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Community Newsletter

Issue #303

This City of South Portland Community E-Newsletter includes information about City sponsored events, projects and special announcements from South Portland's non-profit community. Sign up if you would like to receive the newsletter directly to your inbox.
Having difficulty viewing the newsletter? The newsletter and archives are posted on the City's website here. Please report broken links to news@southportland.org.

COVID-19
Current County Transmission Levels: HIGH

What does this mean? The City of South Portland has adopted a policy based on guidance from CDC. Effective September 2, 2021, all visitors and employees entering city facilities are required to wear face coverings regardless of vaccination status. Public meetings are encouraged to be held remotely.
For more information, visit www.southportland.org/covid

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Employment Opportunities

Looking for a career? The City of South Portland is hiring for several positions. View the current job openings and learn how to apply online here.

Click here for a schedule of construction projects happening in the City

The City is looking for residents to serve on Boards & Committees.

Residents are encouraged to fill out an application online or in person at the City Clerk's office located at City Hall during normal business hours. You can read more about the City's boards and committees on the City's website here.

For a schedule of all City Meetings, Events, Public Hearings & Current Notices, please visit the City Calendar on the City's website.

All City Council meetings are currently being held remotely due to COVID-19.

Schedule of Events

To register to receive Emergency Notification Alerts related to your neighborhood, follow this link: http://www.southportland.org/departments/police-department/code-red/

South Portland ARPA Funding Survey
~5 min survey | Expires on Friday, November 19, 2021

Under the United States American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, the City of South Portland will receive $10.5 million in recovery funds to replace lost revenues and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City utilized over $2.5 million of these ARPA funds during the most recent budget process, leaving approx. $8 million to allocate in the coming years toward authorized ARPA expenditures. In order to assist the City Council in determining both the process for how to allocate these funds, as well as helping them understand the priorities the community places on these funds, we are asking members of the community to complete this brief survey. As you will note, ARPA fund uses are restricted to eight broad categories.

ARPA funds must be allocated by December 2024 and fully expended by December 2026.

Click here to complete the survey.

Get Involved with the
South Portland Climate Action Network!

Last week, the South Portland City Council passed a resolution supporting the establishment of a new non-profit organization to foster community engagement in the climate crisis. The resolution states “the City Council supports the formation and success of an organizationally, operationally and financially independent not-for profit South Portland climate action network entity for the purpose of supporting the One Climate Future Plan and contributing to the fulfillment of OCF engagement goals, including to focus on community ownership; build on significant efforts of youth, businesses, and organizations; and achieve the greatest collective success.” The non-profit will be an independent entity, but will work with City staff to help achieve South Portland’s climate goals. Those spearheading the effort are seeking people to join Leadership and Advocacy teams.

For more information or if you are interested in getting involved in the creation of the non-profit, please contact Tim Honey via e-mail at stephen.t.honey@gmail.com.

City of South Portland
2022 Community Development Block Grant
Applications are now available

Applications are now available for City of South Portland 2022 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. Click here for more information!

Funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Eligible projects include public facilities and infrastructure, housing, economic development, planning, and public services. Projects should primarily benefit low-moderate income communities or individuals/households.

Program staff are available to discuss project ideas, answer application questions, and make site visits.

For more information, please contact City of South Portland CDBG Coordinator Courtney Kemp at 207- 619-1036 or ckemp@southportland.org.

Public Works will begin curbside leaf collection on Monday, November 15, 2021. Leaves in compostable paper bags should be placed curbside by Sunday, November 14. Leaves may also be brought to the Transfer Facility in compostable paper bags or in bulk. (You could also use plastic trash bags for the purpose of transporting, but leaves MUST be emptied out of them and the plastic bags brought home to be reused or discarded.)

Thanks to resident Russ Lunt for sharing this image of the familiar sight of the South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club set up in Mill Creek Park for the annual selling of Christmas Trees & Wreaths. For more information, click here. 'Tis the Season!

Where Can I Take My Dog?

Changes to the City's ordinances take effect November 25, 2021 regarding dogs in public places, including Willard Beach and Hinckley Park. Use this chart as a guide as to when and where you can take your dog off and on leash in the City's public parks & beaches!

** Parks & Beaches are open between 6am-9pm.

Dogs must be leashed when on the Greenbelt, Mill Creek Park, in any public sidewalk, street, or way, and may be unleashed at any other public park, between the hours of 6am-9pm– except between the hours of 10am-3pm at Willard Beach and Hinckley Park where dogs must be on-leash from October 1-April 30. Summer hours for Willard Beach remain the same, taking effect May 1-Sept 30: Dogs are only allowed between 7am-9am, and 7pm-9pm.
Dogs and people must stay on designated trails and access waterways by designated entry points.
No owner is allowed to have more than 2 dogs off-leash at a time. (If there are 3 or more dogs, all dogs must be leashed.)
When off-leash, owners must carry a leash in hand at all times.
When off-leash, all dogs must be under voice and sight control.

Owners are responsible for their dogs and must pick up after their dog(s).

Reference: Chapter 3, City's Code of Ordinances & Ordinance #3-21/22, effective 11/25/21

For more information, contact the Parks Department at (207) 767-7670. The public is also advised that the City Council has created the ad-hoc Dogs & Public Spaces Advisory Committee to look into potential changes regarding dogs in public spaces. These meetings are open to the public and agendas are posted on the Committee's webpage.

It's time to renew your dog's license for 2022!

Dog owners must license their dog each year. Please show proof of your dog's current rabies vaccination. (If your dog has a current rabies vaccination on file, we should already have that information.) If your dog is spayed or neutered, the license fee is $6.00. ($11.00 if your dog is not fixed.)

You can purchase and renew your dog's license online and we'll mail you your dog's tags. You can also come into the City Clerk's office at 25 Cottage Road to renew your dog's license, or renew via mail.

The deadline to renew your dog's license is December 31 -- don't wait, do it today!

Community Events & News

Event date: November 22 – December 20, 2021

Event: Diaper Drive

Place and time: South Portland Public Library, business hours

• Main Library, 482 Broadway

• Branch Library, 155 Wescott Road

The South Portland Public Library is hosting a Diaper Drive between Monday, November 22 and Monday, December 20. Those wishing to donate may drop off diapers at either the Main Library or the Branch Library location, during business hours and we will deliver them to a Maine Diaper Bank.

1 in 3 U.S. families experience diaper need. Babies without clean diapers are exposed to more potential health risks & are less likely to be accepted to daycares, leaving parents unable to attend work. The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) provides basic necessities required to build the strong foundations all children, families, and individuals need to thrive and reach their full potential.

Maine’s diaper bank networks provide nearly 300,000 diapers annually to families in Maine, including the South Portland community. Currently, there is a particular need for larger diaper sizes (5 & 6 preferred) as well as wipes.

To learn more about the National Diaper Bank Network, visit www.nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org.

For more information about SPPL's Diaper Drive, visit www.SouthPortlandLibrary.com or call 767-7660 x2.