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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-06-23 Public Comment - B. Noelle - Advisory Board Appointments - With Response from Mayor AndrusFrom:babs noelle To:Agenda; Cyndy Andrus; Christopher Coburn; I-Ho Pomeroy; Jennifer Madgic; Terry Cunningham Subject:Advisory Board Appointments Date:Friday, January 6, 2023 9:03:51 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mayor Andrus, Deputy Mayor Cunningham, Commissioner Pomeroy, Commissioner Coburn, and Commissioner Madgic: I was dismayed to hear about the failure to approve last June’s slate of experienced URDboard members. One must ask oneself: “What possible motivation could there be behind breaking from a traditional, reasonable, and heretofore stable process as regards the appointment of volunteer board vacancies?” And…I'm afraid I can't come up with a legitimate one. Why would it be acceptable to leave the seats unassigned for many months? Why was theprocess distorted to make room for assuredly well-meaning Johnny-come-lately’s lacking institutional knowledge, as opposed to hard-working and experienced URD board members? To be clear, I have no opposition to either of the “replacement candidates” I personally know. I respect both of them…but now is not the time, at this crucial moment for Bozeman and downtown, to eradicate the benefit of experience and institutional knowledge from the debate on important issues. “Fresh blood” might be in order, were the URD Board not the high-functioning board it is. As a fellow PMC Board Member with Mr Lawrence, I can assert that there are multiple pointson which he and I are not at all in agreement. But I have always found him to be respectful, and consistently willing to research/study/read/contemplate/debate to a greater degree thanmost. Combining those qualities with his persistence and erudite delivery—and he is a force with which one must reckon. But reckoning with challenges is all part of the process, is it not? So while Mr Lawrence might certainly be a voice that is tempting to silence in a procedurally- cloaked way…the City needs Cory’s input right now, even if he doesn’t pave an easy path. And above and beyond Cory--shouldn't this be about PROCESS, and its transparency? Shouldn’t we welcome all who have PROVEN they are willing to work on the tough issuesour growth has spawned? Shouldn’t we reserve straying from procedural norms in only the most dire of circumstances? As an outsider looking in, I can see where trying to have touchpoints with many multiple boards could be daunting for City Staff and leadership. But I find it difficult to believe that a solution that involves eliminating roughly 100 volunteer advisory board positions, during a time of growth, was the only workable solution. Maybe the most expedient one, but arguably, NOT the wisest choice during a time of such explosive growth. The Commission needs MORE buy-in and good input from the public at a time like this, not less. But, by not tapping into the results that a group of engaged and issue-educated stakeholders can render because it’s far messier than ignoring or marginalizing said stakeholders truly does invite the vociferous bullying minority to get all riled up because they feel completely unrepresented. Perhaps the "optics" of having a bunch of public "talking sessions" seems a good substitution for the messiness of many boards. But gathering data in that type of forum pales in comparison, from a usefulness perspective, from gathering data from actual, engaged stakeholders. And again, such sessions are spaces where the angry and the rude might have outsized influence. I’m willing to work on a solution. I know many who are. But let’s get on the same page on what’s best for downtown Bozeman. In the name of that, I fervently hope you will see that the URD Board member appointments be finalized and approved, per the June/July 2022 slate of candidates. Better late than never, but hopefully never late again. Thank you for serving the public, Babs Noelle -- babs noelle >>>ringleader<<< 2011 Winner of the American Art Awards, Jewelry Division and 2013 Prospera Woman Entrepreneur of the Year alara jewelry 42 w. main street bozeman, montana 59715 (406) 522-8844 "Named One of the 20 Coolest Jewelry Stores in North America, Three Years Running, and Second Coolest in 2010" -- ~~sent via my typewriter~~ alara jewelry42 w. Main Street bozeman, mt 59715406.522.8844 Named the #2 Coolest Jewelry Store in North America in 2010www.alarajewelry.com From:Cyndy Andrus To:babs noelle Cc:Terry Cunningham; Jennifer Madgic; I-Ho Pomeroy; Christopher Coburn; Jeff Mihelich; Agenda Subject:Re: Advisory Board Appointments Date:Monday, January 9, 2023 5:07:48 PM Hi Babs, I appreciate your email about the Downtown Urban Renewal Board. Thank you for taking the time to express your thoughts. I agree that it has taken time to make these appointments. It is true that in the past, we have reappointed board members who were interested in reappointment. Today, we are more intentional about reaching out to the community to diversify our boards, allowing more points of view, and encouraging more community members to participate. The criteria for an appointment on this board is demonstrating interest in downtown. Additionally, board members whose terms have expired serve until they have been reappointed or replaced. I'm afraid I disagree with your letter implying that the appointment of new board members "eradicates the benefit of experience and institutional knowledge from the debate on important issues." The fact is that this is a seven-member board that includes five voting members and two non-voting members. Three of the member's terms currently serving on this board have expired; one is a voting member, and two are non-voting members. One of the non-voting members did not apply for reappointment. The majority of this board will continue to serve. Four of the five voting members with experience and institutional knowledge will remain on this board with the ability to debate and vote on important issues. Additionally, one voting member will be appointed along with two non-voting members. In addition to those applicants who have served on the board, new applicants include the following. One is the Business Development Director of Prospera. One applicant owns several businesses downtown; one