Referred to:  The Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee (Chairman Cahill and Legislators Corcoran, Criswell, Hewitt, Litts, Maloney and Sperry), The Health, Human Services and Housing Committee (Chairman Uchitelle and Legislators Corcoran, Erner, Lopez, Nolan, Petit, and Stewart), The Energy, Environment and Sustainability Committee (Chairwoman Greene and Legislators Hansut, Levine, Maloney, and Stewart), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Criswell, Roberts, and Ronk)

Chairman of the Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee, Brian B. Cahill, and Deputy Chair Herbert Litts, III, offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the County Executive on behalf of the Department of the Planning; and

WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation  (NYSDEC) released a request for proposals to solicit projects for Climate Smart Communities grant funding through the 2022 Regional Economic Development Council Awards; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 351 of July 2022 the Ulster County Legislature authorized the Department of Planning to Submit a grant application to the New York State Climate Smart Communities Program for renewable Energy Equipment at the Golden Hill housing site; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County was awarded $1,684,980 in grant funding from NYSDEC, with the matching costs to be comprised of the project design and engineering costs of the overall project, to be paid by the project developer (Pennrose); and

WHEREAS, this project will consist of an approximately 600 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system mounted on the buildings to be built as part of Golden Hill Housing Development Project in the City of Kingston; and

WHEREAS, Golden Hill Housing Development Project will be a new neighborhood of all-electric mixed-income, intergenerational housing including 80 units of senior housing and 84 units that are affordable at a range of 30 to 80 percent of the area median income; and

WHEREAS, Golden Hill Housing Development Project will also include a 5000-square-foot community building, providing gathering and fitness space for residents and space for local community organizations to offer services; and

WHEREAS, this project is alignment with the NYS Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act), the Ulster County Housing Smart Communities Program, and Ulster County’s Green Energy Policy; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County, the Golden Hill Project developer has agreed to provide matching funds and oversight of solar installation and to fulfill the grant agreement; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Ulster County Legislature is hereby authorized to execute the agreement, and any amendments thereto, with NYSDEC for the purpose of accepting a grant in the amount of $1,684,980 from the Climate Smart Communities Program; and, be it further

RESOLVED, following execution of the State Assistance Contract, the Director of the Department of the Planning in collaboration with the Department of the Environment is hereby authorized to submit all necessary grant related documentation and otherwise act for the County regarding this grant funding; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the 2023 Ulster County Budget is hereby amended as follows:

                                        INCREASE                                    AMOUNT

AA.8020.3400-4600.4660         Misc. Contractual Expense Other      $1,684,980.00                   

(App #)

AA.8020.3400-3300.3989         State Aid Other-Home & Comm      $1,684,980.00                   

(Rev #),

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                       NOES:    

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture on ______________.

Passed Committee: Health, Human Services and Housing on ______________.

Passed Committee: Energy, Environment and Sustainability on ______________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$1,684,980.00   – ADDITIONAL 2023 STATE REVENUE

$1,684,980.00   – ADDITIONAL 2023 APPROPRIATION DOLLARS