HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-20-20 Public Comment - M. Kaveney - climate plan and Kagy expansionFrom:Marcia Kaveney
To:Agenda
Subject:climate plan and Kagy expansion
Date:Sunday, December 20, 2020 4:46:55 PM
Dear City Commissioners and Mayor Andrus-
First of all, thank you for your efforts in working towards a climate plan for Bozeman. I am
writing you today in regards to both the Kagy expansion as well as the Climate Plan. Whileseparate issues they are also very related to each other.
In regards to the Kagy expansion, please do not approve this project until the road is in greater
disrepair and please do not expand it except perhaps to include short turning lanes such asexist near the intersection of South 3rd. Instead please put that funding to separate multi-use
paths next to Kagy and south 19th. Many many people commute on bikes along Kagy and alsouse the sidewalk for walking and running. A wider multi-use path would be the best use of
money along Kagy, especially since it goes through the campus and would also support thecity's alleged goal of reducing emissions. Making driving easier will only attract more drivers.
But making biking safer (separated from the cars by a boulevard or median) will attract morebikers!
In regards to the city's climate plan vote, please delay the vote until the following issues and
more can be addressed:1. Mathmatically align the electricity section with NWEnergy's actual procurement plan, not
their marketing document "Our Vision".2. Add benchmarks for evaluating progress.
3. Recognize and address the fact that NWEnergy has submitted plans to the PSC to build adozen or more highly polluting gas power plants and how that will affect the real "clean
energy" that we/Bozeman will supposedly be getting - for it does no good if Bozeman,Missoula, and Helena simply siphon off the available "green" energy and the rest of the state
uses the coal/or gas energy left over.4. Add the steps the city will take to offset the negative campaigning that NWEnergy has been
doing to make private solar increasingly expensive. How can the city expect it's residents topursue independent solar or wind if NW Energy has successfully lobbied against these
possibilities?5. Develop a city climate board that includes climate experts and has no members from the
energy suppliers such as NWEnergy. We need an unbiased working group.
Lastly, I believe this vote should be postponed because it is hasty to push it through right now,not only because the holidays are upon us but also with the pandemic as it takes more time to
work on these serious matters. Doing a more thorough job in the beginning to make a trulyworkable document with realistic goals will be something you can be proud of in the long run.
Thank you for considering my concerns.
Marcia Kaveney
1496 Boylan Rd.Bozeman, 59715