Staff recommends the City Council approve submitting a Montana Trail Stewardship Grant Program (MTSGP) application to provide funding for paving the Riverfront Park Connection Trail. The grant is due February 15, 2022.

The City of Billings is seeking Montana Trail Stewardship Grant Program (MTSGP) funding for the Riverfront Park Trail Connection. MTSGP is "a state program that provides funding for the development, renovation, and maintenance of motorized and non-motorized recreational trails and trailside facilities throughout Montana and in its communities." Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks administers the MTSGP.

The Riverfront Park Trail Connection will be located on City property in Riverfront Park. The trail is one of the missing sections of the Marathon Loop which will one day encircle Billings. This trail is partially funded by oil spill funds paid to the City as part of the Exxon Mobile settlement from the 2011 spill. Settlement funds fall short of building the entire project to the desired standard. The whole project will include approximately 4,500 linear feet of trail and a bridge over the City/County Drain. As a result of the funding shortfall, the Planning Division is working closely with the Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Department (Parks) on this MTSGP application to supplement available funds. The Engineering Division is also assisting on this project by helping Parks to manage the project.

The MTSGP offers up to $75,000 in funding and requires a local match equal to 10% of the overall project. The oil spill funding will be used as the City's match. The City will apply for the full amount of $75,000 and will designate approximately $8,333 of the oil spill funding as match. Grant funds will go to paving approximately half a mile of trail. Without grant funds, this paving would not be possible. Paving the trail will make it more accessible to people with disabilities, seniors, and families. All other existing sections of the Marathon Loop are paved.

Parks is bidding this trail project in summer 2022 with construction expected between summer-winter 2022. If awarded, MTSGP funds will become available July 1, which fits well into the current trail construction timeline. Paving will be bid as an additive alternate in the bid package so that the rest of the construction project can be kept on track while waiting for news of the MTSGP award.

City Council may:

• Approve submittal of the MTSGP application; or,
• Not Approve submittal of the MTSGP application.

There is no disadvantage to the City in submitting this grant application. If the grant is not awarded, staff will continue to look for other options to pave the Riverfront Park Connection Trail.

Staff is writing the MTSGP to provide funding for the paving of approximately half a mile of the Riverfront Park Connection Trail. The City will apply for $75,000 of grant funds. This project is already being partially funded by funds from an oil spill settlement. The oil spill funds will also be used as the local match for the grant, so no City funds will be required for the match. Engineering, design, and some construction costs are covered by the oil spill funds. Parks and Engineering staff are already dedicating their time to this project, so there will not be extra staff time required to manage the construction project if the grant is awarded. Staff has spent time writing the application as part of regular job duties. If successful, staff will also dedicate a small amount of time to managing the grant.

If the grant is awarded, the COB will likely get a better price on paving costs, as the paving costs will be bid as an additive alternate on the trail construction package instead of bidding paving separately later. Paving the trail will improve access for all users and help reduce maintenance costs of the trail as paved trails require less ongoing maintenance than soft surface trails.