August 9, 2019 - In This Issue:
A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:

Dear Friends,

After meeting with residents and gathering suggested projects, we have launched the 2019 Participatory Budgeting Survey.  Help choose how $20,000 gets spent in each business district. Kingston is still the only community outside of NYC to do this - it's a unique opportunity and I hope all will participate! 

We announced some major paving projects coming up this summer and into the Fall. We'll be out paving Washington Avenue next week, with much more to come.

Some reminders this week: the retirement ceremony and reception for our longtime City Historian is Tuesday and the public is welcome to attend. The Lead Line Replacement Program is still accepting contact information until next Friday. If you suspect your connecting pipes may have lead, please reach out. 

Enjoy your weekend! 

-Steve
Paving Announcements This Week 
 
Beginning next week, Washington Avenue from Route 32 (Boulevard) to Lucas Avenue will be milled and paved. Central Hudson is contributing $125,000 toward the City's paving on Washington Avenue in lieu of their own restoration work.
 
The next round of paving is scheduled to begin in late August and will include Apple Street, Snyder Avenue and Coffey Place. These streets are being paved ahead of the Hurley Avenue Revitalization Project, which will include paving of Hurley Avenue from Washington Avenue to the Town of Ulster line. The Hurley Avenue Revitalization Project is scheduled to begin this fall.
 
Central Hudson will also be contributing funds toward paving and restoration on Foxhall Avenue, which will happen this paving season.
 
The City of Kingston has created an online hub for all things paving, including a list of streets paved in 2019, photos from current projects, letters to residents regarding upcoming roadwork, and forthcoming projects that involve paving. Visit www.kingston-ny.gov/paving  for all things paving-related. 
 
Participatory Budgeting Survey has Launched!
 
Mayor Steve Noble is pleased to announce the release of the 2019 Participatory Budgeting Project Survey , which is now open to the public. The survey includes all of the proposed projects submitted by community members either online, by mail, or at one of the three public workshops held throughout the city in July, and also includes projects proposed but not chosen in 2018. Voting is open for residents who live, work or play in the three business districts -- Uptown, Midtown and Downtown. The survey is open until September 6. 
 
This year we set aside $20,000 for each of the three business districts to be spent however the community chooses. We hope everyone will weigh in on projects they would like to see happen in their neighborhood. Kingston residents can vote in more than one district, so for example, if you work in Uptown but live in Midtown, you are welcome to vote for your favorite projects in both polls.
   
Participatory Budgeting is a process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. For the pilot project in 2018, $15,000 was set aside for improvements or projects in each business district for a total investment of $45,000 to be decided by the public. These funds were allocated based on revenue received from off-street parking fees. In the 2019 budget, Mayor Noble set aside $20,000 for each district, for a total of $60,000.
 
Paper surveys are also available for distributing at your local business, community center or other organization upon request. 
 

 2018 Participatory Budgeting Project funded B.A.R.K. for Beautifying Uptown and Midtown
Retirement Ceremony for Historian Ed Ford
 
The City of Kingston's longtime Historian, Ed Ford, will retire this summer after 35 years of service at the age of 101 years old. Mayor Steve Noble and his staff will be honoring Mr. Ford with a farewell reception and ceremony at City Hall next week on Tuesday, August 13 at 11:00am. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Friends of Historic Kingston will attend the ceremony, with their Board President, Nancy Chando, presenting Mr. Ford with a proclamation.  Please RSVP  here  if you plan to attend .

Watch Mayor Noble and Ed Ford on Radio Kingston discussing his long tenure.
Reminder: Lead Service Line Replacement Program 
 
City of Kingston homeowners m ay be eligible to participate in t he Lead Service Line Replacement Program.  If you own or live in a City of Kingston home built before 1940, and your water service line resembles this artist's rendering, you may be eligible to have your water service line replaced at no cost. 

The City of Kingston is currently gathering contact information to request a visual inspection of the home's service line. This is not a guarantee that your service line will be replaced. Submit your contact information here

The bulge (or bulb) in the pipe between the foundation and the water meter may be an indication of a lead service line.

The deadline to submit a Contact Request Form is Friday, August 16, 3:00pm.
Contact Request Forms may be obtained at the Office of Economic and Community Development, City Hall, 420 Broadway on the ground floor, or by contacting 845-334-3920 or lslrp@kingston-ny.gov.


Volunteer for a Board or Commission 
 
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 Complete Streets Advisory Council, the Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission, the Heritage Area Commission as well as a representative of Kingston for the Ulster County Planning Board.  Interested parties should put in an application here .
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: