[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6367402,"mediaKeyId","2158803-b202ac2bac0b6ec821dd69688f26de42","parentId",2158803,"title","Votes at a glance: Portland City Council actions on Jan. 6, 2025","audioSeconds",6530,"startMs",1049460,"endMs",7579830,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158803-b202ac2bac0b6ec821dd69688f26de42&start=1049&end=7579","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158803-b202ac2bac0b6ec821dd69688f26de42/thumbnail_1049460.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6367402/Portland/Cumberland-County/Maine/Votes-at-a-glance-Portland-City-Council-actions-on-Jan-6-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367402-021c624c9853669d8afb5053fcf36c6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189964&Signature=PmKbj9VaQIbzKmfrQjvY6jSeREAx0H5gBs-u6E9sApuSA45W3o78M2KmGXr2Uqce~QJzdfa6P6yO9FkxeSZoz0U4BR6RFPue1iqnkYfyS30-y-5VvhrQNoKVIcKyacY98Yau36mgX0jt1iiiQXRe3fWxiE1V7ECHLY2WwIP18d1LVKhRwT642llSdyATXRxQA5PPuT88WfoYIolMB8SfmPM4Mghr9bKxhXse9-ptbe6oTTaw0nhVDamOgMLmxS6POEIfdn4FyhjyzWmJ7fTHajfbhrl4z5J7qxRyP5LlKRbGCduxGE73qntOua~MC8T4nKF9JaXf7cgKwXgF4YM9YA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council Portland of Maine","date","2025-01-06T00:00:00Z","article","At its Jan. 6 meeting the Portland City Council approved multiple orders and motions. Below are the salient actions, outcomes and key details recorded during the meeting.

Key votes

- Order 1202425 — Appointment of Ronnie Wilson to the Portland Public Art Committee. Moved by Councilor Fournier, seconded by Councilor McNevett; roll‑call approved (unanimous).

- Order 1132425 — Municipal officers approval for a Class XI restaurant/lounge at 441 Congress Street (supper club). Moved by Councilor Fournier; roll‑call approved (unanimous).

- Order 1142425 — Municipal officers approval for a Class I food service with outdoor dining at 703 Congress Street (Hot Salve). Moved by Councilor Fournier; roll‑call approved (unanimous).

- Order 1082425 — Amendments to the rules of the Rent Board (public disclosure of application materials and a completeness check process). The Rent Board chair explained the rule would make application documents public and add a completeness check for applicants; an amendment to add a completeness check was moved by Councilor McNevett and adopted. The order as amended was then approved by roll call (unanimous).

- Order 1092425 — Accepting and appropriating a $3,600,000 Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Grant for the Commercial Street / Portland Fish Pier storm drain outfall project. City staff described separation of stormwater, new tide flexes to prevent tide inflow, and expected construction impacts on Commercial Street. Moved by Councilor Bullock, seconded by Councilor Fournier; roll‑call approved (unanimous).

- Order 1152425 — Approving an intermunicipal agreement with the City of Westbrook for Nason Brook watershed work to satisfy stormwater (MS4) permit requirements. Moved by Councilor McNevett, seconded by Councilor Fournier; roll‑call approved (unanimous).

- Order 1162425 — Publication of an RFP to develop up to two sites at 1111–1125 Brighton Ave (see separate article for full discussion). Moved by Councilor Fournier, seconded by Councilor Pelletier; roll‑call approved (unanimous).

- Order 1172425 — Agreement with the Portland Water District for a fire service line at Monjoy Hill Fire Station; approved by roll call (unanimous).

- Order 1182425 — Acceptance and appropriation of a $62,610 U.S. Department of Justice Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for police equipment and small capital purchases. The council waived second reading and passed the appropriation as an emergency to meet timing constraints. Chief DuBois described planned purchases including laptops and an all‑terrain vehicle used for events and trail response. Motion to waive second reading moved and adopted; appropriation passed by roll call (unanimous).

- Minutes: The council approved the minutes of the Dec. 16, 2024 meeting by roll call.

Executive session outcome

Following an executive session under MRSA Section 405(6)(E) and 36 MRSA Section 841 concerning a poverty tax abatement case, corporation counsel proposed a motion to deny the application “based on consideration of the applicant’s income, expenses and assets and our finding that the applicant has the ability to pay the property taxes due on their primary residence.” A motion to adopt that language (with a friendly amendment authorizing corporation counsel to send the decision letter to the applicant) was moved and seconded and carried by roll call. The council directed corporation counsel to send correspondence to the applicant.

