Portland Council approves CIP amendments, JetPort funding, and code changes

The City of Portland council approved the fiscal year 2027 capital improvement program with amendments to restore school HVAC funding and increase public art and land bank allocations. The council also approved $10.1 million for JetPort parking improvements and passed technical amendments to entertainment venue regulations.

Key points

• Council passed the FY 2027 CIP with amendments restoring $1.2 million for school HVAC repairs and increasing public art and land bank funds to $230,000 each.
• Order 179-2526 was approved to appropriate $10.1 million for the JetPort Phase 3 parking garage design and surface lot expansion.
• The council passed Order 181-2526 to clarify main entrance definitions for entertainment businesses in B3 and WCZ zones.
• Councilor Sykes moved to postpone Order 180-2526 regarding immigration enforcement to the May 4 meeting, which passed unanimously.
• Public commenters raised concerns about Civilian Police Review Board appointments and the city granting itself an entertainment license for Fitzpatrick Stadium.
• The council approved the appointment of Diane Herman to the Civilian Police Review Board despite public objections regarding potential bias.

Next steps

• The city manager and finance director will adjust the CIP order text and exhibits to reflect the approved amendments.
• The council will consider Order 180-2526 regarding immigration enforcement at the May 4, 2026 meeting.
• The planning board may revisit the theater buffer issue if the council requests a general assessment of entertainment buffers.

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