Staff recommends that Council approves the agreement for the LWCF grant fund and enter into that agreement with the State of Montana to fund the replacement of the tennis courts at Central Park.

The tennis courts at Central Park have reached the end of their useful life and need to be replaced.  Due to unsafe playing conditions, the courts were closed in 2018.  In the FY 2019 budget, Council approved funding in the amount of $500,000 for the courts to be replaced.  Also, in February 2019, Council approved a resolution allowing staff to apply for a Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant for additional improvements associated with this project in the amount of $250,000.  However, funding for the 2019 grant allocation cycle was re-appropriated by the state legislature causing a one-year delay in funding allocations.  The City application was re-evaluated during the subsequent funding cycle and was given conditional grant approval towards the end of 2020.  On April 7, 2021, we received the funding agreement from Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) who administers the LWCF grant program for the state awarding partial funding in the amount of $147,420.00, see attachment A. In order to receive the grant funding, the City must enter into an agreement with the State of Montana.  With this grant, the Central Park Tennis Court Replacement project will have a total funding of $647,420.00.  This project is consistent with the City of Billings Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan adopted by Council in September 2017.       

City Council may:

• Approve the agreement between the City and Montana FWP to receive the grant funds in the amount of $147,420.00; or,
• Not Approve the agreement and provide staff with additional guidance.

Funding for the Central Park Tennis Court Replacement will come from $500,000 as approved in the FY2019 budget and $147,420.00 from the LWCF grant funds awarded April 7, 2021, for a total of $647,420.00.  There will be no additional impacts on the City.