On June 13, 2011, Council recommended approval of the Billings Area Bikeway & Trail Master Plan to the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC). The Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC) at its meeting on June 21 did not approve the Plan due to concerns about the explanation of complete streets principles in the document. Staff has revised the document to try and address these concerns and must bring the Plan back through the recommendation process with the governing bodies before resubmitting it to PCC for consideration. The updates to the document are as follows:

Eliminating Chapter 8 on complete streets in the Plan and moving the description of complete streets principles to the Appendix of the document. Revising the introductory paragraph of the new complete street appendix to read:

"It is the current intention of the City of Billings to develop a Complete Streets Policy. Below are conceptual guidelines that may be used to guide the development of such a policy. Yellowstone County does not intend to adopt a Complete Street Policy at this time, and this appendix shall not be interpreted to be binding on the County in any manner."

The City Council reviewed these changes at its July 18th Work Session. Staff will meet with the Planning Board, County Commission, and Montana Department of Transportation to review these updates. The goal is to ask the PCC to consider the revised Plan at its August 16 meeting.

 The City Council may:
1. Recommend approval of the Billings Area Bikeway and Trail Master Plan to the PCC.
2. Recommend denial of the Billings Area Bikeway and Trail Master Plan to the PCC.
3. Recommend additional amendments to the Billings Area Bikeway and Trail Master Plan be considered by the PCC.

There should be no direct financial impact from the adoption of the Billings Area Bikeway & Trail Master Plan. The plan will assist with bike and pedestrian planning and the identification of projects throughout the Billings Urban Area that may improve non-motorized access and connectivity in the community.  Funding sources for those projects will be identified and approved in the future.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the revised Billings Area Bikeway & Trail Master Plan and forward a recommendation of adoption to the PCC for its meeting on August 16.