November 12, 2021 - In this issue:
Mayor's Message
ARPA Public Survey Closes on 11/19
Climate Action Plan Released
Kingston Awarded $100,000 in DEC Grants
Grow Well Planting Event on November 21
Film Shoot Uptown Next Week
Housing Assistance Rehab Available
A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:

Dear Friends,

We had a great week of events for the Kingston Forward zoning project! If you weren't able to attend the meetings, recordings can be found at EngageKingston.com. Register at Engage Kingston to get updates as more engagement opportunities arise.

We are also looking for input on the Climate Action Plan draft and this is the last week to weigh in about the American Rescue Plan Act funding. We want your feedback!

-Steve
American Rescue Plan Act Public Survey Closes Soon

One week left to fill out the public survey! The City of Kingston hosted two public meetings to inform the City’s Economic Recovery Plan for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. If you weren't able to attend, you can watch the meeting here.

Kingston will receive approximately $17 million in ARPA funding over two years, and is currently working to create a comprehensive Economic Recovery Plan to best utilize these funds. The City has hired Laberge Group to facilitate the creation of the plan. The Kingston Economic Recovery plan will be directed by federal guidelines, will incorporate community input, and will build upon existing community projects, while also supporting new initiatives that support recovery from the pandemic.
 
According to the Federal guidelines, the ARPA funds may be used by local governments for:
  • Costs associated with responding to the Covid-19 public health emergency or its negative economic impacts
  • To support workers performing essential work during the Covid-19 public health emergency
  • To cover revenue losses caused by the Covid-19 public health emergency
  • To make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure
 
Find the survey here, which will be open until November 19, 2021. Please contribute your thoughts and feedback!
Climate Action Plan 2030 Draft Released
The Climate Action Plan 2030 draft is now available! The draft is available at EngageKingston.com.

The City of Kingston hosted two virtual public presentations this week to present the draft of the Climate Action Plan 2030. To view the meeting in English or Spanish and leave your feedback, please visit engagekingston.com/climate-action-plan.
Kingston Wins $100,000 in DEC Grants
The City of Kingston has received two grants for a total of $100,000 from New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund administered by the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Estuary Program.
 
The City of Kingston was awarded $50,000 to create a Community Preservation Plan from existing plans and inventories of natural, cultural, and historic resources, as well as other sources of GIS data. The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a funding tool that helps communities develop outdoor recreational facilities, preserve open space and the historic character of a community, and create affordable housing. The City will be issuing an RFP for a consultant to write the Community Preservation Plan in the coming few months. The Plan is expected to be completed by summer 2022.
 
Kingston was also awarded $50,000 for public kayak access to the Rondout Creek. With these funds, the City will remove the existing unsafe public kayak dock on the Rondout Creek, complete a design of a new kayak launch system, and construct and install a new dock with full handicapped accessibility. The City will first complete the design of the new dock. Construction on the Wurts Street Bridge may affect the timing of the dock installation.
 
“We are thrilled to receive these two grants, which will help us create a Community Preservation Plan that will be crucial to advancing the vision of our Open Space Plan and other critical land preservation goals, and to revive our kayak dock in the Rondout Creek, one of the only public launches into our local waters and used by so many people from kayakers to canoeists to rowers,” said Mayor Noble. “I look forward to getting these two projects underway soon and want to thank the NYSDEC for their continued support of our land use and access initiatives.” 
Existing conditions at the kayak dock
Grow Well Planting Event on November 21
Join Grow Well Kingston to plant juneberry shrubs at the Delaware Ave. parklet on November 21, 2:00pm!

Grow Well, a Focus Team of Live Well Kingston, and the Kingston Land Trust will be hosting the volunteer event. The group will spend a couple hours planting as part of a long term goal to improve the small park space that is part of the Greenline network of trails.

The Delaware Ave parklet is best accessed by parking at the municipal lot on Livingston St. behind the Fourth Ward Honor Roll Memorial at the corner of Delaware and Livingston St. Please dress appropriately for the weather and bring drinking water. Check the Facebook event for any updates.
Film Shoot Uptown Next Week
Due to a major film shoot Uptown next week, there will be several road closures and parking restrictions:

On Tuesday, November 16 to Thursday, November 18 from 7:00am to 4:00pm, there will be no parking on the east side of Wall St at meters #310-#312. 
 
On Thursday, November 18, there will be no parking at the following locations from 7:00am-10:00pm:
           -W. Strand St between Broadway and Ravine St.
           -the Municipal Lot at 95 Dock St.
-the south side of N. Front St. (Washington Ave to the municipal lot)
           -the east side of Frog Alley between N. Front St. and Schwenk Dr.
           -the west side Crown St. between N. Front St. and John St. 
           -the east side of Green St. between N. Front Street and John St.
 
Also on November 18 between 7am-10pm, Green Street will be closed to traffic between John St. and Main St.
 
On Friday, November 19, there will be no parking at the following locations from 12noon to 4:00am on November 20:
           -the east side of Fair St. between N. Front St and John St.
           -the north side of Main St. between Wall St. and Clinton Ave.
           -both sides of Wall St. between John St. and Main St. 
 
Also on November 19 between 12noon-4:00am, Fair St will be closed to traffic between John St. and Main St.
 
Lastly, there will be no parking at meters #404 and #405 on John St. November 20 & November 21.  
Housing Rehab Assistance Available
Four spots are available! The City of Kingston homeowners may be eligible for home repair assistance through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing Rehabilitation Program.

CDBG funds will be used to provide up to $25,000 of rehabilitation assistance to owner-occupied households that meet low- to moderate-income eligibility criteria. Funds are provided in the form of a deferred interest-free loan that is forgiven after 10 years. Eligible household income must be at or below 80% of the area median income, which is currently $66,650 for a family of four, and is adjusted based on the actual household size. Eligible properties must be located within the municipal limits of the City of Kingston and the property must be the homeowner’s primary residence.

Items which may be addressed during rehabilitation include: correcting code violations; mitigating health and safety hazards such as radon, asbestos and lead paint hazards; and repairs like roofs, heating systems, porches, water heaters, water and sewer connections, and accessibility improvements.

Applications can be found here. City of Kingston homeowners with questions regarding the program may contact Arlene Puentes at 845-334-3920 or apuentes@kingston-ny.gov in the Office of Community Development. 
Sent on behalf of:
Mayor Steven T. Noble
845.334.3902
mayor@kingston-ny.gov
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