Update on City Services

  • General Assistance:  The GA offices at 196 Lancaster Street will be closed to the public. Assistance will be provided Monday through Friday 8:00am-4:30pm by calling 207-482-5122. The window at the front of the building will be available for clients to drop off documents and to pick up vouchers as needed.

  • Taxes:  The deadline for real estate and personal property tax payments has been delayed until June 1 with no interest.

  • Water & Sewer:  The Portland Water District will waive any late fees on both Water and Sewer charges incurred during the State of Emergency.

  • India Street Health Clinic:  The Clinics at India Street are expected to open on Monday, March 30 with limited services now that clinic staff have completed their quarantine period.

  • Emergency Shelters:  The City’s Oxford Street Shelter for adults and Family Shelter for families are operating normally. Shelter staff has provided COVID-19 educational materials to guests, are encouraging good and frequent hand washing, providing hand sanitizer, and masks are available for those who have a cough or are sneezing. The City has made available 12 isolation spaces that can accommodate up to 36 people in one of its family shelter buildings for any shelter guests who require it. The City has contingency plans to utilize additional family shelter buildings for isolation or quarantine requirements if needed.

  •  Parking:  The City is not currently enforcing expired meters or time zones. The overnight and daytime street maintenance parking regulations have also been suspended. Enforcement will continue for illegal parking, which includes blocking the roadway, parking in handicap spaces, blocking fire hydrants, parking in no parking zones, blocking driveways or sidewalks/crosswalks, and double parking.

  • Five-Cent Single-Use Carry-Out Bag Fee:  The City has suspended the five cent bag fee for single-use carry out shopping bags until April 30. The public is encouraged to not use reusable bags during this time. Retailers are encouraged to make single-use carry out bags readily available. Single-use plastic shopping bags are not recyclable in curbside recycling collection. Bags should be put in the trash or brought to retailers who have special collections for these bags.

  • Purple Pay-As-You-Throw Trash Bags:  The City has confirmed that the PAYT bags are in stock with all major retailers and many have added them to their online shopping offerings. While the City encourages everyone to use the purple PAYT bags they have on hand, DPW will collect trash in any bag on a temporary basis. Items must be in a bag that weighs less than 30 pounds. Bulky items will not be picked up.

  • City parks and trails remain open at this time as outdoor exercise is permitted, but you must maintain 6 feet of space between anyone not from within your household while doing so. Playgrounds, ballfields, and basketball courts are closed and should not be used by the public. The City encourages people follow these guidelines when using parks, beaches and trails:

    • Do not use parks, trails, or beaches if you are not feeling well or experiencing any symptoms.

    • Follow the CDC’s guidance on proper personal hygiene before visiting these spaces.

    • Be prepared for limited access to restrooms or water fountains.

    • Share the trail and warn other trail users of your presence and as you pass.

    • Observe CDC’s minimum recommended social distancing guidance of 6 feet from other persons at all times.