The Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. (Beartooth RC&D) is asking the City Council to renew a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Beartooth's economic development services through December 31, 2018. Beartooth RC&D is a Federal grant-funded, rural and economic development agency that has operated since 1969 in five south-central Montana counties, including Yellowstone County. Federal funds are matched in Yellowstone County by a $4,500 membership fee and a $30,103.03 assessment, both of which are split among the County, the Big Sky Economic Development and the cities of Billings and Laurel. The City of Billings's portion of that amount is $12,457.09. Those paying membership fees are represented on the Beartooth Board of Directors; the current Billings representative is Councilmember Yakawich.

Additional information was asked for by Council at the Work Session on December 4, 2017, concerning the Board of Directors Roster and projects. (Please see attached)

City Council may:

• Approve the MOU and payment;
• Postpone action on the MOU and payment, or;
• Disapprove the MOU and/or payment.

The Entity's annual contribution will be $4,500 as a "Membership" fee plus a per capita assessment of .19 cents per person. These funds will provide the necessary match to obtain the $70,000 in Federal funds. The calculated fee for Yellowstone County is $34,603.03. This figure is a total of the $4,500 county fee plus $30,103.03 per capita formula using a population of 158,437 as per the 2016 Census data. Yellowstone County's full payment is separated into a four-way payment system.

Each entity within the county pays a percentage similar to the previous year. Big Sky EDA - 34% or $11,765.03; City of Billings - 36% or $12,457.09; City of Laurel - 6% or $2,076.18; and Yellowstone County - 24% or $8,304.73.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the MOU and to pay the 2018 dues of $12,457.09.