Staff recommends that Council approve a lease agreement between the City and the Better Billings Foundation for Tract 2-A, in Amended Plat of Tract 1 of the Amended Plat of Sahara Park, Sahara Sands Subdivision, 2nd Filing, see Attachments A and B.

At the August 10, 2020, Council Meeting, Council passed a motion to direct staff to develop a lease agreement with the Better Billings Foundation (BBF) for property as shown in the Amended Plat of Tract 2-A of the Amended Plat of Sahara Park, Sahara Sands Subdivision, 2nd Filing and of Sahara Park, Sahara Sands Subdivision,  First Filing.  See Attachment A portion highlighted in yellow.  The lease agreement provides the land to the BBF for the cost of $1 per year.  See the Lease Agreement Attachment B.

This property will be uniformly developed as a neighborhood park by the BBF in accordance with the Lease Agreement.  The BBF anticipates constructing such features as bike and walking paths, basketball and volleyball courts, picnic structures, a harmony music park and related landscaping.  It is intended that there will be unobstructed access, and that the neighborhood park will operate free of charge to the general public.  
 

City Council may:

• Approve the attached Lease Agreement (Attachment B) with the Better Billings Foundation, or
• Disapprove the agreement and provide staff with additional guidance. 

The property is tax exempt. Current Assessments for this property total $2,825.63. Under Section 3 the proposed Lease the Better Billings Foundation will not be required to pay these assessments. The City will not pay these assessments either except the $750.00 annual assessment for Light District 251 which it will continue to pay.

Parks pays approximately $200 each year to mow the property. The BBF will assume maintenance costs including any mowing. Therefore, this cost to the City will cease if the lease is approved.