HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-02-25 Public Comment - D. Carty - Dec 2, City Commission_ Agenda K.2_ Appoint Natsuki Nakamura to Economic Vitality BoardFrom:Daniel Carty
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Dec 2, City Commission: Agenda K.2: Appoint Natsuki Nakamura to Economic Vitality Board
Date:Thursday, November 27, 2025 2:09:08 PM
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(Please distribute the following public comment to all City Commissioners in time for the
Tuesday, December 2, 2025, City Commission Meeting. Thank you.)
Thursday, November 27, 2025; 2:10 p.m.
To: Bozeman City Commission
Subject: Agenda Item K.2 – Appointment to the Economic Vitality Board
I am writing to recommend Natsuki Nakamura for appointment to the City’s
Economic Vitality Board.1
Natsuki Nakamura has been deeply involved in City of Bozeman (City) issues since at least
fall 2023. That fall, Natsuki was part of a local, grassroots group that proposed a municipal
housing authority to help address Bozeman’s lack of affordable, mixed-income housing.
Although the City Commission turned down that proposal, several Commissioners have
recently voiced support for doing the exact same thing. Moreover, in 2025, Natsuki was part
of a local, grassroots, intergenerational group of renters and homeowners who wrote the
Bozeman Water Adequacy Initiative (aka WARD), collected signatures to place it on the fall
2025 Bozeman municipal ballot, and campaigned for its passage. Although the initiative did
not pass, this local, grassroots effort pushed the City to acknowledge that — for at least the
past 10 years (since 2015) — its efforts to provide affordable, mixed-income housing have
fallen far short of what the Bozeman community actually needs.
Between fall 2023 and fall 2025, Natsuki has immersed herself in a variety of City-related
issues, be they economic, environmental, social, and/or cultural. That she has done so
voluntarily indicates she understands that all of these issues are interrelated and cannot
and should not be siloed from each other when City policies are being formulated.
Regularly, Natsuki has attended meetings of and offered written and oral public comments
to the City Commission and a variety of City advisory boards — including but not limited to
the Community Development Board, Economic Vitality Board, Inter-Neighborhood Council,
Historic Preservation Advisory Board, Sustainability Board, and the IWRP Public Advisory
Committee. Among other City-related issues, Natsuki has advocated for high-quality,
mixed-income, affordable housing and development that is neighborhood friendly and
environmentally responsible. Also, Natsuki voluntarily tracks City-related bills in the
Montana Legislature and is a leader in the local Teamsters Union, which advocates for the
higher wages and better benefits that are needed for folks who work in Bozeman to be able
to live in Bozeman.
If appointed to the EVB, Natsuki will not only put in the time needed to understand the
economic policy issues with which the board is presented but also will put in the time
needed to understand the environmental, social, and cultural issues surrounding each
economic issue. Moreover, Natsuki will not shy away from asking substantive questions of
City staff and City Commissioners. Asking substantive questions is important because such
questions probe for reasoning, explore implications, and can introduce new perspectives
and angles into a discussion — all of which are crucial for developing economic policies
that will benefit Bozeman's diverse community as a whole.
In conclusion, Natsuki Nakamura will be a fully engaged and valuable member of the City’s
Economic Vitality Board; hence, I recommend the City Commission appoint her to fill the
existing vacancy on this board.
Sincerely,
Daniel Carty
213 N. 3rd Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715
1 According to the City's Advisory Board webpage, "The purpose of the Economic Vitality
Board is to cultivate policies to enhance the economic vitality of Bozeman and to make
advisory recommendations to the City Commission and the City Manager regarding policies
that promote a strong and diverse economy."