HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 Elected Officials Roundtable Notes
Belgrade / Bozeman / Gallatin County Planning Coordination Committee
ELECTED OFFICIALS ROUNDTABLE 2022 AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2022 6:00-7:30pm Purpose: The Triangle Community Plan identifies annual elected officials roundtables as a mechanism to increase communication and coordination across jurisdictions on timely topics. AGENDA 6:00 Welcome 6:02 Introductions –Michael Meis, Kristine Menicucci, Renae Mattimoe, Jim Doyle (Belgrade Elected Officials), Terry Cunningham (Bozeman Elected Official), Scott MacFarlane, Zach Brown (Gallatin County Elected Officials) Public Comment – No public comment. 6:15 Funding:
• 3% local option marijuana sales tax overview - County Commissioner Zach Brown - Commission passed resolutions, so the local option tax will be on the upcoming June ballot. The authority for local governments to levy this tax comes from HB 701 (2021). Three other MT counties have considered this tax: Missoula, Yellowstone, and Park counties. Recreational and medical taxes passed in Yellowstone & Park counties. Medical was not taxed in Missoula. County government would get 50% of revenue from the tax. In Gallatin County, we have the benefit of having data from two months of revenue. Commissioner Brown presented estimated potential revenue from the tax if it passes. Tax collection would start in October of 2022.
• Discussion - o Question about accessibility of medical vs recreational. o Have there been conversations about the city’s revenue use? Initial thoughts: it may go towards affordable housing, but no decision has been made. Other priorities include social issues, which includes mental health.
Belgrade - police department may be where the funds could go. Will be a topic of discussion at an upcoming retreat.
o Have there been conversations about the city’s revenue use? Initial thoughts: it
o C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) - Passed a resolution of intent recently in the County Commission. A CPACE district could be established. Allows commercial land wonders to finance energy saving projects & apply that to their tax bills. 6:35 Briefings:
● Housing
o Seat at the Table Update (Tanya Andreasen) - Recent outreach focused on data gathering and communication. Discussions began in Fall of 2021 & over 900 residents participated. Partnered with GAR (Gallatin Area Realtors). The three main questions asked: What are your experiences? What are you willing to do? Who can help? One Valley has a one-page flier that they’re willing to distribute. ▪ Common threads from participants: ● Conflicts between state laws & local efforts
● State limitations on the ability of local governments to diversify forms of taxation
● 94% of participants feel government plays a crucial role in addressing housing needs
● Employers (especially larger ones) should contribute to solutions
● Housing trust is a strategy for funding housing solutions
● Expand housing stock diversity would meet the different needs of different people ● Diverse models of home ownership and housing communities would meet housing needs o Housing Solutions Team Update (Katherine Daly) - Work began in 2018. The Triangle Community plan was published in 2020. Goals included providing diverse, affordable housing near infrastructure. The Housing Solutions Workshop was an 8-session workshop hosted by a research and policy development institute, the NYU Furman Center. Moving forward, the team will make a budget request in May to the County Commission for CDBG funds. If successful, regional housing strategies will be initiated & policy will be formed. ▪ Key takeaways from Housing Solutions Workshop included: ● Homes are where jobs go to sleep at night ● Impacts are regional, solutions should be too ● Create a balanced, comprehensive strategy using a four-pillar policy framework
● Elements of a successful housing strategy discussed
▪ Questions: Who will lead the effort to apply for the grant? Gallatin County will take the lead because a government agency needs to apply for CDBG.
o Gallatin County Rest Home Development (Sean O’Callaghan) - County is looking at developing a workforce housing project on the north side of the property. Issues with recruitment and retention spurred the initiation of the project. First phase RFP selected HDRC as a consultant. Phase two will include the development of the project. A daycare facility may be included in the development as well. Property is in a qualified census tract, which presents possible funding for low income housing development.
▪ Terry Cunningham - discussions are happening with larger employers who are also looking into workforce housing
▪ Zach Brown - the process is happening in two steps. Currently, HDRC is consulting to help develop the RFP for the 2nd phase. ● Infrastructure Planning o Transportation – Greater Triangle Plan, Triangle Trails Plan (Sean O’Callaghan) - The county is updating the Transportation Plan, it is now available online at triangletransportationplan.com. An open house is live on the website right now where citizens can give input, it will be open until April 1st. Currently in the tail end of the project. Working towards plan adoption in Spring or Summer of 2022.
o MPO Development on PCC work plan (Jennifer Boyer)- Created when population surpasses 50,000 & comes with possible new funding options. The process is ongoing & will be finalized over a year out from now. The PCC could act as a host for future discussions and collaborations.
▪ Comments: City of Bozeman had one meeting over spring break, another is scheduled for mid-April.
o Regional Water and Sewer Study (Sean O’Callaghan) – Conversations have begun about long-term wastewater needs. Discussions about a feasibility study about regionalization have begun. County put out an RFP, one bidder responded. Currently in the process of finalizing a contract. 7:00 Important Planning / Triangle Updates: Belgrade (5 minute) - Over the past 6 months, Belgrade has annexed 1,000 acres. Some of the annexed land falls within the Triangle Trails plan boundary. Continuing to upgrade the sewer system. The Jackrabbit rail crossing project is in the works & will have infrastructure impacts when it breaks ground. Ongoing discussions with MDT about that project as well as other future development. Bozeman (5 minute) - Bozeman is updating its Trails & Active Transportation plan. City is also tackling code projects including water conservation efforts & additional housing. Mandatory water restrictions for daily use upcoming. Water measurement tools have become more refined. 50% of Bozemanites are renters and that is expected to rise. 5% vacancy rate would indicate a healthy rental market. Looking at land owned by the city & thinking about how it might best be used. Gallatin County (5 minute) - Development review applications continue to come in. Staying busy. Already discussed many county happenings in the meeting. 7:15 Closing Public Comment - Cathay Costakis - A speaker, Chuck Marohn will be in Bozeman next week, he will do 3 presentations. 7:30 Adjourn