The City Council at this meeting is being asked to begin the process to annex Coulson Park to enable City Ordinances to be in effect on the park property. Specifically, bringing Coulson Park into the City will enable the City to prohibit the use of fire works in the park during the 4th of July Holiday. State Law under 7-2-43 MCA provides municipalities the authority to annex contiguous land. The subject property is 13.52 gross acres of land owned by the City of Billings and known as Coulson Park. The property is legally described Tracts of land being known as Coulson Park and being divided into two portions by Interstate 90, creating a north and a south portion: The North portion being wholly surrounded on the East by the Yellowstone River, on the South by Interstate 90, on the west by Certificate of Survey No. 684. The South portion being wholly surrounded on the East by the Yellowstone River, on the South by the South line of Section 34, T.1N., R.26E., P.P.M., on the west by Interstate 90, on the North by Tract 2, Certificate of Survey 1037. The property is located south of Interstate 90 and is contiguous to City Limits. MCA 7-2-4312 allows municipalities the authority to act on a Resolution of Intent creating a notice period and setting a public hearing for the annexation of the property. The attached Resolution of Intent sets the public hearing and consideration by City Council of the Resolution to Annex the property for June 25, 2018.

Section 7-2-43 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) provides to process for local governments to annex contiguous properties. To comply with Section 7-2-4312 MCA, the City must consider a Resolution of Intent to annex the property.
The Council may:

• Approve the Resolution of Intent to annex the contiguous property, creating a 20-day notice period and setting of the public hearing as provided in 7-2-4313 MCA, or;
• Disapprove the Resolution of Intent to annex the property and have it remain outside of the City Limits. Application of City Ordinances would not be possible on the property if the property remains outside the City Limits.

The financial impact of the annexation should be limited. The property is currently owned and maintained by the City of Billings and is currently used as parkland. Fire protection is already provided through the Billing Urban Fire Service Area. If the Council desires to annex the property, City Ordinances will be in effect on the park property and may be enforced by City departments. The Police Department will be responsible for patrol of the property, and other departments like Parks, Recreation and Public Lands and Fire also will be able to enforce City ordinances in the park.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Resolution of Intent to annex Coulson Park and set a public hearing date for June 25, 2018.