Inside City Hall

Chris O'Neil, City Liaison

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.

Charter Commission Meets Thursday

The Charter Commission will meet Thursday, July 1 and July 8 at City Hall. The commission has nearly completed its recommended revisions to the City's charter.  The group has done a good job of deliberating the pros and cons of changes in powers and duties for City officials. The Chamber believes that the anticipated changes will be good for Portland.  The commission is expected to send questions November 2 to the voters that create a popularly elected mayor, a revised school committee, and several technical updates to the charter.

Coming Soon: The Chamber Scorecard

Depending upon who you talk to and what you're talking about, Portland can be described as doing very well or very badly. Taxes...Cost of living...Are businesses doing better or worse...moving in or moving out? 

When it comes to important economic indicators, how do you get through all the opinions to know with certainty just where Portland ranks?  You're about to find out, when you see our latest project.

Dozens of indicators are measured and maintained by various entities -- from the Census Bureau to academic institutions. But the collective data for Portland has never been neatly assembled at our fingertips. Until now.

Where is this information?  And how can you get it? 

The Chamber Scorecard.

Later this month the Portland Community Chamber will publish several months of research telling us how Portland stands economically. It shows us where the trends are heading. It compares Portland to various other benchmark cities in Maine, New England, and the nation.

This information about the Portland economy will inform elected officials in City Hall, Augusta, and Washington.  But it is not a 100 page white paper.  The Chamber has compiled all this data  in an easy to read booklet that every Portland businessperson will want to have in the office.  

Teeming with revealing charts and graphs, this first edition of the Scorecard will be replicated and improved annually, and will serve as a valuable resource to the business community. It shows us what we are doing well -- and what we need to improve. 

Please be looking soon for your copy of the Chamber Scorecard, which will also be posted on the Chamber's website. 

November Elections

The seats held by Councilors Jill Duson, John Anton, and Dan Skolnik are up for election November 2.  Word on the street is that Duson and Anton are so far unopposed.  Skolnik has heard rumblings from former Councilor Ed Suslovic as a potential opponent.  Former School Committee member Sarah Thompson is rumored to be considering a run also.  Potential candidates can take out nomination papers now.  They are due at the City Clerk's Office between August 9 and August 23. 

Development Review Process under Scrutiny

A major Chamber initiative a year ago was to streamline the development review process, reduce workshops, clarify site plan standards, and enhance predictability. We proposed a set of process reforms that have been taken seriously by City Staff.  Some people in town think the current "system" is just right, while others loathe the seemingly endless and unpredictable process. The Council is poised to adopt the long-awaited updates soon. The reforms are largely in agreement with the Chamber recommendations. To view a draft document that outlines the proposed reforms click here.

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.

Volunteer Portland

Want to get involved in Portland? The City maintains a website that allows you and your co-workers to peruse volunteer opportunities. This week the City Clerk is accepting applications for the following:

City of Portland

Volunteer Opportunities

Board and Commissions

Board of Appeals - 2 positions

Responsibilities:  Assists in the administration of the City's Zoning ordinance by reviewing decisions of the Building Inspector, approving conditional uses and granting variances.  The Board functions in a quasi-judicial capacity and members must be able to hold public hearings, make findings of fact and conclusions of law based upon applicable state and local zoning laws, and issue written decisions setting forth their findings and conclusions. 

Creative Portland Corporation - 1 position in Higher Education Field

The Creative Portland Corporation (CPC) is a non-profit organization created to receive donations, grants, and contributions in support of and to assist the City of Portland's economic development efforts which enhance, support, and create creative economy business and arts district development and employment opportunities.

The Board of Directors consists of thirteen individuals, two of which shall be ex officio members (the Mayor or City Council member, and the City Manager or designee associated with the Economic Development Division). Qualifications: three representatives from each private creative category (creative enterprises, creative organizations, and artists), and two members representing higher education and real estate.  All Directors, with the exception of the ex officio members, must be either residents of, own a business located in, or work in the City of Portland.

Fair Hearing Officer - 2 positions

Responsibilities: Review any dissatisfaction stemming from any action concerning applicants for general assistance.  Decisions must be in accordance with applicable State Laws and City Ordinances.  The Fair Hearing Officer is required to render a written decision regarding the outcome of a hearing within five working days. In addition, serve as a hearing officer as needed for administrative hearings established by City ordinance, including for example, taxi licensing violations.  

Qualifications: Ability to conduct hearings with a five-day notice.

Ability to be fair, impartial, unbiased, and have no personal or financial interest, direct or indirect, in the hearing or its outcome. The Fair Hearing Officer is scheduled to attend hearings on an as-needed basis.

Landbank - 1 position

The Land Bank Commission is responsible for identifying and protecting open space resources within the City of Portland. The Commission seeks to preserve a balance between development and conservation of open space important for wildlife, ecological, environmental, scenic or outdoor recreational values. The Commission responsibilities include: working for the acquisition and conservation of open space within the City; recommending to the City Council on a priority basis acquisition or conservation of significant properties; and the pursuit of gifts and funds from private and public sources for the acquisition of open space as approved by the City Council. The Commission has developed an inventory of open space resources within the City. It is engaged in an ongoing effort to proactively protect properties from development through easement, deed restriction, or acquisition.

Responsibilities: Pursue funding resources for the acquisition of open space; create an inventory of

open space property in the city and make recommendations for the protection and/or acquisition of open space that is environmentally significant. Meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:00 P.M.

Parks Commission - 1 position

This Commission serves as an advisory group to help promote parks and recreation in the City.  Meets monthly to review projects, proposals and receive citizen input to provide recommendations to the Department and the City Council.

Portland Public Art - 1 position

The Portland Public Art Committee is responsible for administering the Public Art Program to preserve, restore and enhance the City-owned public art collection.  The Committee develops and presents to the City Council an Annual Art Plan that recommends expenditures from the municipal percent-for-art allocation, reviews potential gifts of art to the City's collection according the Guidelines for the Public Art Ordinance, seeks private donations to care for the public art collection, and recommends appropriate locations for the installation of permanent public art.  Members must live or work in Portland.  Experience, training or expertise in one of the following disciplines is desirable: architecture or landscape architecture, accomplishment as an artist, art curator, commercial real estate or development, and/or experience with foundations and development.  Members are appointed to three-year terms.

Additional information is available in the City Clerk's office, on the City's website at www.portlandmaine.gov or at 874-8677.  Deadline for submission is July 16, 2010.  Please send a resume and cover letter to Appointments Committee Chairman, c/o Linda C. Cohen, City Clerk, 389 Congress Street, Portland ME 04101 or lcc@portlandmaine.gov. Applicants will be contacted for interviews.

Chris O'Neil has a Government Relations Consulting practice at Drummond Woodsum. He has represented the Portland Community Chamber at City Hall since 2006.
Contact Chris.