Billings City Council Work Session - June 15, 2026

The Billings City Council held a work session on June 15, 2026, focusing primarily on the 21st Street Underpass Study, a transportation infrastructure project funded through the Metropolitan Planning Organization. The study explored four alternatives to improve clearance and safety for emergency services, with cost estimates ranging from minor improvements to a full bridge replacement costing up to $30 million. Council members discussed the study's findings, public feedback, and potential funding sources, emphasizing that no commitment to construction was being requested at this time. Additionally, the council reviewed the nurse navigation program proposed by Global Medical Response to optimize EMS resource allocation by redirecting low-acuity 911 calls to nurse navigators, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The council expressed support for moving forward with the program's implementation process. The meeting also included discussion on submitting applications for federal Opportunity Zone designations to stimulate economic development in targeted census tracts, with council members prioritizing specific areas for nomination. Lastly, the council addressed the city administrator job description and agreed to delay the executive search process by 60 days to refine the job description and evaluate interim management. Several upcoming agenda items related to procurement, including water and wastewater rates and construction project updates, were noted for future meetings.