City News Round Up: Friday, March 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 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. The City Manager’s recommended FY26 budget will be presented at this meeting and then referred to the Finance Committee for review. 

Special notice:  Riverside Recycling will be closed Saturday, 3/29 due to inclement weather.

Street Sweeping Parking Reminders
Street sweeping is ramping up over the next several weeks. In order for this work to be effective and done by the end of May, we need your compliance with parking restrictions! On the peninsula: Please help our operations team and follow the (overnight & daytime, check your zone) street maintenance parking restrictions to avoid tickets or towing.⁠ These parking regulations are in effect annually from October 1 - May 31. We always ticket to achieve compliance, but are hoping we don't have to tow! Street sweeping is a City regulatory requirement, reduces water pollution (by removing salt/sand), and prevents materials from clogging our sewer/storm drain systems. 

City Seeks Volunteers to Serve on Social Housing Task Force 
Mayor Mark Dion is seeking volunteers to serve on a new Social Housing Task Force as passed by the City Council at the March 17 meeting. The deadline is Wednesday, April 30, or until filled. Volunteers needed must include: One representative from an affordable housing developer, one representative from a market developer; at least three Portland residents with relevant knowledge or skills (e.g. housing advocates, urban planners, financial and legal experts); at least two members of the community from underserved populations with lived experience navigating the challenging housing environment in Portland. Interested applicants can apply by submitting a resume and cover letter via email to cityclerk@portlandmaine.gov. 

CDBG Recommendations and Upcoming Public Hearings 
City Manager Danielle West has completed her review and recommendations for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2025-26 applications. These recommendations, along with the scores of the CDBG Allocation Committee, will be provided to the City Council for their consideration and vote at their meetings on April 28, 2025, and May 5, 2025. Visit the City Council webpage for more information about agendas, written submissions, and other rules for public comment. Please reach out to cdbg@portlandmaine.gov with additional questions.

New Hummingbird Grant, Applications Open April 1-15
Applications open Tuesday, April 1, for a new annual grant opportunity from the City Department of Housing & Economic Development. The Hummingbird Grant will provide $1,000 each year to a Portland cosmetologist in honor of Shahnaz Mahager, an immigrant entrepreneur, made possible through a generous donation from her family and friends. Find the full story, guidelines, and application on our website.

Co-op Tree Planting Program - Registration Now Open
This collaborative program allows eligible Portland residents to purchase a tree while our Forestry team handles the pick-up and planting process. Space is limited, so get your registration in as soon as you can. Depending on demand, we may close registration before the April 30 deadline. Please email trees@portlandmaine.gov with any questions.
 

Celebrating 50 Years of MedCu in Portland
Don’t miss this great coverage of the history of MedCu in Portland. Learn how the program got its start, from horse-drawn ambulances to six Medical Crisis Units stationed around the city. Read the February 3, 2025, Proclamation recognizing the 50th anniversary.

Spring Curbside Yard Waste Collection ⁠Begins Monday, April 28 
Annual spring curbside collection of yard waste will start on Monday, April 28 and continues 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. Bags can remain curbside 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.

Road Safety Tips with Bicycle Coalition of Maine
We continue to urge motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists to please exercise caution when traveling. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine also helped us share more road safety tips this week. We want everyone who is walking and riding at night to be safe and seen when using the roadways. Please take the time to refresh your knowledge and share to help us keep our community safe. 

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.

Face Painters Needed!
Join our vibrant volunteer face painting squad and use your creativity to brighten the days of children and families at Portland events (like the 4/12 Egg Scramble!). We provide all the supplies and training you need. Share your artistic talents while making a positive impact on your community. Learn more and sign up or direct questions to Jessica Teesdale: jteesdale@portlandmaine.gov, 207-808-5200.

Spring Cleaning of Casco Bay Garage April 25-27
The annual Spring Cleaning of the garage requires all Casco Bay Parking Garage customers to vacate the garage from 7:00 PM Friday, April 25, through 5:00 PM Sunday, April 27. During this period, your Casco Bay Parking Pass will allow you to park at the Custom House Garage with access 24 hours a day with your parking card. Please remember when you park your vehicle at the Custom House Garage to take your prox card with you as there is not a 24-hour security officer on duty and pedestrian doors may be locked as garage hours differ.

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. 

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.

Listen:  Franklin Street Redesign Podcast Now Available
Interested in learning more about the Franklin Street redesign? You can listen to a new podcast that came out yesterday as part of GPCOG’s Let’s Connect Greater Portland show.

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 voted to approve the City Manager’s Recommended FY26 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) at its meeting last night. The CIP presents the City’s capital needs in the current year and plans for capital needs in future years. The CIP budget will now be sent to the City Council for consideration and adoption in April. 

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
Seasonal kayak/dinghy rack rental registration opens on April 1. Read all the latest updates in the March 2025 newsletter or subscribe to receive the newsletter once a month. We’re hiring for seasonal positions now!

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.