HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-29-24 Public Comment - P. McGown - Commission AppointmentFrom:Patty McGown
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Commission Appointment
Date:Wednesday, May 29, 2024 1:53:32 PM
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Dear esteemed City Commissioners;
My name is Patty McGown and I live at 222 S 13th Avenue, in the recently formed Jandt neighborhood association.
I am writing this letter to ask that you appoint Alison Sweeney to the City Commission on June 4, 2024. She is the
most qualified and competent candidate for the opening.
My property borders a trailer park, a 2 acre field, and the “Chequamegon” (over 55years old) duplexes. I am writing
this because I am a caring, concerned and voting resident of Bozeman, and to emphasize that city policies and
zoning matter.
Based on my personal experience, I can speak to, among her amazing talents, Alison’s ability to identify issues, find
solutions, community organize, and help people stay informed.
Alison is fully dedicated to helping make Bozeman the best city in Montana. She listens! She is a clear and concise
communicator! She is smart! She does her due diligence and gathers all the information and facts surrounding an
issue and takes time to understand both sides. She grew up in and loves Bozeman, and wants others to be able to
afford to live here, too.
I met Alison in 2019. She went door to door in our neighborhood and organized a Block Party. She has been
spearheading and organizing the Block Party ever since. And it’s well attended and brings neighbors together.
Alison single-handedly initiated, formed committees, followed through and saw to completion, the forming of our
Jandt neighborhood association. Additionally, her dedication and action provided our neighborhood association with
a seat on the neighborhood council.
Alison is a strong proponent of historic preservation which, moving forward with the UDC, is crucial to helping
preserve Bozeman’s identity as a community.
Also, she helped form, and is involved in the Better Bozeman Coalition, an organization that has a proven track
record of working with the city commission. Both are just 2 of her success stories for making Bozeman a friendlier
and stronger community.
I am concerned about water resources and water consumption. I am concerned about climate change and reducing
humans impact on harming the planet. There is already not enough water in Gallatin County for current residents.
Belgrade has approved 35,000 lots for building. That’s a lot more people that will be living in the Gallatin valley
washing dishes, taking showers, flushing toilets, etc., in say, the next 15-20 years. This growth will impact
Bozeman.
I want a commissioner who balances all factors. Alison is an advocate of water use management, of climate science
as indicated by her support of residential solar energy systems as a key component to meeting Bozeman’s climate
goals, and for protecting our urban forest that help balance climate warming carbon dioxide.
Very importantly, Alison is knowledgeable about and well versed in the dire need for affordable housing in
Bozeman. Lack of affordable housing is creating a population of unhoused people. This is heartbreaking. Having
shelter is a basic human need. The fact that housing and real estate is an investment to fatten investment portfolios is
real in Bozeman. Alison is educated on the intricacies of this housing problem, and is constantly researching and
learning about proven, successful approaches to affordable housing that have been used in other communities and
that could work in Bozeman. Appointing her to the city commission is integral to managing the affordable housingissues.
Finally, another example of her civic engagement and being effective at staying the course and seeing thingsthrough, in 2009, Alison got the city to adopt an “urban chicken keeping ordinance” to legalize backyard chickens.And people love their chickens!!
I highly recommend that you appoint Alison Sweeney to the city commission on June 4, 2024. She will not let usdown!!!
Thank you for your time.
Patty McGown