HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-28-23 Public Comment - C. Costakis - Commission vacancy appointmentFrom:Cathy Costakis
To:Jennifer Madgic; Terry Cunningham; Christopher Coburn; Cyndy Andrus; Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Commission vacancy appointment
Date:Monday, November 27, 2023 3:30:09 PM
Attachments:Commission Vacancy Appointment.docx
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Mayor Andrus, Deputy Mayor Cunningham, and Commissioners,
Please see the attached letter of public comment regarding the commission vacancyappointment.
Thank you,Cathy Costakis
140 Village Crossing WayBozeman
To: Mayor Andrus, Deputy Mayor Cunningham, Commissioners Madgic and Coburn
Re: City Commission Vacancy Appointment
Date: November 27, 2023
A�er reading all the statements of interest and most of the leters of support (or against) in the
commission folder I am wri�ng in support of several candidates: Jason Delmue, Mark Egge, and Douglas
Fischer.
First, I want to acknowledge the concern from some in the community about Mark Egge’s appointment. I
am wri�ng to say that my interac�ons with him both professionally and personally have been nothing
but posi�ve. I served on the Planning Board with Mark for a number of years and always found him to be
very prepared, well-researched, collegial, and fully engaged. He is very smart and puts the work in to
truly understand the issues and suggests well thought out recommenda�ons. I also work with him as a
volunteer for the Galla�n Valley Land Trust, where I serve on the Execu�ve Commitee of the Board of
Directors. Mark volunteers on the Trails Commitee, which I chair, and is a valued member of that
commitee, always contribu�ng in though�ul and insigh�ul ways. Mark has put in the work to really
understand the important issues facing us. He is one of the few people who I think has thoroughly read
the dra� Unified Development Code (UDC) and has been trying to communicate its essence to the
public. He has also done some very good presenta�ons (Pecha Kucha and OLLI Friday Forum) to try to
help the community beter understand the concept of Missing Middle Housing. I think Mark, despite the
controversy surrounding him, would make an excellent addi�on to the City Commission, par�cularly at
this �me when we need someone who is totally up to speed with the issues concerning the UDC.
I also recommend Jason Delmue. Jason has creden�als that I believe will be helpful to the commission
especially at this �me of rapid growth. He has an analy�cal mind and has contributed to our community
for years on important community boards. I have worked with him on issues concerning the Northeast
Neighborhood Associa�on and have found him to be a hard worker, realis�c about what is possible,
collabora�ve, and has an aten�on for detail. The Northeast Neighborhood is under intense
development pressure and if we are going to help the neighborhood keep its ar�s�c, funky, and eclec�c
character while s�ll trying to preserve some affordable (or atainable) housing stock, we will need
someone who if very familiar with and cares about the neighborhood on the commission. He has also
read and is familiar with the UDC and helped to come up with ideas for modernizing the NEHMU zoning
district. Jason has also built some of the “missing middle housing” in our community and knows what it
takes to make that happen.
One person I am not personally acquainted with but was very impressed with their applica�on leter is
Douglas Fischer. He is a well-respected member of the school board and has experience with a very
important sector of our community that is not well-represented on the Commission—schools. He has
weathered some very conten�ous issues with the public and has done so with grace.
Interes�ngly enough, a�er I had read all the candidates’ leters and made my decision I read Chris
Shaida’s public comment and was par�cularly struck by and wanted to emphasize something he said:
“With their sustained effort they have consistently shown that they understand that governing is quite
different from complaining. That it is based on extensive reading, listening, analysis and debate.
That there aren't easy buttons and that platitudes don't solve problems”. I completely agree with this.
There are a lot of people out there complaining and criticizing the Commission. I understand their
frustration, I really do. This is not the small town I moved to over 30 years ago. I am sad about that
and I certainly don’t love everything that is happening. But we need to be realistic, work within laws,
listen to diverse viewpoints, and push the envelope and look at innovative and new ideas to help
solve our critical issues like housing, water, transportation, public health and well-being and
sustainability. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of these candidates.
I want to thank everyone on the City Commission for your service, par�cularly you Mayor Andrus and of
course, Commissioner Pomeroy. This will be a tough decision but I am sure you will make the right one.
Sincerely,
Cathy Costakis
140 Village Crossing Way, Unit 2A
Bozeman, MT 59715