City News Round Up: Friday, March 25, 2022
Please check our agenda center for the full schedule of upcoming Committees, Boards, and Commission meetings. The next City Council meeting is on Monday, April 11, at 5:00 PM. Read a recap of the March 21 City Council meeting; view the full Meeting Calendar here.

Updated Health and Safety Requirements for City-Owned Venues
Safety protocols have been updated for events at our indoor facilities. Following the latest CDC guidance, the City is lifting its masking mandate at these venues, but still recommended for those who may be at high risk. Effective April 1, 2022, proof of vaccination or negative test is no longer required for most events at indoor venues, including Merrill Auditorium, the James A. Banks Sr. Portland Exposition Building, and Ocean Gateway. Please make sure to check the requirements for each event. Learn more.

March 28: Mayor’s Monthly Zoom *New date*
Join Mayor Kate Snyder Monday, March 28 at 4:00 PM for her monthly Zoom chat; an opportunity for residents to get recent updates from the Mayor and discuss any issues. Find Zoom details here

March 29: City to Break Ground on New Homeless Services Center
City officials will join with partners and community members to break ground on the new Homeless Services Center (HSC), on Tuesday, March 29, 11:00 AM, at 654 Riverside Street. The HSC will transform the way in which the City and its partners provide critical services to those experiencing homelessness. Learn more.

Portland Selected for the Housing Solutions Lab, NYU Furman Center
For the next 10 months, as part of the Peer Cities Network, our city leaders will engage with policy experts, housing researchers, and advocates from around the country to address pressing local housing policy challenges. Portland will gain access to technical assistance, timely policy resources, and local housing data. Learn more.

Starting 3/28: Walton Street to be Converted to Temporary One-Way
The City’s contractor, Gorham Sand and Gravel, will begin work on the Stevens Avenue Storm Drain Improvements project on Monday, March 28. This project will require the contractor to convert Walton Street into a one-way street between McCauley Way and Stevens Avenue for the duration of the project, scheduled to last approximately two months. Learn more.

Vote by March 28: Help Put Maine on the Map!
Creative Portland has been recognized nationally in streetsblogUSA spotlighting the best bus shelters in the USA. Please GO VOTE by March 28 for Portland artist and Ghana native, Ebenezer Akakpo’s design on GPMetro’s 519 Congress Street bus shelter. Your vote helps put Portland, Maine on the map for innovative and impactful public art projects.

3/29 Webinar: Learn About Electric Resources with Efficiency Maine
Join our Sustainability team to learn how you can reduce your energy costs by installing efficient electric appliances --like air source heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. Andy Meyer, of Efficiency Maine, will be on hand to explain the technology and the very generous incentives from Efficiency Maine that will make it affordable to Electrify Everything! Get the Zoom link.
 

New Small Business and Nonprofit Support Available
We launched a new Microenterprise grant program this week in support of businesses, existing and new, that have been or continue to be impacted by the pandemic. This program is open to both nonprofits and for-profit businesses in Portland. Learn more.

Time for Spring Street Sweeping - Ticket & Tow Parking Alert
A reminder to residents who live or park on the peninsula: compliance is crucial for overnight (daytime, in some areas) street maintenance parking restrictions. Our crews make one big push at the end of fall to clear catch-basins of leaves before winter storms start, and then again between winter and spring to remove salt and sand so it doesn’t contaminate water streams. Please comply to avoid receiving parking tickets; if compliance is not achieved, we are forced to tow vehicles. Learn more. Street sweeping operations and regulations are in effect each year from October 1 - May 31. While street sweeping occurs throughout the year, these restrictions ensure that our crews can complete curb-to-curb sweeping as mandated by Maine DEP. 

Community Composting Survey, through April 15 
Last year on Earth Day we launched the Community Compost Drop Off program. As the one year anniversary approaches we would love to hear from you! Have you used the program? Do you like it? Could it be improved? Share your thoughts by April 15 via Civil Space.

FY23 CDBG Allocations: Second Public Hearing, April 11
Last week Interim City Manager Danielle West released recommendations to the City Council for FY23 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. The City Council will hold a final vote regarding the CDBG funding at the 4/11 City Council meeting. Learn more.

Spring Yard Waste Collection: April 25-May 6
It’s that time of year again! The Annual spring curbside collection of leaf bags/yard waste will begin Monday, April 25 through Friday, May 6. The leaves must be in large, paper biodegradable leaf bags. Place the biodegradable leaf bags curbside on your normal trash day during the above dates and City crews will take care of the rest! Learn more.

Electrify Everything! Sustainability Program Launches
Our new program, Electrify Everything!, provides residents with exclusive discounts on solar panels and home heating appliances. ReVision Energy, our partner and local full-service solar company, is offering the following discounts to Portland property owners: $500 off solar installations, $250 off air source heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and home EV chargers, and up to $60,000 to help low-income households go solar. Learn more.

4/3 New Deadline: Portland Youth Corps Applications Open
Applications are open for the Summer 2022  Portland Youth Corps program — now through Sunday, April 3, 2022. The program seeks to fill 26 volunteer positions, and is open to youth ages 14-17 who live in Portland. If you missed the Zoom info session you can watch the replay here. Contact Mike Vincent, mvincent@portlandmaine.gov, with any questions.

April Save the Date: 2022 Urban Runoff 5K Race
Be a stormwater hero and support clean water education in our community by participating in the Urban Runoff 5k! Join in person on April 23 in South Portland, or complete a 5k anywhere during the month of April. For more information and to register, visit www.urbanrunoff5k.com.

Work With Us
We currently have multiple job openings across a variety of departments. For more information, visit: www.portlandmaine.gov/jobs. See how we are working together to serve the community with other local agencies -in this recent video. 

Starting March 28: Preble Street Extension Work Begins
The City's contractor, Sargent Corp., will be returning to Preble Street Extension beginning Monday, March 28 to complete sewer manhole construction installed last year. This work will extend from the Back Cove soccer fields to Baxter Boulevard. Traffic control devices will be installed to provide for a safe work environment. Learn more. 

In addition, Unitil started work on Dartmouth Street Monday 3/21.  Portland Water District will be installing a temporary water line on Dartmouth Street at the beginning of April, and work on the storm drains and sewers will start at the end of April. This work will continue throughout the summer months and into September. Learn more.

March 14 - April 30: Baxter Boulevard Wastewater Upgrade Begins
Construction to replace the Baxter Boulevard Wastewater Force Main started on Monday, 3/14 and be complete by Saturday, 4/30. The project will replace approximately 900 feet of wastewater pipe that was originally installed in the late 1970s. Portland Water District has partnered with Sargent Corporation to complete the construction. The construction will include excavation within the Back Cove walking trail; foot traffic will be redirected around the work area in order to maintain pedestrian access during construction. 

April 22-25: Veranda Plan Update and Traffic Alert
The Maine DOT will be closing I-295 over Veranda St. in Portland the fourth weekend in April to accommodate the replacement of an aging interstate bridge. MaineDOT's Veranda Plan involves a full closure of the highway around Exit 9 from 7:00 PM on Friday, April 22 to 11:00 AM on Monday, April 25. Additionally, Route 1/Veranda St. (under the bridge) will be closed for a full week, starting at 2:00 PM on Monday, April 18 through 2:00 PM on Monday, April 25. Reminder to drivers: Veranda St/Route 1 in Portland was converted to two-way traffic in August 2021.