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December 21, 2018 - In This Issue:
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A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:
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Dear Friends,
The holidays have definitely arrived! We had visits this week from two caroling groups - the
Hudson Valley Youth Chorale and the Kingston High School choir, which put everyone in City Hall in the spirit. This week we announced that ticketing for parking in all neighborhoods of Kingston will be relaxed this holiday season so that you can enjoy shopping and dining without worrying about feeding the meter.
The City was awarded four grants at this week's Regional Economic Development Council awards, totaling over $2.6 million. These grants will fund some very necessary work that I'll be happy to see get started in the new year.
We have another healthy tip for the holidays from our Health & Wellness Director, Emily Flynn, who encourages us to add exercise in our busy holiday schedules anywhere we can. We also recently extended the deadline for a variety of employment opportunities in the City of Kingston- consider applying to join our team!
Please take note of the summary about holiday hours coming up next week so you are prepared for changes in service. I'm looking forward to spending some time with my family over the holidays and ringing in the new year with friends and neighbors at the
New Year's Eve festivities planned in Uptown Kingston. Hope to see you there!
-Steve
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Kingston received over $2.6 million in CFA grants
On Tuesday, t
he City of Kingston was awarded four grants from the New York State Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) for a total of $2,632,752.
The Regional Economic Development Council presented CFA Awards to the City of Kingston for the following four projects:
Hasbrouck Combined Sewer Overflow Improvements Phase 1 ($600,000)
The City of Kingston will implement Phase I of their phased plan to separate street run-off from sewer collection in the public wastewater system. The project will reduce the Hasbrouck combined sewer overflows of untreated sewage into Rondout Creek, a tributary to the Hudson River, during storm events. This will also decrease stress on the City's waste water treatment plant and improve water quality of the waterways.
Midtown Parking Lots Green Infrastructure Upgrades ($1,200,000)
The City of Kingston will use grant funds to retrofit several parking lots with green infrastructure, incorporating porous pavement, bioswales, tree pits, electric car charging stations, and bicycle parking and fix-it stations. Street storm water run-off will be directed into the green infrastructure elements and remove water from entering the combined sewer system, which could otherwise overflow with untreated sewage into the rivers during storm events.
Kingston Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan ($60,000)
The City of Kingston will prepare a Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan to improve conditions for non-motorized travelers throughout the City and on key roads and pathways in and out of the City. The plan will inventory existing conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists and develop a realistic and actionable recommended set of prioritized improvements over the next ten years. It will complete Kingston's ADA transition plan and create a vision for a cohesive walking and biking network that connects neighborhoods, businesses, the Kingston Greenline, and the Empire State Trail.
Flatbush and Foxhall Midtown Connections ($772,752)
The City of Kingston will design and construct sidewalk facilities along on the north side of Flatbush Avenue from Colonial Drive to Foxhall Avenue and on a portion of Foxhall Avenue. The project addresses the lack of adequate sidewalks and railroad crossings on these roads and will better connect the surrounding neighborhoods to commercial centers. It will include sidewalks, railroad crossing facilities with pedestrian waiting stations, crosswalks, and street trees. The City awaits the announcements for its complementary application to the NYSDOT Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) this year for the same project. The TAP funding would assist the City to meet match funding for this grant and increase the length of the project.
Several local organizations were also awarded CFA grants, including the Center for Creative Education, the Hudson River Maritime Museum, North Street Brick Works (Hutton Brick Yards), and RUPCO, Inc. Congrats to all these recipients! Together we all make Kingston safer, more sustainable, and stronger.
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Municipal IDs signed into law for Kingston
On Wednesday night, Mayor Noble signed a resolution passing the Municipal ID program into law.
"I first want to thank all the residents who came out to speak and share their thoughts at the public hearing. I am pleased to sign this resolution, and I hope the Municipal ID will work toward giving a sense of security for all residents. It will also serve to build community, represented by proud citizens of the City of Kingston," said Mayor Noble. "I am grateful to all the businesses who have already signed up to participate in the Municipal ID discount program. It's so encouraging to see the early support from our Kingston business community."
Businesses who have been early adopters to the discount program include The Anchor, Blue Byrd's
,
Bop to Tottom
, Drs. Chasin and Guarente, Clove and Creek
, Friends of Historic Kingston, Half Moon Books, Michael's Candy Corner
, On the Hill Antiques
, Park Opticians
, Peace Nation
, Turn up the Beet
and
Zephyr.
"This is a great day for the city of Kingston. The Municipal ID law demonstrates the commitment we have to being a welcoming and inclusive community," said Reynolds Scott-Childress, W-3, "This card can help so many people in so many parts of our town, from citizens who want to take advantage of discounts for city residents to members of a whole host of traditionally marginalized residents who want to feel an integral part of our community."
