The City Annexation Committee is recommending the City take the lead in organizing a two day workshop, open to the public and key stakeholders, to examine the benefits of infill development and begin crafting a policy that facilitates and incentivizes growth within the existing City limits. This recommendation stems from the City Council's recognition of the value of orderly growth to ensure the demand for public services from new development does not exceed the ability to provide those services to the remainder of the community. In its 2009 Community Investment Plan, the Council adopted a goal of “careful consideration and management of the process of community growth.” Listed as a priority under this goal is the mechanism of infill. Before moving forward to try and craft an Infill Policy, the Annexation Committee believes a workshop to introduce the community to infill activities nationally, and right here in Billings, would be very productive.

A scope of work for this proposed workshop was submitted to the Annexation Committee by Smart Growth America’s Leadership Institute, featuring nationally recognized professionals in the field of infill development combined with local developer perspectives. The purpose of the workshop is to review successful infill strategies from other communities and Billings, and draft an Infill Policy for the City. The Annexation Committee believes that national perspectives on infill are critical for Billings to develop an effective infill policy of its own. The cost of the workshop is estimated at approximately $23,000. Smart Growth America is charging $19,787 to bring in the outside professionals and facilitate the workshop. The remaining costs are for logistics. The Billings Association of Realtors has already agreed to contribute $2,500 along with providing support for online registration for the workshop. A small grant is being requested from the Montana Association of Planners of $500. Other contributing funds are anticipated from local sponsors and registration fees will also help offset some of the workshop costs. The Annexation Committee is requesting $15,000 from the City Council contingency funds to cover a portion of the workshop costs.

The City Council may:

• Approve the request for funding in the amount of $15,000 for the Infill Policy Workshop, or
• Deny the request for funding the Infill Policy Workshop.

As of January 26, the balance in the Council’s contingency fund was $41,500 for FY2011. Funding this request for $15,000 for the Infill Policy Workshop would reduce the balance to $26,500.

The City Annexation Committee recommends that Council appropriate $15,000 towards the cost of the Infill Policy Workshop from its FY2011 contingency fund.