Billings considering building two more fire stations to better serve the sprawling city
The council will open the meeting by swearing in its newest member,
Gibbs succeeds
Fire station plan
Scenarios for sighting and constructing new fire stations are included in the plan's long-term strategies. They include no timetable for completion.
The first scenario adds an additional fire station in the Heights, in the area of
Adding one fire station would require additional firefighter staffing of at least 24 plus a battalion chief. The city "will need to balance the cost of building and staffing a new station against the relative gains achieved by the response reliability improvement," the plan states.
Under the second scenario, a second new fire station, in addition to the new Heights station, would be constructed in the
In addition, it could contribute to a reduction in fire insurance rates through an improved
At least 27 firefighters and a battalion chief would be necessary to staff the new stations, depending on the firefighting equipment placed in the new stations.
The third scenario adds the two new stations and utilizes a mix of current stations, relocated stations and new station locations to distribute nine stations throughout the city. Ninety-six percent of the 2017 service demand is within four minutes' travel or less.
Recycling
A presentation highlights the recycling services that the city provides.
A yard waste program collected nearly 6,300 tons of yard waste last year and served 18,000 residential customers. A household hazardous waste program collects paint, cleaners, pesticides, anti-freeze, oil, metals and other hazardous products. A methane gas program collects and processes nearly 194,000 million feet of cubic gas -- enough to heat 2,400 houses -- and adds
Billings' 40 percent recycling participation rate is on par with other communities, including
Water and wastewater rates
As the department prepares to embark on a new water and wastewater study, it's asking the council whether to modify the current rate tier structure.
If that's what the council wants to do, staff will work with the rate consultant to design a rate structure that meets council goals.
The council must decide what will be the primary goal of redesigning the rate structure. Possibilities include:
(ASTERISK) Conservation promotion.
(ASTERISK) Affordability for low income residents.
(ASTERISK) Affordability for large users.
(ASTERISK) Revenue stability.
(ASTERISK) Ease of customer understanding.
Interim city administrator
A draft employment contract for
McCandless can terminate the agreement with a 90-day written notice. The agreement states McCandless plans to resign as city administrator on
McCandless can be fired without cause by a majority of the city council. The council can also terminate the agreement for cause if McCandless fails to "satisfactorily perform job duties" or exhibits conduct "prejudicial to the city or city council," such as being convicted of or pleading to a felony.
If he's terminated involuntarily and without cause, McCandless will be paid a maximum of six months' salary.
Downtown Billings strategic plan
The plan has five goals and priorities:
(ASTERISK) Initiatives "that permeate the culture, economy and physical environment of downtown" -- and will last.
(ASTERISK) Downtown housing to help meet the plan's goal of a vibrant, prosperous downtown.
(ASTERISK) A model destination "where the entire community can come together, without prejudice, to learn and celebrate the variety of cultures."
(ASTERISK) Multi-modal streets and connectivity to encourage residents and visitors to walk and cycle between destinations.
(ASTERISK) Mixed-use multi-anchor development including a new convention center and a health and wellness district, as envisioned by the One Big Sky Center project.
___
(c)2018 Billings Gazette (Billings, Mont.)
Visit the Billings Gazette (Billings, Mont.) at www.billingsgazette.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
V3 Names Program Veteran Brian Janitschke Chief Operating Officer
Treasury Department; Departmental Offices (DEPO) (F.R. Page 5839) – Meeting
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News