City News Round Up: Friday, March 21, 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 17 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, April 14, at 5:00 PM.

Council’s Ad Hoc Rules Committee to Meet March 25
The City Council’s ad hoc Rules Committee will hold a remote meeting on Tuesday, March 25 at 5:30 PM on Zoom. The agenda will be available later today.

Spring Curbside Yard Waste Collection ⁠Begins Monday, April 28 
Annual spring curbside collection of yard waste will start on Monday, April 28, and continue through Friday, May 9. Leaves must be in large, paper biodegradable leaf bags. Yard waste curbside collection MAY NOT coincide with your weekly trash collection day. Once you place the leaf bags curbside, please leave them curbside so they are accessible for the crew regardless of the weather or your trash collection day. Due to safety risks, crews will NOT collect bags of mulched leaves, sticks, branches, rocks, sod, and/or bags of dirt. Public Works cannot accurately predict when the collection crews will be on your street as it depends on the volume of leaves they collect each day as they work their way through the city. 

Household Hazardous Waste Reminder
Riverside Recycling accepts household hazardous waste the first Saturday of the month, April through November, 7:30 AM - 1:00 PM (except July 2025 due to the holiday). 

Islander Parking Update
We want to inform you of an important upcoming change that may impact your parking options in the Ocean Gateway Lot. Due to construction scheduled to begin for the Portland Harbor Common project in June of this year, there will be no available Islander Lottery Parking in the Ocean Gateway Lot for the duration of the construction period. The construction is expected to last approximately 12-18 months. We understand this may cause an inconvenience for those who rely on the Islander Lottery Parking in this area, and we sincerely apologize for any disruption this may cause. Please visit our Island Parking webpage to view available options.

Save the Date: Earth Day and Egg Scramble on April 12
Kick off spring at our free, family-friendly Earth Day Celebration and Egg Scramble on Saturday, April 12, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Payson Park! Enjoy a morning of egg hunting, photos with Bubba the Bunny, face painting, music, games, and more from 10:00 - 11:00 AM. Earth Day festivities will take over from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM with City and local environmental organizations partnering to host a festival of fun, including e-bike demos, a free clothing swap, outdoor activities, games, painting, food trucks, and more.

Council Committee Considers Minimum Wage Increase Proposal
The City Council’s Housing and Economic Development Committee began considering a minimum wage increase proposal at its 3/18 meeting and gathered feedback from the public. The committee meets next on April 15.

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. 

I-295 South Portland Ramp Closure, 3/17 Through Fall 2026
The Maine Department of Transportation is 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. 

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 the 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.

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. 

Winter Wednesdays: New Dining Campaign Ends 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 and spread the word!

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
We’re hiring for seasonal positions now! Read all the latest updates in the February 2025 newsletter or subscribe to receive the newsletter once a month.

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!
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.