// COUNCIL CONSIDERS $634K TIF FOR NEW BIZ ON VACANT BLOCK

The Billings Industrial Revitalization District (BIRD) Board recommends City Council approve up to $634,185 in tax increment financing (TIF) for Montana Tire's new automotive service center at 1617 1st Avenue North. The project will redevelop the full block between 16th and 17th Streets with a 16,000-square-foot tire shop, creating jobs, adding CPTED benefits, and revitalizing a corridor into our downtown. 

(click to enlarge)

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.

What's the money for?

The $634,185 TIF investment would be a reimbursement for qualified improvements:

• site work including landscaping and storm drainage
• public right-of-way improvements
• street lighting
• utility connections
• fire suppression systems
• sewer service connections.

• The project includes replacing the entire 10-foot sidewalk along three sides of the block with new boulevard sidewalks and curbing conforming to city standards, plus bulb-outs and stormwater modifications.
• New utilities include 170 feet of 8-inch public sewer main, new fire and water lines, three-phase electrical service, natural gas, and communications infrastructure.

TIF funding request: $634,185

Project cost (without land cost): $4,507,743

Ratio of private to public funds: 7:1

TIF payback estimate: shy of 14 years

Infill and CPTED

This project represents textbook infill development—revitalizing a vacant block with existing infrastructure, generating higher property values, and spurring additional economic activity. The project also delivers Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) benefits by bringing legitimate activity and "natural surveillance" to a vacant block.

(click to view in TIF application, pg. 30)

Anticipated timeline

• August/September 2025: Foundation permit approval, demolition and sitework begin
• Winter 2025-26: Building construction continues
• Spring 2026: Final sitework completion
• Before July 1, 2026: Building occupancy anticipated

Down memory lane

This same property received $66,004 in EBURD TIF funds in 2019 for demolishing a fire-damaged commercial building. That investment, combined with the current request, totals $700,189 in TIF funding over six years.

The bottom line

This $634,185 TIF investment leverages a 7:1 ratio of private capital to TIF, transforming a vacant downtown block into an active business location. The project creates permanent jobs, increases property tax revenue, and delivers crime prevention benefits through natural surveillance. 

// 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 and 2 ONLY. Comments are limited to three (3) minutes or as set by the Mayor.

1. CONSENT AGENDA -- Separations: 

A. Bid Awards: 

1. Big Ditch Extension Trail. (Opened 7/15/25) Recommend Knife River Billings. 

2. W.O. 26-03: Contract 1, City Overlay. (Opened 7/1/25) Recommend Knife River Billings. 

B. Professional Engineering Services Contract with Sanbell for W.O. 25-24: Safe Streets for All 2023. 

C. Purchase of John Deere Excavator from RDO Equipment Co. for Public Works Distribution and Collection. 

D. Final Plat for Nalkuk Subdivision. *Quasi-Judicial 

E. Resolution of Intent to Create Downtown Business Improvement District 1 (BID 0001). 

F. Second/Final Reading Ordinance amending Section 22-408, BMCC, right-of-way obstructions. 

G. Second/Final Reading Ordinance amending Section 24-601, BMCC, parking of bicycle. 

H. Bills for the Weeks of: 

1. July 1, 2025 

2. July 7, 2025 

REGULAR AGENDA: 

2. TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ASSISTANCE from the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD) to Montana Tire (MBA Properties, LLC) for construction of a new automotive tire shop along the north side of 1st Avenue North between 16th Street and 17th Street, up to a maximum reimbursement of $634,185, as recommended by the Billings Industrial Revitalization District (BIRD) Board.

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:

• Locations considered for state mental health site
• Downtown one-way to two-way conversions start tomorrow
• 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.

🔸 Wednesday, July 30th

Homefront Housing Authority Meeting

12:00 - 1:30 pm, HomeFront Offices, 2415 1st Ave. N.

🔸 Thursday, July 31st

Planning Session w/ Northern Lights Family Justice Center Partners

10:00 - 2:00 pm, 909 Wyoming Ave.

// 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 N/A.

BOARD OPENING (SEATS)

N/A

REQUIREMENTS

N/A

// 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 Business Meeting - July 21, 2025

Unfortunately, the audio from this meeting is indecipherable, unless you speak Gamorrean...

// ADDITIONAL BILLINGS CHAMBER RESOURCES

// BUSINESS ADVOCACY SPONSORS