Staff recommends sending a Technical Assistance Letter to the Trust for Public Land (TPL).  This non-binding letter allows the TPL to tap into their grant funds to do research on our community.

The Trust for Public Land is the national leader in supporting communities’ efforts to fund parks and conservation. The Conservation Finance Program at TPL is a trusted advisor to state and local governments, and community leaders, on how to design, pass, and implement ballot and legislative measures.  Since 1996, TPL has helped pass nearly 600 state and local measures that have generated more than $79 billion in new government funding.  TPL wins 82% of the ballot measures in which they are involved in, and over 100 million votes have been cast in favor of funding questions that were put before American voters.
 
TPL does this work based on a process that begins with the signing of a Technical Assistance Letter (see attached). This non-binding letter allows TPL to work on the City of Billings behalf mostly free of charge, by utilizing generous institutional funding received for work in the West.  TPL begins with feasibility research, which, generally, analyzes public finance options available to the City of Billings and explores all legal, fiscal, and political constraints.  In concert with jurisdictions, TPL manages public opinion research by using expert polling firms to gauge voter support for funding mechanisms, uses for funds, and messages.  Based on the feasibility report and polling, TPL will make programmatic recommendations for optimal funding mechanisms, amounts, ballot language design, and election timing.  TPL can also help community leaders and stakeholders plan, manage, and fundraise for campaigns. 
 

City Council may:

• Approve, or;
• Disapprove

There are no major financial impacts to the City.