October 26, 2016 - In This Issue:
A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:
Dear Friends,
As we move forward with our 2017 budget process, I am pleased to share with you various aspects of the budget that I feel are innovative and reflective of my administration's priority to further improve how our government functions.

If this budget is approved, we will be implementing a fiscal transparency system that allows the public to view City spending in far greater detail. We will also implement meeting management software that will drastically improve access to our meeting agendas, minutes, and recordings. I have also allocated funds to build and maintain a workflow management system to be used by the Department of Public Works to better organize and prioritize projects, including those issues identified by community members as needing attention. 

I look forward to exploring the proposed 2017 budget even further in next week's issue!

-Steve
Halloween Curfew

In order to ensure all of our children have a safe and fun Halloween, a curfew of 8:00pm has been set in the City of Kingston on October 31st.  Parents and caregivers should accompany their children at all times.

Be safe and have fun! 
Mayor Noble signs Local Law #6

In an effort to address vacant and abandoned properties in the City of Kingston, Mayor Noble is pleased to sign Local Law #6. 

As stated under this law, the City will identify and register vacant buildings, determine the responsibility of the owners, establish a process for securing, maintaining and rehabilitating the properties and require registration of these properties with the Building Department. 

Read the Mayor Noble's full statement here.
View the signed Local Law here.
Stay Alert

Have you visited the newly upgraded parking lots on North Front Street? The  majority of the work has been completed and the lots are now open! However, users should note that the layout of the lots, including the locations of the entrances and exits, have been changed. In addition, lighting has not yet been installed. We expect the lighting and additional signage will be installed in the coming weeks.  In the meantime, please use caution when visiting these lots.  
Board of Water Commissioners Declares Drought Alert

The Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Kingston has declared a drought alert for all of its  customers. Cooper Lake Reservoir, the principal storage reservoir for the City of  Kingston, is presently at 75% of its capacity, which is 10% below the average of 85% for this time of  year. While we began September at normal levels, a significant lack of rainfall during the month caused  the Reservoir to drop 3 feet during that month.

At current levels, and assuming no significant rainfall, there is sufficient water in the Reservoir to supply all of our customers for the next 170 days. To make our supply last as long as possible, the Board has declared a drought alert. During a drought alert, all of our customers are requested to voluntarily conserve water whenever possible. We all use water differently, so please take a minute to think about how you can conserve. Some simple suggestions include taking shorter showers, running dishwashers and washing machines only when full, repairing leaky faucets and toilets, and turning off the faucet while shaving, soaping hands, and brushing teeth. Please remember that conservation during a drought alert  is strictly voluntary  but every little bit helps. 

In advance, thank you for your cooperation.

UPDATE: The reservoir level is now down 8 feet and is at 70% capacity. In addition, since our call for voluntary conservation, demand has increased by 150,000 gallons per day. Please consider some of the conservation tips mentioned above.
Opportunities in the City of Kingston

Job Vacancy: 

Water Meter Reader-  this position is in the Kingston Water Department.  

Deadline to apply is Wednesday, November 8, 2016 no later than 4:00pm.

Note: This position will be filled on a provisional basis. The incumbent will have to finish in the top three willing to accept appointment upon taking the examination.

Civil Service Exam Announcements:



For information about the above job vacancies and exam announcements, visit: http://kingston-ny.gov/Employment

City of Kingston Seeks Applicants for
Department of Public Works Commission

Community members are encouraged to consider applying to Mayor Noble to fill vacant seats on the Department of Public Works Commission. Applications can be found here.
Update from Central Hudson

Work has been completed in Ponckhockie to install and energize new services. There will be crews in the area of East Strand, Gill & Sycamore doing cleanup work and they will be paving on Delaware Ave, North, Willow,& Cordts this week. 

Thank you for your patience!
Municipal Meetings

Wednesday, October 26th
Tree Commission
3:30pm
City Hall, Conference Room #1

Climate Smart Kingston Commission
4:30pm
City Hall, Common Council Chambers

Public Safety/General Government Committee
6:30pm
City Hall, Conference Room #1

Heritage Area Commission
7:00pm
City Hall, Conference Room #2

For a full schedule of municipal meetings, visit our meetings calendar  here.

Most meeting agendas and minutes can be found here.
 


Kingston's Midtown Arts District will  officially  launch this Thursday, October 27th with a free evening of music and dance for all ages. The event will take place at The Collective at Broadway Commons (615 Broadway) from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Mayor Noble will arrive at 5:00pm for a special ribbon cutting ceremony for Broadway Commons. 


PERFORMANCES BY
Jay Ungar & Molly Mason
The Gold Hope Duo
Peter Wetzler & Elena Reyes
POOK
Energy
The Flying Kingstonians Brass Band
Pauline Oliveras & Ione 
David Temple
DJ Mapes

More details are available on the event's Facebook page.

Wondering what is happening at 615 Broadway? 

In the short term, our Department of Public Works has made some small improvements to the site. In addition, Red Bird Entertainment is erecting a pop up venue- The Collective- to be used for special events. In the long term, the City intends to work with community partners, including the emerging Midtown Arts District, to create a vibrant public square. Input and support from the community will be the most important part of this process, so stay tuned for further information and for opportunities to get involved! 



Kingston Happenings

The City of Kingston often receives requests to share upcoming events happening in our community. Our partners at KingstonHappenings.org do an excellent job of centralizing this community information. So while our website is the best resource to gain information about City of Kingston sponsored events and important municipal information, Kingston Happenings can give you a greater preview of community events. Check them out today!
Sent on behalf of:
Mayor Steven T. Noble
845.334.3902
mayor@kingston-ny.gov

The purpose of this newsletter is to share important information, project updates, pictures and news from the City of Kingston. For more detailed information, visit: