Common Council - Regular Meeting

Are you purposely muted? Hello.

outside of the email council. So, thank you for the welcome on board. This is the the council minus one. One of us is a Republican conservatory. So, you'll be all right. So, it is uh 7:04 and I am calling this caucus to order. Uh first on our resolution list is resolution 68 uh is a transfer from the city clerk's office from the contingency in the amount of $30,000 to repair the chillers.

Uh this was a communication from the city engineer. Apparently the chillers had busted. Uh I think they've actually already been replaced but this is kind of after the fact that I I know they still do need to do a purchase order. I think they did some repairs, but just then they found out they had less than ever. They're not sure. Okay. Uh, next resolution 69 authorizing and transferring the building safety department.

Um, hold on. I don't need She just transfer ahead. Yeah, I believe is that correction.

Uh yes, this just a simple it goes from overages from insurance through vehicle means. Okay. Uh, resolution 70 recommending approval for modifications for the year 2026 historic properties budget and requesting authorization to expend in the first instance for the comprehensive historic preservation plan and citywide historic design guidelines project.

Um, pretty much as it says, the estimated financial impact will end up being $10,000 to the city. Resolution 71 is adopting the standard workday for elected and appointed officials in the New York State Retirement System. That's just a housekeeping item that we do every year. Uh resolution 72, an ordinance amending an ordinance in relation to the traffic on the public streets of the city of Kingston, New York, adding no parking anytime to a section on Dit Street. I came out of public safety. Bob's not here. Uh resolution 73, an ordinance amending an ordinance in relation to the traffic on the public streets in the city of Kingston, New York, establishing a loading zone on Broadway. So we finally got

several business. Yeah, we put in the parking number. Yes, with the meter number and also the I also added in the committee report that we wouldn't be removing the meter so that when it's not the parking or loading zone, excuse me, people would catch. That's good.

All right. Then resolution 74 in our uh adding section 390-99 schedule parking prohibited certain hours. That's same thing. Oh, wait. Hold on. We don't know the deals. Is that one of Oh, yeah. 35 is just part of the wait. Okay. So, the first one is establishing a 74.

I'm looking at the agenda and not legislation. Um 74. That's the one for North Front Street. That's Wall Street. friendly. They have signs where there's no parking at certain hours to APW do street cleaning because of the bike plan. They don't need to do that anymore because um the rain and natural resources will be helping. Um so we're removing those sites. I was wondering why they would need the street cleaning the way and street cleaning out. Yeah, because there's Yeah, it would just stay there. Yeah.

Okay. Uh resolution 75,767. These are tax certiary settlements. Uh they are all settlements for um property taxes for the next three years. Feel like anything else? I don't think we'll try anything. Okay.

Anyone have any questions on those? Okay. Uh all right. And then um second reading of local one uh local law 1 of 26 2026 and this is uh amending the ethics code to include um an additional uh employee or volunteer to the um ethics. So they got to fill out form, you know, how we have to fill out the financial. Yes.

And then second reading local law 226 replacing chapter 1, general provisions, article one, adoption of code of the city of Kingston. Yeah, that's the one where I um did all the changing of language to make it so it's easier to understand and updated to what our actual practices are. So, for example, there were a lot of things that um didn't involve technology that we should have. So, I made that change and yeah, but nothing really sensitive, just cleaning up the language, making sure it fits our practice. And if anyone asks um you know where they can see the changes that were made, not that any I expect anyone to but if some constituents are ask is there anywhere they can see well eventually it will get on to our quote. I don't know how long that takes.

So okay but if in the meantime if anybody wants to see it I have it posted and it's posted too. Then the draft changes are online. I'll do I'll send everybody a clean call. Maybe I wasn't interested in the clean the track changes part, but why do you see that? Uh at the agenda for tonight, it says those list of resolutions and then local wall one and you can click on I didn't see the chat when I looked in I read it today.

I'm not seeing it either, but I I saw them there today. That's where I read it. So,

okay. Um so if anyone um I'll go first regarding leaison stuff. Uh nothing coming out of the water department anything concerning the council. Um the housing task force did a great presentation on a use and sent out an email to everyone inviting us to the housing smart communities uh presentation next Friday the 15th. It's all in it's in your email. Uh Kuba Uptown Business Association is hosting uh spring playing which is kind of a open air festival on Saturday May 16th from 11:40

and I did not attend the Public Smart. probably got on. Yeah, I I'll follow. Anybody else? Does somebody want to go first? I can go. We're going to just go around. Oh, all quiet on front.

Oh, thanks. Thank you. um treatment commission. Uh there is a new nominated special treat at promote that in your water. They get people to go take note of the trees that they care most about. It doesn't just have to be like a public spec that brings you joy.

