City of Portland Alerts

City News Round Up: Friday, August 8, 2025

City News Round Up: Friday, August 8, 2025

Meetings & Agendas
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings, and to view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings. Read a recap of the July 14 City Council meeting. The City Council will hold two meetings in August, on August 11 and 25, with both meetings starting at 4:00 PM. Read the 8/11 agenda preview at the end of this message.

Upcoming Office Closure
The Planning & Urban Development office will be closed on Thursday, August 14, starting at 11:30 AM. 

City and Partners Launch 30-Day Meal Service Delivery Pilot Project 
On Monday, 8/4, the City launched a new 30-day pilot program in partnership with Preble Street, Milestone Recovery, and Hope Squad Maine. This program is designed to provide regular and coordinated delivery of existing community partner mobile meal services to unsheltered residents at one designated public site on the peninsula. Learn more about the project and how to share feedback.

8/11: Back Cove Trail Community Cleanup 
Join Oceanic Global and Friends of Casco Bay for a community cleanup on Monday, 8/11, 5 PM-7 PM at Back Cove Trail! Volunteers are invited to join and help clean up litter to prevent marine debris and microplastics from entering our waterways. Meet the team in the parking area at Back Cove Trail. 

10th Annual Fill-A-Backpack Challenge, Donate by 8/22
The Portland Police Department is once again collecting backpacks filled with school supplies for the students of the Portland school system! Donations are accepted now through August 22. Supplies should include: pencils, sharpeners, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, glue, spiral notebooks, and scissors (blunt edge). Drop off at the PD Lobby at 109 Middle Street; email rgrant@portlandmaine.gov for more information.

Preble Field Amenities Now Open!
The fitness course and public bathrooms at Preble Field at Back Cove Park opened today! Mark your calendars for the grand opening of the full park, including the highly anticipated soccer field, on Friday, September 5th.

Volunteers Needed for Porchfest on September 7!
Deering Center Neighborhood Association is looking for volunteers to help bring Porchfest to life again this year on Sunday, 9/7, from 12–5 PM in the Deering Center neighborhood of Portland. This neighborhood music festival transforms front porches into stages and sidewalks into gathering places—and your help is needed to make it happen! Volunteer roles include Traffic Guardians and Roadies; shifts are just 1-2 hours. Learn more and sign up!

Art is the Heart: Arts District Banner Revitalization Project
This summer, Portland’s Arts District will come alive with a vibrant new infusion of creativity and color through the Arts District Banner Revitalization Project, proudly sponsored by the Portland Museum of Art and co-presented by Creative Portland, the City’s official arts agency, in collaboration with Portland Downtown and the City of Portland. Beginning mid-August, newly designed banners will be installed along Congress Street – the cultural spine of the district. Read the full update. 

In Action:  New Street Safety Project on Washington Ave.
New roadway paint, flexible traffic posts, and speed bumps have been added temporarily to Washington Avenue from Veranda Street to Ocean Avenue. The goal: test improvements aimed at making the roads safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers—before committing to permanent infrastructure changes. Read the full update and share feedback here.

New GPCOG Podcast: How To Build an ADU in Your Backyard
Don't miss two great recent “Let's Connect” podcasts with City staff! Hear from our Planning staff on the topic of Accessory Dwelling Units (or ADUs), and Parks staff with Portland Hearts of Pine founder, Gabe Hoffman-Johnson.

Neighborhood Mini Grants, Apply by August 30th
Do you have an idea for a project to make your neighborhood more socially connected, sustainable, resilient, or inclusive? Do you need help covering the costs? The City of Portland’s Sustainability Office is currently accepting applications for our first round of Neighborhood Mini Grants until August 30, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST.

New Loans Available for Storefront Upgrades in Downtown Portland
Interest-free loans of up to $20,000 are available to property owners and leaseholders in the Downtown TOD TIF District to finance upgrades to existing commercial properties with visible storefronts. View the map and read the full update. Potential applicants may direct questions to Nancy Martin, Business Programs Manager: 207-756-8019 or nmartin@portlandmaine.gov.

