Staff recommends that Council approve the Resolution ordering improvements identified in WO 21-11, Highwood Drive Reconstruction.

WO 21-11 Highwood Drive Reconstruction will construct curb and gutter, drive approaches, storm and sanitary sewer improvements, water main replacement and appurtenances, and reconstruct a collection of non-maintainable streets situated between Rimrock Road and Poly Drive, including Highwood Drive, Highwood Circle, Circle Drive, and Highland Park Place. The side streets are all cul-de-sacs extending to the west of Highwood Drive.  The project will also replace undersized and old water mains.

A public meeting was held at the Billings Community Center on May 12, 2021.  Property owners were invited to attend.  Nearly half of the invited property owners attended the public meeting; approximately 17.  Individual on-site meetings were held over the following week with the property owners.  During these on-site meetings, City staff discussed the general scope of the project, as well as property specific requests and concerns.

The streets included in WO 21-11 have deteriorated to the point that other asphalt concrete surface treatment options are not feasible.  The side streets have limited right-of-way, and widening of Highwood Drive would unfavorably impact adjacent property owners; therefore, project wide roadway widening is not proposed.  The approach being used for this project is consistent with other similar areas, including the "Poet Street" area which features streets that adjoin Highwood Drive.

City Council may:

• Approve the Resolution ordering improvements; or,
• Not Approve the Resolution ordering improvements.  If Council does not approve the Resolution, the property owners cannot be assessed and the work will not occur and the deteriorated streets will remain.

Estimated assessments vary between properties.  This is due to property specific characteristics, as well as property owner requested improvements.  Some properties included have a zero dollar estimated assessment.  Some of these no-cost properties are non-addressed, but have been included in the resolution in the event they elect improvements during construction.  Some of these no-cost properties are addressed but the fronting street is currently asphalt, bounded by existing curb and gutter.  Replacement of these existing items are not assessed to fronting property owners, per Resolution 18-10719.  However, the properties are included in the resolution in the event the property owner elects replacement of drive approach and driveway during construction, which is assessable per Resolution 18-10719.

The total estimated cost of the assessable improvements for WO 21-11 is $200,000.00.

Funding for WO 21-11 is available in FY21 through the non-maintainable streets program, utilizing Gas Tax funds, and property owner assessments.