On the agenda: Great Falls meeting — data center (Feb 3)

Work Session Meeting Agenda
2 Park Drive South, Great Falls, MT
Gibson Room, Civic Center
February 03, 2026
5:30 PM
The agenda packet material is available on the City’s website: https://greatfallsmt.gov/AgendaCenter.
The Public may view and listen to the meeting on government access channel City-190, cable channel
190; or online at https://greatfallsmt.gov/344/Live-Meetings.
Public participation is welcome in the following ways:
• Attend in person.
• Provide public comments in writing by 12:00 PM the day of the meeting: Mail to City Clerk, PO Box
5021, Great Falls, MT 59403, or via email to: [email protected]. Include the agenda
item or agenda item number in the subject line, and include the name of the commenter and either an
address or whether the commenter is a city resident. Written communication received by that time
will be shared with the City Commission and appropriate City staff for consideration during the agenda
item, and, will be so noted in the official record of the meeting.
CALL TO ORDER
PUBLIC COMMENT
(Public comment on agenda items or any matter that is within the jurisdiction of the City Commission.
Please keep your remarks to a maximum of five (5) minutes. Speak into the microphone, and state your
name and either your address or whether you are a city resident for the record.)
WORK SESSION ITEMS
1.

Downtown Drainage Improvements - Phase 3 - Presented by Jesse Patton (estimated 20
minutes)

2.

Great Falls AgriTech Park Update - Presented by Brett Doney (estimated 40 minutes)

DISCUSSION POTENTIAL UPCOMING WORK SESSION TOPICS
ADJOURNMENT
City Commission Work Sessions are televised on cable channel 190 and streamed live at https://greatfallsmt.gov/344/LiveMeetings. Work Session meetings are re-aired on cable channel 190 the following Thursday morning at 10 a.m. and the
following Tuesday evening at 5:30 p.m.
Wi-Fi is available during the meetings for viewing of the online meeting documents.

UPCOMING MEETING SCHEDULE
City Commission Work Session - February 17, 2026 5:30 p.m.
City Commission Meeting - February 17, 2026 7:00 p.m.

1

www.greatwesteng.com

See What’s Possible.

Agenda #1.

City of Great Falls
Downtown Drainage Improvements – Phase 3
City Commission Work Session Presentation
February 3, 2026

1

Presentation Outline

Project
History,
Purpose &
Original
Scope

Updated
Scope of
Project

Summary of
Alternatives
Considered

Public
Outreach
Approach

Cost
Estimate

Schedule

2

2
2

Agenda #1.

Project History and Purpose
» Downtown stormwater improvements identified in 2020
Drainage Basin Study and 2025 Stormwater Master Plan
» Goal is to address frequency and severity of flooding in
Downtown area
» Improvements Separated into 4 Phases
» Phase 1 completed in 2023
» Phase 2 completed in 2025

3

3

Project History and Purpose

4

4
3

Agenda #1.

Original Phase 3 Project Scope
» Replace and Upsize 3rd St N Storm
Drain
» From 1st Alley N to 2nd Alley N

» Replace and Upsize 1st Alley N Storm
Drain
» From 2nd St N to 4th St N

» Replace and Upsize 2nd Alley N Storm
Drain
» From 2nd St N to 4th St N

5

5

Updated Scope of Work - Phase 3
» Central Ave Storm Drain - Upsize and Add Parallel Line
» From 2nd St to 4th St
» New 2nd St N Storm Drain
» From Central Ave to 1st Alley N
» New 4th St N Storm Drain
» From Central Ave to 1st Alley N
» New 5th St N Storm Drain
» From Central Ave to 1st Alley N
» From 2nd Alley N to 2nd Ave N
» Water Main Replacement
» Central Ave from 2nd St to 4th St
» 2nd St N from Central Ave to 1st Alley N
» Street Reconstruction
» Central Ave from 2nd St to 4th St
» 2nd St N from Central Ave to 1st Alley N
6

6
4

Agenda #1.

Updated Scope of Work - Phase 3

7

7

Reason for Project Shift to Central Ave
» Storm Drain Replacement in Alleys Would be Very
Difficult, High Risk and Costly
» Existing fiber optic, gas, sewer and power would all conflict with a
new alley storm drain

» Storm Drain Replacement / Upsizing in Central Ave
Provides the Greatest Return on Investment
» Eliminates roughly 12,000 square feet of concrete surfacing
removal and replacement
» Allows for the replacement of deteriorating crucial water main
» Area is also in need of a street reconstruction
» Reduced overall construction time

8

8
5

Agenda #1.

Summary of Alternatives Considered
» Six Alternatives Identified to Minimize Work in Central Avenue
» Great West Engineering Recommends Central Ave Alternative
» Reducing overall downtown construction closure time
» Maximizes the amount of storm drainage benefit for cost

» Recommended Alternative Selected as Most Beneficial
» Both 1st Alley N and 2nd Alley N are too congested for storm utility work
» Saving approximately $500,000 by reducing work on side Streets
» Opportunity to replace aging water main and reconstruct roadway as part of
the improvements
» Contract documents limit closing of Central Ave to ½ a block at any one time
(except for paving at the end of the project)

9

9

Alternatives Considered

10

10
6

Agenda #1.

Public Outreach Approach
» Public Hearing TBD
» End of Feb. – Beginning of March

» Presentation to Business Improvement District
» In Person Meeting and Ongoing Coordination w/ Downtown
Association
» In Person Meetings w/ Each Business
» Distribute Letters to Businesses and Stakeholders for Updates
» Bi-Weekly Construction Meetings w/ Stakeholders Invited
» Successful on Phase 2

11

11

Schedule

12

12
7

Agenda #1.

Questions

13

www.greatwesteng.com

See What’s Possible.

