// INCREASING PLANNING APPLICATION FEES

The Planning and Community Services Department is recommending to City Council an updated fee schedule for reviewing and processing permits and applications in FY25 and FY26. These fees are charged to applicants for city staff review of new subdivision applications, traffic impact studies, annexations, zone changes, landscape plans, signage, fencing, and a host of other plans requiring review. With a few exceptions, the new schedule generally calls for Planning subdivision fees to increase by 5% each fiscal year, and engineering fees to increase by 30% and 10% in FY25 and FY26 respectively.

In some instances, the fee increase will be minor. A fence permit will increase from $36 to $38 in FY25 and another $2 in FY26. For others it's understandably higher. A preliminary major plat for a new subdivision could go from $7,544 to $8,113 in FY25, and then to $8,568 in FY26.

Granted, these fees are minor in relation to the total cost associated with development. Over two years, the additional fees are expected to total $78,800, while a look at the building permit month end report for June 2024 shows a total valuation for issued building permits this year (6 months) of $136.5 million.

However, we still believe that City Council needs to give consideration to how the City can more effectively address the barriers to, and create incentives for, housing development. To that end, the Billings Chamber signed onto a joint letter with the Home Builders Association of Billings and Billings Association of REALTORS, asking the City to assess how it could adjust fee structures and actively implement the Infill Development Policy which was adopted in 2011 and intended to encourage the development of underutilized or vacant parcels within the city where infrastructure already exists. 

Below are a couple key passages from the Infill Development Policy:

2. Goals of Infill Policy

(b) Capitalize on development opportunities by reforming regulations to create incentives and provide additional land use predictability through City-supported changes to subdivision, zoning, and site development regulations.

3. Implementation

(a) The City of Billings shall work in cooperation with developers, organizations, agencies, and community members to implement the goals of the policy using the following strategies as a guide:

ii. Develop Incentives

• Explore changes to streamline permit-review process and reduce development fees
• Research and prioritize potential regulatory changes, including but not limited to: density bonuses; infrastructure cost-sharing; two-way streets, right-of-way enhancements (trees); modifications to City assessments; parking standard adjustments; changes to street widths. 

The Home Builders Association of Billings also polled its members about attitudes toward development in the City.

• When asked, “Do you feel it’s easier or more difficult to build/develop within city limits today compared to 2021?” respondents answered:

• Harder (84.4%)
• Easier (15.6%)

• When asked, “What are the largest obstacles for you when building/developing in the City of Billings?” respondents answered:

• Permitting/inspection timeframes (40.6%)
• City regulatory fees (25.0%)
• Materials costs/shortages (18.8%)
• Labor issues (15.6%)           

As we acknowledged above, the application fee increase proposed for adoption tonight is relatively minor compared to the overall costs of development. However, we think it's important for the City to use every opportunity to consider how it can do more to attract more housing development to address the housing supply challenge we face in Billings. 

// 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 and 5 ONLY. Comments are limited to three (3) minutes or as set by the Mayor.

1. CONSENT AGENDA -- Separations: 

A. Bid Awards: 1. W.O. 23-12: Zone 4 Pump Station and Waterline Improvements. (Opened 5/7/24) Recommend Grade A Civil, LLC. Click to View 

2. W.O. 24-18: Central Avenue Water Main Extension. (Opened 6/18/24) Recommend Earth Movers Excavation, Inc. Click to View 

3. W.O. 25-03: Contract 1, City Overlay. (Opened 6/18/24) Recommend Knife River. Click to View 

B. Purchase of 8 Public Works refuse trucks; SWS Equipment, LLC. Click to View 

C. Agreement with Community 7 Television. Click to View 

D. Agreement with YWCA for Northern Lights Family Justice Center. Click to View 

E. Memorandums of Understanding with Billings Public Schools and Billings Catholic Schools for School Resource Officer Program. Click to View 

F. HOME funding to Mitchell Court, LLLP for the new construction of Mitchell Court Project. Click to View 

G. Donations to the Anti-Graffiti Fund from Susan Lovely, and Diane and Scott Morledge. Click to View 

H. Cancellation of Checks and Warrants. Click to View 

I. Bills for the Weeks of: 

1. June 3, 2024 Click to View 

2. June 11, 2024 Click to View 

REGULAR AGENDA: 

2. PUBLIC HEARING regarding Low Income Rental Housing - Lucy's Lofts. No Council action required. Click to View 

3. PUBLIC HEARING AND RESOLUTION establishing and revising Planning and Engineering Divisions' fees. Staff recommends approval. Click to View 

4. TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ASSISTANCE from the South Billings Boulevard Tax Increment Finance District to Billings Hotel and Convention Center, of up to $463,085, as recommended by South Billings Urban Renewal Association (SBURA) Board. Click to View 

5. MITCHELL COURT:

a. HOME FUNDING to Mitchell Court, LLLP for the new construction of Mitchell Court Project. Community Development (CD) Board recommends approval. Click to View

b. TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ASSISTANCE from the South Billings Boulevard Tax Increment Finance District to GL Development, for Mitchell Court Apartments, a maximum of $500,000, as recommended by South Billings Urban Renewal Association (SBURA) Board. Click to View 

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:

• NO NEW CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT

// 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).

Wednesday, July 10th

Pedestrian & Bike Master Plan Pop-Up Demo & Public Meeting

4:30 - 7:30 pm @ Veteran's Park, 2609 13th St. W.

// 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 NO LATER THAN APRIL 1st .*

BOARD OPENING (SEATS)

Human Relations Commission (2)

REQUIREMENTS

Must live in Billings

* - this has not been updated on the city website.

// IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Happy belated Independence Day! We hope you enjoyed the parades, fireworks, hot dogs, and other celebrations. We think it's important to take a moment to briefly reflect on what the 4th of July is really about. Hopefully it doesn’t come as a shock to you that Independence Day is more than hot dogs, concerts, and Will Smith stopping an alien invasion. 

When George Washington gave his farewell address, he spoke about looking forward to partaking in the “benign influence of good laws under a free government.” Last Thursday we celebrated our freedom, and it was also an opportunity to celebrate our foundations, which predate and will outlive the imperfect people that make up our government. 

The United States of America has always been the “American Experiment.” While older countries are bound by centuries of shared history, culture, and language forming a foundation on which to build a society, we were born out of the principles of The Enlightenment and the philosophy of the 18^th century. More specifically, the idea that all people are equal before the law, the idea that the powers of the government should be limited, and the idea that the government exists not to rule over the people but is constituted through the consent of the governed to provide for the common good and protect their natural rights. These principles, not an ethnicity, a politician, or borders on a map, bind us together.

When asked “What have we got a republic or a monarchy?” Benjamin Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” The 4th of July is about the birth of and appreciation for the idea that is the United States, but it is also a reminder that it takes work from all of us to preserve this shared project of ours. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union still have work to do.

If you’re reading this, chances are that that work for you starts right here in Billings. The government closest to you is the one that has the greatest impact on your life and is the most accountable to you. We hope that you will continue to be engaged with building a better Billings for the next generation of Americans to inherit, and we hope this newsletter helps you do so.

// ADDITIONAL BILLINGS CHAMBER RESOURCES

// BUSINESS ADVOCACY SPONSORS