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South Portland City Council - July 15 2025
The city council meeting was called to order and all present were invited to rise for the pledge of allegiance.
The meeting was officially called to order by the presiding officer. All attendees were asked to stand and recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, symbolizing national unity and justice for all.
Roll call was conducted and a quorum was confirmed. Councilor Cohen sent apologies for absence.
The deputy clerk conducted a roll call of the city council members. Councilors Coleman, Pride, Tipton, Walker, and West were present. Mayor Matthews was also present. It was noted that Councilor Cohen was absent but had sent her apologies.
The minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed and approved without corrections.
The presiding officer asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes from the last meeting. No corrections were noted. A motion to accept the minutes was made by Councilor Walker and seconded by Councilor Pride, passing with unanimous consent.
Joel Willette, vice chair of the Economic Development Committee, presented the committee's work plan and priorities for the upcoming year.
Joel Willette, representing district two and vice chair of the Economic Development Committee (EDC), presented the committee's work plan. The EDC focuses on aligning strategies with the comprehensive plan, business outreach, grants and incentives, and workforce development. The committee aims to maintain a robust economy in South Portland and welcomes council feedback.
A notice to the council regarding property tax abatements issued, with details provided in a memo by the assessor.
The council was informed of property tax abatements that have been issued. A detailed memo from the assessor, Brent Martin, was provided, summarizing the abatements following last year's equalization. Council members were invited to contact Brent Martin for any follow-up questions related to assessing issues.
The consent calendar was presented, including appointments to committees and street closures, with public comments invited.
The deputy clerk read the consent calendar items, which included appointments to the Economic Development Committee and a temporary street closure. Public comments were invited, where individuals expressed support and gratitude for appointments and projects. Concerns about the duration of street closures were also raised.
Citizens were invited to speak on topics not on the agenda. Issues included a police incident at a high school and local environmental concerns.
During citizen discussion, Amber and Nathan Miller spoke about a concerning police incident involving their son at Deering High School, calling for investigation into police practices. Tim Honey reported on developments with the tank farm and encouraged city involvement. Both issues highlighted community safety and environmental concerns.
Discussion on action items including street closures for block parties, with considerations for standardizing procedures.
The council discussed the temporary street closure for a block party on Pine Street. Concerns were raised about the duration of the closure, with suggestions to standardize the process for future events. Amendments to the duration were proposed, emphasizing the importance of safety and community engagement.
Council discussed the duration for street closures during block parties, emphasizing safety concerns if closures are limited to event hours.
During the meeting, there was a discussion regarding the appropriate duration for street closures for block parties. It was highlighted that having the closure only during the event hours might pose safety concerns as attendees arrive. Suggestions were made to extend the closure duration to ensure safety, with a proposal to follow the previous year's arrangements. An amendment was discussed and passed with a vote of 4 to 2.
Council debated a conflict waiver for an attorney to represent a project potentially conflicting with city interests, ultimately rejecting it for transparency concerns.
The council considered authorizing a conflict waiver for attorney Nicholas Morrell to represent L R Non-Profit Holdings, LLC, in a project application. The discussion revolved around ethical concerns, given the attorney's former association with a firm previously representing the city. Concerns about public perception and potential conflicts of interest were raised, leading to a decision not to grant the waiver to maintain transparency and public trust.
Council discussed a bond ordinance for renovations at the high school athletic complex, proposing natural grass for the stadium field.
The council was presented with a bond ordinance to renovate the high school athletic complex, including replacing the stadium field with natural grass, building permanent restrooms, replacing the track, and installing new lighting. The superintendent emphasized the poor condition of the current facilities. It was clarified that the ordinance would send the decision to voters, not directly appropriate funds. The first reading passed unanimously.
Council proposed a bond ordinance for high school athletic complex renovations, offering synthetic turf as an alternative to natural grass.
In parallel to the natural grass proposal, the council discussed an alternative bond ordinance to use synthetic turf for the stadium field. The proposal included using recyclable materials and organic infill to address environmental concerns. The public and council members discussed the merits and concerns of synthetic turf. It was highlighted that both options would go to voters to decide. The first reading of this ordinance also passed unanimously.
Planning director introduced proposed amendments to the zoning code, with a brief PowerPoint presentation planned for more detail.
The planning director, Milan Vida, was invited to discuss proposed amendments to the miscellaneous sections of the zoning code of ordinances. A brief PowerPoint presentation was prepared to provide more detailed information about these changes. This presentation is part of the ongoing efforts to update and refine the city's zoning regulations.
The planning director discussed proposed changes to zoning text, including administrative reviews, building expansions, and solar energy system standards.
The planning director detailed various zoning text amendments aimed at improving procedural efficiency and clarity. Key points included expanding the planning director's authority to approve minor changes, raising the limit for building expansions, and clarifying solar energy system standards. The discussion covered the intention to streamline processes and address community feedback on zoning issues.
Discussion on shifting more reviews to administrative staff, criteria for board approval, and decision reporting to the planning board.
The planning director explained the benefits of moving some reviews to administrative staff to reduce the need for public hearings. Criteria include the size and nature of the change and historical approval trends. Decisions made by staff are reported to the planning board to ensure transparency.
Debate over building height increases in Mill Creek and the implications for parking and stormwater management.
Council members discussed the proposal to allow seven-story buildings in Mill Creek without requiring structured parking underneath. Concerns were raised about stormwater management and the potential for increased surface parking. The planning director noted existing zoning allows for this height under certain conditions, and they are seeking to remove the parking requirement to provide more flexibility.
Council discussed and amended the proposed zoning ordinance to retain the current five-story limit in response to concerns.
The council debated the appropriateness of including the building height increase in the ordinance labeled as a technical amendment. An amendment was proposed and passed to keep the height limit at five stories, reflecting concerns that the change was substantial rather than technical.
The city manager explained corrections to the Capital Improvement Plan numbers and resolve document errors.
The city manager clarified that while the budget numbers were correct during the voting process, there was an error in the resolve document that needed to be amended. The council was presented with a revised document to ensure all official records reflect accurate financial information.
The council discussed a technical fix related to a resolve number issue, ensuring clarity on the city letterhead and packet contents.
The council addressed a technical fix concerning the duplication of resolve numbers in the packet. It was clarified that one of the items was the CIP and the other was the appropriation resolve. The discussion emphasized the importance of ensuring the correct document was reviewed, particularly the one not on city letterhead.
A grant was discussed for the Parks and Recreation department and the Fire and EMS department for equipment to handle electric vehicle emergencies.
The council reviewed a grant for the Parks and Recreation department and the Fire and EMS department. This grant includes funding for equipment to respond to emergencies involving electric vehicles, specifically a plug that prevents movement during emergencies.
Public comment was opened for the grants and donations item, but no comments were received.
The council opened the floor for public comment regarding the grants and donations discussed. No public comments were made on the topic.
The council opened the floor for general citizen discussion, but no comments were made.
During the second part of the citizen discussion, the council invited any members of the public who had not yet spoken to provide comments. No additional comments were received from the public.
The city manager provided updates on upcoming council workshops, particularly regarding the comprehensive plan.
The city manager informed the council and public about tentative plans for the next council workshop, focusing on the comprehensive plan. Efforts are being made to accommodate a potentially larger crowd by holding the meeting at a high school.
Council members shared various remarks, including gratitude for staff and volunteers and upcoming events.
During the round robin session, council members expressed their appreciation for city staff, volunteers, and committee members. They highlighted the dedication and hard work of those involved in city operations and events. Specific thanks were given for the planning of an info session on running for office and the efforts of staff in maintaining city ordinances.