HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-13-25 Public Comment - D. Kaveney - Thank you, Mr. Winn, for your Consensus SuggestionFrom:Dan Kaveney
To:Chuck Winn; Bozeman Public Comment; Douglas Fischer; Emma Bode; Terry Cunningham; Jennifer Madgic; JoeyMorrison
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Thank you, Mr. Winn, for your Consensus Suggestion
Date:Wednesday, August 13, 2025 9:15:19 PM
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.
Dear Mr. Winn, Mayor Cunningham, Dep. Mayor Morrison, and Commissioners,
I’m writing to thank Mr. Winn for suggesting a consensus process for the city’s idea for anaffordable housing project on Fowler Lane. This is a great idea and is exactly the kind of
creative leadership we all need right now. It’s clear that despite the commission’s best effortsto be responsive and transparent, many Bozeman citizens feel disenfranchised because the
city takes little action to address their many concerns. I really hope this process goes forwardand, if successful, can be used for privately-driven developments in the future.
I was interested to listen to the commissioners’ responses to the idea. Clearly Commissioner
Fischer has some experience with this that will be valuable. I wanted to offer a couple thoughtsbased on his comments:
-- In order to be inclusive, I think it would be important to include an advocate for
unrestrained building in the group as Commissioner Fischer suggests. That said, I hope
that point of view can be represented without including Forward Montana, a paidlobbyist group. Including paid lobbyists in a citizen-based consensus effort composed
of volunteers would not be helpful to the process. Perhaps Tenants United or someother volunteer organization could be approached about participating.
-- I was interested to hear Commissioner Fischer’s concern about “another project that
pits the city and its goals against a neighborhood”. That does seem to happen every
time a development is proposed these days. Please consider the possibility that thecity’s goals need to be revised since they don’t appear to be supported by most
Bozeman residents. Maybe some consensus could be reached here as well. MostBozeman residents acknowledge that action needs to be taken to address all the rapid
changes to our home, but when it comes to development proposals interacting with thecity feels a lot like getting hit over the head with a hammer. I know you’re trying to be
inclusive, but I think it’s pretty clear that what we’re doing now isn’t working very well.
Thanks again to Mr. Winn for his suggestion.
Dan Kaveney
Bozeman