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Item 1.G.
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| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 04/14/2025 |
| Title: | Acceptance of Billings Trail Net Donated funds |
| Presented by: | Brad Wright |
| Department: | Parks/Rec/Public Lands |
| Presentation: | No |
| Legal Review: | Not Applicable |
| Project Number: | N/A |
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council accept a donation of up to $33,280 from Billings TrailNet in support of the Rose Park Trail which is a Safe Routes to School project.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
The funds donated towards this project will help build the Rose Park Trail which is a Safe Routes to School project identified in the Safe Routes to School Plan, Phase 1. It connects the apartments on the west side of Rose Park to Rose Park Elementary School and provides a way for students to get to school without crossing any major streets.
Non-profit Billings TrailNet raises funds to help support the trail system in Billings and has approved a donation of up to $33,280 to support the Rose Park Trail.
At the Council’s regular meeting on January 23, 2023, staff requested for the Council to approve the submittal of grant applications for the Rose Park Trail Phases 1 and 2 to the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and Montana Trail Stewardship Grant programs, and approve acceptance of the grants should they be awarded. Both grant programs are run through Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks.
Phase 1 of the Rose Park Trail was awarded in the 2023 funding cycle. Mayor Cole signed the grant agreement with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks in August 2023. Phase 2 remained unfunded.
At the Council’s January 8, 2024 regular meeting, staff requested for the Council to approve a grant application for Rose Park Trail, Phase 2, and to approve acceptance of the grant if awarded. Council unanimously approved the request. Staff applied again for Phase 2 of the Rose Park Trail during the 2024 Recreational Trails Program grant.
Partial funding was awarded for Rose Park Trail, Phase 2 during the 2024 RTP cycle. Given that the contract was under $80,000, City Administrator Chris Kukulski signed the agreement with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks in July 2024.
Additionally, Council unanimously approved an easement with Billings Public Schools for the trail at their meeting on May 28, 2024. An amended easement was brought to Council on February 24, 2025 where it was unanimously approved.
In total, Council voted in support of this project on four separate occasions and the City has two separate contracts with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks for building this trail.
The funds Billings TrailNet is donating will help provide the 20% of local funds required by the grant to build the project.
Non-profit Billings TrailNet raises funds to help support the trail system in Billings and has approved a donation of up to $33,280 to support the Rose Park Trail.
At the Council’s regular meeting on January 23, 2023, staff requested for the Council to approve the submittal of grant applications for the Rose Park Trail Phases 1 and 2 to the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and Montana Trail Stewardship Grant programs, and approve acceptance of the grants should they be awarded. Both grant programs are run through Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks.
Phase 1 of the Rose Park Trail was awarded in the 2023 funding cycle. Mayor Cole signed the grant agreement with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks in August 2023. Phase 2 remained unfunded.
At the Council’s January 8, 2024 regular meeting, staff requested for the Council to approve a grant application for Rose Park Trail, Phase 2, and to approve acceptance of the grant if awarded. Council unanimously approved the request. Staff applied again for Phase 2 of the Rose Park Trail during the 2024 Recreational Trails Program grant.
Partial funding was awarded for Rose Park Trail, Phase 2 during the 2024 RTP cycle. Given that the contract was under $80,000, City Administrator Chris Kukulski signed the agreement with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks in July 2024.
Additionally, Council unanimously approved an easement with Billings Public Schools for the trail at their meeting on May 28, 2024. An amended easement was brought to Council on February 24, 2025 where it was unanimously approved.
In total, Council voted in support of this project on four separate occasions and the City has two separate contracts with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks for building this trail.
The funds Billings TrailNet is donating will help provide the 20% of local funds required by the grant to build the project.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may: · Accept up to $33,280 donation from Billings TrailNet in support of the Rose Park Trail, a Safe Routes to School Project.
· Not accept the donation of up to $33,280 from Billings TrailNet. If the donation is not accepted and the bid is still awarded, the City will likely have to come up with additional dollars from the City budget for the project.
· Not accept the donation of up to $33,280 from Billings TrailNet. If the donation is not accepted and the bid is still awarded, the City will likely have to come up with additional dollars from the City budget for the project.
FISCAL EFFECTS
Accepting this donation will provide up to $33,280 in funds towards the Rose Park Trail project. These funds help reduce the amount of funds required for this project from the City budget. PRPL does not expect to hire any additional FTEs, and expects only an incrementally small increase in maintenance costs.