Uh I I can share that link around to everybody after the meeting. street ordinance preservation ordinance is still and discussions will be submitted questions to corporation council's office so we'll wait for that feedback uh historic language preservation commission there's some exciting stuff happening there on um Monday next Monday in our council chambers we will be having our first annual historic preservation awards and um we'll be recognizing excellence in historic pres you know property stewardship uh um education history preservation education with the presip center and then historic trades person um is Derek McNav and his crew. He has been um uh training a whole crew of of guys on brick pointing masonry pointing and uh slate shingle painting and plastering and all the amazing stuff. So, uh that's on on Monday. And then following the award ceremony, there will be a historic tax credit oneonone um session for historic home owners. And that's where really um it's would be a good thing for any owner in a historic district to attend um or an owner of an individual local individual that they can local landmark or someone who thinks they have a really historic fun definitely come. It's going to be led by Kate Wood of four preserving. She's a historic preservation consultant and then I will be providing some like local contact and just in case anyone is concerned I'm not advertising my services at this. I'm just giving information but not leaving cards and I'm not even saying what I do.

Wednesday that is Monday at 6:00 is the awards ceremony and the historic tax credit is from 8 to 7. And if you're, you know, kind of wondering where's all this talk about historic traffic play, come to this. It's only an hour. And then, uh, we, uh, the contract, I think, is being signed for a consultant to do the, um, historic renovation, master plan or plan, and divine 9 month. So, that's an awesome thing to be looking forward to. Thank you for um the planning board. Um we talked about a few different properties as usual. Um there's 36 bucks Paul and 38 cas and um and in Ben's ward the radio station is just remaining it license and Michael Tyranny's word frog it's really amazing Um and then also in Ben's war um the furnace street um requested a public hearing for that there was several members of the public were there um with some concerns but it wasn't public hearing. and then um involves the 206 and 28 question that just discussed. So everyone can check out the details on the unique land. Okay. So um I have a couple of different reports. The first is the KODC. They didn't have a meeting, you know, the month before, so I didn't report on it, but it was reported that there were

three outstanding loans that have actually been closed out, which is which is good. So, people that the city is making loans with are actually paying them back. That's good news. Um, they also have, and I think we we saw this too, there are two facade loans. Well, in addition to the settlements that have gone up, there are two property owners who have uh property under the pipeline who have secured loans um up to $35,000 to make repairs on their property. Um there are also a couple of microloans that have been extended. One for a modular home company that wants to buy a laser scanner that costs about $7,000. So there's a microloan program for up to $7,500 so businesses can get loans. So that's that's going on. And the other thing that uh came up was that the Kingston Business Park has a review committee that's been established with members from um the KBC and some outside people who are going to be looking at the RFP responses that have come in. There was an RFP put out for it was a actually not an RFP it was a request for interest brought for developers and apparently according to the committee member who made this report there's some really good proposals that have come in including ones from some of the nonprofit developers here. So this is the month they're going to be sort of looking at that to figure out who is really pursuing insurance. So that was interesting. Um the arts commission did not meet but nonetheless Kit Potter sent me a sent me an update with a lot of things that she wants everyone to know. Um the main thing is that there is a an annual distinguished artist award that the arts commission gives out and the distinguished artist awardee this year is Young Chen Lo an internationally acclaimed Tibetan singer whose moving performances have graced the world stages since 1995. And uh she's won a lot of awards. Um her first album is called Tonight Prayer.

She lives here in Kingston. And um anyway, the awards ceremony is going to take place Thursday, May 21st. You'll be getting notices probably. And if kids sends me something, I'll send it to you. 5:30 at City Hall. And um it's always it's really exciting for the artists who get these awards. They get a cash award of $1,000. And that money is raised by the Kingston Midtown Arts District. The artists get some money. Even there's also a nice reception. So, the ones that I've gone to have been really really exciting for the artist community and for those individual artists. Um, so that's that's coming up. Um, also another thing that's going on um is that there the city has a municipal art collection including some of the things you see here and in buildings and offices around the city. And so there is a um a condition report and inventory being done all of the things in the city's art collection. and that was just started last month. So, they're going around and they've gone to the city hall and then they're going to be going to other buildings. So, the idea is to the goal is to create an inventory of all of the works that are in the city's public art collection. And it's been a challenge because some things were just given to mayors in the past and so they just, you know, put them away, you know, to hold on to them. But there was never a record made. So, there's a lot of work going into figuring out what these are and just also what their condition is. But it's very exciting because we also have a works progress administration collection of paintings which is really exciting. So they're thinking about doing an exhibition of that at some point. So that's exciting. And I think that's all about the arts. But um the red commission is doing some interesting things. I got some brochures. They've got brochures that are around and I can have them. I mean just if you want some I can get some and I'll bring them in and give them to you. But there's a lot

of stuff going on. But the interesting thing is that um King the Kingston Rec Department in conjunction with Midwell Kingston is doing an inventory of all of the parks in the city. And the idea is to look at what every individual park has, you know, just to see what they Oops, I see you. Yes, I'm saying nothing.

