March 3, at 5:00 PM; find the agenda preview at the end of this message.

Emergency Warming Shelter Open Overnight 3/2 + 3/3
CommonSpace will open the overnight Emergency Warming Shelter this Sunday and Monday nights, 3/2 and 3/3, (7:00 PM - 7:00 AM) at First Parish Church (425 Congress St.) in Portland. Contact Commonspace (207-823-4273) for more information. The entrance is through the red door in “freshman alley” by Portland High School.

Read the Recommended FY26 Capital Improvement Plan
This week the City Council’s Finance Committee reviewed the City Manager’s Recommended FY26 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The CIP presents the City’s capital needs in the current year and plans for capital needs in future years. The Finance Committee is expected to hold a public hearing and vote on the CIP plan at its March 13 meeting. Following the committee process, the recommended CIP budget will be sent to the City Council for consideration and adoption in April. 

Updated Building Codes Go Into Effect in Portland on April 7
The 2021 International Code Council (ICC) editions with Maine Uniform Building Code (MUBEC) amendments will go into effect in Portland on April 7, 2025. This will affect new residential and commercial construction, as well as additions to and alterations of existing structures. Read the full update on the new building code to learn more.

Electrify Everything! E-Bike Incentive, Enter to Win Discount
The Electrify Bikes Program is back! Starting today through Wednesday, 3/12, Portland residents can enter a random drawing to receive a 60% off certificate for a standard electric bike or cargo bike. Individuals must meet income and program eligibility requirements to qualify. Read the full details and register for the drawing on our website. After a period of at least two weeks, staff will randomly select registrants to participate in the program. 

3/3: School Board Nomination Papers Deadline
Reminder: Completed nomination papers must be returned to the City Clerk's Office by Monday, March 3, to qualify for the June 10 ballot. Nomination papers are 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.

3/14: Property Taxes Due
The second portion of property taxes are due March 14, 2025. Tax bills can be viewed and paid on our website. 

3/16: Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
The Irish American Club will have a Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 16 beginning at 12:00 PM. The parade route goes along Commercial Street in Portland from the Fish Pier to Bell Buoy Park, near the Casco Bay Ferry Terminal building. Learn more about the parade.

WSP USA Inc. Hired for "Reimagining Franklin Street" Final Planning
We’ve hired WSP USA Inc. to conduct the final planning phase for the Reimagining Franklin Street effort. Set to begin later this month, the planning effort will update and refine the conceptual design that was adopted by the City Council as part of the 2015 Franklin Street Master Plan, as well as develop a land use/urban design plan for the street. The planning effort is expected to take approximately 10 months to complete. Read the full update here to learn more.

Winter Reminders
We want to remind residents of winter operations information. 

• The fastest way to receive parking ban notifications is to sign up for our city alerts; you can choose to receive these via email and/or text message. Sign up today by visiting portlandmaine.gov/stayconnected OR text PortlandParkingBan to 38276. ⁠
• The City’s residential sand and salt pile is located at the Little League parking lot at Payson Park. This sand and salt pile is for residential use only. Contractors are not allowed. Residents can take two 5-gallon pails at a time.
• The City’s sidewalk snow removal ordinance requires business owners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property 12 hours following a winter storm and residential owners to clear snow and ice abutting their property 18 hours following the end of a storm or when the City finishes snow removal operations, whichever is later. View a map to see which sidewalks the City clears.
• Age-Friendly Portland needs snow shoveling volunteers! Find the full details. Volunteers are asked to shovel steps, walks, and sidewalks for an elderly neighbor. If you are interested in volunteering or just need more information, please call Linda Weare at 207-541-6620 or email LSW@portlandmaine.gov.

Take the Regional Trail Plan Survey
The Greater Portland Council of Governments is creating a plan to improve multi-use trail connectivity in our region, and needs your help gathering community input! Take their quick survey on making multi-use paths and trails better in the Greater Portland area. Multi-use paths are trails/paths separated from vehicle traffic and designed for both bicycles and pedestrians.  

Creative Portland Open Call, 2025 Juried Art Exhibition
Greater Portland artists are invited to submit work for consideration for Creative Portland's 8th juried show, “Acceptance”, which will hang for one year (May 2025 - April 2026) at the 84 Free Street gallery space. Artists are invited to submit work here (up to three pieces) for consideration by March 10.

Portland Senior Tax Equity Program (P-Step) Applications
Our Treasury staff has mailed new applications to residents who were approved for the P-Step program last year; a new application must be filed every year that you are eligible for the program. Applications are available online and in-person at City Hall; this year’s application period runs from January 1 through July 31, 2025. Learn more about the Portland Senior Tax Equity Program (P-STEP) on our website.

Declaration Forms Mailed for Upcoming Tax Year
Business owners were recently mailed a 2025 Personal Property Declaration form in preparation for the upcoming tax year. In addition, commercial property owners were mailed a 2025 Commercial Real Estate Declaration form. Anticipated delivery of these forms should be this and next week. Please contact the Assessing Office with any questions: (207) 874-8486, assessors@portlandmaine.gov. Completed forms should be returned to the Assessing Office on or before May 1, 2025.

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates
Read all the latest updates in the January 2025 newsletter. Reminder: View 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.

We're seeking a passionate and experienced Recreation Division Director to lead our vibrant and growing community programs, learn more and apply. Save the date! Registration for Camp Venture opens on Tuesday, March 4 at 8:30 AM. Set up a MyRec account today to save time on registration day!

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.

Winter Wednesdays: New Dining Campaign Runs Through March 26
Enjoy great deals and support your local eateries in Greater Portland + beyond on Wednesdays now through March 26, 2025! Find participating restaurants and deals, or sign your establishment up here. All restaurants across the state are encouraged to participate, spread the word!

We’re Hiring!
We are currently looking for a new Information Technology Director. We are also actively recruiting for lifeguards and aquatic instructors to join our Parks Division team. Whether you're looking for part-time excitement or on-call flexibility, we’ve got a spot for you! APPLY here today!
We are also 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. Come make a difference with us, our wellness benefits are award winning!

3/3 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. 

5:00 PM: Public comment period on non-agenda items

Proclamations
#24 Recognizing March 2025 as Women's History Month

Consent Items (Public comment taken)
#135 Declaring July 10 to August 2, 2025 the Shakespeare in the Park Festival
#136 Declaring Sundays on the Boulevard Festival Days in 2025

Communications (No public comment, no Council action)
#10 Portland Clean Election Fund Annual Report 

Unfinished Business (Public comment taken)
#134 Amendment to Portland City Code Chapter 34 RE: Landcare

Orders (Public comment taken)
#137 Setting Public Hearings on Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan and Appropriations for Community Development Block Grant Program, HOME Program and Emergency Solutions Grant Program