City News Round Up: Friday, October 16, 2026 

UPCOMING MEETINGS

• Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Council, Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings, and to view agendas, backup materials, and videos from past meetings.
• Read a recap of the October 5 City Council meeting. The next City Council meeting is Monday, October 19 at 5:00 PM; read the agenda preview at the end of this message. 

NEED TO KNOW

• Road Closure Extended: Due to this week's rain, the Ocean Avenue road closure (between Forest Ave. and Chenery St.) has been extended through Tuesday, October 20, so paving can be completed.
• Go Vote! In-person absentee voting runs through Thursday, October 29, in the State of Maine Room, 2nd Floor of City Hall. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Clerk's Office will remain open until 7:00 PM on Thursday, October 29 only.
• Parking Reminder: Attention residents who live or park on the peninsula and near USM! Overnight street maintenance parking restrictions went back into effect October 1 (daytime also, in some areas). Please remember to check posted signs to avoid tickets & towing! Regulations are in effect annually from October 1 - May 31. This applies to all citizens who live or park on the peninsula (and the Nathan Clifford area).

LATEST NEWS AND CITY EVENTS

• Save the dates for our upcoming Annual District Meetings! District 1 kicks off the meetings on Thursday, October 29, hosted by Councilor Sarah Michniewicz; the rest of the meetings will take place throughout November and December. These meetings are a great chance to talk directly with your City Councilor, the City Manager, and City staff about what matters most in your area! Find your district, see the schedule, and learn more; all meetings are in-person and begin at 6 PM. Free childcare will be available at each meeting for kids ages 5-12, provided by City Recreation staff.  
• Looking for flexible work? We are hosting a Job Fair Tuesday, October 20, 2 to 6 PM at the Portland Expo (239 Park Ave, Portland)! We’re recruiting On-Call Custodial, Concessions, and Event Services staff for the City's Public Assembly and Facilities teams, including: Portland Expo, Merrill Auditorium, and Troubh Ice Arena. Come meet us and apply on the spot; bring your resume if you have one. We look forward to meeting you!
• Vision Zero: We have begun “daylighting crosswalks” as part of our Vision Zero commitment. Daylighting is the practice of ensuring authorized vehicle parking is set back far enough to allow sufficient visibility at intersections, crosswalks, and driveways. This removes blind spots and means that drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians can see each other clearly before entering the crosswalk. 
• Portland in Motion: If you missed "A More Walkable Portland", a special presentation by Jeff Speck, which was held on Wednesday at the Portland Museum of Art, don’t worry! We recorded it and it’s now available on our YouTube Channel. The event featured a panel discussion on Portland in Motion, the City’s first comprehensive transportation plan in more than 30 years, and a conversation about a more walkable future for Portland. Learn more at portlandmaine.gov/InMotion. 
• Nominate Your Tree! Along with Portland Downtown, we are excited to announce a community-wide effort to find the ideal tree to light up Monument Square this winter season! Submit your tree by November 1, 2026. The chosen tree will be carefully removed and transported from its current location at no cost to the owner. 
• Our Public Health team invites you to a FREE, resource-packed Reiche Parent Cafe & Baby Fair Thursday, October 22, 10 AM-11:30 AM, at the Reiche Community Center.
• Join Age-Friendly Portland for their FREE annual summit on Wednesday, October 28 (9 AM to12 PM) at the Barron Center Campus (1145 Brighton Ave). This year's theme is Community Engagement and Staying Active in Retirement! 
• On Tuesday, November 3, our Public Health team is hosting a FREE training on how to use naloxone (Narcan) at the Freeport Community Services (53 Depot Street, Freeport) from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Learn life-saving skills, ask our expert staff your questions, and leave with your own Narcan! No registration required; contact PSanborn@PortlandMaine.Gov with questions.

CITY SERVICES

• Age Friendly Portland is looking for volunteers willing to shovel snow for an elderly neighbor this winter! Shovelers are needed in every neighborhood, and Volunteer Coordinators are needed in Rosemont and Deering Center. If you can help, or if you need assistance, please visit our Elder Services page to learn more! Contact Linda Weare at 207-541-6620 for more information or email: AgeFriendlyCommunity@PortlandMaine.Gov. 
• The first half of property tax payments were due on October 16, 2026, and the second half is due on March 12, 2027. Residents can also drop off payments in our Tax Payment Box in the City Hall lobby, right next to the Greeter's Desk.
• Yard Waste Collection: Our Public Works crews will be collecting leaf bags November 1-27. Please follow the curbside guidelines to help our Public Works team work efficiently and smoothly.