is a construction manager involved in business development in the downtown core and helps operate his wife's downtown business. All meet the criteria. Your letter further states that "fresh blood" might be in order were the URD Board, not the high-functioning board it is." I would argue that all our boards today are high functioning, and many of them, not only the URD board, work on challenging issues resulting from our rapid growth. While I do not attend all our board meetings in person, I watch many recorded meetings and can speak to the boards to which I am a liaison. Board members take their work seriously. They study, research, and read the staff reports in preparation for each meeting. They ask probing questions. They come ready to debate thorny issues and sometimes make difficult decisions on which they do not always agree, much like the URD board. It appears from your letter that you believe the URD board should be given special consideration when it comes to board appointments because it is a high-functioning board and that the possible selection of three new board members and their input is not considered "good input from the public" but rather the silencing of the "…minority." Let me state again that the majority of members on this board remain the same, particularly the voting members. URD meetings are open to the public, and each meeting allows time for public comment. Anyone not on the board can attend meetings, speak during the public comment period, or submit written public comments before the board meeting. Thank you again for taking the time to express your comments. I appreciate your participation on the DBID board and your business contribution to the downtown. Respectfully, Cyndy Cynthia Andrus | MayorCity of Bozeman | 121 North Rouse Avenue | P.O. Box 1230 | Bozeman, MT 59771P: 406. 582-2383| E: candrus@bozeman.net | W: www.bozeman.net From: babs noelle <babs@alarajewelry.com> Sent: Friday, January 6, 2023 9:03 PM To: Agenda <agenda@BOZEMAN.NET>; Cyndy Andrus <CAndrus@BOZEMAN.NET>; Christopher Coburn <ccoburn@BOZEMAN.NET>; I-Ho Pomeroy <IPomeroy@BOZEMAN.NET>; Jennifer Madgic <jmadgic@BOZEMAN.NET>; Terry Cunningham <TCunningham@BOZEMAN.NET> Subject: Advisory Board Appointments CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mayor Andrus, Deputy Mayor Cunningham, Commissioner Pomeroy, Commissioner Coburn, and Commissioner Madgic: I was dismayed to hear about the failure to approve last June’s slate of experienced URDboard members. One must ask oneself: “What possible motivation could there be behind breaking from atraditional, reasonable, and heretofore stable process as regards the appointment of volunteer board vacancies?” And…I'm afraid I can't come up with a legitimate one. Why would it be acceptable to leave the seats unassigned for many months? Why was theprocess distorted to make room for assuredly well-meaning Johnny-come-lately’s lacking institutional knowledge, as opposed to hard-working and experienced URD board members? To be clear, I have no opposition to either of the “replacement candidates” I personally know. I respect both of them…but now is not the time, at this crucial moment for Bozeman and downtown, to eradicate the benefit of experience and institutional knowledge from the debate on important issues. “Fresh blood” might be in order, were the URD Board not the high-functioning board it is. As a fellow PMC Board Member with Mr Lawrence, I can assert that there are multiple pointson which he and I are not at all in agreement. But I have always found him to be respectful, and consistently willing to research/study/read/contemplate/debate to a greater degree thanmost. Combining those qualities with his persistence and erudite delivery—and he is a force with which one must reckon. But reckoning with challenges is all part of the process, is it not? So while Mr Lawrence might certainly be a voice that is tempting to silence in a procedurally- cloaked way…the City needs Cory’s input right now, even if he doesn’t pave an easy path. And above and beyond Cory--shouldn't this be about PROCESS, and its transparency? Shouldn’t we welcome all who have PROVEN they are willing to work on the tough issuesour growth has spawned? Shouldn’t we reserve straying from procedural norms in only the most dire of circumstances? As an outsider looking in, I can see where trying to have touchpoints with many multiple boards could be daunting for City Staff and leadership. But I find it difficult to believe that a solution that involves eliminating roughly 100 volunteer advisory board position ns, during a time of growth, was the only workable solution. Maybe the most expedient one, but arguably, NOT the wisest choice during a time of such explosive growth. The Commission needs MORE buy-in and good input from the public at a time like this, not less. But, by not tapping into the results that a group of engaged and issue-educated stakeholders can render because it’s far messier than ignoring or marginalizing said stakeholders truly does invite the vociferous bullying minority to get all riled up because they feel completely unrepresented. Perhaps the "optics" of having a bunch of public "talking sessions" seems a good substitution for the messiness of many boards. But gathering data in that type of forum pales in comparison, from a usefulness perspective, from gathering data from actual, engaged stakeholders. And again, such sessions are spaces where the angry and the rude might have outsized influence. I’m willing to work on a solution. I know many who are. But let’s get on the same page on what’s best for downtown Bozeman. In the name of that, I fervently hope you will see that the URD Board member appointments be finalized and approved, per the June/July 2022 slate of candidates. Better late than never, but hopefully never late again. Thank you for serving the public, Babs Noelle -- babs noelle >>>ringleader<<< 2011 Winner of the American Art Awards, Jewelry Division and 2013 Prospera Woman Entrepreneur of the Year alara jewelry 42 w. main street bozeman, montana 59715 (406) 522-8844 "Named One of the 20 Coolest Jewelry Stores in North America, Three Years Running, and Second Coolest in 2010"--~~sent via my typewriter~~ alara jewelry42 w. Main Streetbozeman, mt 59715406.522.8844 Named the #2 Coolest Jewelry Store in North America in 2010www.alarajewelry.com