Consent 1.P.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 03/23/2020
- TITLE
- Resolution Adopting Coulson Park Master Plan
- PRESENTED BY:
- Mike Whitaker
- Department:
- Parks/Rec/Public Lands
Presentation:
No
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
Coulson Park is a community park located between the Yellowstone River to the east, Interstate 90 on the west, the old PPL Montana Power Plant site on the South and the interstate 90 bridge over the Yellowstone River to the north. This land has long been in the possession of the City of Billings and was recently annexed into the city limits.
In January of 2019 the Parks and Recreation department began the master planning process for Coulson Park with the goal of a robust public input process. A Steering Committee was formed along with Stakeholder Groups to guide and recommend as the project moved forward. A series of meeting and input opportunities were held including 5 meetings with the Steering Committee and Stakeholder Groups, 15 public outreach meetings and events and 2 on line surveys. A project website has been maintained throughout the project and over 500 responses were collected. All of these meetings and comments helped to guide and shape the plan to be reflective of the desires of the citizens of Billings.
The Parks and Recreation Department partnered with Big Sky Economic Development Authority (BSEDA) to receive a $45,000 State grant from the Montana Department of Justice Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP) awarded to the City. BSEDA also raised an additional $45,000 for a total of $90,000 to fund the master planning effort.
DHM Design of Bozeman was selected as the consultant for this project. Under the direction of PRPL staff, the Coulson Park Master Plan was prepared. The final plan was presented to the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Board (PRC Board) on February 12, 2020, and they voted to recommend that City Council adopt the Plan.
In January of 2019 the Parks and Recreation department began the master planning process for Coulson Park with the goal of a robust public input process. A Steering Committee was formed along with Stakeholder Groups to guide and recommend as the project moved forward. A series of meeting and input opportunities were held including 5 meetings with the Steering Committee and Stakeholder Groups, 15 public outreach meetings and events and 2 on line surveys. A project website has been maintained throughout the project and over 500 responses were collected. All of these meetings and comments helped to guide and shape the plan to be reflective of the desires of the citizens of Billings.
The Parks and Recreation Department partnered with Big Sky Economic Development Authority (BSEDA) to receive a $45,000 State grant from the Montana Department of Justice Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP) awarded to the City. BSEDA also raised an additional $45,000 for a total of $90,000 to fund the master planning effort.
DHM Design of Bozeman was selected as the consultant for this project. Under the direction of PRPL staff, the Coulson Park Master Plan was prepared. The final plan was presented to the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Board (PRC Board) on February 12, 2020, and they voted to recommend that City Council adopt the Plan.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
City Council may:
- Approve the park master plan as the guiding document for future development at Coulson Park,
- Modify the master plan, or;
- Disapprove the plan and provide staff with additional direction.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no direct financial impact for this master plan study to the City.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff and the PRC Board recommend that the City Council approve and adopt the Coulson Park Master Plan as the governing document for future development of the park.