Staff recommends City Council approve the resolution declaring the City’s intent to dispose of the City-owned property commonly known as Minnesota Avenue Parking Lot, 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 Minnesota Avenue Parking Lot. 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 October 23, October 30, and November 6. Notice was posted on the property on October 30.
 

The City of Billings currently owns the property commonly known as Minnesota Avenue Parking Lot. The property is identified in the Montana Cadastral system as Geocode 03-0927-03-1-26-21-0000 and is legally described as:

BILLINGS ORIGINAL TOWNSITE, S03, T01 S, R26 E, BLOCK 189, lot9-16, (17). This area is approximately 0.596 acres. 

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:
• Parking Division retain proceeds of the sale

City of Billings
PRPL department 
Skate Park users
Parking Division  
Public Works department 

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.