The Chamber is involved in many aspects of public policy at City Hall. This newsletter keeps you abreast of what we see coming, and helps you understand what you might have missed in the papers. It also gives you connections for getting involved, or for merely sharing your opinion.

Via this newsletter I encourage you to also keep me informed.

Below are some City Hall goings-on that you should find informative and helpful.

January 2012 Update

Don't Get Towed Again... How to Beat Parking Bans
Lots of people got a harsh and expensive surprise last week when the City imposed a snow parking ban after announcing that it would not impose one. We are all busy people, so don't leave it to chance.  Get on the City's list by signing up here for their email, text, Tweeter, or Facebook alerts.

Portland to Consider Banning Plastic Shopping Bags?
Remember how the "formula business ban" movement caught fire for a while in Portland? At a recent City Hall meeting, Councilors discussed the possibility of regulating plastic bags.  Options include taxing, banning, and surcharging.  In the last five years many American cities and even some nations have imposed limitations and bans on plastic bags. It is a fascinating policy discussion that any 5^th grade class could study, but it comes with high social, economic, and environmental stakes. Critics argue that taxing bags is severely regressive on low income people and handicaps local merchants. Dog walkers are are generally dismayed. Proponents say that litter and solid waste streams will diminish. Maine municipalities cannot impose a new tax without state permission, but they can adopt the inverse: an opt out fee.  Here is a news story that gets us thinking about the issue in preparation for a possible Portland debate.

Sugarloaf & Sunday River to "Occupy" Monument Square in February
One of the objections raised by Occupy Maine when the City denied them a permit to stay overnight in Lincoln Park was that "corporate interests" are routinely granted permits to occupy Monument Square.  This week the Council will vote on a permit allowing two Maine resorts to build a ski slope in the heart of town, leaving it there for a week.  The snowboarding competition, called the fourth annual Downtown Showdown, will fill up the Square and even close some streets from February 1 to February 7. 

Franklin Street Redesign to be Discussed Again
Remember the task force that was set up to redesign Franklin Street?  A good group of people met several times and came up with three possible ways to make the street more pedestrian friendly, to open more potential commercial/retail real estate, and to keep traffic moving.  There was even some pretty funny local discourse about installing a rotary (or roundabout). That was Phase I.  Soon Phase II will revisit the three ideas with a goal of recommending one.  If you're interested, you can follow the Task Force here.

Portland's New Anti-Graffiti Law Scores a Success
Last week Portland was successful in prosecuting a graffiti suspect for Criminal Mischief. Christopher Shaw was the person who tagged the I-295 overpass last summer. In addition to other charges, he was charged with Criminal Mischief for the tagging.

Shaw pled to the charge and was fined $2,000. He also incurred  the $500 civil penalty owed to the City under the new City Ordinance.

The Chamber, as one outcome of its Crime Task Force, played a role in Portland's adoption of an anti-graffiti ordinance.  This is our first "win" under the new ordinance.  We remind you that Portland has an easy way to report graffiti.  See it here.

Watch City Council Meetings on CTV, or now Streaming Online
You can now watch City Council meetings live on CTN Channel 5 or streaming online.  Click here to see how.

The Chamber Economic Scorecard
When it comes to important economic indicators, how do you get through all the opinions to know with certainty just where Portland ranks?  Check it out here:

The Chamber Scorecard.  Our second annual publication about the Portland economy informs elected officials in City Hall, Augusta, and Washington. The Scorecard allows us to measure what matters, not once, but trended over time.  So we can act as appropriate. When you engage candidates about preserving the good and improving the bad, please refer to the Green, Yellow, and Red indicators in the Scorecard.

City Information Tool
Portland Cityline is an easy way for residents, businesses and visitors of Portland to receive periodic updates on city government activities. By simply signing up online, you can receive the latest information. Find out about traffic alerts, changes to trash and recycling pick-up schedules, public meetings, recreation activities and much more.

Know your City Councilors?
In which Council District are you located? Click here to see the map. Want to get in touch with Councilors to thank them, invite them to your business, or provide input? Find out here how to get in touch with them.

City Calendar
Wondering when that Planning Board or City Council meeting is? What's on an agenda? Check out the City's calendar.

Ask The City
The City has an online service called eContact. It allows citizens quick and easy access to information and specific information requests. Check it out Here.

Chris O'Neil is the principal of O'Neil Policy Consulting, Inc.  He represents the Portland Community Chamber at City Hall since 2006.
Contact Chris.