"I look forward to working with our new City Clerk, Elisa Tinti, to enact this new law over the next several months," added Mayor Noble.
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Relaxed Expired-Meter Ticketing for Remainder of 2018
I am
pleased to announce that the City of Kingston will have relaxed enforcement on expired meter ticketing until January 1, and instead will focus efforts on meter repairs and maintenance.
I understand that shopping lines can be long and holiday dining celebrations can last longer than expected. In the giving spirit of the season, I hope this gesture will help make your holidays a little brighter and a little less stressful.
During the relaxed enforcement period, the parking staff from the Comptroller's Office
will instead focus on repairing any meter issues, and doing routine maintenance. Don't forget though, that they will be giving violations for safety issues, such as blocking fire hydrants, parking in handicap spots, double parking, and expired inspections. You will still have to observe all traffic and parking rules and only park in legal spots. Regular enforcement of parking meter expiration will resume on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.
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New City Clerk Elisa Tinti Sworn In
Elisa Tinti was sworn in this week as the new City Clerk and Registrar for the City of Kingston. Tinti is the former alderwoman of the Sixth Ward (2012-2015) and has worked as an Adult Career Counselor for Ulster BOCES for the past ten years. She has two Masters in Education degrees (SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Albany) and holds a Bachelors of Arts in Public Communications from the College at Saint Rose. In addition, she previously served as a Community Liaison for former State Senator Tkaczyk. Welcome Elisa to City Hall!
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Parks and Recreation Children's Holiday Party
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| Imani and J.J. from the Hodge Center's After School Program meet Santa Claus |
Nearly 100 children attended the Parks and Recreation Department's Holiday Party, and enjoyed a dinner donated by KFC, special treats, and a variety of gifts. Four bicycles were raffled off and two winners from each Community Center (Hodge and Rondout) won a bike. Special thanks to Ron Woods, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Parks and Recreation Department for their support in making this party special for so many children.
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Blaze, Zion, Gerard, and Zachariah each won a bicycle.
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Health & Wellness Tip:
Be Flexible with Exercise During Your Busy Day
A recent study showed that many exercisers can be too rigid with their workout schedule. "If you are too strict with a set workout time and you miss it, most people are more likely to give up," says Emily Flynn, Director of Health and Wellness. "Try to build activity into your daily routine to hit the recommended 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. If you miss your Spin class, you can still ride your bike to the coffee shop on your break. If you can't make time for the treadmill, you might still walk your child to the bus stop. Always take the stairs instead of the elevator. Adding any extra steps in your day can vastly improve your overall health."
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City Hall staff enjoyed two caroling groups this week, the
Hudson Valley Youth Chorale and the Kingston High School choir. It was a joy to hear them perform.
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City Hall & Public Services Holiday Schedules
City Hall hours of operation for the upcoming holidays are as follows:
Monday, December 24: City Hall will be closed
Tuesday, December 25: City Hall will be closed
Monday, December 31: City Hall will have regular business hours (8:30am-4:30pm)
Tuesday, January 1: City Hall will be closed
The Citibus schedule for the upcoming holidays is as follows:
Monday, December 24: Citibus will be running a Saturday Schedule ending at 4:00 pm. (9:30 am-3:30 pm)
Tuesday, December 25: No Citibus Service
Monday, December 31: Regular Schedule
Tuesday, January 1: No Citibus Service
Trash & Recycling
Monday, December 24 - regular pick-up
Tuesday, December 25 - holiday, pick-up will be delayed one day for the remainder of the week
We wish everyone a safe and joyous holiday!
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The City has vacancies for the following titles. Please click on the title below and review the full job vacancy notice and follow the instructions indicated in the notice for submitting an application and/or resume.
Engineering Aide - Part-time position - deadline to apply is extended to January 4, 2019 no later than 4:00pm.
Grants Manager - Full-time position - deadline extended to January 4, 2019 no later than 4:00pm
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Celebrate New Year's Eve in Uptown Kingston
Mayor Noble is pleased to announce the 2018-2019 New Year's Celebration to be held at the corner of Wall St. and North Front St. in Uptown Kingston on Monday, December 31, 2018 at 11:50pm. Attendees will count down the final moments of 2018, and as the clock strikes midnight, a decorative ball created by local business
Possibility Studios
will drop. As Kingston ushers in 2019, a brilliant fireworks display sponsored by
Basch & Keegan LLP
will light up the sky.
This event is made possible thanks in large part to our generous sponsors and volunteers, with special thanks to the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, Benson Crane Services,
Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center
, and the
Kingston Uptown Business Association (KUBA)
.
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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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