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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-17-18 Public Comment - C. Nagel - Strategic PlanFrom: Web Admin To: Chuck Winn Subject: [MARKETING] Strategic Plan Comment Form Date: Tuesday, April 03, 2018 10:12:12 AM A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted. Form Name: Strategic Plan Comment Form Date & Time: 03/17/2018 6:27 PM Response #: 12 Submitter ID: 5648 IP address: 172.24.96.111 Time to complete: 1 min. , 37 sec. Survey Details Page 1 We want to hear from you! First Name Clinton Last Name Nagel Email clint_nagel@yahoo.com Questions or Comments March 17, 2018 Dear City of Bozeman: I would like to comment on the Bozeman Strategic Plan. My wife and I have lived within the Bozeman City Limits for seven years this coming August. We moved to Bozeman for many reasons, the climate being one, but also for the local wilderness and wildlife potential within the mountains nearby, and for the many amenities that Bozeman has to offer. We were and are impressed by the diversity, beauty, and local interest, and the openness to the arts and sciences that a town of 40,000 has to offer. We have lived in many places across the Midwest and West in our lives and nowhere have we found a small community that has so much to offer like Bozeman. But Bozeman is changing. We have noticed the change within the last few years alone and that’s bothersome to both of us. We don’t want to lose what makes Bozeman great, but we see some changes in that direction. In reviewing the seven Vision Statements, I applaud the many aspects of the Strategic Plan. I support them as written. I also support and am in fair agreement with the subcategories under each. But I would like to offer some more detailed questions, concerns and comments under some of those Vision Statements. • Vision Statement No. 1: An Engaged Community; 1.3 Public Agencies Collaboration: I noticed an omission by not mentioning potential collaboration between the City and County Commissioners. You do state in Section “a” of Paragraph 1.3 that you propose “establishing regularly scheduled meetings between the City of Bozeman and Gallatin County Commission…..” I would hope that this effort would likely lead to a greater collaboration between the City and the County. But then I would have to caution, only if it is for the ultimate good. I, myself, am suspect that the Gallatin County Board of Supervisors have the same wishes, concerns and goals that the City emphasizes. It would be great if the City and County would work together to solve problems that affect both entities. Issues like urban sprawl, open space, water availability, climate change, the Law and Justice Center, to name a few. But I admit I am very disappointed to see the County’s past positions on those issues. Along the same line, there seemed to be an omission to mention collaboration between the City and Federal Government. I would think there have been and are mutual areas of interest, especially as it relates to agreements between the City and U.S. Forest Service pertaining to watershed management. There are potentially others? • Vision Statement No. 4: A Well-Planned City: These overall comments relate to concerns we have on growth. I note that the Strategic Plan does address this issue of growth, urban sprawl and the issues associated with it, but nonetheless I would like to add some additional comments. The one aspect I don’t like about city planning is that many times there seems to be a lack of it (I’m talking about cities in general, not just Bozeman). I have a concern over the impacts of urban sprawl and the pressures it places on sustainability, open space, water resources and the depletion of those resources. It also contributes to traffic congestion, air pollution and increases the carbon combustion which leads to adverse impacts of climate change. I also strongly feel that it leads to the depletion of valuable agricultural lands, lands that would actually have a larger benefit to society if they stayed as agricultural use. City’s Sprawl: I do have a feeling that the city is aware of these issues and tries to do their best to mitigate the negative impacts of rapid growth. All I can say is to try harder. This may be difficult without County buy- in. I know that many of these issues are interrelated, but I urge the City that when they err to err on the side of caution. In other words, hold developers to standards that meet the goals of the City. I urge the City to not be afraid to set aside lands for parks and open space values and to strictly adhere to infilling. Before any more development is undertaken on agricultural land or before any of those lands are annexed to the City, a strong effort should be undertaken to use those vacant lands for development purpose. Perhaps an inventory of those lands should be available if they are not presently. Architecture: On the issue of “A Well-Planned City”, I strongly urge the need to do an inventory of historical places and structures within the city limits and decide accordingly the value of each to the community with citizen input. I would allow these historical sites to help lead the City in its architectural design. I once heard a city commissioner say, when I asked him how he saw the City architecturally in the future, that he would describe it as somewhere between