The City Council on August 9, 2010, approved on first reading an ordinance amending the City Charter to add a 1 mill planning levy and approved a resolution seeking voter approval on November 2, 1010, of the amendment to the Charter. The public hearing on the ordinance also was held on August 9. The Council is acting on the second reading of the ordinance at this meeting.

The City Council and residents of the community continue to demand community planning services to improve quality of life, increase economic prosperity and encourage sustainable growth. Current local funding for community planning is not meeting this demand. For example, the Planning Division does not have the resources to coordinate a community discussion on infill or complete the required legislated changes to the subdivision and zoning regulations. Both projects could have a significant impact on how the community grows. An additional 1 mill for community planning services will help address these community planning needs and also enable the City to leverage more Federal Transportation Planning funds for planning in the community.

• The City Council may pass the ordinance on second reading to amend the City Charter and add a 1 mill levy for planning services; or
• The City Council may disapprove the ordinance on second reading to amend the City Charter and add a 1 mill levy for planning services. If the Council chooses not to pass the ordinance on second reading, this item does not move forward and the proposed ballot language will be removed from the November 2, 2010, ballot.

A 1 mill planning levy will enable the City to provide more community planning services and bring more Federal funds to the community. A 1 mill levy will generate about $158,912.00 annually for planning services. A 1 mill planning levy in the City of Billings will increase the annual levy for community planning paid by a residential property owner in the City of a $100,000 home by approximately $1.24 per year and the owner of a $200,000 home by approximately $2.82 per year. This means that the total amount paid by the owner of a $200,000 home for planning services in the City based on the existing County-wide levy of 1.22 mills and the new City levy of 1 mill would be approximately $6.26 per year.

Staff recommends the City Council approve on second reading the ordinance amending the City Charter to add a 1 mill planning levy and referring approval of the ordinance to voters at the November 2, 2010 general election.