HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-26-25 Public Comment - B. Weiss - Fw_ Letter from Evan Weiss regarding Cash-in-Lieu Submission from Bridger Ski Foundation for Winter TrailsFrom:Addi Jadin
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Jessica Laughlin
Subject:Fw: Letter from Evan Weiss regarding Cash-in-Lieu Submission from Bridger Ski Foundation for Winter Trails
Date:Thursday, June 26, 2025 3:15:39 PM
Hello,
BSF has requested that the following letter be submitted as public comment for UPFB and City
Commission regarding the Parks Division Community Grant Program.
Addi Jadin | Park Planning and Development Manager City of Bozeman | Parks and Recreation Department P.O. Box 1230 | Bozeman, MT 59771 | 406-582-2908
Pronouns: She/Her
From: Laura Huggins <laura.huggins@bridgerskifoundation.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 11:24 PM
To: Addi Jadin <AJadin@BOZEMAN.NET>; Jamie Saitta <jsaitta@BOZEMAN.NET>; Douglas Fischer
<fischwing@gmail.com>; Bozeman Parks and Trails <ParksTrails@BOZEMAN.NET>
Cc: Dan Cantrell <dan.cantrell@bridgerskifoundation.org>; Evan Weiss
<evan.weiss@bridgerskifoundation.org>; Gabby Hennes <gabby.hennes@bridgerskifoundation.org>;
Natalie Flowers <nflowers189@gmail.com>
Subject: [EXTERNAL][SENDER UNVERIFIED]Letter from Evan Weiss regarding Cash-in-Lieu Submission
from Bridger Ski Foundation for Winter Trails
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.
Hello Addi and team,
Evan is currently out of town helping fill in at training camp in Oregon and is headed
back up the course at 6:00AM so I told him I would pass along the following response
on his behalf.
Dear Addi,
I am writing to respectfully request that the Parks and Trails Committee (and City
Commission if necessary) reconsider the original request from Bridger Ski Foundation for
"Cash in Lieu," which includes partial funding for a new, large snow groomer (PistenBully).
BSF understood that our grant request was in a nuanced area and was prepared to
advocate for our position. We also asked (on May 8th) for a Q and A session to review our
plan, and to further explain that without grooming machines, there are no winter trails.
The $20,000 in funding that was approved for Cash in Lieu consideration was for operating
existing machinery (fundraised by BSF) at the middle schools.
We recently navigated a similar process with the Gallatin County Open Space Bond. This
may be the case law you are looking for. Through proper discussion, it was determined that
winter trails fall under a distinct funding category, separate from general equipment such as
a "lawn mower". You can review this discussion at the 58:45 mark of the following
recording: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/f7b7f01c-8a66-423d-a7aa-
3b4ffb3d4468. I ask that BSF's request be given similar consideration by the Park's
Committee, City Park Board and City Commission.
Furthermore, without the City's support, BSF will likely need to withdraw from the county's
Open Space Bond award of $100,000. There are very few, if any, alternative funding
sources available for such specialized winter trail machinery.
BSF understands that there are many important priorities and a lack of financial resources
within the Park’s Department. I hope my response and our nonprofits sincere desire to keep
grooming winter trails for the community prompts the City to reflect on its Parks and
Recreation PRAT Plan--particularly concerning the lack of support for strategic "partners"
and the insufficient resources allocated to winter recreation, which is a big component of
what makes Bozeman such a special place and why developers want to build here. If there
is not a path for support within the Cash in Lieu grant, then I hope we can meet soon and
get creative around finding another source of funding to replace antiquated grooming
equipment.
Thank you for your reconsideration.
Respectfully,
Evan Weiss
Laura HugginsDirector of Development, Bridger Ski Foundation
(801) 726-
4517
bridgerskifoundation.org