// TIF APPLICATIONS TO ADD HOUSING AND SAFETY DOWNTOWN

City Council will vote Monday on two tax increment finance (TIF) applications totaling $1.32 million that aim to enhance pedestrian safety on Montana Avenue and renovate a vacant property, adding 10 new housing units and new retail and office space downtown. The projects address the Chamber's top two priorities of public safety and increasing housing supply.

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) in one sentence: TIF districts establish a property tax "base" rate, then capture increased tax revenue above that base to reinvest in the district's infrastructure and make economic development improvements that address blight and other concerns.

Montana Avenue Beacons (TIF request: $20,000): The Historic Montana Avenue Association (HMAA) requested funding for four pedestrian-activated rapid-flashing beacons at key intersections. Pedestrians push a button to activate bright yellow LED lights that alert drivers to crossing activity.

The four proposed locations along Montana Ave are:

• Montana Ave. and North 26th (by Dickey's BBQ)
• Montana Ave. and North 24th (b/w Buffalo Block and NOVA)
• Montana Ave. and North 23rd (b/w Ciao Mambo and Griffin Sawyer)
• Montana Ave. and North 22nd (by Last Chance Pub & Cider Mill)

A comprehensive Texas A&M Transportation Institute study analyzing over 10,000 pedestrian crossings found that rectangular rapid-flashing beacons improve driver yielding rates between 19-98%, depending on factors like crossing distance, number of lanes, and intersection configuration. Even at the lower end, the study confirmed that "safety is improved" with these devices.

(an RRFB is shown above)

Masonic Temple Project (TIF request: $1,326,348.55): Masonic Temple Billings LLC will renovate the vacant building at 2804 3rd Avenue North, creating ground-floor retail, 10 second-floor apartments, and third-floor office space. The TIF funding covers 16.6% of the $7.9 million total project cost, maintaining a strong 6:1 private-to-public investment ratio.

Infrastructure improvements include comprehensive mechanical, plumbing, and electrical upgrades; historic masonry preservation; graffiti removal; and exterior sealing to prevent water damage. (click the image below for more)

Approval would continue the Council's strong commitment to using TIF for housing development. By our count, the Council approved TIF funding for 97 downtown residential units in 2022, 22 townhomes in the BIRD in 2023, and 34 affordable units in SBURA in 2024. The additional 10 would take that total to 163 over the last three years.

(examples of needed renovations from TIF application, pg. 38)

Do you have a moment to talk about CPTED?

Both projects deliver significant Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) benefits. The Montana Avenue beacons create traffic calming that make it safer and more comfortable for pedestrians, bringing more "eyes on the streets" and increasing the natural surveillance benefits. Additionally, slowing traffic allows drivers to provide more surveillance of the streets.

The Masonic Temple's 10 new residential units will bring round-the-clock occupancy to a building that has recently sat vacant, providing continuous natural surveillance to downtown. Residents living downtown have an incentive to actively deter crime—nobody wants to live where crime is occurring—so they will report unusual activity that our police officers can respond to.

The bottom line

Financial impact: The Masonic Temple building reinvestment will leverage over $8 million in private development, creating a 6:1 return ratio that exceeds the 5:1 requirement.

Housing impact: 10 new downtown residential units continue the momentum from 2022's high mark of 97-units of housing approved in TIF applications, addressing our housing shortage and benefiting downtown businesses.

Safety impact: CPTED elements are part and parcel of both projects, enhancing natural surveillance and deterring crime.

// BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA - 5:30 p.m. - BILLINGS CITY HALL

In this section, we will include the meeting agenda for you to view. Clicking on the items will take you to more information. No need to read it all, but if something catches your eye, be sure to check it out.

COUNCIL REPORTS: 

ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS - CHRIS KUKULSKI 

PUBLIC COMMENT on “NON-PUBLIC HEARING” Agenda Items: 1, 4, 5 and 6 ONLY. Comments are limited to three (3) minutes or as set by the Mayor.

