I believe Billings needs to boost the downtown sector for increased visitation. Create a destination where people know they can find many of the things they are interested. I believe there should be a push for a mall downtown. The infrastructure is already there, i.e. the parking garages and the skywalks. We should model Spokane's downtown mall and create our own version here. I recently moved here and Im learning that things here are VERY spread out. Specialty shops and fine cuisine are scattered seemingly randomly throughout the city. Having a centralized destination for shops, coffee, cafes, clothing, restaurants, and attractions would increase visitation and help the visitor find a fun and exiting area to explore. The downtown scene is basically "ready" for these things to happen, it just lacks the direction and vision. Personally, I would love to go downtown to walk a skymall, tour the downtown history, check out a play, have dinner, then finish it off with drinks at a few places, ALL within walking distance of the heart of Billings, Downtown. All this could be done in a beautiful setting and without having to drive all over the city. Lyle Scott 406-788-3194

The Shiloh Road bike trial should be extended south and west to Laurel. This is a great trail that will only be made better by extending it. Better trails for a better Billings.

Russ Hart started planting trees downtown many years ago. Many of those trees have now died and have simply been cut off. They should be replaced. We need more trees and landscaping downtown. Russ Hart had the right idea. He made Billings a much better community. We need to continue and expand downtown landscaping.

Billings has the ugliest airport in Montana. It needs an upgrade. We need an airport that showcases Billings. Start with a parking structure so people don't have to walk so far and so cars will be covered from the snow. Look at the recently expanded Bozeman airport. Billings deserves better.

We love and use the trails. I would be willing to pay higher taxes to develop more trails in and around Billings. The trails are great for our community but they are also a good marketing tool to attract people to Billings.

Push to get the Allegiant Airlines direct flight to LAX to be a year round flight. Subsidize it or something. Los Angeles is one of the largest cities in the country. Being able to target that market would help increase our bottom lines. Not having it in the winter eliminates Billings/Red Lodge/our local hunting and fishing areas from being a weekend destination from a pool of about 15 million people.

Billings should automate the parking garages and get rid of the attendants. The City would save $500,000 or more a year and the service would be better. We need to move into the 21st century.

More public art.

Please finish the inner belt loop connecting Wicks Lane with Highway 3 and Zimmerman Trail. Please include a multi-use trail the entire distance and then from Zimmerman to Swords Park. This will give Billings a real trail system and much better connections to the Heights. The Inner Belt Loop needs to become a priority.

I would love to see a dedicated bike trail from Billings to Laurel and then Columbus and Red Lodge. This would be great for tourism. Great trails mean a great community. We don't ride in traffic so we love the dedicated bike trails.