The Big Sky Economic Development (BSED) Community Development Team asked the City Council at its October 15, 2012, work session to issue a letter of commitment for a $400,000 application to the U.S. EPA Brownfields Assessment Program grant to perform Phase I and II environmental assessments in the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD).  The letter is due by November 8, and needs to be added to the October 22, 2012, agenda in order to be considered in time. 

Using a previous grant, the team had 23 Phase I and 9 Phase II properties assessed at no cost to the property owners.  However, additional properties in the district need assessment.

City Council directed staff to add approval of the letter to its October 22, 2012, agenda.  Adding the item to the agenda requires a 3/4 vote of the Council Members present. 

The Council may:

• Add the item to the agenda by a 3/4 vote of those present and then vote to approve the letter by a simple majority;
• Amend the letter and then follow the process above; or
• Deny the request to add the item to the agenda.  Scoring for the grant award is based in part on the ability of BSED to gain support of community based organizations with specific roles in the project, and the City's unwillingness to participate might affect BSED's ability to obtain the grant.

There is no cost to the City for supporting this application.

Staff recommends that the Council add the attached letter to the October 22, 2012, agenda by a 3/4 or better vote of those present and then approve the letter by a simple majority or better of those present.