The City of Billings is seeking grant funding for the installation of a restroom facility at the Shiloh Conservation Area site west of Shiloh Road and north of the Knife River gravel mining operations. Pedestrian and bicycle activity at the Shiloh Conservation Area is significant, with preliminary pedestrian and bicycle counts this summer of more than 200 users over a two day period during the week, which has encouraged staff to look at providing a restroom facility. Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grant applications for the 2018 grant cycle are due February 1, 2018.  Staff is requesting the City Council approve the submittal of this grant application. 

The RTP grant is designated for the development of recreational trails and facilities to serve those trails, and grants are available for up to $45,000.  The RTP grant provides reimbursement after monies have been expended for construction and requires a 20% local match.  The local match for this project, of up to $9,000, will be provided by the City of Billings Engineering Division. This restroom facility will be of similar design as the restroom facility located atop the Rimrocks at Swords Park.  There will be no City water/sewer connections and it will be a vault type restroom facility only.
 

City Council may:

• Approve the submittal of a Recreational Trails Program Grant for a restroom at the Shiloh Conservation Area, or;
• Disapprove the submittal of a Recreational Trails Program Grant for a restroom at the Shiloh Conservation Area.

This Recreational Trails Program grant application is being written to provide funding for the installation of a restroom facility that will be ADA accessible at the Shiloh Conservation Area.  The project is estimated to have a base cost of $42,000. The application will request up to $45,000, which is the maximum amount the City could receive.  This grant provides reimbursement after monies have been expended for the development and requires a 20% match.  The match, which will not exceed $9,000, will be provided by the City of Billings Engineering Division.  This grant and the local match will be the sole funding sources for this project.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve submitting a Recreational Trails Program grant to provide funding for a restroom facility at the Shiloh Conservation Area and authorize the Planning Division to submit the grant application.