The Montana Department of Transportation is currently undergoing property negotiations for the Bench Boulevard North - Phase 1 project between Lincoln Lane and Hilltop Road.  As part of the negotiations, a property owner at 634 Bench Boulevard would like to donate a portion of her land to the City.  Further, the owner has requested that the Mayor sign a letter documenting the valuation of the land and the City's acceptance of the donation.  Currently, the land in question is encumbered by a 10-foot sewer easement to the City of Billings.  The easement currently sits on the southern half of what would normally be alley right-of-way.  If the City agrees to this donation, then the property owner will agree to the right-of-way offer for the Bench Boulevard project.  The property value was estimated at $11,000 through MDT's property valuation process.

The Council may:

• Accept the donation, and authorize the Mayor to sign the letter documenting acceptance of the donation and deed; or
• Do not accept the donation.

The property donation will give the City a standard 20-foot-wide alley right-of-way.

Staff recommends accepting the property donation as alley right-of-way, and authorize the Mayor to sign the letter documenting acceptance of the donation.