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PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

2024 Annual Reports of Boards & Committees

CONSENT CALENDAR

ORDER #104-24/25 - Civil Service Commission, Bob Schwartz, District Two (Coleman), for a term that expires February 28, 2030. – PASSED

ORDER #132-24/25 - Planning Board, Robert Santamaria, District One (Cohen) , for a term that expires March 31, 2028. – PASSED

ORDER #133-24/25 - Planning Board, Michael Taylor, At Large(Matthews) , for a term that expires March 31, 2028. – PASSED

PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION

ORDER #134 - 24/25 Granting Cultivators Unlimited, 176 Main St, an Adult Use Marijuana Establishment license, change of ownership. Passage Requires Majority Vote. – PASSED

ORDINANCE #18-24/25 - Amending Chapter 32, "Land Care Management," Regarding the Phasing Out of Two-Stroke Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers. First Reading of Alternate Ordinance Approved on February 4, 2025. ROLL CALL VOTE. Motion to Amend to remove “Residential” or “Commercial” language from Ordinance. – PASSED. Motion for passage as amended for first reading – FAILED. There was an amendment to have the gas powered leaf blower phase-out ordinance apply only to municipal operations. This passed. After discussion, however, Council determined that an Ordinance is not required and an Order is more suitable (since this would only apply to City operations). Council therefore voted down the Ordinance and asked to see an Order instead. The Order is expected to come before Council on March 4. If passed, it would require municipal purchase of leaf blowers to be electric immediately for handheld blowers as equipment needs to be replaced, and starting in 2028 for backpack versions also as equipment needs to be replaced.

ORDINANCE #19-24/25 - Amending Chapter 2, "Administration and Legislation" Regarding Vacancies and Appointments to Committees. First Reading Passes February 4, 2025. ROLL CALL VOTE. – PASSED

ORDINANCE #20-24/25 - Amending Chapter 10, "Health Welfare and Sanitation Generally" Regarding Miscellaneous Amendments. First Reading Passed February 4, 2025. ROLL CALL VOTE. – PASSED

ORDINANCE #21-24/25 - Amending Chapter 13, "Libraries" Regarding Miscellaneous Amendments. First Reading Passed February 4, 2025. ROLL CALL VOTE. – PASSED

ORDINANCE #23-24/25 - Amending Chapter 32, "Landcare Management" Regarding Miscellaneous Amendments. First Reading Passed February 4, 2025. ROLL CALL VOTE. – PASSED

ORDINANCE #24-24/25 - Amending Chapter 3, "Animals and Fowl" Regarding Miscellaneous Amendments. First Reading Passed February 4, 2025. ROLL CALL VOTE. – PASSED

ORDINANCE #25-24/25 - Amending Chapter 15, "Motor Vehicles and Traffic" Regarding Miscellaneous Amendments. First Reading Passed February, 4, 2025. ROLL CALL VOTE. – PASSED

ORDINANCE #27-24/25 - Amending Chapter 17, "Offenses-Miscellaneous Provisions" Regarding Miscellaneous Amendments. First Reading Passed February 4, 2025. ROLL CALL VOTE. – PASSED

ORDINANCE #28-24/25 - Amending Chapter 21, "Police" Regarding Miscellaneous Amendments. First Reading Passed February 4, 2025. ROLL CALL VOTE. – PASSED

ACTION ON OLD AND NEW BUSINESS

ORDER #120-24/25 - Approving Poverty Abatement Request for Case #24-05. Motion to Amend – PASSED, Motion for Passage as amended – PASSED. The Council passed the action to send a denial letter. The amendment adjusted the language of the action accordingly.

ORDINANCE #26-24/25 - Amending Chapter 14, "Licenses" Regarding Miscellaneous Amendments. Postponed February 4, 2025. – PASSED

Reconsideration of ORDER #34-24/25 Concerning the Inclusion of a Police Station as Part of the Mahoney Campus. Passage Requires Majority Vote. Motion to Suspend Rules to allow for Motion to Reconsider  – FAILED.   Motion for Order to Amend Order #34 24/25 to be brought to March 4, 2025 Business Meeting – PASSED. City Council previously passed an Order for the City to pursue the creation of a new Police Station on the former Mahoney School property. At this February 18, 2025 meeting, the City Council voted to reconsider whether the Police Station should be located on the Mahoney Property or elsewhere. On March 4, 2025, the City Council will vote on whether to reconsider other potential sites for the Police Station and, if so, discuss how the location for the police station will be determined.

ORDER #135-24/25 - Creating an Ad Hoc Mahoney City Center Committee. Passage Requires Majority Vote. Motion to Amend Order to remove reference to Item #11 Reconsideration. – PASSED. Motion to Amend Order that the 12 voting members shall be residents of South Portland Residents, the 7 members of the public shall be 1 from each district and 2 at large District nominated by respective Councilor  – PASSED. Motion for passage with amendments. – PASSED. City Council voted to establish an ad-hoc Mahoney City Center Committee. Read the press release.

ORDER #136-24/25 - Acceptance of Grants & Donations. Passage Requires Majority Vote. – PASSED