HomeMy WebLinkAboutEngagement Plan of the Study Commission
Public Engagement and Outreach Plan
The Engagement and Outreach plan is a strategic document that describes how the public will
be involved in the work of the Study Commission. The plan includes a variety of activities
designed to reach a broad spectrum of residents in the City of Bozeman. It is a living document,
and engagement opportunities will evolve as the study unfolds. Modes of communication for this
work can be found in the supportive Communication Plan.
This plan focuses on the first three goals of the City of Bozeman Local Gov’t Study commission:
● Educate ourselves and the community to develop a comprehensive understanding of the
City of Bozeman’s current structure, Charter form, and the processes of local
government.
● Conduct a transparent and inclusive study process that engages the community in
evaluating our current structures and identifying any necessary changes.
● Engage the community in the local government study process using a variety of methods
to gather information regarding what’s working, what’s not working, and ideas to explore
to improve the City’s governance.
Purpose of engagement and outreach:
● Inform the Public: Ensure the public is aware of the Study Commission's goals,
progress, and key milestones.
● Engage the Public: Actively solicit and collect feedback and suggestions from the public
on relevant issues.
● Build Trust: Foster transparency, credibility, and two-way communication with the
community.
● Promote Participation: Encourage a broad range of citizens to participate in the
process.
Spring - Fall, 2025: Shared learning and information gathering (CONSULT & INVOLVE)
● April 3rd public hearing - verbal and written comments
● Community survey:
○ Seek help from Local Government Center to design survey
○ Promote via social media and Engage Bzn etc.
○ Review survey used by 2004-2006 study commission
○ Launch by summer 2025
● Survey of city staff:
○ Seek help from Local Government Center to design anonymous survey that will
be emailed directly to staff;
○ Follow up with focus group style conversation for those willing to discuss
feedback.
● Stakeholder conversations:
○ Conversation/joint meeting with existing City Commission to gather their answers
to our Q’s and feedback on existing charger
■ Schedule as part of regular Study Commission meeting
○ Conversation with current City Manager & department heads to gather their
answers to our Q’s and feedback on existing charter
■ Schedule as part of regular Study Commission meeting
○ Conversation/joint meeting with Gallatin County Study Commission to gather
answers to our Q’s and seek feedback on existing form, structure & powers of
City commission
■ Attend Gallatin County Study Commission meeting (every Friday
morning)
○ Conversation/joint meeting with Gallatin County Commission to gather answers
to our Q’s and feedback on areas of overlap (services, jurisdictions, etc).
● Outreach to community groups (going to people, where they already are). Outreach
meetings will be conducted by two study commissioners. They will use the presentation
we gave at the April 3rd public hearing to frame the conversation, and gather group
members answers to our three guiding questions. Summaries of the themes heard
during these meetings will be shared in writing with the rest of the Study Commission.
We will prioritize outreach to the following community groups::
○ Neighborhood Associations
■ Joint meeting with Inter-Neighborhood Council (regular mtg = 2nd
Thursday of the month)
■ Organize 2-3 focus group style meetings for Neighborhood Associations
■ Attend/present to regular Neighborhood Association meetings if invited
and as capacity allows.
■ Enlist
○ Citizen boards
■ Send informal anonymous survey with our three guiding questions to all
members of existing citizen boards.
○ Other Organizations/ Community Groups: We will reach out to these
organizations in a variety of ways, including but not limited to: inviting
participation in community survey; enlisting help circulating community survey;
attending their regular meetings to present/ facilitate listening sessions as
capacity allows; host informal coffee/happy hour drop in sessions.
■ Montana State University (Senate Faculty and ASMSU, possibly others)
■ Bozeman School District (School Board and/or Superintendent)
■ Downtown Bozeman Association
■ HRDC
■ Haven
■ Gallatin Valley Republicans
■ Gallatin Valley Democrats
■ Gallatin Valley Sentinel
■ Bozeman chapter of MT Landlords Association
■ Bozeman Tenants United
■ Forward Montana
■ Bridgercare
■ Queer Bozeman
■ Bienvenidos
■ One Valley Community Foundation
● Open house/Town Hall style meetings: Suggest 3 of these meetings. Hold in different
quadrants of town (NE, NW, SE, SW) - at least one at the new High School.
○ Purpose: deeper education on existing charter form/structure of city gov’t and
facilitate dialogue/feedback. In 3 alternative locations.
○ Can be done at our regular meeting times, with promotion like for April 3rd
hearing.
Fall 2025 - Winter 2026: Deliberation and evaluation (INVOLVE & COLLABORATE)
● Continue with some of the activities listed above
● Facilitate community workshops for education/evaluation of potential options for
changes in form/structure ( 2-3 workshops, with possibly one online)
○ Key Topics for these workshops, including but not limited to:
■ Commission elected via wards/districts or at large; Size of Commission?
■ Executive mayor or City manager structure
■ Elected City Attorney
○ Purpose: deeper education on the various options for changes, discussion of
pro’s and con’s of each, sharing lessons learned from other communities,
gathering feedback from the public on these options.
○ Workshops should be held in different parts of the city. Could be conducted
during our regular meeting times, with promotion to drive turn out and less formal
structure.
○ Potentially need to contract with facilitator.
Spring 2026: Tentative report and second public hearing (CONSULT & INVOLVE)
● Develop presentation and summary fact sheet of recommendations in tentative report
● Host 1-2 open house style meetings to facilitate dialogue on tentative report;
● Conduct second required public hearing to gather feedback on tentative report
Summer 2026: Adopt final report and voter education, if needed (EMPOWER)