In 2014, the City of Billings hired Kimley-Horn and Associates to develop a Billings Downtown Parking Strategic Plan.  After the consultants completed the program assessment, they concluded that the parking system has a solid foundation but is in need of improvements in facilities, management, operations and public perception of downtown parking.  Within the Strategic Plan, the consultants recommended twelve (12) Primary Actions Items and eight (8) Secondary Action Items that would help the Parking Board and Parking Division reach their common goals.  The Parking Advisory Board (PAB) believes that Primary Action Item #8 is a good place to start. 
Action Item #8 recommends "creating a more vertically integrated parking system and re-focus and re-energize the Parking Advisory Board."  That action will begin by changing the PAB's name and clarifying that it is a policy development and advisory board.  The Board also agreed that up to two (2) City staff members should become Board members in the future.  Those members would probably be from Finance, Traffic Engineering or Planning, but not from Parking or Administration.  That change is not included in the Ordinance but will be contained in the policies that the Board will develop and will periodically submit to the City Council for approval.

City Council may:

• Conduct a public hearing and approve the ordinance on first reading, or;
• Disapprove the ordinance

There is no financial impact from this ordinance change

The Parking Advisory Board and Parking staff recommend that the City Council conduct a public hearing and approve the ordinance on first reading.