HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-24-23 Public Comment - M. Kaveney - attn_ City Commission mtng 10_24_23, requests_suggestions for the UDC processFrom:Marcia Kaveney
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]attn: City Commission mtng 10/24/23, requests/suggestions for the UDC process
Date:Tuesday, October 24, 2023 11:49:00 AM
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Dear Mayor Andrus and City Commissioners-
Thank you for putting "the UDC Update timeline on hold until after the first of the year to
provide additional opportunities for community engagement" .
While you plan your next options for community engagement, I would like you to pleaseconsider doing the following to improve the engagement process:
1. Since the CDB is scheduled to review, discuss, and vote on their UDC Update
recommendation next week- Oct.30, please either: a) cancel that meetingb) take the UDC off their agendaor c) convert the meeting into an open house opportunity for staff to answer the public'squestions regarding details of state mandated UDC changes and how they will affect
subdivisions as well as the city core. (For example, at the open house in August, planning staff was unable to answer my question
about how the changes in zoning will affect HOAs with stricter bylaws. Hopefully, thatinformation is now known.)
2. Please also arrange a special and separate postcard or letter to be mailed to all taxpayersalerting them that the UDC is being updated to reflect state law changes and otherchanges. Mark it with a red "Attention" to help it get noticed and include upcoming
open houses where the changes will be explained and questions answered. (The BDC, news shows, city websites, and other social media are simply not adequate.)
3. True resident engagement cannot happen until AFTER a draft document is written.
While the city did indeed have its various pop-up tables, CC work sessions, and Code Connectmeetings, my experience after participating in most of the events, was that the engagement
was a one-way street- either disseminating information or collecting comments and not a truework session for the residents.
Three open houses held the last week of August during the first week of school were ill-
conceived in the rush to complete the document by the end of the year and did not allowenough time to process the 500 page document. I attended one of the open houses and found
it woefully short and the planning staff were unable to answer my questions.
My observation is that the public needs and wants a chance for conversation andexplanations- not just 3 minutes at the podium for one-way comments. Even the
InterNeighborhood Council was disallowed an opportunity for recommendations and yet thatgroup represents the most important stakeholders of all-the residents affected by the changes.
I propose the city organize the following two engagement opportunities before the UDCupdate comes before the CDB or CC again:a.) 2-3 + actual work-sessions for residents to participate in such as were held at the CityCommission meetings- where details and rationale are explained to the residents and they can
ask questions with staff.
b.) At least one town hall meeting (scheduled by the city) for some time in January where theUDC Update can be discussed.
4. Lastly, I think it would be in the City's best interest to break the UDC update into at leasttwo parts. Part 1.) Adopt only the new state mandates for now as well as the new color coding
organization from Code Studio. Part 2) In 2024- begin work sessions with the residents over other suggested changes such as
zone transitions, strengthening environmental language, etc. We have an incredibly capableand smart population that can produce an excellent guiding document providing "all Bozeman
residents the chance to come together in the spirit of improving our code and our community."( as per the 10/16/23 public announcement.)
Thank you for your hard work and consideration of these ideas.
Marcia Kaveney