PARKS, RECREATION AND FACILITIES UPDATES

• Help us reimagine play at Eastern Promenade's "Will's Playground"! We're hosting a Community Workshop on Monday, Oct. 26, 5 to 6:30 PM at the Merrill Auditorium's Rehearsal Hall. Children are welcome and encouraged to participate. Share your ideas through our Ideas Survey and help inform the design of the new playground!
• Read the latest updates in the September 2026 newsletter or subscribe. 
• Grand Opening:  The new Reiche Playground will be opening next Thursday, October 22, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 AM.
• Coming Soon: Monster Mash and Splash Thursday, October 29 at 5:30 PM at Reiche Pool. 
• Jr. Celtics Gallager and Caldwell basketball registration is now open. Register by Monday, October 26.
• Save the dates for FREE Portland Recreation Community Nights this winter and spring. All ages are welcome!
• The next Park Ranger Hike Club is October 24, 10 AM to 12 PM.
• Looking for the Reiche pool schedule? Find it on Portland MyRec. 
• Join Spirits Alive in October at the Eastern Cemetery for Walk Among the Shadows 2026, Burial Ground Blues.

COMMUNITY & STAFF NEWS

• We’re celebrating our August Employee of the Month, JP Polito! As a Parking Control Officer in our Parking Division, JP brings incredible dedication, strong leadership, and outstanding customer service to our team every day. JP’s commitment to excellent customer service is commended and reflected by an incredible record of zero customer complaints. Even when faced with difficult situations, she handles it with grace and never lets it deter her from giving maximum effort every day. 
• Congress Square Park's PET COSTUME PARADE is back starting at 11 AM this Saturday, Oct 17! Dress up your dog, costume-ify your cat, and strut from Congress Square Park to Monument Square and back.
• Join Portland Downtown for a FREE viewing of Rocky Horror Picture Show in Monument Square on Thursday, October 22, at 6:30 PM!
• National Drug Take Back Day takes place locally Saturday, October 24, from 10 AM to 2 PM. Drop-off will take place in the Back Cove parking lot across from Hannaford. This event provides a safe, convenient, and anonymous way to dispose of unused or expired medications. 
• Save the date! The Portland Lantern Walk returns Sunday, October 25 at 5 PM in Deering Oaks Park. 
• Bookmark our Park Events Calendar for a list of local events.
• Affordable Homeownership at Dougherty Commons & Lambert Co-op: One 3 Bedroom Condo and one 1 Bedroom Condo ready for move-in at Dougherty Commons, and 1 & 2 BRs available at Lambert Co-op, move-in April 2027. Visit their website or call Richard at 207-560-4883.

AGENDA PREVIEW: Portland City Council Meeting
Join us for the next City Council meeting to discuss key community projects and updates.
When: Monday, October 19, 2026
Where: Council Chambers, City Hall (2nd Floor) or via livestream
Time: 5:00 PM

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Recognitions & Proclamations: Recognizing City directors named to the Mainebiz 40 Under 40 and proclaiming October 25–31, 2026, as National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.

Appointments & Board Operations: Appointing Directors to the Portland Widows' Wood Society and adopting training procedures for the Civilian Police Review Board.

Data Centers & Utilities: Considering a resolution to draft Land Use Code amendments for regulating data centers and authorizing Mayor-submitted testimony regarding Central Maine Power's transmission upgrades.

Infrastructure & Transportation: Approving state funding modifications for pedestrian crossing improvements on Forest Ave. Amending parking schedules for Lancaster St. and adjusting rate structures for First Light Commons parking lots.

Grants & Community Support:

• Accepting a $73,920 FEMA grant for Fire Department thermal imaging cameras.
• Accepting a $625,000 CDC Drug Free Communities Grant to support the Portland Prevention Coalition.
• Appropriating $350,000 from the Opioid Settlement Fund to operate an emergency 2026–2027 Winter Warming Shelter.

Executive Session: Personnel discussions regarding Corporation Counsel compensation and legal consultation on the CMP transmission project.

GET INVOLVED
Watch Live: Stream the meeting in our Agenda Portal.
Public Comment: Submit written comments by 12:00 PM the day before the meeting to publiccomment@portlandmaine.gov. Please include your name, address, and the relevant order number.