Frontierland and Tomorrowland. Even though I see the rationale for such an answer, I also was somewhat disappointed. I see that answer as describing more or less every other city. I believe that Bozeman has a potential here to be different and I would like to see the City take advantage of that potential. I have to admit I love the architectural flavor of a community such as Jackson Hole, WY depicting the “Old West”. That type of action may be too late here, but with the current downtown city flavor, it perhaps has another potential. I would like to see some more citizen input on this issue. I’m not sure there has been much discussion or input by the citizens of Bozeman on the matter. Infrastructure: On a side note of infrastructure, I would like to add a comment about snow removal. This issue isn’t discussed in the Vision Statements but I believe the City should look into other alternatives to the use of the current sand and salt mix (whatever it is) that the city is currently using. I abhor the use of this current method. I see it as a blight on the community. It is dirty, ugly and presents a horrible picture of a beautiful city in winter. It is easily tracked into and onto people’s clothing, garages, and homes. I feel this solution is over supplied onto streets and then it is plowed back onto people’s yards. I live on a corner lot with a stop sign and I see the overuse (in my mind) of this stuff. I know there is probably a legal rationale for its application to the extent possible, but I would at least like to see a review of its use. With Bozeman being a Winter City, with regard to its love for winter sports and outdoor activities, there should be a potential to focus on that. Bozeman should not be afraid to address the love of winter and to promote itself as a winter paradise. But the use of snow removal applications detracts from that potential. • Vision Statement No. 6: A Sustainable Environment; First let me say, I applaud the notion and mention of all of those elements under Vision Statement No. 6. Actions on clean air, clean water, climate change, and open space are all elements where the City can assert a positive role. Bozeman can be a positive example for other cities, states and even national governmental entities. I applaud the City for what they have already done. But as always there is much more to do. Perhaps this could be expanded upon by including partnerships and cooperation with federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service when dealing with issues on federal lands. Let’s face it, many of the citizens of Bozeman have an impact on these lands, some good, some bad. Perhaps there could be an educational approach by both to help in the maintenance of infrastructure on those lands, help to inform the public about the need to protect the watershed, the need to protect wildlife habitat, and so many other possibilities. I’ve learned that the dissemination of information is so very important to everyone. Along that regard, I urge the City to take and play a more active role in those issues that affect the quality of life here in Bozeman; even though those issues at times may play out on lands outside of Bozeman city limits. If the County is willing and able to do this, the City certainly can provide some input. After all, land use and how it is managed around the City affects the City. If actions outside the city limits would have a negative impact in the attractiveness of the city, the City should not be afraid to speak up. This would be especially true on public land issues and recreational uses that could reflect poorly on the City. The City certainly should recognize some basic facts. Headwaters Economics has stated the following: “From 1970 to 2010, western non-metro counties with more than 30 percent of the county’s land base in protected federal status on average increased jobs by 345 percent. By comparison, similar counties with no protected federal public land increased employment by 83 percent. Compellingly, Headwaters found that for every 100,000 acres of protected public land found inside county boundaries, per capita income was $4,360 higher.” In other words, communities with protected federal lands have a healthier and wealthier land base than those communities where federal lands are not protected. Communities value the quality of living that these protections provide. I firmly believe that the declaration of more wilderness lands improves the lifestyle and economic stability of the City. The City should not hesitate to take roles when it comes to protecting the environment. This concludes my comments at this time. I may add further comments at a later date. I want to thank the City for the opportunity to comment on this public matter. Please take these concerns and advice to heart as they are sincere and truthful. Bozeman is truly a magnificent place as is southwestern Montana. My wife and I chose to live here nearly seven years ago because we were both impressed with what the community has to offer. In doing so, we have only become more surprised and impressed with the availability of the lifestyle we enjoy. We would like to keep it that way. Thank you, Clint Nagel 1385 Golden Gate Avenue Bozeman, MT 59718 Thank you, City Of Bozeman This is an automated message generated by the Vision Content Management System™. Please do not reply directly to this email.