City-Sponsored Affordable Condos at Dougherty Commons 
Maine Cooperative Development Partners is still taking applications on a first-come, first-served basis for 20 new affordable condominium homes at Dougherty Commons, located at 57 & 65 Dougherty Court in Portland, Maine. This high-quality housing opportunity offers energy-efficient, zero energy ready homes at prices accessible to working Mainers earning up to 100% of Area Median Income. 

Maine Community Bank's LaunchPad Competition - Apply by 8/14
Maine Community Bank is accepting applications for its annual LaunchPad competition. One standout, up-and-coming startup will earn a $50,000 LaunchPad Grant, and another Emerging Business Award valued at $20,000. If you're building an innovative small business, check out the Judging Criteria and apply by Thursday, August 14 at 5 PM.

Revaluation Notices Distributed to Portland Property Owners
Our Assessor's Office has distributed revaluation notices to property owners. Property owners can review their new values online. New property values will be used for the Fiscal Year 2026 tax bills, expected in early September. Please note that the tax/mill rate will likely be adjusted downward due to the overall increase in taxable value. The revaluation does not generate additional revenue for the City; it redistributes the tax burden based on current property values. 

Parks, Recreation and Facilities Updates

Public Works Updates

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 and after school recreation counselors, lifeguards, 911 dispatchers, community health workers, and more. Recently posted: Senior Accountant, Certified Code Enforcement Officer/Housing Safety, Telecommunicator (911 Dispatcher). Come make a difference with us, our wellness benefits are award winning.

August 11 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 online. 

4:00 PM: Public comment period on non-agenda items

5 Consent Items and Communications (No Public comment, no Council action)
#1 Adoption of Historic Preservation Board Procedural Rules

Unfinished Business (Public comment taken)

#239 Setting Election Date on Amendment to Chapter 33 of Portland City Code RE: an Act to Increase Portland's Minimum Wage (Staff recommend postponing to 8/25)

#4 Designating the Portland Tourism Municipal Development District and Adopting the Development Program for the District for FY '25-'26

#5 Establishing Implementation Assessments for the Portland Tourism Municipal Development District for FY '25-'26

#6 Approving Development Program Manager Agreement Between the City and Convention and Visitors' Bureau of Greater Portland, Doing Business as Visit Portland for FY '25-'26

#9 Establishing a 180-Day Moratorium on Theater and Performance Hall Projects with a Capacity Exceeding 2000 People in the City of Portland

(Staff is requesting this item be taken at the end of the meeting.)

#10 Approving an Option to Lease Agreement with Prosperity Housing, LP for City Land at 1125 Brighton Ave

#11 Designating Prosperity Place 1125 Brighton Ave Site 1 an Affordable Housing Development and Tax Increment Financing District and Adopting the Municipal Development Program for District

#12 Approving Prosperity Place 1125 Brighton Ave Site 1 Affordable Housing Credit Enhancement Agreement with Prosperity Place LP

#13 Designating Mayo Housing 70 East Oxford St an Affordable Housing Development District and Tax Increment Financing District and Adopting the Municipal Development Program for the District

#14 Approving the Mayo Housing 70 East Oxford St Affordable Housing Credit Enhancement Agreement with Mayo Housing, LP

#15 Designating Boyd Housing and Cumberland Housing Affordable Housing Development and Tax Increment Financing District and Adopting the Municipal Development Program for District

#16 Approving Credit Enhancement Agreement with Boyd Housing, LP

#17 Approving Credit Enhancement Agreement with Cumberland Housing, LP

#18 Adopting Development Program for Portland Downtown FY '25-'26

#19 Establishing Maintenance and Implementation Assessments for Portland Downtown FY '25-'26

#20 Order Approving Agreement between the City and Portland Downtown FY '25-'26

Orders
#26 Setting Election Date on Citizen Initiative Amendment to Portland City Code RE: An Act to End Fugitive Coal Dust (Staff recommend postponing to 8/25)

Past Alerts