City News Round Up: Friday, April 18, 2025

Meetings & Agendas
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. City Manager Danielle West presented her recommended $365.6 million Fiscal Year 2026 budget to the City Council at its April 14, 2025 meeting; read the recap and read the full budget letter. The Council’s Finance Committee began its budget review on 4/15, visit the Finance Committee page to view the full budget review schedule and related documents.

To view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings, please visit portlandmaine.gov/agendas. The next City Council meeting is Monday, April 28, at 5:00 PM. 

Upcoming Closure: Monday, April 21
City Hall and city buildings will be closed on Monday, 4/21, in observance of Patriots' Day. There is no change to trash and recycling collection.

4/19 - Earth Day & Egg Scramble at Payson Park
Kick off spring at our FREE, family-friendly Earth Day Celebration and Egg Scramble on Saturday, April 19, 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.

4/19 - DCNA’s Annual Spring Neighborhood Cleanup
Be a part of Earth Day Weekend in Deering Center. The Deering Center Neighborhood Association (DCNA) will host its annual spring neighborhood cleanup on Saturday, April 19 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. Meet up in front of Pat’s, trash bags, gloves and bottled water provided, as well as some give-away goodie bags and raffles for local business gift cards. 

City’s Professional Connections Program to Resume
The City of Portland's Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) will relaunch its Portland Professional Connections (PPC) program in Spring 2025 in collaboration with the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, thanks to a $60,000 donation from the John T. Gorman Foundation. The City Council is being asked to approve the acceptance of the donation at its April 14, 2025, meeting. Read Full Release Here

Fire Department Hosts Graduation & Awards Ceremony
The Fire Department will host a graduation ceremony for four new firefighters on Friday, April 18 at Portland High School as well as their annual awards ceremony on Saturday, April 19 at Portland High School. Learn more about these two great events. 

Portland Police Department Adds Comfort Dog to its Ranks
Welcome, Archie! Our police department is proud to announce the addition of a new comfort dog to its team. Archie is a specially trained dog that will provide emotional support to officers, assist crime victims, and strengthen community relations. He’s a nine week old English Labrador and will be handled by Officer Les Smith, an officer with more than 30 years of experience. He even visited the City Council meeting this week. 

City Elder Affairs, Adult Day Program - Openings Now Available
Our Office of Elder Affairs provides a much-needed respite for family caregivers by providing safe daytime supervision and care to older adults with cognitive and physical health challenges. Now accepting new clients! Learn more about how this program can support you and your loved one by calling 207-541-6619 or find more details on our website.

Public Health Clinic Expands STI Hours
Our Public Health Clinic is excited to announce that it is expanding its sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing availability with the launch of new walk-in hours on Mondays. Beginning April 28, individuals can receive testing for HIV, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis without an appointment every Monday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at 39 Forest Avenue. Learn more about this expansion of services. 

Celebrating Community Development Week, April 21-25th 
Stay tuned for social media updates sharing beneficiary stories, check out a self-guided walking tour of recent CDBG projects, and follow upcoming City Council meetings discussing current CDBG applications. Visit our website to learn more about CDBG.

Towing Alert: Street Sweeping Parking Reminders
Street sweeping is ramping up over the next several weeks. 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 we 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. 

4/26: Raised Bed-Building Volunteer Workshop
Volunteers needed! Cultivating Community is hosting a raised bed-building workshop at Common Share Community Garden at Eastern Prom on Saturday, April 26. Help us transform this in-ground garden into a beautiful raised bed garden before the growing season begins! Whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting, these workshops are designed to be informative and enjoyable for everyone. Learn more + register here.

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, 10 AM-12 PM. Snacks, beverages, and cleaning supplies will be provided!
• Join the Runaways Run Club for their 8th Annual Plog, 11 AM-2 PM.

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

Chickadee License Plates Will Be Replaced Starting May 1
As of May 1, 2025, the new Pine Tree/ No Tree plates will start to be distributed. Chickadee plates will no longer be issued. Plate exchanges with the NEW design will occur during your normal registration time frame. You do not need to come in before your registration is due.

If you have a low-digit vanity or want to retain your current number, follow this link to reserve your plate. Reserved plates will arrive 2-4 weeks prior to registration expiration date. If you have questions, please call the State at 207-624-9000 Ext 52149 or email them at platereserve.bmv@maine.gov. 

Sundays on the Boulevard Starts May 4 Through September 28
Starting Sunday, May 4, 2025, Baxter Boulevard will be closed to vehicular traffic on  Sundays only, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and OPEN for walkers, bikers, pedestrian traffic + play! This year Sundays on the Boulevard runs through Sunday, September 28, 2025.⁠ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: Baxter Boulevard from Vannah Ave to Catafalque Drive (Payson Park east entrance), and the Payson Park west entrance road from the tip of the grass triangle to Baxter Boulevard shall be closed to traffic from 9 AM to 4 PM every Sunday from May 4, 2025, to September 28, 2025 (Please note: Sundays on the Boulevard will be suspended on Sunday, August 3, 2025, to accommodate the Back Cove Music & Arts Festival taking place in Payson Park.)

Creative Portland Announces 8th Juried Art Exhibition "Acceptance"
Fourteen local Maine artists have been selected for Creative Portland’s eighth juried art exhibition, "Acceptance," which will open to the public during the First Friday Art Walk on May 2, 2025, and run through April 2026, Monday through Thursday, from 10 AM-4 PM and every First Friday thereafter, unless noted otherwise. The Creative Portland Gallery is located at 84 Free Street, directly across from the back entrance of Maine College of Art & Design.

Call For Artists: Payson Park Summer Concert Series
Friends of Payson Park is seeking four musical acts for their 2025 season of free, family-friendly outdoor concerts in the park! The confirmed concert dates are the second Tuesday of the month, June-September.

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. 

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. 

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.

Co-op Tree Planting Program - Registration Ends 4/30
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.

CEI's Free Food Biz Bootcamp Starts May 1
This hands-on, in-person training program is designed for entrepreneurs ready to launch a food service business. Gain essential knowledge, practical skills, and valuable business connections to help navigate the food service industry with confidence. This program is designed especially for those facing challenges due to limited financial resources, unfamiliarity with Maine’s business regulations, or language and cultural barriers.

5/3: Re-forest the City Mulching Party 
West End Neighborhood Association is hosting a Mulching Party on Saturday, May 3, from 2:00-4:00 PM. Party location: Taylor Street Park-West End. They will have a list of recently planted street trees that could use a little mulching love and will provide mulch, compost, and mulching instructions.

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). 

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.