Billings City Council is considering changing a few words in our Complete Streets policy. Councilman Brent Cromley said the first use of “may” instead of “shall consider every street project an opportunity to incorporate the principles of complete streets” in fact “does away with the complete streets program.” See the full Billings Gazette article here.
(a) “The City of Billings shall consider every Street Project an opportunity to incorporate the principles of Complete Streets,” to “The City of Billings may consider every street project an opportunity…”
(c) “This policy shall guide the City in the development of plans, design standards, procedures, rules, regulations, guidelines, programs, templates, and design manuals” to “This policy is a guide the city can use in the development of plans, design standards, procedures, rules, regulations…..”
Under EXCEPTIONS, it was suggested that the Policy be changed from “Exceptions to implementation of this policy may be considered,” to “Exceptions to implementation of this policy should be considered.”
(b) From “In considering all exceptions, future project phasing and improvements should address how Complete Streets principles will be accommodated,” to “In considering all exceptions, future project phasing and improvements should address how complete streets principles may be accommodated.”
How do you feel about these changes? You are encouraged to email your ward representative or make an appointment with your ward representative to discuss the issue with them. City Council is tentatively scheduled to take action on May 23, 2016.
If you would like to join our Advocacy Committee which will meets each month or as needed and tackles issues which are timely and sensible for the community, please contact Advocacy chairman Kathy Aragon volunteers@billingstrailnet.org.