City News Round Up: Friday, April 4, 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. 

Tonight is First Friday Art Walk! Download the map here.

Absentee Voting Information for June 10 Municipal Election
Voters can now request their absentee ballot for the 6/10 Special Municipal Election; ballots will be sent out once they are ready in May.⁠ Please note: Since this is a municipal election only, voters must use the City’s online request form for this election, NOT the State of Maine’s absentee ballot request form. 

Food Safety Inspection Team Helps Keep ‘Foodie City’ Safest in Nation
Our food safety inspection team helps keep Portland, known as a ‘foodie city’, the safest in the nation following a report that showed that Maine ranked the safest state in 2024 based on foodborne illnesses. The City employs two food safety health inspectors who inspect all Health Licenses on behalf of the City and the State. Read the full story. So far in FY25, the City’s food safety health inspectors have performed 911 inspections; in FY24, they performed 1,347 inspections.

Reimagining Franklin Street Open House, April 17
We're hosting an Open House to kick off the Reimagining Franklin Street project on Thursday, 4/17, 4:30-6:30 PM at the Portland Public Library, Main Branch (Rines Auditorium, 5 Monument Square). The interactive event invites attendees to learn about past planning efforts and discuss their ideas and priorities for an updated street design and land use plan. Listen to this podcast from the 3/27 GPCOG Let’s Connect Greater Portland show to learn more about the project.

Seeking Volunteer Applicants to Serve on City Boards & Committees
We're seeking volunteer applications for various board and committee positions which all play an important role in Portland’s government. Find the full role descriptions, along with application directions on our website. Apply by Friday, May  16. Interested applicants can apply online OR send a resume and cover letter to: Appointments Committee Chairman, c/o City Clerk, 389 Congress Street, Portland ME 04101 (or via email to arand@portlandmaine.gov). Applicants will be contacted for interviews. 

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. 

4/8: The Immigrant Entrepreneur's Guide to Business Finance
The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center is hosting a free workshop Tuesday 4/8, 10AM-12PM, for startup founders and small business owners looking to understand the basics of business finance. Learn more and register on their website. 

4/11: Coffee & Climate - An Introduction to Charging the Region
Register to join the Coffee & Climate chat Friday, 4/11, 9:00-10:00 AM, to learn more about how the Greater Portland Council of Governments is identifying barriers to EV adoption, and developing solutions through the “Charging the Region” initiative. Watch past episodes on YouTube..

4/12: Earth Day and Egg Scramble at Payson Park
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.

New Hummingbird Grant, Applications Open April 1-15
Applications are open until 4/15 for a new annual grant opportunity from the City Department of Housing & Economic Development. The Hummingbird Grant will provide $1,000 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.

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.

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 week. 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. 

4/26: Neighborhood Spring Clean Up Events
Residents are also invited to join these upcoming clean-up events Saturday, 4/26: 

• Meet at 63 Federal Street for the annual Cloudport Community Clean Up, 10AM-12PM. Snacks, beverages, and cleaning supplies will be provided!
• Join the Runaways Run Club for their 8th Annual Plog, 11AM-2PM.

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
An important upcoming change 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. 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. 

Spring Cleaning of Casco Bay Garage April 25-27
The annual Spring Cleaning of the Casco Bay garage requires all customers to vacate the garage from 7:00 PM Friday, April 25, through 5:00 PM Sunday, April 27. 

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.
 

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! 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!). Learn more and sign up or direct questions to Jessica: jteesdale@portlandmaine.gov, 207-808-5200.

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.

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.

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.

DPW Paving Updates and Ongoing Construction Projects
Please visit portlandmaine.gov/PublicWorks for information links to all the most recent DPW project updates. See all paving updates here.