Notes: All roll calls recorded in the transcript show unanimous yes votes from Councilor Fournier, Councilor Grant, Councilor Pelletier, Councilor McNevett, Councilor Bullock, Councilor Phillips and Mayor Dion unless otherwise noted. If the record here omits an individual clerk annotation, the formal minutes should be consulted for member‑level attendance and any absences.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special City Council Meeting - January 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved a mix of appointments, appropriations, intermunicipal agreements and rule changes, including a $3.6 million grant for the Fish Pier storm drain project, rent board rules amendments, an RFP for Brighton Ave sites and a motion denying a poverty tax abatement application.","taxTitle","Portland, Cumberland County, Maine","taxId",2582,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6367407,"Residents, bicycle advocates urge Portland to adopt Vision Zero resolution for safer streets",320,58840,379350,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158803-b202ac2bac0b6ec821dd69688f26de42&start=58&end=379","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158803-b202ac2bac0b6ec821dd69688f26de42/thumbnail_58840.jpg","/articles/6367407/Portland/Cumberland-County/Maine/Residents-bicycle-advocates-urge-Portland-to-adopt-Vision-Zero-resolution-for-safer-streets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367407-106394f648450ab9a0fadae8efb19dc4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189964&Signature=Bg3MWl-STb0tgEEIp17QXR4YTFoZNggPTRbrWXUq7zs4Un0vhR09Vph-mPyznOvAuZ1IerF~aFBuly6phq0w4G6O143Gmye1N3NW-zPMyiwNr-zOna3XOBsBh1QAqHMfGOFkaIMrGbmdD1kL0vJlvOaySLysqZF9Gf0u9Oblbf-RrCXQR~0EtAhN7-RgQF0OVFmFD3uiq5oPeXvBmNRGjSntJK1Evo4UVu9Qf6NPBgfDbN1ITAWQdHW1D38xd02Hft22o-2Srf-1Z330Tm5Y8alJ17g-yOjK8AzziZGqRM7-a9tOoAoVvDcWu9YNI~DV-4izFzelQ5bFqnK2PfJpLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Portland residents and advocates used the Jan. 6 public comment period to press the City Council to adopt a Vision Zero commitment and strengthen city capacity for safe walking and bicycling.

Winston Lumpkins, introduced himself as a resident of District 1 and past chair of the Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, said the committee’s five priorities for 2025 emphasize shifting planning toward safety and accessibility rather than prioritizing automobile speed. “We need to shift our thinking and planning to value safety and accessibility over sheer automobile speed,” Lumpkins said, urging adoption of the Greater Portland Council of Governments’ Vision Zero plan or a city companion policy, creation of a complete streets board, an update to the street design manual, and hiring a sustainable transportation manager.

Zach Peretz, of Hunter Street, also urged the council to adopt a Vision Zero resolution, describing Vision Zero as a municipal commitment to reduce traffic fatalities to zero and stressing that “your resolutions matter. They establish the principles and values that guide policy, plans, and projects.” Peretz listed multiple U.S. cities and international jurisdictions that have adopted Vision Zero approaches.

Bill Weber, representing the Portland Climate Action Team (PCAT), said the city’s 2019 resolution declaring a climate emergency and subsequent 1 Climate Future Climate Action Plan set interim goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030 — a target he said the city appears unlikely to meet. He urged councilors to use the upcoming Sustainability and Transportation Committee public comment session to strengthen actions to meet that 2030 interim goal.

Why it matters: Speakers tied street safety to public‑health, climate and economic outcomes — arguing that safer, slower streets reduce fatalities and can enhance local economic activity — and they asked the council to formalize commitments that will shape future transportation planning and projects.

Council response: The council did not deliberate on a Vision Zero resolution at this meeting; speakers asked the Sustainability and Transportation Committee and the full council to consider formal adoption and to expand staff capacity to implement street‑design and bicycle/pedestrian priorities.

