March 1, 2019 - In This Issue:
A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:

Dear Friends -
 
We announced this week that Common Council and its committee meetings will be video-recorded and can be viewed on the City's YouTube Channel and the Kingston Live  page on the City's website. The City Clerk and I want to make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to be informed on local legislative proceedings, even when not able to attend meetings in person. 

The City of Kingston released a survey this week for all to weigh in on the fate of the Pike Plan canopies in Uptown Kingston. I know many have strong opinions, and I want to make sure all voices are heard before the Common Council and I make a final decision. I hope you will cast your vote! 

Yesterday we wrapped up a wonderful Black History Month with the Second Annual Everette Hodge Day. The kids read their reports about local African American history, and we declared a winner of the door design contest. I am constantly amazed how engaged and creative these students are!

Today begins Women's History Month which includes a line-up of incredible programming. I look forward to celebrating at many of these fine events

-Steve
Pike Plan Public Survey 
 
The City of Kingston has released a survey for the public to provide feedback for the future of the Pike Plan canopies in Uptown Kingston , which have had ongoing structural issues . Mayor Steve Noble and the City of Kingston's Common Council must make a decision about whether to repair and replace damaged portions of the canopies, or to demolish entirely and repair the attached buildings' façades. Both options will be costly for the City, and all expenditures for either repair or demolition will be incurred by the City of Kingston. The initial cost estimate for repair is $450,000 + ongoing upkeep and maintenance. The initial cost estimate for demolition and façade repair is $868,000.
 
More information about the history, existing condition and the possible construction options can be found at the City's website: www.kingston-ny.gov/pikeplan
 
We encourage all Kingston residents to contribute an opinion and participate in the quick survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/pikeplan

The survey will close on Friday, March 8 at 4:30pm. Paper copies can be picked up at City Hall in the Office of Communications and Community Engagement. 

Housing Hearings Started with an Open Forum
 
This week, Majority Leader Reynolds Scott-Childress kicked off a series of Housing Hearings at City Hall. The meetings will serve to inform the Common Council of the community's housing needs and issues so the Council can consider for policy change or resolution. 

Each upcoming Housing Hearing will address different stakeholders. The Council will invite speakers to give testimony and represent their interests. Residents who would like to provide insight in one of the six areas by giving testimony, should contact their Alderman or the Majority Leader. The goal of these hearings is to have all groups and interests fairly represented. 

March 6          Homeowners, at 6:30pm
March 11        Tenants, at 6:30pm
April 8             Landlords, at 6:30pm
April 29           Developers, at 6:30pm
May 1             Homeless and housing insecure, at 6:30pm
May 29           Policy advocates, at 6:30pm
 
The Common Council invites all residents to provide stories, solutions, and expertise beyond the open forum. Please address comments to City Hall, 420 Broadway, Kingston NY 12401 or ward3@kingston-ny.gov
Common Council Meetings to be Recorded in 2019

As a part of the Office of the City Clerk's agenda for 2019, City Clerk Elisa Tinti will be recording Common Council meetings.  Going forward, all Council meetings will be video-recorded and can be viewed at the City of Kingston's YouTube Channel and on the City's website at the Kingston Live page

The goal is to make the City's legislative process more accessible for all. Even if a resident is unavailable to attend these meetings in person, there will now be a standing record of the proceedings, which can be accessed at any time.

Recording began with the 2019 State of the City address and the January Common Council meeting. The video for the February Laws and Rules meeting is also available now. 

Next week, the Public Safety/General Government committee meeting and the Common Council Caucus will be recorded on Monday, March 4 as well as the next Common Council meeting on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. 

Other upcoming committee meetings to be recorded are the Finance and Audit committee (March 13), the Laws & Rules committee (March 20) and the Community Development committee (March 26). 

The Common Council meeting schedule, agendas and agenda packets can be found at the City's homepage.

Laws and Rules Committee 2-25-2019
Laws and Rules Committee 2-25-2019
  The 2nd Annual Everette Hodge Center Day
 
It was a pleasure to attend the Second Annual Everett Hodge Day Celebration: Crossing The Line To Freedom, for the culmination of their Black History Month celebrations. Th e kids decorated a variety of doors at the Hodge Center with Black History themes, and I had the opportunity to be a judge along with Frank Waters and Tyrone Wilson.  The door design contest winners were so thrilled, their reaction melted my heart! 

The door design contest winners, photo by Gloria Waslyn
  Women's History Month Celebrations
 
Women's History Month Kingston kicks off with an opening night party at Rough Draft tonight, March 1. There will be many wonderful events throughout the month,  including the Kingston Women's Bike Festival, which is co-sponsored by the City and will be a free day of bi-lingual workshops for women new to cycling. 

The full line-up of events can be found at the Women's History Month Kingston Facebook page

I will also be discussing Women's History Month programming on n ext week's "Mondays with the Mayor" show on Radio Kingston. My guests will be Adrielle Farr, the Director of Arts and Cultural Affairs, and Emily Flynn, the Director of Health and Wellness. 

Tune in live on Monday, March 4 at 3:30pm at RadioKingston.org or 1490AM. 
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

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