You're saying nothing. Anyway, but the idea Yes. you know, I and I talked to them and I actually went to Block Park where they were doing a test of their their survey and uh in fact, one of our guests who's sitting here was there participating in the survey and there are about a dozen people there who are fanning out and sort of taking note of various things. There's a they gave me a copy of the form, you know, what are the plants that are there? What are the amenities? Is there a playground? Is there arts and culture there? And uh after the debriefing of this happens um then I'll find out you know wait a minute the survey has been changed but the idea is to do it for every single park because they want to upgrade or update the master plan because right now the last master plan for the city parks was done in 2013. So the goal is to try to do surveys and then eventually update the the master plan to look at things like you know what's needed in in the different parks. Not every park can have everything but to find out what's where and also there are things like playgrounds that need upgrading. Some of them have not been upgraded in 20 years and really the playground equipment should be upgraded every 10 years. And I learned that you can't really even just replace a part because they keep changing that. Like they don't some a piece of equipment that was built 10 years ago may not have parts available to replace. So you have to buy a whole new, you know, a whole new playground equipment. So the idea is to figure out what's the status, you know, just sort of do an inventory to see what's going on in our parks and how we can improve them. So you'll hear more about it. They've just started now. Who's conducting the surveys? I mean, are these they're Oh, they're volunteers. They can't talk, but I know it's live well, right? It's true.

Well, it's true. Live well and they're volunteers that are that are coming to each party. They'll be doing these and uh probably when when someone comes to Foresight Park because I'm there, you know, I can suggest some people because I know there are people who go there pretty frequently. So I don't I can suggest if you want that if there are parks in your ward you'd like to and you'd like to participate. Um any it's yeah it's it's a I think it's a good thing. Anthony Fitzpatrick who's here was one of the volunteers. So um you know it's a broad-based group of volunteers who are interested in marks. So yeah that was that was fun to go down here and see you. Okay. So, uh Kingston Library um so they decision was made to sign the final Crown Street um lease which extends to the end of September. Um the owner apparently is is showing the property as well. So, um, he's been given his 30, well, it was a 60-day notification process and then they have the 30-day notice of intent to bake.

Um, the library is planning a reopening celebration inclusive of a party and a parade around the second week of September. They're looking to um coordinate with all O positive festivities um so that you know folks would be encouraged folks that are visiting for all positive stuff be encouraged to um come into the library and take a look around. Uh and the friends of the library have offered to contribute financially and volunteer you know for a celebration. Uh the library is speaking with an attorney about time delays because as we all know this project has been delayed um and trying to make sure that they will not be held responsible um presumably for um variations to the scope of work. In terms of their book, the actual book borrowings um activity, the library reports that this is down nationwide um due in part to online access. Nevertheless, the city of King's library has during the same time period increased an increase in bar activities from 18,523 to 20,954. And uh they think that the increase is attributable to collection management, meaning that they get the books that people actually want to read. And they've established more of like a bookstore feel. And lastly, the board recently approved their strategic planning documents and these objectives will post it to their website and there will be board elections on September 15th.

Okay. Not much to report. um for the Kingston land bank except that um as I said last month they had issued two RFPs. One was for um three singular properties that would require landscaping uh work and the other is for the Grand Slam site. um looking for architectural and design um companies that could assist them with the design of the facility. And um this will be one of their first um manufactured home um sort of multif family installations. So um they expect to open up those bids, I believe, on the 7th. I could be gone. Could be the fourth or the seventh. I don't know why those two days are staying. Uh and then lastly, I just want to report about um something that each of us should be concerned about which is a lead rental registry. There was a community forum. So I intended it weren't wasn't very well attended but essentially by May 2026 uh all landlords of buildings rental properties that were built before 1980 in the city of Kingston is required to register register in an online database undergo inspections and complete remediation if lead hazards are identified. Um tenants are also encouraged to um register with the program. Also can be tested for lead. Um so basically rental homes built be prior to 1980 with two or more units in

the city of Kingston fall within our designation as a community of concern which is unfortunately what we are. So, um, Rubco is at this program. They will work with tenants and property owners to relocate folks if necessary, uh, while they're doing the cleanup in the actual units. If people have to, you know, um, live somewhere else for a short period of time, Ruckco will assist with all of that. Um, just as a reminder, this lead rental registry only applies to the city of Kingston, um, which is one of 25 communities of concern in the state of New York. Um, and they are encouraging people if you want to know more about it to go online. This is a Olter County initiative. So you can you can pretty much Google them and find lead rental registry program at Olster County.