13

Water/Wastewater Transportation Grant Services Solid Waste
Structural Bridges Natural Resources Planning

BILLINGS

BOISE

GREAT FALLS

6780 Trade Center Avenue
Billings, MT 59101
Phone (406) 652-5000

1921 E Overland Road
Meridian, ID 83642
Phone (208) 576-6646

702 2nd Street South #2
Great Falls, MT 59405
Phone (406) 952-1109

HELENA

SPOKANE

2501 Belt View Drive
Helena, MT 59601
Phone (406) 449-8627
Fax (406) 449-8631

10220 N. Nevada St.,
Suite 130
Spokane, WA 99218
Phone (509) 413-1430

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8

7

Agenda #2.

Great Falls City Commiss ion

Great Falls AgriTech Park

2/3/26

1

Creation of Rail Industrial Park a Long-time
Economic Development Priority
• North Park developed in 1970’s
• First GFDA effort was in North Industrial Area in early 2000’s
- spent over $400,000 but never controlled land
• AgriTech Park effort re-started in 2007 driven by Montana
Specialty Mills needing a new site
• Tried for two years to work with private developer in North
Industrial Area
- aftermath of MaltEurop rail funding
-developer sued GFDA
• GFDA a reluctant last-resort developer to create a rail
industrial park for the Great Falls region
- changed relationship between City & GFDA

2
9

Agenda #2.

Strategic Priority
Place: Business Sites & Spaces
Increase availability of functional business sites and spaces.
39th Annual Corporate & 21st Annual Consultants Surveys: What Business Leaders and
Consultants Are Saying About Site Selection
2025

Land Availability -- Tied for 1st Place
AMY GERBER, EXECUTIVE MANAGING DIRECTOR, BUSINESS INCENTIVES PRACTICE AT CUSHMAN
& WAKEFIELD
“For economic development, when there is a shortage of quality real estate (with infrastructure)
and a high demand, it creates a cost structure that only the largest projects, such as a data center,
can absorb because the land is such a small percentage of the total project costs. Projects that are
small to mid-sized have a far greater sensitivity to these costs, especially since they are upfront
costs. The challenge for economic development, what type of project best supports the
community's goals and how do you get political alignment and strengthen the tools to support
those projects.”
3

4
10

Agenda #2.

5

Park Timeline Key Dates
• 2002
• 2009
• 2010
• 2012
• 2013
• 2015
• 2016
• 2017
• 2019
• 2028

GFDA begins effort to get someone to develop a rail Park
Park Task Force site search
10-Year Option on 196 acres
Earmarks used to bring water and sewer to 196 acres
Annexation and subdivision approved; TIF District created
Development agreement approved
Grand opening of Park
Montana Specialty Mills groundbreaking
First TIF Reimbursement
TIF district expires if not extended by bond

6
11

Agenda #2.

Park Development has been
Public/Private Partnership

7

Park Progress to Date
• Earmarks and City match were used to extend water and sewer to Park
• Infrastructure phases 1 & 2 Constructed -- $4,526,012
• BNSF Premier Park certification
• Eight businesses have purchased sites in Park – Five have built facilities
• Montana Specialty Mills
• Pacific Steel & Recycling
• Helena Chemical
• FedEx Ground
• Ponderosa Solutions
• Steel Etc.
• Best Oil
• Admiral Beverage

• Park pivotal in site competitions for companies including ADF
• Land purchased by GFDA
8
12

Agenda #2.

Limited
Rail Sites
in Region

9

Extension of
North Park

10
13

Agenda #2.

Montana
Specialty
Mills

11

Helena
Chemical

12
14

Agenda #2.

FedEx
Ground

13

Ponderosa
Solutions

14
15

Agenda #2.

Admiral
Beverage

15

Available Park Sites
• Lot 1

58 Acres

• Lots 7-10 61 Acres
• Large Parcel

For sale by Pacific Steel & Recycling
Only available if Phase 3A infrastructure
is constructed – estimated cost $1.6 million

186 acres

(158 acres in City zoned I-2)

• Ponderosa Solutions wants Lot 7 for expansion
• Knight Swift wants Lot 10 for new facility

16
16

Agenda #2.

Importance of Logistics for Manufacturing
Great Falls manufacturers need
more competitive freight
logistics facilities and services

17

Park Financial Status
• Phases 1 and 2 infrastructure reimbursements total $2,930,921

• Balance remaining $1,595,091
• Of this, $880,959 is loan capital which GFDA could put to work in other businesses and
developments

• Estimated cost for Phase 3A road, water and sewer $1,600,000
• Bids due February 4th
• Phase 3A is part of the existing Development Agreement

• Bond would pay-off balance remaining and Phase 3A infrastructure

• City staff estimates over 1.8 debt service coverage ratio assuming no new
development in Park; bond terms to be determined by City
• As new developments move forward, City would have additional revenue captured by
TIF District

• GFDA has paid City $537,025 in property taxes and road assessments since
start of project
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Agenda #2.

Proposed Next Steps
• City issues bond for balance phases 1 and 2 and phase 3A
• GFDA constructs phase 3A infrastructure
• Sell lot 7 to Ponderosa Solutions
• Sell lot 10 to Knight Swift
• GFDA lists lots 8 and 9
• Large lot used to pursue major projects
• Continue to use Park as attraction tool for Great Falls
• Potential for future annexation and infrastructure requests
• Existing TIF District cannot be expanded, but new TIF District could be created
on annexed land

19

Benefits to City
• More competitive freight logistics for Great Falls manufacturers
• Two more lots available to attract private investment
• Return loan capital GFDA can invest in other projects
• Continue to use Park as attraction tool for Great Falls
• Continued public/private partnership success

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