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May 31, 2019 - In This Issue:
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A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:
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We have so much great news to share this week! First off, we are so excited to launch the City of Kingston ID card program at the Kingston Multicultural Festival this weekend. I hope all proud Kingston residents will come out and get an ID card at the City's table.
This week's issue includes a number of opportunities to get involved in local government. In addition to a few open surveys, one regarding the Kingston City Land Bank and another about municipal composting, there are opportunities for public comment on the Kingstonian, a proposed Art in Public policy, as well openings on a few of our boards and commissions. Please consider participating in one (or all!) of these activities.
I've also included a letter that Majority Leader Reynolds Scott-Childress, Alderwoman Andrea Shaut, and myself submitted to local newspapers this week in regards to supporting nine housing bills that are currently before NYS
legislators
. This week concluded the final Housing Hearing in the series of seven meetings held by the Common Council. The testimonies we heard will serve to inform many decisions in confronting our City's housing challenges. We have heard your voices, and are working to address myriad issues that are facing our community surrounding housing.
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City of Kingston Launches Municipal ID Program
This week we announced the launch of the City of Kingston ID program, which
aligns with our efforts to build a safe, welcoming and inclusive community where every person is valued and respected.
The City of Kingston ID card will be available to any Kingston resident age 14 years or older who is able to meet the identity and residency requirements. The ID card includes photo, name, address, date of birth, optional gender, height and signature, and is valid for four years.
The City of Kingston ID program will officially launch at the Kingston Multicultural Festival on Sunday, June 2 from 12:00pm-5:00pm at the Andy Murphy Neighborhood Center. The festival is free and open to the public. Spanish language assistance and translation will be available at the City of Kingston ID table at the festival. The ID machine, which is portable, will be operated by City Clerk Elisa Tinti, first at the festival, and then daily in the Clerk's office at City Hall starting Monday, June 3.
To obtain a Kingston ID card, proper documentation must be provided. The price for adults 18 years old and older is $10, and $5 for Veterans, seniors, and minors aged 14-17. All identifying documentation will be returned or destroyed after the application has been processed.
Por favor traiga los documentos requeridos a la oficina del City Clerk en el primer piso de la alcaldia en 420 Broadway durante las horas: Lunes a Viernes de 8:30am a 4:30pm. Si necesita asistencia enespañol, por favor visite la oficinia durante las horas: Lunes a Viernes de 11:30am a 3:00pm.
More information, a list of required/accepted documents, and a list of businesses participating in the Kingston ID Discount Program are available at www.kingston-ny.gov/kingstonID
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City of Kingston Conducting a Compost Survey
The City of Kingston is undertaking a feasibility study for diverting food waste produced at municipal buildings, businesses and residences by creating compost collecting options. The study will explore how removing food scraps from the waste stream could potentially keep municipal costs down while providing a beneficial service to the City's residents and businesses. Reducing food waste sent to landfills can save hundreds of thousands of dollars, and decreasing the number of dump truck trips to landfills reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
A city-wide survey will help determine if the financial benefits from implementing a public composting program would exceed the start-up and operating costs, and if so, the City will seek to move forward. Undertaking this work puts Kingston at the forefront of innovative efforts that save municipalities money while helping the environment.
Residents and businesses, whether currently composting or not, are encouraged to complete the survey, which will be open until June 15, 2019. To take the survey in person, contact Julie Noble, Environmental Education and Sustainability Coordinator, at 845-481-7339 or julielnoble@kingston-ny.gov.
Questions can be sent to climatesmart@kingston-ny.gov. Survey participants will be entered to win a free backyard composter.
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Letter to the Editor:
Urging NYS Legislature to Approve Tenant-Protection Bills
We the undersigned write to encourage the New York State legislature to approve the nine tenant-protection bills currently under consideration. These bills aim to support tenants in the enjoyment of their homes. They serve to clarify the relationships and duties between landlord and tenant while also ensuring that tenants can safely call their house their home.
We recognize that these bills are only a part of the solution to our housing concerns. Our recently concluded housing hearings have demonstrated that housing is a crisis for many of our friends, family members, and neighbors. The hearings also revealed that there are many stakeholders beyond renters-including home owners, landlords, real estate developers, social service providers, and others-who are essential to the conversation about housing. As we continue to seek out and implement new housing strategies, our goal is to work with all these involved parties.
