BILLINGS CITY COUNCIL BULLETIN // apr.8.2024 | |
// ROBOTS READY TO HELP WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING | |
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Two new homes are coming to Billings! While that doesn't sound like much—indeed, it's not in the grand scheme of HomeFront's 7,000-person long waiting list—what's important about these homes is HOW they will be built. The duplex slated for construction on Sioux Lane will be the first residential structure in Montana constructed using a 3D printer!
HomeFront (Housing Authority of Billings) will work with Bespoke of Montana (owned by local contractor, Tim Stark), to 3D print and construct the affordable duplex designed by another local business, High Plains Architects. The exterior and interior walls will be printed using an Apis Cor 3D printer, which can construct the walls of a single-family home in 60 hours.
3D-printed housing can range from traditional home design to more futuristic and elegant, with the ability to easily feature curved walls. This type of home construction can be used economically to make homes as affordable as possible, or it can be used as creatively as possible, accompanied by fine finishings, to create upscale housing for people who don't mind spending more on the final product when they save on the process.
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In Billings, the duplex design for the building going up on Sioux Lane includes front porches, patios, open-concept kitchen and living room, and a single bedroom. The High Plains Architects design also features rooftop solar that can supplement the passive heating and cooling strategies implemented into the building. | |
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The site for this housing is off of Sioux Lane in the Billings Heights. It's a great infill project that takes advantage of the city's existing infrastructure and services, which benefits taxpayers by not adding extra infrastructure maintenance and safety service costs in the future.
City Council doesn't need to make any decisions tonight. State law simply requires a public hearing be held in order to give residents an opportunity to be heard when a public agency plans to use public land contrary to zoning. In this case the proposal is contrary to zoning because the existing zone is designated mixed residential 3 (NX3) and requires a minimum of five housing units.
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With over 7,000 people on the waiting list to find housing, Billings needs dozens of 3D printers working 24/7 to build housing on vacant lots, as infill close to jobs, and in backyards as ADUs, for people to use their own property to help with our housing shortage. Sounds like a job for Cyberdyne Systems—they're pretty good at mass manufacturing robots. What could go wrong? | |
// BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA - 5:30 p.m. - BILLINGS CITY HALL | |
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In this section, we will include the meeting agenda for you to view. Clicking on the items will take you to more information. No need to read it all, but if something catches your eye, be sure to check it out.
COUNCIL REPORTS:
ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS - CHRIS KUKULSKI
PUBLIC COMMENT on “NON-PUBLIC HEARING” Agenda Items: 1, 4 and 5 ONLY. Speaker sign-in required. Comments are limited to three (3) minutes or as set by the Mayor.
1. CONSENT AGENDA -- Separations:
A. Bid Awards:
1. W.O. 23-33: Grandview Park Irrigation System Replacement. (Opened 3/19/24) Recommend Good Earth Works Co., Inc. Click to View
2. W.O. 24-01: Contract 3, Cedar Park Water Main Replacement. (Opened 3/19/24) Recommend Askin Construction, LLC. Click to View
3. W.O. 24-27: 2024 Water Service Repairs. (Opened 3/5/24) Recommend Sunset Excavation. Click to View
4. Aviation Place Road Rehabilitation. (Opened 3/19/24) Recommend Asphalt Plus, Inc. Click to View
5. MET Transit Office Addition and Remodel. (Opened 3/19/24) Recommend Swank Enterprises. Click to View
6. Pioneer Park Tennis Court Replacement. (Opened 3/19/24) Recommend Good Earth Works Co., Inc. Click to View
B. Contract for New City Hall Audio / Visual Equipment with TeleData Technologies. Click to View
C. Agreement with Yellowstone County Sheriff's Department for FY2025 data processing services. Click to View
D. Memorandum of Understanding with Hoodies 4 Heroes for a memorial at Dehler Park. Click to View
E. Amend Park Community Garden Grant to the Parks and Recreation Department. Click to View
F. Safe Routes to School Plan Update, Phase 2 Recommendation to Policy Coordinating Committee. Click to View
G. Boundary Line Relocation between City Parking Lot and Grand Building located at 100 N. 27th St, Click to View
H. Resolution authorizing the issuance and private sale for refunding of the Series 2013A tax increment bonds. Click to View
I. Second/Final Reading Ordinance expanding Ward IV (Annexation 24-01). *Quasi-Judicial Click to View
J. Second/Final Reading Ordinance expanding Ward V (Annexation 24-02). *Quasi-Judicial Click to View
K. Second/Final Reading Ordinance for Zone Change 1043: located at 4190 S. Frontage Road. *Quasi-Judicial Click to View
L. Second/Final Reading Ordinance for Zone Change 1044: located at 5900 block of Grand Avenue. *Quasi-Judicial Click to View
M. Second/Final Reading Ordinance for Zone Change 1045: located at 4524 Central Avenue. *Quasi-Judicial Click to View
N. Second/Final Reading Ordinance for Zone Change 1046: located at 1202 West Wicks Lane. *Quasi-Judicial Click to View
O. Bills for the Weeks of:
1. March 4, 2024 Click to View
2. March 12, 2024 Click to View
REGULAR AGENDA:
2. PUBLIC HEARING for Land Use Contrary to Zoning: HomeFront Duplex in an NX3 Zone, located at 302 Sioux Lane. No action necessary. Click to View
3. PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING ORDINANCES amending Billings, Montana City Code, Sections:
a. 18-300, Nuisances
b. 18-1100, Graffitti
c. 18-1400, Boarded Up Structures
Click to View
4. RESOLUTION establishing a graffiti fund, as recommended by staff.
Click to View
5. COTTONWOOD PARK MASTER PLAN. Staff recommends approval.
Click to View
PUBLIC COMMENT on “NON-AGENDA ITEMS”. Comments are limited to 3 minutes or as set by the Mayor.
COUNCIL INITIATIVES:
ADJOURN:
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// WATCH THE MEETING ON COMMUNITY 7 TELEVISION | |
// CITY ADMINISTRATOR WEEKLY REPORT | |
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City Administrator Chris Kukulski began the routine of sending a weekly report every Friday to City Council and department heads with the intent to, "communicate the highlights of the past week and any critical issues coming up." The most recent CA Report includes updates on:
- Update on Lutheran Family Services Refugee Resettlement
- Possible 2026 airshow...
- And much more...
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// GET MORE INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY | |
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Below are some additional public meetings being held this week, along with information about when and where to attend, and what's on the agenda (if one is available).
Monday, April 8th
County Zoning Commission
4:00 - 6:00 pm @ Miller Building, 1st Floor Conf. Room, 2825 3rd Ave N.
Agenda here.
Tuesday, April 9th
Midtown Community Collaborative (MCC) Task Force
7:00 - 8:00 pm @ Black Dog Coffee House, 1528 North 24th St. W.
Wednesday, April 10th
City Council Budget & Finance Committee
9:00 am - 10:00 am @ 1st Floor City Hall Conf. Room, 210 N. 27th St.
Parks, Rec, and Cemetary (PRC) Board Meeting
11:00 am - 1:00 pm @ Billings Parks Dept. Office, 390 N. 23rd St.
Agenda here.
City Council Legislative & Local Affairs Committee
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm @ 1st Floor City Hall Conf. Room, 210 N. 27th St.
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(Your email will be publicly available, similar to those you can read by clicking the button above.) | |
// BOARD & COMMISSION OPENINGS | |
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"It takes a little time and commitment, but it's incredibly rewarding to give back to our community which has given us so much."
-- Greg McCall, Zoning Commission and Owner, McCall Homes
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The Mayor's Office is accepting letters of interest to fill the vacancies listed on the city website. For more information on each specific board, visit the city website. City Boards and Commissions are appointed by the Mayor, confirmed by City Council, are advisory only, and members serve without compensation.
Submit applications to: Mayor's Office, PO Box 1178, Billings, MT 59103-1178 NO LATER THAN APRIL 1st .*
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BOARD OPENING (SEATS)
Human Relations Commission (2)
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REQUIREMENTS
Must live in Billings
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* - this has not been updated on the city website. | |
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Mayor Bill Cole and Anne Cole are hosting another sold out Mayor's World Languages Dinner. This is the 3rd annual event, bringing together Billings residents from all over the world who speak over 60 different languages!
"Our event has no political agenda; it's about celebrating our friends and neighbors from all cultures, coming together to build connections and foster understanding," noted Mayor Cole.
Unfortunately, folks who haven't registered and are interested in attending Friday's event will have to wait until next year as this one is sold out. To request being put on the future guest list, people are encouraged to email worldlanguagesdinner.billings@gmail.com.
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// ADDITIONAL BILLINGS CHAMBER RESOURCES | |
// BUSINESS ADVOCACY SPONSORS | |
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Please don't hesitate to reach out to the Billings Chamber's Business Advocacy Director, Dan Brooks with questions, comments, or to chat about the City Council.
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Billings Chamber of Commerce | Website
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