Billings City Council Work Session - November 2, 2026

The Billings City Council work session on November 2, 2026, began with a trial public-comment sign-up process. Riverstone Health reported that Montana’s next seven-year funding cycle will no longer support its Nurse-Family Partnership program, putting at risk a city contribution of nearly $200,000 annually under a five-year agreement. Riverstone said it intends to seek funding for its Parents as Teachers program and continue similar services for high-risk families. Council unanimously directed staff to issue a request for information on evidence-based preventative programs that could use the $200,000, including the Family Justice Center; no specific reallocation was approved. The council also reviewed the proposed five-year, $491 million Capital Improvement Plan, which is a planning document rather than a funding authorization. Discussion included projected utility rate increases, Safe Routes to School investments, South TIF spending—including possible debt financing for rebuilding Fire Station 2 and paving remaining gravel streets—and concerns about preserving funds for private development incentives. Staff will bring forward further information and options for review; the plan was not approved at this meeting.

On animal sheltering, council directed staff to prepare code amendments reflecting a limited city-funded service model focused on dogs at large, dangerous or injured animals, court-ordered holds, and lost or abandoned dogs, and voted to continue the RFP process as the proposed changes develop. Council also directed staff to consider using the city’s existing facility in a future sheltering arrangement. A motion carried to place the previously negotiated month-to-month sheltering agreement with Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter (YVAS) on the November 23 business-meeting consent agenda. Other items included upcoming land-disposition actions and a unanimous referral of the Airport Authority selection process to the Council Operations Committee; 15 valid applications had been received by the deadline. No final capital-project awards or CIP spending approvals were made.