// SUITE DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT

In November of 2022, City Council unanimously authorized staff to carry out the necessary procedures to sell the current City Hall and Park 3 building, along with two surface parking lots farther south on 27th St. By June of 2023, City staff issued the corresponding request for proposals (RFP), officially advertising the sale of those properties. Within two days, one proposal was submitted for City Hall and nine proposals submitted for the two parking lots.

City Council's Operations Committee reviewed the proposals and selected the application from Bill Honaker, a Billings developer offering $2,800,000 for the three properties. Price competitiveness, fostering economic growth in the Central Business District, and the experience of the developer all factored into the Operations Committee's selection of Honaker's proposal.

Tonight, Council will vote on the sale of city property to Mr. Honaker. But what exactly is in the Honaker proposal? The next agenda item, following the city property disposition vote, is a tax increment finance (TIF) proposal outlining a $42 million private investment to develop a 6-7 story hotel with 120-140 rooms, utilizing the Park 3 garage for guest parking. 

This development will provide significant benefits for Billings businesses. While maybe not as beneficial as permanent downtown residents, an additional 100+ visitors means more retail shoppers, restaurant diners, and more patrons at our amazing entertainment venues like Art House, Pub Station, Alberta Bair, and many others. Extra visitors and street-goers means more "eyes on the streets," a critical component of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED). People frequenting street sidewalks provide added natural surveillance, and act as a deterrent to unwanted activity that often occurs in the absence of witnesses.

Another major benefit of this proposed development is the increased tax revenues. It would replace untaxed government/public property with taxable private property and provide substantially more increment funds back to the TIF. Estimates indicate the $5 million of requested TIF assistance will be paid back in 11 years. 

The development schedule shows Phase One: Hotel Construction would run from February 2025 - July 2026, approximately 18 months, with a Hotel Grand Opening in the summer of 2026. The design and construction team consists of A&E Design and Jones Construction, and financing will likely come from Western Security Bank. 

// 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.

PROCLAMATIONS: AmeriCorps Week - March 10-16 

COUNCIL REPORTS: 

ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS - CHRIS KUKULSKI 

PUBLIC COMMENT on “NON-PUBLIC HEARING” Comments are limited to three (3) minutes or as set by the Mayor.

1. CONSENT AGENDA -- Separations: 

A. Bid Awards: 

1. W.O. 24-02: Missing Sidewalk Project. (Opened 2/6/2024) Recommend Knife River for Schedules I and II. Click to View 

2. 1709 Saint Johns Avenue, Housing Rehabilitation Project. (Opened 2/20/2024) Recommend rejecting all bids. Click to View 

B. Agreement with United Diagnostic Services, LLC for Medical Evaluation/Diagnostic Consultant Services for Fire Department. Click to View 

C. Memorandum of Understanding between the City Parks Department and Little League Baseball and Softball. Click to View 

D. Memorandum of Understanding between the City Parks Department and Annafeld Homeowners Association. Click to View 

E. Recommendation of Approval of the 2024-2028 Transportation Improvement Program to the Policy Coordinating Committee. Click to View 

F. Grant Application Submittal for AmeriCorps VISTA Project. Click to View 

G. Acceptance of Inflation Reduction Act Urban and Community Forest Grant. Click to View 

H. Preliminary Minor Plat of Zimmerman Home Place Subdivision, 4th Filing. *Quasi-Judicial Click to View 

I. Resolution ordering improvements for W.O. 24-02: Missing Sidewalk Program. Click to View 

J. Second/Final Reading Ordinance for Zone Change 1042, located at 655 W. Wicks Lane. *Quasi-Judicial Click to View 

K. Bills for the Weeks of: 

1. February 5, 2024 Click to View 

2. February 13, 2024 Click to View  

REGULAR AGENDA: 

2. PUBLIC HEARING AND RESOLUTION rescinding and repealing Resolution 90-16317, exempting property located within Hogan Homestead Subdivision. Staff recommends approval. Click to View 

3. PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING ORDINANCE amending BMCC, Article 22-800, Storm Sewers. Staff recommends approval. Click to View 

4. PUBLIC HEARING FOR PURCHASE, SALE AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT of City Hall, South Parking Lot, and North Parking Lot with Honaker Realty, LLC. Staff recommends approval. Click to View 

5. TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ASSISTANCE from Downtown Urban Renewal District to the Rockman Project for hotel project at intersection of North 27th Street and 2nd Avenue North, up to a maximum reimbursement of $5,000,000, to be paid in 5 disbursements of $1,000,000 each within 5 continuous fiscal years, as recommended by Downtown Billings Partnership (DBP) Board. Click to View 

6. TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ASSISTANCE from the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD) to Tailwind Management, LLC for remodel and redevelopment of property at 320 North 17th Street, up to a maximum reimbursement of $137,086.47, as recommended by the Billings Industrial Revitalization District (BIRD) 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:

• Working with Heights Water District on an analysis
• Teamster contract negotiation preparation
• 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).

Tuesday, March 12th

Yellowstone County Planning Board

6:00 - 8:00 pm @ Miller Building, 1st Floor Conf., 2825 3rd Ave N.

Agenda here.

Midtown Community Collaborative (MCC) Task Force

7:00 - 8:00 pm @ Black Dog Coffee House

Wednesday, March 13th

Council Budget & Finance Committee

9:00 - 10:00 am @ City Hall Conference Room, 210 N. 27th St.

Council Legislative & Local Affairs Committee

4:00 - 5:00 pm @ City Hall Conference Room, 210 N. 27th St.

Thursday, March 14th

Council Operations Committee

4:00 - 5:00 pm @ City Hall Conference Room, 210 N. 27th St.

Friday, March 15th

City Council Annual Retreat

12:00 - 5:30 pm @ Big Sky Economic, Rock 31, 201 N. Broadway

Saturday, March 16th

City Council Annual Retreat

8:00 am - 12:00 pm @ Big Sky Economic, Rock 31, 201 N. Broadway

// 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

// IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

The Billings Police Department posted the "Weekly Brief" to their Facebook page. Be sure to follow them for the latest public safety information.

// ADDITIONAL BILLINGS CHAMBER RESOURCES

// BUSINESS ADVOCACY SPONSORS