The Billings Industrial Revitalization District (BIRD) Board of Directors is presenting this recommendation to the City Council for allocating $66,600 in tax increment finance district funds (TIFD) from the East Billings Urban Renewal District (EBURD) to Fischer Commercial Flooring for building and site improvements the company is making at 804 4th Avenue North (See attached architectural rendering). If approved, the TIFD funds will reimburse the applicant for costs associated with sidewalk, landscaping, architect and survey fees, storm water management, and improvements to utilities for the site, including parking lot lighting. The owner has agreed as part of the project to install signage in the new parking lot stating it will be open to the public during non-business hours. This will be a benefit to the public in the area as the property is in close proximity to Metrapark. The renovation project is being done in compliance with the Controlled Industrial Zoning of the site and, while not required, the owner has made some effort to follow the East Billings Urban Revitalization District Code regarding the project. The BIRD Board of Directors voted via email to support funding of this application on February 15, 2017 under its authority per the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Billings, Big Sky Economic Development, and the BIRD, Inc. approved by the City Council in February 2014. The BIRD Board did not have a quorum at its regular meeting on February 14, 2017, and so resorted to the email vote the following day. 

↵The City Council is the final authority in dispersing TIFD funding. The City Council may:

• Approve the recommendation from the BIRD Board for the expenditure of these TIFD funds, or;
• Disapprove the recommendation from the BIRD Board for the expenditure of these TIFD funds.

The request is for a total of $66,600 to be paid in one payment to Fischer Commercial Flooring. The funds are payable upon approval of this TIFD application by the City Council and submittal of invoices to the City Finance Department. There is about $180,000 available in the FY16-17 EBURD project budget for payment of this TIFD assistance. The current total cash balance for the EBURD is about $1,000,000.

The Billings Industrial Revitalization District (BIRD) Board of Directors recommends that the City Council approve a reimbursement for qualified public improvements totaling $66,600 from the EBURD tax increment finance district funds to Fischer Commercial Flooring.