HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-10-20 Public Comment - E. Talago - Pole Yard URDFrom:Emily Talago
To:Agenda
Subject:Re: Public comment form
Date:Tuesday, November 10, 2020 12:58:17 PM
Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners,
I have made several public comments regarding the process by which the city creates an urban
renewal district. It is my understanding that the broad steps to creating an URD are as follows:
STEP 1: Study of proposed area and preparation of report identifying blight as per §7-15-4202 MCA
STEP 2: Prepare Resolution of Necessity based on blight report for consideration by the city
commission
STEP 3: Public hearing on Resolution of Necessity. If Resolution is adopted, proceed to drafting anURD plan. If not adopted, cease process.
STEP 4: Staff review for conformance, report and recommendation to the city commission, draft of
ordinance for consideration by the city commission to create URD and adopt URD Plan
STEP 5: Public hearing on Ordinance.
Throughout these steps, the commission authorizes the city manager to contract for services and/or
direct staff to complete steps, and authorize payments for and contracted services. Specifically
referring to the proposed Pole Yard URD, I am concerned that the timeline of events reflects an
inauthentic consideration of public hearings.
Pole Yard Urban Renewal District Timeline:
April 7, 2020 Community Development Services of Montana (CDS) correspondence with proposal for
task order 2: prepare blight report/Resolution and task order 3: prepare URD Plan and Ordinance
June/July 2020, the commission authorized task order 2 with CDS to create blight report (not toexceed $8500)
July 7, 2020 commission authorized payment to CDS for task order 2 ($8500)
August 3, 2020, commission authorized task order 3 with CDS to draft an urban renewal plan (not toexceed $21,500)
September 9, 2020, commission authorized progress payment to CDS for task order 3 ($6325)
September 15, 2020, public hearing on Resolution 5145. Adoption of Resolution 5145
October 21, 2020, commission authorized progress payment to CDS for task order 3 ($4150)
November 10, 2020 commission authorized progress payment to CDS for task order 3 ($2750)
Why had we contracted for and made progress payments to CDS for task order 3 to create the URD
Plan (STEP 3) before the public hearing whether or not to adopt Resolution 5145 (STEP 2) had even
taken place? I’m concerned this creates a sentiment that public hearings and commission
deliberation are formalities; that it doesn’t actually matter what concerns are raised by the public
through comment. How can I believe there was a possibility the commission would have voted “No”
to Resolution 5145 if city staff and CDS were already forging ahead on work that should only
continue if the vote was “Yes”.
During the September 15, 2020 public hearing on Resolution 5145, the phrase “this is just the firststep” was spoken multiple times by city staff and the commission. As identified in the timelineabove, this was far from the “first step”.
These are unprecedentedly challenging times. People are polarized, stressed, fatigued, and
vulnerable. When people feel their voice is marginalized it increases distrust in public institutions.
Now more than ever, it is imperative to build trust with your constituents. I’ve noticed our citymanager, Mr. Mihelich along with other various staff has a keen skill in translating the esotericterminology of policy proceedings into layman’s terms without coming across as patronizing. Ibelieve a consistent approach to this method of translation is valuable in creating transparency andbuilding trust.
Thanks and best regards,
Emily Talago
416 W Short Street
Virus-free. www.avg.com
On Tue, Nov 10, 2020 at 12:34 PM Agenda <agenda@bozeman.net> wrote:
No, it does not.
Mike Maas, MPA| City Clerk
City of Bozeman | 121 N. Rouse Ave. | Bozeman, MT 59715
D: 406.582.2321 | C: 406.599.0804
www.bozeman.net
From: Emily Talago <emilytalago@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2020 12:27 PM
To: Agenda <agenda@BOZEMAN.NET>
Subject: Re: Public comment form
does it need to be in attachment form?
Virus-free. www.avg.com
On Tue, Nov 10, 2020 at 12:11 PM Agenda <agenda@bozeman.net> wrote:
Good afternoon,
We have not received any public comment via the form from you. I did just run a test and it was
submitting for me using Chrome. You can email your comment directly to
agenda@bozeman.net and we will ensure it is processed for tonight’s meeting.
Thanks,
Mike Maas, MPA| City Clerk
City of Bozeman | 121 N. Rouse Ave. | Bozeman, MT 59715
D: 406.582.2321 | C: 406.599.0804
www.bozeman.net
From: Emily Talago <emilytalago@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2020 11:53 AM
To: Agenda <agenda@BOZEMAN.NET>
Subject: Public comment form
Hello,
I am attempting to submit public comment using the format https://www.bozeman.net/government/city-clerk/public-comment
Upon clicking submit, the page reloads without any confirmation statement. Can youplease confirm if you received my submission?
I apologize if the form has come through multiple times.
Thanks,
Emily Talago
Virus-free. www.avg.com
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protected from disclosure under law.
City of Bozeman emails are subject to the Right to Know provisions of Montana’s Constitution (Art.
II, Sect. 9) and may be considered a “public record” pursuant to Title 2, Chpt. 6, Montana Code
Annotated. As such, this email, its sender and receiver, and the contents may be available for
public disclosure and will be retained pursuant to the City’s record retention policies. Emails that
contain confidential information such as information related to individual privacy may be
protected from disclosure under law.