Staff recommends the City Council hear the update on the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal Plan Expansion process and affirm with staff to move ahead with the formal process to expand the District per State Statute.  

Following Council direction at this Work Session, the formal process to expand the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal District (SBBURD) will move forward, with anticipated completion of the City formal actions in November 2025, and the MT Department of Revenue setting the base year for the expanded area of 2025.

Pioneer Technical Services (PTS), in coordination with City staff, has prepared a draft determination of blight analysis (attached to this memo) that is required for Council to proceed.

Recent Progress and Key Activities

• Defined the study area boundary for the expansion and worked with City GIS to create the official map (attached)
• Provided PTS with data on public infrastructure, parks, and transit needs
• PTS completed a draft determination of blight report, confirming the South Side Triangle area qualifies for Urban Renewal under state law.

City Staff Activities:

• Updated the SBURA Board at its August meeting on project progress and schedule
• Met with the Billings Public Schools Development Committee in August to explain the process and invite feedback
• Contacted Elysian School District to explain the process and invite feedback - in communication with the Superintendent
• Attending the Yellowstone County Commission Discussion Session on September 4 to explain the process and invite feedback
•  Provided an update and answered questions at the South Side Task Force meeting on August 21

Next Steps

• Prepare the schedule for Council action on the determination of blight and set a public hearing for the proposed expansion (See proposed schedule below)
• Host a community information meeting for all property owners in both the current SBBURD and the proposed expansion area
• Send mailed postcard notifications of the meeting and public hearing dates to:
  • All affected property owners
  • Yellowstone County, Billings Public Schools, and Elysian Public Schools.

Proposed Action Schedule

• September 22 - City Council acts on Resolution of Intent to Expand the District, declaration of finding of blight, sets public hearing
• Community Information Meeting – October 9 (This is based on sending a postcard to all properties within the existing District and expansion area inviting them to the information meeting and also noticing them of the October 27 Public Hearing)
• October 14 - Planning Board Growth Policy Conformance Action (Urban Renewal Plan Draft for this Meeting)
• October 27 - City Council 1st Reading and Public Hearing to Expand the District and Amend the Urban Renewal Plan
• November 10 – City Council 2nd Reading

Residents in South Billings as well as the community as a whole may potentially benefit from the expansion of the SBBURD to include the South Side Triangle neighborhood area. Improvements in infrastructure and support of development and redevelopment would help existing and future residence, and business owners by improving the area and making it an even better place to live and work in the community.  

The are no formal alternatives for this Work Session Meeting. However, the staff is asking for Council affirmation to formally move the SBBURD expansion process ahead and schedule meetings and public notification of the process. 

The current fiscal impact of this expansion effort involves a contract with Pioneer Technical Services paid for by SBBURD funds to assist City staff in the process to expand the District. About $5,200 has been spent of that contract work to date. In addition, City staff in PCSD, Finance, Public Works, GIS, Parks, and MET Transit have provided staff time to assist in this process to date. It is a significant amount of time for the PCSD Director to oversee this expansion process.