1. CONSENT AGENDA -- Separations: 

A. Bid Awards: 

1. W.O. 19-42: West End Water Treatment Plant Transmission Main, Phase 2. (Opened 6/17/25) Recommend COP Construction, LLC. 

2. Fire Station 5 Interior Remodel. (Opened 7/1/25) Recommend TW Ridley, LLC. 

B. Change Order No. 6, W.O. 19-12: West End Reservoir Project; Dick Anderson Construction, Inc. 

C. Amendment No. 1, Park 1 Garage Condo Declaration with TD Properties. 

D. Amendment No. 4, Air Service Consulting Services with Mead & Hunt, Inc. 

E. Purchase 30 Mobile Data Terminals from Insight Public Sector for the Police Department.  

F. Disposal of 300-gallon surplus waste containers. 

G. Donation to Parks and Recreation from Partners for Parks for solar lighting along Rose Park North Trail. 

H. Right-of-Way and Warranty Deed for Certificate of Survey 2007, Amended Tract 2A-1. 

I. Recommendation for approval of the Transportation Alternatives grant applications to the PCC. 

J. Recommendation for approval of the FY2026 Unified Planning Work Program to the PCC. 

K. Approval and Acceptance for US EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund for abatement and demolition of 802 Yellowstone Avenue. 

L. Resolution authorizing the sale and prescribing the form and terms for the Tax Increment bonds for the South Billings Urban Renewal District. 

M. Second/Final Reading Ordinance for Zone Change 1066, located at 844 Grand Ave. 

N. Bills for the Weeks of: 

1. June 9, 2025 

2. June 16, 2025 

3. June 23, 2025  

REGULAR AGENDA: 

2. PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING ORDINANCE amending Billings, Montana City Code (BMCC), Section 22-408, Failure to Remove Obstructions, as recommended by staff.

3. PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING ORDINANCE amending Billings, Montana City Code (BMCC), Section 24-601, Parking, as recommended by staff.

4. TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ASSISTANCE from the Downtown Urban Renewal TIF District to upgrade (4) pedestrian crossings along Montana Avenue, up to $20,000. Downtown Billings Partnership (DBP) Board recommends approval.

5. TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ASSISTANCE from the Downtown Urban Renewal TIF District to Masonic Temple Billings, LLC (Steve Widmyer) for redevelopment of the Masonic Temple at 2804 3rd Avenue North, as recommended by Downtown Billings Partnership (DBP) Board.

6. CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT discussion. No action necessary.   

PUBLIC COMMENT on “NON-AGENDA ITEMS”.Comments are limited to 3 minutes or as set by the Mayor.

COUNCIL INITIATIVES: 

ADJOURN:

// WATCH THE MEETING ON COMMUNITY 7 TELEVISION

// CITY ADMINISTRATOR WEEKLY REPORT

City Administrator Chris Kukulski began the routine of sending a weekly report every Friday to City Council and department heads with the intent to, "communicate the highlights of the past week and any critical issues coming up." The most recent CA Report includes updates on:

• State mental health site tours
• MET ridership numbers
• And much more...

// GET MORE INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Below are some additional public meetings being held this week, along with information about when and where to attend, and what's on the agenda (if one is available).

Monday, July 14th

Energy and Conservation Commission Meeting

3:00 - 4:00 pm, 2251 Belknap Avenue

Tuesday, July 15th

West End Neighborhood Task Force

7:00 - 8:30 pm, Connections Church, 56th and Grand Ave.

Wednesday, July 16th

Council Budget & Finance Committee

9:00 - 11:00 pm, Rimrock Conf Room, 5th Floor, 316 N. 26th St. (New City Hall)

Rimrock Neighborhoods Task Force

7:00 - 9:00 pm, Mayflower Congregational Church, 2940 Poly Dr.

Thursday, July 17th

Southside Neighborhood Task Force

6:00 - 8:00 pm, Walla Walla Univ. Bldg., 2520 5th Ave S.

// THE SQUEAKY WHEEL

// BOARD & COMMISSION OPENINGS

The Mayor's Office is accepting letters of interest to fill the vacancies listed on the city website. For more information on each specific board, visit the city website. City Boards and Commissions are appointed by the Mayor, confirmed by City Council, are advisory only, and members serve without compensation.

