Mayor's Message

CDBG Public Hearing on February 6

City Commissions Municipal Art Policy

New Surcharge Legislation Taking Effect

Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show

Free Bike Rack Installation

City of Kingston Job & Board Opportunities

Mayor's Message:

Dear Friends -

If you have been following the turmoil at the Chestnut Hill boardinghouse, you may be aware that it has been before the Kingston Planning Board for many months with violations of unsafe conditions. The Planning Board, the Building Safety Department, the Housing Department, and others sought to help bring this property into compliance for many, many months, but in July the permit to operate was officially denied.

As of this week, I am relieved to say that Chestnut Hill, which has since been operating unlicensed and unlawfully, has agreed to cooperate with the City of Kingston and Ulster County Social Services to close the boardinghouse at 106 W. Chestnut, and to work with us to ensure the safe rehousing of all the current occupants.

If and when the owners of Chestnut Hill are able to bring the building into compliance, they will be able to reapply for a special permit of operation.



-Steve

CDBG Public Hearing on February 6

The City of Kingston will hold a public hearing for the City’s 2024-2028 Consolidated Plan and 2024 Annual Action Plan for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program on February 6, 2024, at 6:00pm at City Hall.

The City of Kingston is in the process of preparing the 2024-2028 Consolidated Plan and 2024 Annual Action Plan, to be submitted to HUD on or about May 15, 2024. The City anticipates that its 2024 CDBG Program allocation will be $650,000, but funding has not yet been allocated. 

“We are holding the public hearing so that the community has ample time to provide input on the housing and other community development needs of the City over the next five years,” said Mayor Noble. “All interested individuals and organizations are invited to attend the meeting and offer their comments, which will be taken into consideration for the 2024-2028 Consolidated Plan and 2024 Annual Action Plan.”

“This is a great opportunity for the public to participate in offering the City their thoughts and suggestions as the City forms a vision for the next five-year consolidated plan,” said Amanda Bruck, Director of the Office of Community Development. “Once the plan has been written it will be used as a template of how the CDBG dollars will be spent over the course of the next five years.”

A survey for public input is also now open. Please take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Kingston2024.

Written comments will be accepted by the Office of Community Development until March 6, 2024. A second public hearing will be held to present the draft plan to the public. Comments on the proposed plan will be considered prior to Common Council adoption.

City Commissions Municipal Art Policy

The City of Kingston’s Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs has contracted with McGregor Consulting to create a Municipal Public Art Policy.

The Municipal Public Art Policy, which is fully grant funded, will apply to all forms of art on city property and will provide guidelines for the City when presenting or commissioning new work in the future. This policy focuses on public art on city property and does not address public art on private property.

After an RFP process, McGregor Consulting has been contracted to create a Municipal Public Art Policy that will:

• provide collection management guidelines for existing works of art owned by the City and currently displayed in municipally owned spaces and municipal buildings
• provide guidelines for the acquiring, commissioning of public works of art, and for sponsoring temporary and/or permanent art forms on City property;
• offer ways for community to participate, promoting public art projects and activities while protecting the rights of artists
• develop a plan for implementing the Municipal public art policy

 “We are thrilled to have McGregor Consulting on board to help us understand the extent of our existing art collection– from what hangs on the walls at City Hall, to the sculptures in our parks and public spaces,” said Mayor Noble. “One of the key elements of this municipal art plan will be how we, as a City, accept artwork going forward and to create a guide for maintaining our existing assets. This was a priority set forth in the Arts & Culture Master Plan, and I think is a good first step in the City of Kingston becoming a better steward for public art.”

Jennifer McGregor of McGregor Consulting is an Arts Planner with over 40 years of expertise in the areas of art, public engagement, and placement. She was the first director of New York City’s Percent for Art Program where she wrote the operating guidelines and initiated the first 60 projects.

The process will include public meetings to share the final draft before the Municipal Public Art Policy is approved by the Common Council.

Application Open: 2024 Music in the Parks Performers

The City of Kingston is taking applications for performers for the 2024 Music in the Parks series.

Music in the Parks is the City of Kingston’s free, family-oriented concert series which is held at various Kingston park locations from 6:00-8:30pm on Saturdays during the summer. While preference will be shown to full bands with a minimum of four members, duos and trios will receive consideration. Selected ensembles will receive an honorarium.

The deadline for submissions is February 29, 2024. The 2024 Music in the Parks performer applications can be found here. 

New NYS Surcharge Law Taking Effect Feb. 11

In December, Governor Hochul signed a law to update New York’s law relating to credit card surcharges.

Effective February 11, 2024, a credit card surcharge notice requirement goes into effect. Any seller in any sales transaction imposing a surcharge on a customer who uses a credit card must clearly post the total price for using a credit card in such transaction, inclusive of surcharge. A surcharge may not exceed the credit card company's usage charge. 

Business owners want to learn more and consumers who want to file a complaint, can visit https://dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.

Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show

Mayor Noble's weekly radio show, "It's the Mayor" airs on Tuesdays at 5pm on Radio Kingston. This week, Mayor Noble spoke with City of Kingston Planning Director Suzanne Cahill.

Click below to listen to their conversation!

Free Bike Rack Installation

The City of Kingston is taking requests from businesses and organizations for the installation of a free bicycle rack.

Non-profits and businesses with properties that meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines are encouraged to apply. Locations must be in Kingston and able to accommodate a 24in x 35in x 6in rack without restricting access to the sidewalk. The minimum space for installation is 4ft x 7ft.

To be considered for a free bike rack installation, apply here: https://engagekingston.com/pedestrian-bicycle-master-plan/survey_tools/bike-rack-request.

This project is funded by the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) Grant from the New York State Department of Health to implement community-based nutrition and physical activity programs that support policy, system, and environmental changes to make healthier choices, easier choices. This program is made possible with help from the Parks and Recreation Department and the Department of Public Works.  

Mayor Noble created the Department of Health and Wellness in 2017 with funding from a local foundation. The Department coordinates the Live Well Kingston Commission, manages the $1.5M Creating Healthy Schools and Communities grant, led the creation of the Pedestrian Bicycle Master Plan, and supports other projects that increase access to health in the City of Kingston. The Live Well Kingston Commission includes six subcommittees: Age Well, Eat Well, Grow Well, Heal Well, Travel Well, and Play Well. 

City of Kingston Job & Board Opportunities

The City of Kingston is looking for an Assistant City Attorney in the Office of Corporation Counsel.

This full time position is for creative problem solvers who will work closely with elected officials, transforming lofty ideals into measurable change and enforceable standards.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about housing equity, endlessly curious, and committed to providing excellent representation. Interested applicants should contact the Corp. Counsel office.

Upcoming Civil Service Exams include:

Park Maintenance Supervisor on March 2, 2024

Project Manager on April 13, 2024

Additional details available at https://kingston-ny.gov/Employment.

The City of Kingston is seeking four members of the public to join a form-based zoning code working group to work with City staff to ensure that the newly-adopted zoning code meets its objectives in areas such as housing development, walkability, and small business development. As needed, the working group will also be involved in suggesting zoning amendments to the Common Council.

Applications are due Wednesday, January 31, 2024. City of Kingston residents and anyone that can demonstrate a connection are eligible to the City to apply here: https://forms.gle/HgfFvHveStBADKbz5.

The City of Kingston has over 25 boards & commissions, and we're always looking for volunteers to serve the community. Currently there are openings on:

• Kingston Housing Authority Board
• Conservation Advisory Council
• Complete Streets Advisory Council
• Community Development Advisory Committee

Application at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KingstonBoards.