The Healthy By Design Advisory Committee is presenting the City Council with a resolution to adopt a Complete Streets Policy for the City of Billings. The Healthy By Design Advisory Committee (see Participant List attached) is part of the Healthy By Design Initiative organized by an affiliated partnership of the Chief Executive Officers from Billings Clinic, St. Vincent Healthcare, and RiverStone Health. In 2009, the Healthy By Design Advisory Committee identified the adoption of a Complete Streets policy for the City of Billings as a primary goal. The benefits of a Complete Streets policy include improved community health, economics, safety, connectivity and overall quality of life.

In April 2010, Healthy By Design hosted a Complete Streets Workshop for key stakeholders in the community, including the Mayor and City Council. As a follow-up to this workshop, Healthy By Design invited stakeholders back for a meeting in October 2010 and an Ad Hoc Committee was formed to develop a Resolution. The Committee is made up of representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, RiverStone Health, Billings Clinic, City-County Planning Division, City Public Works, MET Transit, McCall Development, Sanderson Stewart, Billings Association of Realtors, and the City Council.

The Ad Hoc Committee developed the attached resolution and policy between January and March, 2011, while simultaneously conducting educational presentations to various community groups (see Participant List attached). On April 7th, a public meeting was conducted and the resolution was made available for public comment. Comments were solicited from participants at the meeting, in writing, or via email. All comments received were reviewed by the Ad Hoc Committee and the revised resolution was presented at the July 18th City Council work session. Letters of support for the resolution are attached and include the Chamber of Commerce, Big Sky Economic Development, RiverStone Board of Health, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Traffic Control Board, and the Yellowstone County Board of Planning.

The City Council must hold the advertised public hearing and then may:
1. Adopt the Resolution and Complete Street Policy;
2. Adopt the Resolution and Complete Street Policy with modifications;
3. Not adopt the Resolution and Complete Street Policy; or
4. Postpone action on the Resolution and Complete Street Policy to a date certain.

There should be no direct financial impact from the adoption of the resolution and policy. This policy will guide the design and development of future new and retrofit street projects in the City of Billings. Funding sources for those projects will be identified and approved by the City at the time projects are considered.

Healthy By Design Advisory Committee and the Ad Hoc Committee recommend that the City Council conduct a public hearing, approve the Resolution, and adopt the Complete Streets Policy as presented in this memo.