Public Meeting Announcement: West Commercial Street Bicycle/Pedestrian Path

NEWS ADVISORY

City of Portland
389 Congress Street
Portland, Maine 04101
www.portlandmaine.gov

Public Meeting to Discuss Opportunities for New Path
along West Commercial Street

Input and feedback sought for a study to
evaluate potential bicycle and pedestrian path from Valley Street to High Street

What: Later this month, the City of Portland will hold a
public meeting to discuss opportunites to create a new bicycle and pedestrian path along West Commercial Street from the Veteran's Memorial Bridge to High Street. The path would connect with existing trail systems along the Fore River Parkway and Harbor View Park and with the redevelopment of the Veteran's Memorial Bridge, provide new access for cyclists and pedestrians traveling between Portland and South Portland. The engineering study for the new path is being funded by the Maine Department of Transportation. For more information about the study, contact Tom Errico, Study Project Manager at 207-347-4354.

When: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 6:00 PM
Where: Reiche School, 166 Brackett Street,Portland

### Nicole Clegg
Director of Communications
City of Portland
389 Congress Street, Room 208
Portland, ME 04101
office: 207-756-8173
cell: 207-272-4477

Agenda for December 3rd, 2008 Meeting

Introductions

Report from City Manager’s Meeting on 11/13
• New Mayor
• Charter Commission
• Search for chief of police
• Neighborhood Stabilization Program
• P.D. Merrill Public Art Project
• Veteran’s Bridge

CDBG Report & Prioritization
• Revised CDBG Request List
• Prioritization of the list

Q&A with Mike Bobinsky, Director of Public Services
• How to apply through Public Services for CDBG funds
• “Adopt a Block” Program
• Public Services Projects
• MDOT Projects

Winter Forum at the Expo, December 14th

Other Business

November 5th Meeting Notes

1. Report from October City Manager's meeting

2. Alex Jaegerman, Planning Division Director, outlined the creation of the "Bayside Vision" document, a collaboration between the city and the Bayside neighborhood which is the foundation for the recent developments in Bayside. He talked about the funding, timetable, and obstacles to the process. He offered advice on how the SJVNA could begin planning its own "vision" by assessing our neighborhood's assets and character, figuring out what the neighborhood needs are, and to create a strategic plan with the goal of bringing people into the neighborhood/sharing it

3. An update on the CDBG application process:

• Deadlines:

November 17, 2008 The Application will be available
November 24, 2008 Mandatory Applicants Meeting at 1:30pm in the State of Maine room
in City Hall.
December 18, 2008 at 3:00pm Applications are DUE.

• Requirements:
  1. You MUST attend the Applicants Meeting on November 24. It is important that you are on time or your attendance will not be recorded.
  2. You MUST register with the Purchasing Department as an applicant for the CDBG funds in order to receive an application.
  3. You MUST submit your final applications prior to 3:00pm on December 18. These will be submitted in room 103.
  More information is available:

  • Community Development website: http://www.portlandmaine.gov/planning/commdev.asp

  • The Purchasing website will be updated by November 17.

  http://www.portlandmaine.gov/purchasing/purch.asp

  • CDBG Priority Task Force website:

  http://www.portlandmaine.gov/cdbgpriority.htm

4. Discussion of the proposed Expo Winter Forum. This is the forum to sign people up for Property tax and Rent Refund Program and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. December 14th has been reserved at the Portland Expo. Councilor Dave Marshall is coordinating with Rep. Jon Hinck to get state and city reps there.

Meeting Tonight!

Agenda items will include:

• A discussion of zoning
• Jon Hinck, our State Representative, will outline Two major state programs that many people do not know about. They are: 1) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and 2) the Property Tax and Rent Rebate programs. He will be asking us if we would participate in a drive to sign neighbors up for these programs.
• Reports from committees: CDBG, Traffic Calming, Owner Compliance
• Review of the cleanup

Neighborhood Clean Up -Saturday Sept 20th 3pm

July 16 - St John Valley Neighborhood Association Meeting

Saint John Valley Neighborhood Association Meeting - July 16, 2008 6:30pm

Agenda:

• Plan neighborhood cleanup and cookout
• Review neighborhood plan from Muskie
• Report from Ownership Compliance Committee
• Launch new sub committees
• Select regular meeting time
• Establish 5013c tax status

Location: Shalom House, 106 Gilman Street (entrance in parking lot between Valley & Gilman facing Hadlock field)

St John Valley Neighborhood Association Election Results

On June 18th the St. John Valley Neighborhood Association elected their 2008 officers.

Election Results are as follows:

President: Moses Sabina
Vice President: Chaning McDaniels
Treasurer: Gordon Andrews
Secretary: Carrie Losneck
Communications Director: Amy Casey

Also during our June 18th meeting we created an Ownership Compliance Committee. The purpose of the OCC is to work to beautify the neighborhood. Our first effort will be to create a list of properties that have trash and heavy items like mattresses and couches outside. Please send this info to the Chair of the OCC, Tim McNamara; tionamara1@hotmail