> Monday, August 21 @ 4pm and 6pm — City Council Meeting

City Hall, Council Chambers (2nd floor to the left)

Key agenda items:

4pm Meeting: Discussion of the Citizen Initiative process. (Earlier this month it was revealed that the City Clerk had given an incorrect due date for signatures to this year’s hopeful citizen initiative campaigns. Learn more about that here.) Public comment will NOT be taken.

Discussion of the Citizen Initiative process. (Earlier this month it was revealed that the City Clerk had given an incorrect due date for signatures to this year’s hopeful citizen initiative campaigns. Learn more about that here.) Public comment will NOT be taken. 4pm Meeting: Vote to take 32 “paper streets” — unmaintained city streets that in some cases exist only on paper — off the books. Most of these streets are already located within existing City parks or green spaces. Public comment MAY be taken (I’m not sure, it’s not clear).

Vote to take 32 “paper streets” — unmaintained city streets that in some cases exist only on paper — off the books. Most of these streets are already located within existing City parks or green spaces. Public comment MAY be taken (I’m not sure, it’s not clear). 4pm Meeting: Discussion and vote on a proposed ordinance banning the long-term use of “recreational shelters” — including things like RVs, tents, and mobile “tiny-houses”. Public comment MAY be taken (I’m not sure, it’s not clear).

Discussion and vote on a proposed ordinance banning the long-term use of “recreational shelters” — including things like RVs, tents, and mobile “tiny-houses”. Public comment MAY be taken (I’m not sure, it’s not clear). 4pm Meeting: Vote to sell a parcel of land on the Eastern Waterfront to a developer with the intention of building a new headquarters for technology company Wex. Public comment WILL be taken.

Vote to sell a parcel of land on the Eastern Waterfront to a developer with the intention of building a new headquarters for technology company Wex. Public comment WILL be taken. 4pm Meeting: First reading of a proposed ordinance change that would instate a 2-strike rule for disorderly short term rentals (e.g. Airbnbs). If a house is reported as “disorderly”, the City Manager may revoke the house’s permit to operate as a short term rental. Public comment will NOT be taken; this item will be voted on at the next meeting.

First reading of a proposed ordinance change that would instate a 2-strike rule for disorderly short term rentals (e.g. Airbnbs). If a house is reported as “disorderly”, the City Manager may revoke the house’s permit to operate as a short term rental. Public comment will NOT be taken; this item will be voted on at the next meeting. 4pm Meeting: First reading of proposed zoning changes to grant density and height “bonuses” to developers of affordable housing. (For example, if a developer commits to selling 20% of new housing units at “affordable” prices, requirements for height and unit size could be loosened, so the developer can build more units and make the development more profitable.) Public comment will NOT be taken; this item will be voted on at the next meeting.

First reading of proposed zoning changes to grant density and height “bonuses” to developers of affordable housing. (For example, if a developer commits to selling 20% of new housing units at “affordable” prices, requirements for height and unit size could be loosened, so the developer can build more units and make the development more profitable.) Public comment will NOT be taken; this item will be voted on at the next meeting. 4pm Meeting: First reading of a proposed zone change to permit a 70-foot-tall cold storage facility on the Western Waterfront. (There has been much controversy over this development, which is being pushed by the State of Maine and commercial shipping interests, and opposed by many in the surrounding West End Neighborhood. You can read more about this issue here.) Public comment will NOT be taken; this item will be voted on at the next meeting.

First reading of a proposed zone change to permit a 70-foot-tall cold storage facility on the Western Waterfront. (There has been much controversy over this development, which is being pushed by the State of Maine and commercial shipping interests, and opposed by many in the surrounding West End Neighborhood. You can read more about this issue here.) Public comment will NOT be taken; this item will be voted on at the next meeting. Executive Session to discuss the possibility of entering into a lawsuit with opioid manufacturers and distributors. This brief session is not open to the public.

to discuss the possibility of entering into a lawsuit with opioid manufacturers and distributors. This brief session is not open to the public. 6pm Meeting: The City Council will formally put the “Fair Rent Portland” rent stabilization and “Neighborhood Voices” zoning petition referenda on the ballot in November. Read more about these citizen initiatives here. Public comment MAY be taken, but don’t count on it.

Read the agenda and associated materials for the 4pm meeting here and for the 6pm meeting here.