Referred to: The Housing and Transportation Committee (Chairman Collins and Legislators Clinton, Corcoran, Harmon, Kitchen, McCollough, and Stewart), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Collins, Hansut, Kovacs, Nolan, Roberts, and Uchitelle)

Minority Leader Kevin A. Roberts and Legislators Clinton, Corcoran, Hansut, Harmon, Kitchen, Kovacs, Litts, Lopez, Maloney, Sperry, Stewart, and Walls offer the following:

WHEREAS, weather conditions in Ulster County annually include freezing and sub-freezing temperatures hostile and dangerous to those persons without protection and shelter that may be exposed to the elements; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County is a large and geographically diverse county, that according to the U.S. Census Bureau, has an area of about 1,161 square miles; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County presently has one (1) Warming Center located at 80 Elmendorf Street in the City of Kingston; and

WHEREAS, those persons in need of a Warming Center outside of the City of Kingston area, and particularly those persons located in the Southern half of Ulster County, which area is generally defined as that portion of the County south of Route 299 including but not limited to the Towns of New Paltz, Lloyd, Marlborough, Plattekill, Gardiner and Shawangunk, require Warming Center facilities in closer proximity than one the remote location in the City of Kingston; and

WHEREAS, the 2024-25 New York State Budget appropriated $20 million for costs related to implementing emergency measures for the homeless during inclement winter weather (Code Blue) which program is administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; and

WHEREAS, per 18 NYCRR § 304.1, a Code Blue alert must be called when temperatures are expected to fall below 32˚F with wind chill for at least two consecutive hours, based on the local forecast issued by the National Weather Service; and

WHEREAS, Code Blue reimbursement is for essential, additional costs that are directly related to the requirements of the Code Blue regulation to provide shelter during inclement weather; and

WHEREAS, for the 2024-2025 reporting cycle ending August 15, 2025, Ulster County has a Code Blue funding allocation from New York State in the amount of $966,000.00 in potential reimbursements; and

WHERAS, Ulster County shall pursue all available reimbursements, including but not limited to, the Code Blue allocation to operate and expand the operation of Warming Centers to the Southern Half of Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature, pursuant to Ulster County Charter §C-11, is the legislative, appropriating and policy-determining body of the County; and

WHEREAS, upon due deliberation, the Ulster County Legislature has determined that it is in the best interests of the citizens of the County that Warming Center Facilities be established and operated in the southern half of Ulster County as heretofore defined and described; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that it is the Policy of the County of Ulster that Warming Center Facilities be established and operated in the southern half of Ulster County as heretofore defined and described, and that Ulster County pursue all available reimbursements, including but not limited to those from the NYS Code Blue allocation, in furtherance of the execution of this Policy,

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                       NOES:       

Passed Committee: Housing and Transportation on ________________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

TBD