Submit applications to: Mayor's Office, PO Box 1178, Billings, MT 59103-1178.

The DEADLINE for applications is July 21, 2025.

BOARD OPENING (SEATS)

Billings Parking Board (1)

Housing Authority (1)

REQUIREMENTS

Must live in Billings

Live in 10 mi radius of Billings

// IN CASE YOU MISSED IT - AI SUMMARY AND SOURCE LINKS

In this section we re-visit last week's meeting, providing:

• an AI summary (YouTube transcript analyzed by Claude's Sonnet 4) 
• links to the Community 7 video 
• draft minutes produced by city staff (if available). 

We'll revise and edit when necessary for clarity, brevity, and to avoid inaccuracies, which are sure to happen on occasion. And, considering the difficulty Council has had with audio feeds, it's likely that some comments or segments of the meeting will be missed in the video transcript.

Billings City Council Work Session - July 7, 2025

Executive Summary

The Billings City Council held a work session on July 7, 2025, covering five major agenda items ranging from environmental remediation to potential government restructuring. The Council received updates on the PCE Superfund site remediation efforts, reviewed transportation grant applications totaling nearly $1.8 million, discussed a comprehensive new public art policy, and engaged in extensive debate about potentially reducing the size of the City Council from 11 to 7 members. The session was marked by substantive policy discussions and respectful dialogue among council members on complex municipal issues.

Actions and Direction Given

• Postponed litter discussion: Unanimously approved motion to move agenda item #4 (Litter in Billings Discussion) to the August 4th work session due to requesting councilmember's absence
• Agreed to EPA coordination: Council provided informal consent for three proposed ordinances related to PCE Superfund site remediation, allowing EPA and DEQ to work with city staff and attorney to develop language
• Approved bus parking request: Council agreed to allow EPA to park a mobile laboratory bus on city property with electrical access for winter 2025/2026 sampling
• Scheduled charter amendment vote: Passed motion 4-3 to add City Charter amendment discussion as a work session following the July 14th regular business meeting
• Deferred policy decisions: No formal votes taken on transportation alternative applications (going to consent agenda) or public art policy (returning for future consideration)

Key Quotes from Councilmembers

Council Member Scott Aspenlieder on council size: "I think this body at 11 is unwieldy. It's hard to facilitate discussion. It's hard to facilitate relationships. It's hard to build a cohesive body that can move this city forward."

Council Member Jennifer Owen on representation concerns: "I worry about representation. I worry about dividing the city up into thirds... I think we have to balance the importance of the group of council members against the public interest as well."

Mayor Bill Cole on the charter discussion: "I wish they'd had it 50 years ago when they came up with the 10 plus one formula because I think if we'd had six back then, we wouldn't be having this discussion."

Council Member Roy Neese on maintaining two-member wards: "I still think each ward should have two. That's my bottom line.

Meeting Statistics

• Duration: Approximately 3 hours and 44 minutes
• Primary speakers: Mayor Cole facilitated most discussions; Council Member Aspenlieder spoke extensively during the charter amendment discussion; various council members contributed significantly to different agenda items
• Attendance: 7 of 11 council members present (missing Council Members Bill Kennedy, Ed Gulick, Kendra Shaw, and Daniel Tidswell)
• Public participation: Multiple community members provided public comment, including former officials and local business representatives

Notable Aspects

Technical complexity: The PCE Superfund presentation highlighted the intricate coordination required between federal, state, and local agencies for environmental remediation affecting over 4,200 structures.

Policy development challenges: The public art policy discussion demonstrated the complexity of creating new municipal frameworks, with concerns about financial obligations, committee authority, and implementation details.

Collaborative tone: Despite disagreements, particularly around the charter amendment proposal, council members maintained respectful dialogue and acknowledged different perspectives.

// ADDITIONAL BILLINGS CHAMBER RESOURCES

// BUSINESS ADVOCACY SPONSORS