Safety concerns have shifted the primary student pick-up/drop-off location for Newman Elementary School at 605 South Billings Boulevard from South Billings Boulevard on the west side of the school to Newman Lane on the east side of the school. Given the high activity level in this area of the east side of the school, the Newman Elementary PTA and school staff has found the Newman Lane pick-up/drop-off location needs improvements, including shade trees, fencing, sidewalk upgrades and benches. These improvements will add to the safety and functionality of this area both for pickup and drop-off students, but also for the use and enjoyment of students, teachers, parents and residents of the neighborhood. These improvements also will beautify the neighborhood and help enhance community pride.

This is a request for an unmatched grant for $61,200. The funds will provide for trees and additional landscaping, fencing and benches, a signed archway at the entrance to the school property, a roofed gathering space, and some concrete work. The work will be along Newman Lane on the school property's east frontage and on open space on the school property just inside the Newman Lane right-of-way. This is a non-profit request and a 5-1 matching ratio would require the Newman Elementary PTA to raise approximately $51,000. Newman Elementary is a Title 1 school, which means it serves mostly low-income students and 100% of the Newman Elementary students are eligible for free or reduced lunches. The Newman Elementary PTA will contribute as much manual labor as possible in order to keep the costs down and the PTA has committed to maintaining the improvements.

The requested public and school infrastructure improvements in this TIF application are eligible under Montana Code Annotated, meet the intent of the City of Billings TIF Policy, 2012 South Billings Master Plan (https://www.southbillings.org/reports) and the 2019 Urban Renewal Plan (See attached) for the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal Area. See the summary in Table 1 below and the funding breakdown from the SBURA Board recommendation attached to this memo.

Table 1.

Qualified Improvements	SBBURD Master Plan	City TIF Policy	Urban Renewal Plan	Montana Code Annotated
Concrete, Fencing, Landscaping/trees, Benches, Entryway Treatment, Pavilion	This project correlates with the SBBURD Master Plan by promoting the development of community amenities.	Permitted uses of TIF Funds: Public infrastructure 1 (b)	2019 Project and Program Recommendations - School and Community Services (page 23)	7-15-4288 (4)

The SBURA Board of Directors voted to support funding of the application at its meeting on April 6, 2020, under its authority per a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Billings and SBURA approved by the City Council in May 2019.
 

Aside from this application being presented at this City Council meeting, the SBURA Board considered the application at its March and April meetings, ultimately taking action to recommend the project at its April meeting. Discussion at both meetings included members of the Newman Elementary PTA and staff, the SBURA Board and members of the public. Billings Public Schools Superintendent Greg Upham participated in the March meeting discussion on this application.

The City Council is the final authority in disbursing tax increment funds. The City Council may:

• Approve the recommendation from the SBURA Board for the expenditure of these TIF funds, or;
• Modify and approve the recommendation from the SBURA Board for the expenditure of these TIF funds; or
• Disapprove the recommendation from the SBURA Board for the expenditure of these funds

The request is for up to a maximum of $61,200 to be reimbursed to Billings Public Schools on behalf of the Newman Elementary School PTA for the identified improvements (See attached Application). The funds are payable pending satisfactory submission of all paid invoices showing the completion of the approved expenditures for the project. The SBBURD TIF budget has not included this project specifically, however there is $500K budgeted in FY21 for development projects that remains unused.