","Multiple public commenters at the Jan. 6 Portland City Council meeting urged the city to adopt a Vision Zero resolution and create institutional capacity for bicycle and pedestrian safety, including a complete streets board and a dedicated sustainable transportation manager.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6367411,"Portland council approves RFP to develop Brighton Ave site, amid debate over Housing First set‑aside",1149,2409391,3559220,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158803-b202ac2bac0b6ec821dd69688f26de42&start=2409&end=3559","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158803-b202ac2bac0b6ec821dd69688f26de42/thumbnail_2409391.jpg","/articles/6367411/Portland/Cumberland-County/Maine/Portland-council-approves-RFP-to-develop-Brighton-Ave-site-amid-debate-over-Housing-First-setaside","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367411-c77555ad6bc427bc2ad7cad1ed1f61fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189964&Signature=CsLM0jxzVcWXFa29OyN4xuGejOCJAef1S2o2UnZANZofmbvCOoA9XeOy6Q8Mp04xcLkQ6H0fq6o0Tj8pjfXPmSrrpupfXdO6ISVN2rnFY4uogD15Gv4UZTm82Dwa3oQ-5rTJEpV89oZWJsHuDGwRYyM2jYk6kZibe~utxwIC18vD22MC8CztCD4JwR1Y8jHUFpzJtb2LqC0NE~QEyaXEslEqlADpNB8YTLgY8-uiyF4cGqFOh04H81nSHcPjPqCvxQl0mCqA39VpIXLNtzZKFnmIaiel~D9Tir~vd1UlGMu-SbiMOxHsFyi0ugnIWTg7JAqAXR7YKGWn5hDfWQ0ytA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portland City Council on Jan. 6 authorized a request for proposals to develop up to two housing sites at 1111–1125 Brighton Ave, voting unanimously to publish the RFP after committee review and public comment.

The RFP, explained Greg Watson, director of Housing and Economic Development, seeks proposals for Site 1 (adjacent to Brighton Avenue) and Site 2 (near the rear of the Behrend Center). The document prioritizes community engagement, mixed‑income outcomes and a preference for units affordable at no more than 80% of area median income or for permanent supportive housing. It also requests demonstrated technical and financial capacity from respondents.

Why it matters: The city faces a housing shortage that local officials and service providers say is driving homelessness and straining shelters. The RFP is intended to create new housing supply and to reserve a portion of units for people experiencing homelessness connected to city services.

During public comment, speakers were sharply divided. Dr. Darien Plant, a resident of Home Avenue, submitted a seven‑page report and urged the council to oppose allocating 30% of units to a Housing First initiative, saying studies do not show improvements in substance use or mental‑health outcomes and warning of neighborhood impacts. “Taxpayer money should be allocated based on measurable outcomes, not ideological commitments,” Plant said.

Neighborhood resident Rose Dinda, who lives adjacent to the site identified as Site 2, described repeated public‑safety incidents near her home over the past five years and urged stronger protective measures for neighbors; she asked the council to fund an 18–20 foot privacy fence at city cost.

Advocates urged the council to move forward. Anna Kamor, advocacy team leader at Preble Street, told councilors the city’s shelters are at or near capacity and urged the city to allow referrals to the proposed development from all emergency shelter providers, not only the City of Portland Social Services Division. “By approving this RFP, the council would be taking a crucial step toward ensuring everyone in our city has a safe place to live,” Kamor said.

Council discussion and process: Councilors said the Housing and Economic Development Committee had spent months refining the RFP and accounted for neighborhood feedback. Councilor Phillips, who attended recent site visits and supports Housing First in principle, said she planned to vote for the RFP and noted there will be additional review, public comment and committee consideration before any contract award.

Vote and next steps: The motion to authorize issuance of the RFP was moved by Councilor Fournier and seconded by Councilor Pelletier. The council voted unanimously (Councilor Fournier; Councilor Grant; Councilor Pelletier; Councilor McNevett; Councilor Bullock; Councilor Phillips; Mayor Dion) to publish the RFP. Staff said they will post the RFP, form a review committee, and return recommendations to the Housing and Economic Development Committee and the full council for further action.

Clarifying details: The RFP as described in the staff presentation includes two potential development sites; Site 1 is the more buildable parcel on Brighton Ave and Site 2 will require additional surveying to confirm no impact to infrastructure. The RFP contains a preference for 30% of units to be set aside for individuals referred from the City of Portland Social Services Office in its current draft; some commenters requested that referrals be accepted from all emergency shelter providers.

What’s next: Staff will post the RFP, establish a review committee, and return with ranked proposals and recommendations. Additional public engagement and committee review were promised before any developer selection or contract award.

","The City Council authorized a request for proposals to develop up to two housing sites at 1111–1125 Brighton Ave, endorsing a plan that includes a 30% set‑aside for referrals from the city while prompting public debate over Housing First effectiveness and neighborhood impacts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Portland City Council actions on Jan. 6, 2025

Residents, bicycle advocates urge Portland to adopt Vision Zero resolution for safer streets

Portland council approves RFP to develop Brighton Ave site, amid debate over Housing First set‑aside