Missoula council creates three special lighting districts to reimburse developers for streetlights

The Missoula City Council on June 9 approved a resolution to create Special Lighting Improvement Districts 53, 54 and 55 to reimburse developers for the design and installation of streetlights in new subdivisions.

City Engineer Troy Monroe told the council the SLDs are intended to cover the capital costs developers incurred installing streetlights adjacent to collector and arterial streets. “The SLDs will pay the developers annually over a 15 year payment period,” Monroe said during the public hearing, adding that the assessments are calculated on parcel area and placed on the tax rolls.

The vote follows a presentation that traced Missoula’s lighting history, described a 2019 consultant recommendation favoring city ownership of lights, and outlined recent installations in the Mullen area. Monroe said 12 lights have been installed in three recently completed subdivisions — Heron’s Landing, McNett Flats and Hellgate Village — and that other nearby projects will add lights over time along Chuckwagon Drive, England Boulevard, Mary Jane Boulevard and Doherty Drive. He said developer reimbursements are expected about 18 months after district creation and that a bonding fee was apportioned among the three districts.

The council opened the matter for questions. Councilor Vazika asked whether the properties in the districts are built out and whether owners had been notified; Monroe said most districts are nearly built out and that notice letters were sent after the council approved intent roughly two weeks earlier. He said the city had not received petitions or formal objections.

Councilor Becerra moved the resolution to create SLDs 53 (Heron’s Landing), 54 (McNett Flats) and 55 (Hellgate Village). Councilor Campbell said he was generally “apprehensive when it comes to new additional tax levies” but added, “in this particular case ... I think lighting’s important. I think it is a great public safety benefit.”

A roll-call vote recorded eight yes votes and the motion passed. The council’s clerk indicated one councilor was absent for the vote.

What the districts do and next steps

- Purpose: Reimburse developers for capital costs of streetlights installed adjacent to collector and arterial streets and place ongoing operations and maintenance under the city’s street-lighting program. - Assessment method: Annual assessments placed on the property tax rolls, calculated on parcel square footage (excluding rights-of-way and certain common areas). - Payment term: 15-year assessment period for property owners; developer reimbursement expected about 18 months after district creation. - Scope: Three named districts (Heron’s Landing, McNett Flats, Hellgate Village); 12 lights already installed in those areas; additional subdivisions (44 Ranch, Remington Flats and other projects at roundabouts and along Mary Jane/England) expected to add further lights over time.

The approval creates the districts and directs staff to place the assessments on property tax rolls. Monroe said the city will follow the standard creation and assessment process and that property owners will see the assessment on their next tax bill. The districts do not change operations and maintenance funding for lights already covered by an existing road district, which the city intends to use for ongoing O&M costs.

Speakers and roles in the hearing

Troy Monroe, city engineer for development review and inspection, presented the proposal. Councilors who participated in the discussion and vote included Councilor Sarah Vazika (questions), Councilor Becerra (mover), Councilor Campbell (comment), Councilor Anderson, Councilor Osera, Councilor Carlino, Councilor Jordan and Councilor Eric Nelson (voted yes but was unable to unmute). The clerk conducted a roll-call vote.

Why this matters

City ownership or coordinated management of street lighting can change repair response times, uniformity of lighting standards and long-term costs. The SLDs shift upfront capital cost for lights from the city to the developer initially, with property owners repaying over a fixed period via tax assessments. For residents in and near the affected subdivisions, the decision means a new recurring line on property tax bills tied specifically to streetlighting capital costs.

Provenance

This article is based on the city council public hearing and vote on agenda item 5.1 (presentation by Troy Monroe) at the Missoula City Council meeting of June 9, 2025. Topic introduction in the transcript occurs at the public hearing announcement for item 5.1; the discussion and vote conclude with the roll-call tally that passed the motion.