Mayor's Message

City of Kingston Flood Resources

Enroll in Kingston Community Solar

Applications Open for 2024 Music in the Parks Performers

Parks Mayor Commissions Food System Plan

Dietz Stadium Construction Update

Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show

City of Kingston Job & Board Opportunities

Mayor's Message:

Dear Friends -

We've had a snowy, cold week! Luckily, we haven't had enough snow to need to declare a Snow Emergency and our dedicated Public Works staff have been out plowing and salting. Even so, I remind everyone to always use precaution when driving on wintry roads.

As we continue to have snow, snow melt, and high tides, we are experiencing frequent flooding events. I'm including the local flood resources again this week. The most important thing to remember during flooding is do not go around barricades or drive through standing water. 'Turn around - don't drown' is our motto!



-Steve

City of Kingston Flood Resources

The City of Kingston is prone to frequent tidal flooding-- waters that rise from the Hudson River and Rondout Creek up into our streets and neighborhoods at high tide. We have a flood response team, which operates during flood emergencies to close flooded roadways, alert the public of dangerous conditions, and help protect against flood damage.

Here are a few ways to prepare yourself and your home or business for future flooding events:

• If you live or work in the high risk flood zones, sign up for Kingston’s Smart911 system to get real-time notifications during emergencies.

• Check out our Flood Preparedness Guide at kingston-ny.gov/floodpreparedness to find a map of flood prone areas, information on emergency shelters for people and pets, and instructions for creating a flood emergency kit. Create a plan for your home and know the best routes for evacuation.

Before, during and after a flood event, we often need to close off flooded roadways. It is critical to heed these road closures – turn around, don’t drown.

As extreme weather events become more frequent and devastating, we want to help Kingston residents stay safe.

Visit Kingston-ny.gov/floodpreparedness for more information. 

Enroll in Kingston Community Solar

The City of Kingston is still enrolling members for Kingston Community Solar. 

The program offers residents the ability to save on their electricity bills without installing solar on their roof! Instead, sign up and earn credits from the Moores Hill solar field in New Windsor, NY. 

Eligible subscribers who live in the shaded area of the map will receive 15% savings on the credits generated from the field. In a summer month, these credits will replace the entirety of an electricity bill and achieve 15% total savings on the cost of a home’s electricity. When there aren’t enough credits to cover the entire bill, the discount will be applied to the portion of the bill that is covered by solar credits. 

Additionally, in summer months, extra credits will rollover to the next month. So, savings are guaranteed but the discount will be applied to different portions of the bill month to month. 

It’s free to join and the program lasts for 20 years. So, sign up now at kingstoncommunityenergy.org/solar before openings are filled! 

If you have any questions about the program please contact [email protected] or call 845-372-1729.

Application Open for 2024 Music in the Parks Performers

Applications are now open 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 held at various Kingston park locations on Saturday evenings during the summer. Selected ensembles will receive an honorarium.

“We had wonderful free, family events last year with a great line-up of music and we’re excited to keep this beloved series going into 2024,” said Mayor Noble. “I look forward to seeing a variety of local performers apply.” 

Due to a large number of Kingston-based artists interested in performing, an application process has been established. The deadline for submissions is February 29, 2024. The 2024 Music in the Parks performer applications can be found at www.kingston-ny.gov/musicintheparks.

The Music in the Parks 2024 Selection Panel will be conducting reviews in early March. Selected performers will be notified by mid-March. All applicants will receive a response once selections are completed. Applicants not selected will be kept and considered in the event of an opening.

Mayor Commissions Food System Plan

The City of Kingston has contracted with Food Systems Foresight to develop a Food System Plan.

Food Systems Foresight, a Hudson Valley-based, women-led business, will create a municipal Food System Plan -- a guide for the City to strengthen our local food system with a focus on improving food security and equitable access to nutritious foods.

“A food system is the complex web of actions and people that gets food from the farm to your plate--and then hopefully into the compost,” said Mayor Noble. “I am pleased that our Health & Wellness Department has undertaken this important project. A strong local food system supports our local growers and economy, reduces food waste, supports the environment through biodiversity and reduced transportation emissions, reduces food insecurity, increases availability of nutritious foods, and improves the overall health of a community.”

A draft of the Food System Plan is expected in Summer 2024. The public will have opportunities to participate in community engagement at various stages of the project throughout late winter and into spring.

For information and to stay informed on public engagement opportunities, please visit www.engagekingston.com/food-system-plan.  

Dietz Stadium Construction Update

Even with the snow and frigid temps, work continues at Dietz Stadium. Foundations are completed for the ticket booth and visitor side concession, forms are ready for concrete at the equipment storage building, and interior slab work at the grandstand continues.

The mass regrading continues. This week, 20 old and distressed trees will be removed from the site. The trees will be replaced with 95 new deciduous trees, 37 evergreens, 110 shrubs, and 149 perennials throughout the site, after construction is completed.

Interior grandstand construction work

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 Kingston Fire Chief Chris Rea and Tanya Neiman from the City's Mobile Mental Health team.

Click below to listen to their conversation!

City of Kingston Job & Board Opportunities

The City of Kingston is offering several upcoming Civil Service Exams, including:

Park Maintenance Supervisor on March 2, 2024

Project Manager on April 13, 2024

The Police Officer Physical Agility Exam is now being offered on a continuous recruitment basis. More at Police Officer Physical Agility Examination

Job descriptions and exam details at https://kingston-ny.gov/Employment.

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

• Zoning Board of Appeals
• Conservation Advisory Council
• KLDC (Kingston Local Development Corp.)

Find the application at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KingstonBoards.

Additionally, the City of Kingston has formed a form-based zoning code working group. This working group will 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 January 31, 2024. City of Kingston residents and anyone that can demonstrate a connection to the City are eligible to apply.

The zoning code working group application can be found here.