That's pretty much it. Thank you. Thank you.

Um I missed Midtown Business Alliance meeting this past month. I still got to do their their spring retreat. So I'll have more on that. Um CAC The one of the things that they're working on is kind of there's a law in Olster County around neighboring the patient when they're using pesticide. It's it's um you know most if not all pesticide applicators and those companies have put on signage data or when you can um safely access the lawn or whatever just so that there's notification. Homeowners themselves are also required to do this if they're applying if you're applying um any side of pesticide or side maybe. I'm not sure on that uh in over a 100 square foot area. So, um kind of working with looking at working with businesses that sell these products to also sell or give away the little sign so that you can notify your neighbors. You're supposed to know notify your neighbors 24 hours in advance if you're going to be doing this. Um it's not I think many people are doing this if any but that's something that they're working on. Uh birthday obviously a big one that's coming up. Um I don't have the date. Do you have the date?

Saturday. Saturday coming up at 5 I think. I just saw the sign

and then the organics uh at this writing it was just under 100 tons uh but I think that they have now hit 100 tons of organics organic material that's been collected um there and then the police commission have Sorry, reading the notes of the foot patrol will be back in full force again on the weather's uh impering and bike patrol as well. And we spent quite a bit of time in executive sessions. There's not a whole lot of

Do you get into executive sessions?

I do. Do I don't want to get kicked out. I just have I think few things um with an email that's going around and then just thinking like I real I realized that perhaps in the beginning of the year I didn't explain to the new members the concept of the council community award. So I figured this would be a good time to do so. Um Marissa is going to be presenting somebody in June. um we don't have anybody here tomorrow. But so it was my idea back in 2019 turning into 2020. I didn't realize how the world none of us realize how the world was going to flip around and it'd be very depressing. But I just wanted to bring a little bit of energy and um positive light to our council meetings and although just hear all the complaints. It's you know being an alderman is very thankless. Um, so I just wanted to bring in some positive energy recognizing people within our community. So the idea was to present this award and everybody gets a turn. I try to go in order, but there's always playing around um with that. Uh, but you can choose whoever you want. I mean, most of us stick to somebody in our board, but that's there's no rules to that. There's really no rules to any of this, but it's your month. you get to choose who you want to honor. Um, so we've had, you know, the first one that I did was Frank Waters and Tone Wilson for bringing the African-American Festival to Kase. That was their first in January 2020 award. Um, we last December when Brenie left, he did the departments KPD, KFD, and DPW. who else

have I mean think of anybody off top your head um offers presented to a like a not an organization but a big group who first run organized like unofficially a cleanup program for the summer. still had a bunch of them. And um when uh one of our employees off of City Time rescued somebody from a burning house. Oh. Uh him and his wife. Yeah. We felt it very appropriate to to get an award from him. Ron Woods. We got to him.

So we've you know we've recognized a lot of people and there are a lot of really great people in the community. But I just wanted I don't think I ever actually said what the criteria is, but it's very loose. And um I will reach out to you when it's your turn, but I like I said, I try and go in order. So it's going to do June, so hopefully you could do July. I thought it was Yes. I could That was kind of my mistake. So I had it in the calendar and then I'm happy for July. Okay, July is great. We're pushing it back. I'll adjust the calendar. But yeah, I usually remind and I did a reminder notice. I didn't give her much notice. Okay.

So, I had to email it and I didn't know when my turn on it. I put it on the calendar. The calendar is still a new thing. So, we'll we'll get it figured out someday. So, that's all. If you have questions, let me know. And then the other thing I've been in contact with Leah, um the one of the the women who came about the cancer book. Um so she's presenting to well their their group is presenting to the county a very similar mobilizing resolution. Um she asked for any support you know reaching out to your legislators. So I be reaching out to Greg um on my own personal behalf but she also has a petition that she she wrote up that I'll send all of you in case you want to sign it so that she'll have it ready. So, um, she's nervous about, you know, going forward, but Sony's support, I'm sure she'd be greatly appreciative of, and I'm appreciative of all you supporting this memorializing resolution. So, that's all I have. I think May is going to be not too crazy of a month. I'm probably uh 7:36. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? Motion. You got Angela.