Our support for these bills grows naturally out of our firm commitment to improving housing throughout the City. We have worked toward remedying the problems faced by our neighbors who seek affordable housing. We have encouraged the development of new units in RUPCO projects such as the Lace Mill, Energy Square, and Landmark Place. We have supported the much-needed renovation of affordable housing for the elderly at the Governor Clinton and Yosman Towers. We have created a Land Bank to expand affordable home ownership for first-time home buyers. The City, along with agencies such as RUPCO and Family of Woodstock, provides a number of programs to financially assist first-time home buyers and low-income residents.
We have more to do. We must investigate and implement an array of policies, from regulating short-term rentals to providing for quality inspection of rental units to expanding the availability of housing at affordable and middle-income levels. As public officials, we are dedicated to moving beyond slogans and rhetoric to encourage the further development of healthy, safe, and affordable places to live. We call on all Kingstonians to join us in generating community-based solutions. We will continue listening and working toward an ever-better Kingston for all.
Signed,
Steve Noble, Mayor City of Kingston
Reynolds Scott-Childress, Alderman Ward 3
Andrea Shaut, Alderwoman Ward 9
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Kingston Paddle Fest on Saturday, June 8
Kenco and Kingston Parks and Recreation have joined forces to present the Kingston Paddle Fest on Saturday, June 8 at Kingston Point Beach.
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$10 donation gets you a full day of fun - check out the full schedule of events , including a guided kayak tour with Mayor Noble,
clinics, lessons and demonstrations.
Kayak experts from Kenco will be on hand to help attendees try out different types of kayaks, paddleboards and more on the Hudson River and will be offering discounts
. All equipment and PFDs are provided.
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Call for Boards and Commissions Volunteers
A great way to get involved in the community is to volunteer on a Board or Commission. The City has 25 different Boards and Commissions - from the Arts Commission to the Zoning Board of Appeals - all populated by engaged citizens who want to make a difference in their community. There are currently openings on the Live Well Kingston Commission and the Heritage Area Commission. Interested parties should put in an application
here.
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Street Cleaning in Uptown
Members of the Kingston Parks and Recreation Department's Buildings and Grounds Crew with assistance from the Department of Public Works were out cleaning last week in Uptown. The crews were hard at work clearing debris and beautifying the roads and sidewalks. They did a great job!
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Kingston Police Department Info Session
The Kingston Police Department will be holding an information session on Wednesday, June 5 at 7:00 pm to provide guidance on the up-coming police officer examination process.
All interested parties are encouraged to attend and learn more about the benefits of joining the police force.
After the informational session, the physical agility portion of the police officer exam will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2019, followed by exam preparation sessions in late August. The written exam will be conducted Saturday, September 14, 2019.
The Kingston Police Department benefits package includes a starting salary between $45,178 - $50,198 annually; comprehensive healthcare including dental; paid vacation, sick leave and holidays; uniforms and equipment; tuition reimbursement; and enrollment in the NYS Police and Fire Retirement System.
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Planning Board Taking Kingstonian Comments Until May 31
The City of Kingston Planning Board will hold a special meeting regarding the Kingstonian project at City Hall in Council Chambers on Monday, June 3, 2019. A
ny member of the public who wishes to share an opinion about the Kingstonian can give written public comments to the Planning Board by the end of day today,
Friday, May 31.
Written comments can be emailed to
planning@kingston-ny.gov
or mailed to City of Kingston Planning Office, 420 Broadway, Kingston NY.
Kingstonian Draft Design
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Last Day to Take the Kingston City Land Bank Survey
The Kingston City Land Bank (KCLB) currently has 36 properties throughout the City of Kingston, and is working on developing a "disposition policy." The policy will help create a set of guidelines to ensure that these properties are sold or transferred in a manner that is aligned with the KCLB's belief that everyone has the right to a safe, affordable, and high quality place to live.
In order to establish and define the rules of a disposition policy for KCLB properties, the KCLB Board is requesting feedback, particularly from City of Kingston residents, through a survey. The goal of the survey is to ensure the policy will best serve the needs of the community at large.
The Kingston City Land Bank was the 24th Land Bank designated by New York State in March of 2018. The Board was appointed in October of 2018 and KCLB became incorporated in November of 2018. The mission of the Kingston City Land Bank is to foster an equitable community where vacant or distressed properties are transformed into community assets that improve the quality of life for Kingston residents, stabilize and enhance neighborhoods, and create new pathways for social and economic development.
This survey can be found at www.KingstonCityLandBank.org under City Survey Spring 2019. The response deadline for this survey is May 31, 2019.
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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!
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