Consent 1.E.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 01/11/2021
- Title
- Beartooth RC&D 2021 Memorandum of Understanding
- Presented by:
- Chris Kukulski
- Department:
- City Hall Administration
- Division:
- Administration
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council approve the MOU and payment of $12,652.92 to Beartooth RC&D.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
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, 2021. 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, plus a per capita assessment of .19 cents per person, and a $35,147.00 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 $12,652.92 or 36%. Those paying membership fees are represented on the Beartooth Board of Directors; the current Billings representative is Councilmember Ewalt.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Approve,
- Postpone or
- Disapprove of the 2021 MOU and payment thereof.
FISCAL EFFECTS
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 $35,147.00. This figure is a total of the $4,500 county fee, plus $30,647.00 per capita formula using a population of 161,300 as per the 2019 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 $11,949.98; City of Billings - 36% or $12,652.92, City of Laurel - 6% or $2,108.82; and Yellowstone County - 24% or $8,435.28.