City News Round Up: Friday, March 14, 2025

Meetings & Agendas
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. Read a recap of the March 3 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 17, at 5:00 PM, read the agenda preview at the end of this message.

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. After the parade, join the celebration at Maine Irish Heritage Center from 1-4PM. Complete with food trucks, Stillson dancers, a photo-op with St. Paddy himself (aka James McClay), tours of the building, and more. Find all the details.

3/18: Council Committee to Consider Minimum Wage Increase Proposal
The City Council’s Housing and Economic Development Committee will consider a minimum wage increase proposal at its 3/18 meeting. The meeting begins at 5:30 PM and will be held remotely via Zoom. The Committee is not expected to take a vote at the 3/18 meeting, but will hold a public hearing to gather feedback from the public. The public is encouraged to attend or submit written public comments in advance to edd@portlandmaine.gov. Submissions must be received by 12:00 PM the day before the meeting to guarantee inclusion in the agenda packet. Read the full update.

Syringe Redemption Pilot Program Shows Progress
Public Health’s syringe redemption pilot program has demonstrated progress in reducing needle waste in Portland. Following an increase in syringe litter, particularly in the neighborhoods of Bayside, East Bayside, and Parkside, City staff developed an operational improvement plan to decrease the number of improperly discarded syringes, improve the efforts to collect data and the quality of data to improve the accuracy of our information, and respond to community concerns regarding safety. 

Traffic Alert: I-295 South Portland Ramp Closure, 3/17 Through Fall 2026
Starting Monday, 3/17 at 6:00 AM the Maine Department of Transportation will be restricting the ramp from Veterans Memorial Bridge to southbound I-295 to a single lane with a 12-foot width restriction. This will be in effect until the fall of 2026. The ramp to southbound US Route 1 from Veterans Memorial Bridge will be closed and utilize a detour via Exit 3 (view map). These closures are happening to accommodate bridge rehabilitation and the installation of replacement lighting.

Tree Talk with City Arborist Mark Reiland
Join our City Arborist for a Tree Talk on Wednesday, March 18, at 6:30 PM at Reiche School Community Room (entrance on Clark St., Door 11). The talk will explore tree stewardship, community engagement, and environmental challenges.

City Urges Public To Follow Important Safety Tips When Traveling
We’re urging motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists to please exercise caution when traveling and to remember these safety tips as they are crucial to ensuring the well-being of the traveling public. Given a recent rise in crashes involving pedestrians in Portland, please take the time to refresh your knowledge and share to help us keep our community safe.

Casco Bay Wind Symphony Returns for City's July 4th Celebration
We're excited to welcome the Casco Bay Wind Symphony back to the Eastern Prom for our 4th of July celebration! The concert will be a free, family-friendly event, featuring renditions of patriotic favorites, film scores, and classic American marches leading up to our fireworks display. The ensemble is seeking donations and sponsorships to help cover the cost of essential lighting and sound equipment, any donation amount will help them reach their goal. 

CDBG Allocation Committee Recommendations
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Allocation Committee, a City Council appointed group of Portland residents, has read and scored each CDBG Application submitted this year. Read the recommendations. The rankings are forwarded to the City Manager and City Council, who will make the final determination of awards following the public comment sessions on April 28 and May 5. Please direct questions to: cdbg@portlandmaine.gov.

Forest Avenue Redesign Project: Executive Summary Now Available
Visit the project page to read the Executive Summary which includes an overview of the process and findings of the project. Recommendations and Next Steps are also available, these incorporate the input that was received from the public meeting and survey in November 2024. Download the Executive Summary and a compilation of the project background materials, found in the appendices.

New Applicant Tools for Permitting & Inspections Process
Our Permitting & Inspections team has created new tools to help navigate the permitting process. Visit portlandmaine.gov/permitting to view workflow charts to help applicants learn the process for both Residential and Commercial Building Permits. A new video has also been created to guide customers through creating a Citizen Self Service (CSS) account; a CSS account is necessary to apply for any permits.⁠

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.

Read the Recommended FY26 Capital Improvement Plan
The City Council’s Finance Committee is currently reviewing 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 will hold a public hearing and vote on the CIP plan at its March 27 meeting. Following the Committee process, the recommended CIP budget will be sent to the City Council for consideration and adoption in April. 

Property Taxes Now Overdue
The second portion of property taxes were due today, March 14. Tax bills can be viewed and paid on our website. 

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.

Free Business Training Opportunity Starts March 28
CEI is offering a Business Navigator program to provide technical guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs who are in the pre-start or early stages of their business journey. It is designed specifically for those facing challenges such as limited financial resources, unfamiliarity with Maine’s business regulations, or language and cultural barriers. This nine-week peer-group program begins 3/28, visit their website to register and learn more.

Survey Time: Share Your Experience Taking the Bus
The Greater Portland Council of Governments is looking to learn about your experience taking the bus! Take the survey. Your input will help GPCOG create the plan for a free and reduced-cost bus pass that works across bus agencies in Southern Maine, making public transit more accessible for all.

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates
Read all the latest updates in the February 2025 newsletter or subscribe to receive the newsletter once a month. 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. 

The demolition of the old playground at Nathan Clifford School is underway. Once completed, there will not be a playground for the next few months. Our Parks Division will repurpose the playground from the Kiwanis Pool location and install it at Nathan Clifford once the crew can schedule the work. Installation of the repurposed playground will likely take a few days, up to a week to complete.

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. All restaurants across the state are encouraged to participate, spread the word!

We’re Hiring!
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, lifeguards, 911 dispatchers, community health workers, and
more. Come make a difference with us, our wellness benefits are award winning.

3/17 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 via livestream. 

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

Proclamations
#25 Arab American Heritage Month
#26 Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month

Appointments + 5 Consent Items
#138 Appointing Members to Various Boards & Committees
#139 Appointing Troy Moon to Landcare Management Advisory Committee
#140 Appointing Mike Murray to Casco Bay Island Transit District Board of Directors for 2025

Budget Items (First Read only)
#146 Appropriating Bond Proceeds + Other Funds Not to Exceed $41,070,000 for City's FY2026 Capital Improvement Program
#147 Authorizing General Obligation Bonds to Finance a Portion of City's Fiscal Year FY26 Capital Improvement Program Not to Exceed $30,370,00

Resolutions (Public comment taken)
#7 Calling for the Establishment of a Task Force on Social Housing

Orders (Public comment taken on #148-#149 only, others First Read only)
#148 Approving Third Amendment to First Amended + Restated Purchase/Sale Agreement with Lambert Woods North LLC
#149 Order Approving First Amendment to Service Provider Subcontract Between DC Management LLC, DC Blueberry LC, Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition + City
#150 Accepting/Appropriating $50,000 Housing Opportunity Program Municipal Grant Award
#151 Accepting Agreement between MaineDOT + the City RE: Woodford St and Deering Ave Paving Project
#152 Accepting Agreement Between MaineDOT + City RE: Improvements to Congress St, West Commercial St, Fore River Parkway
#153 Approving Collective Bargaining Agreement with Communications Employees Association