On Aug. 22, 2011, the City Council adopted a Complete Streets Policy as recommended by an Ad Hoc Committee and the Healthy by Design Advisory Committee, organized by the chief executive officers of RiverStone Health, St, Vincent Healthcare and Billings Clinic.

In recent months, concerns have been raised about the costs of Complete Streets and its impact on existing neighborhoods when implemented. The Council requested a staff presentation on the issue at an April 4, 2016, work session, at which Council Member Brewster agreed to provide suggested changes to increase the flexibility of the current policy.  Those changes were reviewed at an April 18, 2016, work session, at which the Council directed staff to place a revised policy on the agenda for a public hearing.

Attached is a draft revised Complete Streets Policy that proposes adding a Statement of Intent, adjusts some definitions of Complete Streets, eliminates a section on implementing exceptions to the policy, and adds a checklist on proposed existing conditions and project scope.




 

City Council must hold a public hearing and then may:
 

• Vote to repeal Resolution No. 11-19097 and adopt the new Complete Streets Policy as presented;
• Vote to repeal Resolution No. 11-19097 and adopted an amended version of the new Complete Streets Policy;
• Vote to retain but amend Resolution No. 11-19097; or
• Vote to retain Resolution No. 11-19097 in its current form.

Modification of the policy will have no immediate cost. The cost of improvements made under the Complete Streets policy will change, depending on the type of improvements and construction costs at the time.  The proposed revised resolution checklist on Project Scope calls for the cost of bicycle and pedestrian improvements to be compared to the total project cost, and for the source of maintenance for those costs to be identified.

Staff recommends repealing Resolution No. 11-19097 and adopting the new Complete Streets Policy Resolution as presented.