Regular 3.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 01/28/2013
- TITLE
- 2012 Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP) Project Recommendations to Policy Coordinating Committee
- PRESENTED BY:
- Candi Beaudry
- Department:
- Planning & Community Services
Presentation:
Information
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
The Planning Division received seven proposals for the Federal Fiscal Year 2012 (October 2011 to September 2012) Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP) dollars. This year, the total allocation of CTEP dollars was $975,279; the total CTEP dollars requested by applicants is $917,984. In Attachment A, please find a quick reference sheet listing the FY2012 projects and associated costs. Applicants and staff will be in attendance to provide information to the Council on the projects.
The Technical Advisory Committee at its meeting on December 6, 2012, reviewed the CTEP applications and heard presentations from the applicants or their agents. After some deliberation, TAC made a motion to forward a unanimous recommendation to fund all seven projects at the funding requested by the applicants to the City Council, Board of County Commissioners, and Yellowstone County Board of Planning.
The Planning Board at its meeting on December 11, 2012, heard information regarding the applications and conducted a public hearing to receive public testimony on the proposed projects. No one spoke during the public hearing. The Planning Board at its January 8, 2013 meeting had further discussions before making a recommendation to the PCC. The board discussed the granting of CTEP dollars to a private entity (Hope Church) for its project. Hope Church has proposed to provide a sidewalk around its location for public use. The church is in the process of developing a public park area at the south area of its lot and as part of that development would like to include a public sidewalk around the church property. Originally, the church proposed the sidewalk on the private property, but by working with staff, church staff has agreed to move the sidewalk out in to the rights of way of Grand Avenue and 56th Street West. The only portion of sidewalk that would be on private property would be the sidewalk that runs at the south side of the park area over to a currently vacant field. The church will be required to provide a public easement to the City of Billings for the portion of sidewalk on the private property. It is anticipated that when the vacant field to the east of the church develops, future sidewalk connections can be made. In addition, the sidewalk to be constructed in the Grand Avenue and 56th Street West rights-of-way will eventually be incorporated into street improvements in these areas. After discussion, the Planning Board on a 5-1 vote is recommending to fund all of the CTEP projects submitted for the FY12 CTEP cycle.
The City Council received information and discussed these projects at its January 22, 2013, Work Session, and is formally making a recommendation to PCC at this meeting. The PCC has final say on all transportation-related projects in the urban area and will meet on February 19, 2013 to finalize the CTEP project approvals and funding.
The Technical Advisory Committee at its meeting on December 6, 2012, reviewed the CTEP applications and heard presentations from the applicants or their agents. After some deliberation, TAC made a motion to forward a unanimous recommendation to fund all seven projects at the funding requested by the applicants to the City Council, Board of County Commissioners, and Yellowstone County Board of Planning.
The Planning Board at its meeting on December 11, 2012, heard information regarding the applications and conducted a public hearing to receive public testimony on the proposed projects. No one spoke during the public hearing. The Planning Board at its January 8, 2013 meeting had further discussions before making a recommendation to the PCC. The board discussed the granting of CTEP dollars to a private entity (Hope Church) for its project. Hope Church has proposed to provide a sidewalk around its location for public use. The church is in the process of developing a public park area at the south area of its lot and as part of that development would like to include a public sidewalk around the church property. Originally, the church proposed the sidewalk on the private property, but by working with staff, church staff has agreed to move the sidewalk out in to the rights of way of Grand Avenue and 56th Street West. The only portion of sidewalk that would be on private property would be the sidewalk that runs at the south side of the park area over to a currently vacant field. The church will be required to provide a public easement to the City of Billings for the portion of sidewalk on the private property. It is anticipated that when the vacant field to the east of the church develops, future sidewalk connections can be made. In addition, the sidewalk to be constructed in the Grand Avenue and 56th Street West rights-of-way will eventually be incorporated into street improvements in these areas. After discussion, the Planning Board on a 5-1 vote is recommending to fund all of the CTEP projects submitted for the FY12 CTEP cycle.
The City Council received information and discussed these projects at its January 22, 2013, Work Session, and is formally making a recommendation to PCC at this meeting. The PCC has final say on all transportation-related projects in the urban area and will meet on February 19, 2013 to finalize the CTEP project approvals and funding.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
The City Council may make a recommendation to PCC that:
• Approves the CTEP applications for submission as recommended by TAC and the Planning Board.
• Formulates a Council-initiated project priority and funding list.
• Does not approve any of the CTEP project applications for funding. If the Council does not approve any projects for funding, it is likely that the other members of the PCC will move forward with this item without Council participation.
• Approves the CTEP applications for submission as recommended by TAC and the Planning Board.
• Formulates a Council-initiated project priority and funding list.
• Does not approve any of the CTEP project applications for funding. If the Council does not approve any projects for funding, it is likely that the other members of the PCC will move forward with this item without Council participation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There are local funding sources already identified for the proposed CTEP projects to provide the required local CTEP match. All of the local match sources except for the Shiloh Conservation Area project are from grants, in-kind contributions, or other funding sources and do not directly affect City funds. The Shiloh Conservation Area local funding is from City Public Works sources. All of the funding sources for these projects are outlined in Attachment A.
BACKGROUND
Each CTEP project must follow an established approval procedure before funding is allocated. The first step of the process is the submission of project applications. All the applications are reviewed and prioritized through a previously approved process that includes TAC, the Yellowstone County Board of Planning, City Council, and Board of County Commissioners. The applications for this CTEP funding cycle are consistent with previous CTEP project agreements accepted and executed by Council.
STAKEHOLDERS
The Planning Board conducted a public hearing at its regular meeting on December 11, 2012. No public comment was provided.
CONSISTENCY WITH ADOPTED POLICIES OR PLANS
The proposed projects are supported through the current Billings Area Bikeway and Trail Master Plan or City of Billings and Yellowstone County Growth Policy. In some cases, the projects are specifically identified in planning documents; and in other cases, the overall goals of safe and convenient pedestrian and bicycle travel are met with these projects. All the projects will proceed through the established CTEP project approval process for the City of Billings and Yellowstone County.