HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-22-25 Public Comment - Z. Osman - Special Presentation on WARD at 9_23_25 Commission MeetingFrom:Zehra Osman
To:David Fine; Chuck Winn; Terry Cunningham; Joey Morrison; Jennifer Madgic; Emma Bode; Douglas Fischer;Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Mike Maas
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Special Presentation on WARD at 9/23/25 Commission Meeting
Date:Monday, September 22, 2025 6:31:46 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.
(Please place this comment in the public record for both WARD and for Affordable Housing.)
Honorable Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Commission Members, City Manager, and Economic Development
Manager for Housing,
I see that there will be a special presentation on WARD at tomorrow's commission meeting. Please know
there will be many Bozemanites attending, whether they're tuning in virtually, sitting in the room with you,
or watching the recording. Voters want to make a good decision, so please make this presentation for them.
Since you have a consultant presenting information regarding this citizen-initiated ballot referendum, please
know that it will not only be for the benefit of the Commission members. It will also be for the benefit of
Bozeman residents/voters. Please make sure the consultant’s presentation is clear and understandable —
without reliance on acronyms and jargon — so that all of us clearly understand. So, for example, if the
consultant must use terms such as AMI, please have them explain that term and how it is derived in a way
everyone understands. Also, please explain why AMI is used rather than other metrics.
If you are in opposition to the ballot referendum, please provide information on how you would have
improved it - - if for no other reason but out of respect for the citizens who volunteered their time to create
it for the benefit of the environment and the community and without any personal or financial gain. I know
some these individuals and they are true assets to the community.
With all sincerity, I am personally learning as much as I can about the pros and cons of this issue. Every
time I ask questions from those who oppose the initiative, I am met with the same broad, sweeping
statements that are not coupled with explanations. I hear about “impacts” to developers and real estate that
are presented in a way that makes it sound like developers are holding us, our water, and our housing
affordability hostage. Can we get explanations that are better than that?
Bozeman voters are smart. Even so, please explain your opposition "as if we were 5 years old.” Again, since
the consultant was paid with taxpayer money, I hope their presentation is geared for voters.
Respectfully,
Zehra Osman
59718