February 18, 2021

Dear All,

Hello and welcome to my second monthly email of 2021. Thanks for being here with me. 

How to recap the time since my last email on January 21st? Suffice it to say, I, like you, continue to be engrossed by national events - and all I can say is thank goodness for Heather Cox Richardson’s daily emails: Letters from an American, and The Daily. I find these two sources offer good, early morning access to a lot of good and thoughtful information. And, despite a lot of brow furrowing owed to so many questions, uncertainties and frustrations, it’s also getting easier for me to find reasons to be hopeful. In no particular order, I’m thinking about: the promise of the vaccination roll out, real-time decreases in Covid-19 infections in Maine and beyond, Biden's proposed American Rescue Plan, the inspirational leadership and example of Stacey Plaskett, among many others, and days with much more sunlight! 

Here are some quick City of Portland, and City Council updates. 

Minimum Wage Lawsuit -Decision and Status (link to article)
“Superior Court Justice Thomas Warren ruled Monday that the new hazard pay provision approved by Portland voters is valid. He also decided it does not take effect until Jan. 1, 2022.” Both sides have appealed the decision. So, more to come on that front. 

Munjoy Hill Historic District (link to article)
“The Portland City Council narrowly rejected creating a historic district on Munjoy Hill – a move that would have made it more difficult to tear down hundreds of buildings and replace them with large luxury condominiums that some consider out-of-scale with the neighborhood.” This decision will be reconsidered on February 22nd.

Homeless Services Shelter
An RFP/RFQ for a proposed new facility has been reviewed and discussed within the Housing and Economic Development Committee during two recent meetings, and was reviewed and discussed by the City Council in a Workshop Session on February 10th. After these three meetings, the HECD Committee voted unanimously to send the RFP out for responses. 

Brown Tail Moths (link to article)
“The population has been escalating for the past three years,” said Ethan Hipple, director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities. “It’s got to the point where we need to take more assertive actions.” Tree canopies will be sprayed with either an organic or synthetic pesticide during the week of May 20, and the park will be closed for one or two days. The Portland Farmers Market will be relocated to Payson Park for six weeks and other large scale gatherings and events planned for late May and June will be postponed until early to mid-July.”

Fiscal Year 2022 Budget (July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022)
Work is underway in the Finance Committee, and there was a City Council Workshop on January 25th. FMI and to attend meetings about next year’s City of Portland Budget, click here.

Revalue Portland! (link to page on City of Portland website)
To learn more about Portland’s revaluation, click on the link, and/or attend the City Council Workshop on March 8th. 

Charter Commission (link to resource page on City of Portland website)
As you know, City of Portland voters approved the creation of a Charter Commision at the polls in July, 2020. The City Council, in compliance with Maine State Law, appointed 3 members to the Commission within 30 days of the decision at the polls. Now, nomination papers are available for the other 9 seats - which will be decided on June 8, 2021.

Information about taking out Nomination Papers is here. The deadline to become a candidate is March 29th. 
To check in on who has taken out papers so far, go here.

Please join me - Monthly Zoom #2 - Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 8:00am  Join Zoom Meeting (For call-in information, please go here)

In addition to opportunities to engage at Council meetings, Council Committee meetings, via email, phone, through the Portland Alliance of Neighborhoods, etc., my Monthly Zoom is a way that I can be available, hear from, and talk with anyone who wants to join me. 

I’ll always try to schedule the Monthly Zoom for the fourth week of the month (predictability helps). I’ll seek to stagger the day of week, and time of day, in hopes I can connect with a broad range of people. 

(Truth be told...I wanted to do a late afternoon or evening meeting in February, but during the fourth week this month, Monday through Thursday evenings are all already booked with Council, Committee, and Nominations meetings.)

Thank you for your continued diligence to Stay the Course so we can continue to slow and stop the spread of Covid-19. Please continue to physically distance and wear masks. Let’s do all we can to take care of one another. 

Thank you for your spirit, your hard work, and your commitment to our community,
Kate Snyder

Some Basics: 

Council Meetings: The Portland City Council meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month. In the case of a Monday holiday, we meet on Wednesday. February meetings are February 1st and 17th. Agendas and Info, go here.

Council Committee Meetings: There are five Council Committees: Finance, Health & Human Services & Public Safety, Sustainability & Transportation, Housing & Economic Development, and Legislative & Nominating. For Committee Meeting Info, go here. 

Racial Equity Steering Committee: Established in August, 2020, the RESC typically meets weekly. For more information, click here.

On July 14, 2020 Election, City of Portland voters approved creating a Charter Commission to open up review of the City’s Charter (think: Portland’s Constitution). The election of members will be in June, 2021. Up to date info is here

To sign up for the City’s Weekly E-Newsletter, the Friday News Round Up, please click here and subscribe to the ‘City News’ group.