Staff recommends City Council approve the resolution declaring the City’s intent to dispose of the City-owned property commonly known as Beartooth Parcel, located at Beartooth Elementary, 1345 Elaine St., and authorize staff to proceed with the required public notice and hearing process in accordance with Billings City Code Article 22-900 and Montana Code Annotated §7-1-4127.

The City of Billings owns the property commonly known as Beartooth Parcel, located at Beartooth Elementary, 1345 Elaine St. The attached resolution initiates the statutory process required for the potential sale, exchange, or donation of City-owned real property. Approval of the resolution authorizes staff to proceed with the disposal process necessary before the City Council may take final action regarding disposal of the property. The public hearing was advertised on September 25, October 2, and October 9. Notice was posted on the property on October 2.

The City of Billings currently owns the property commonly known as Beartooth Parcel, located at Beartooth Elementary, 1345 Elaine St. The property is identified in the Montana Cadastral system as Geocode 03-1033-14-4-12-12-0000 and is legally described as:

S14, T01 N, R26 E, C.O.S. 1316, PARCEL 4

Under Billings City Code §22-902, disposal of City-owned real property requires a two-step public process:

1. Resolution of Intent (Step 1)
• City provides public notice (including posting on the property for at least 7 days)
• City Council holds a public hearing
• Council must find the property is no longer needed for City use or that disposal serves the public interest
• Council adopts a Resolution of Intent (requires minimum of 6 votes)

2. Final Approval (Step 2)
• City provides a second public notice and publishes the Resolution of Intent
• City Council holds a second public hearing
• Council votes on the actual sale, exchange, or donation (requires minimum of 6 votes)

The Council retains discretion to determine the method of sale (auction, bid, or negotiated) and may impose conditions or reject all offers. Approval of the attached resolution initiates Step 1 of this process only and does not authorize a sale or transfer of the property.

Approval of the resolution itself has no direct fiscal impact.

If the City ultimately proceeds with disposal of the property, the fiscal effects will depend on the final terms of the transaction and will be presented to the City Council for approval at a later date.

Potential fiscal considerations may include:
• Sale proceeds from the property remain with the Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands department
 

City of Billings
School District 2
PRPL
Users of Beartooth Parcel 

Approve the Resolution of Intent, allowing staff to proceed with the public notice and hearing process required for potential disposal of the property.

Delay consideration of the resolution and request additional information from staff.

Decline to approve the resolution, in which case the City would retain ownership of the property and no disposal process would be initiated.