The Exposition Gateway project is planned to construct water, sewer and street improvements in the Exposition Gateway area.  At the request of property owners, the project will include installation of street lights along 2^nd & 3^rd Avenues North and North 9^th & North 10^th Streets within the project area.  Passage of this Resolution of Intent is the first step in the legal process of creating a lighting maintenance district to pay the costs of operating and maintaining the new lighting. Passage of this Resolution of Intent will trigger the mailing of legal notices to the affected property owners and set a Council public hearing at the June 22, 2015, City Council meeting.

The new lighting will use decorative poles with LED lamps and underground wiring.  The cost of installing the new lighting will be paid for with funds from the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD).  The adjacent property owners will only pay for electrical energy and maintenance, through an assessment on their property tax statements.  Light district assessments will range from approximately $50 to $450 per year depending on the size and frontage of the property.  Pursuant to 7-12-4327 Montana Code Annotated, properties outside of, but contiguous to, the city limits may be assessed for their share of the energy and maintenance costs for the lighting.

City Council may:

• Pass the Resolution of Intent to create SILMD 317 to provide a source of funding for operation and maintenance of the streetlights and set a public hearing for June 22, 2015; or
• Do not pass the Resolution of Intent or set a public hearing date. If the Council does not adopt the Resolution, the property owners cannot be assessed for operation and maintenance of the streetlights, so the new lighting will not be installed.

All costs of maintaining and providing energy for the lighting are paid from assessments against the properties within the light district.  There are no City owned properties within the district.