Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-26 Public Comment - A. Kociolek - Bozeman Creek Vision Plan public comment From: Anaela Kociolek To: Bozeman Public Comment Subject: [EXTERNAL]Bozeman Creek Vision Plan public comment Date: Wednesday,January 28,2026 10:35:46 AM 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. Greetings, Please add this transcript of my oral public comment provided at the Jan 27, 2026 City Commission meeting. My comment is about Action Item 1.1 - professional services agreement for the Bozeman Creek Vision Plan. Thank you. Angie Kociolek "Hi. Just a quick disclosure before I begin. I'm the NorthEast Neighborhood Representative for Inter-Neighborhood Council but speaking for myself tonight. Angie Kociolek, Bozeman resident and business owner. I'm heartened PORT LLC and its partner Rio ASE seem like a good match for this vision plan. From their proposal, "Bozeman Creek offers a unique opportunity to restore a dynamic urban waterway and strengthen ecological function throughout its corridor." This tells me they understand that any future vision must first be grounded in the commitment to improve ecological function as part of a watershed and for all living things along and downstream from it. They echoed the City's RFP stating the 2024 Commission priority, "to increase ecological health — and so on. But, as Jon acknowledged, ecological health is not listed as a project goal — despite Mayor Cunningham's Proclamation to work toward releasing Bozeman Creek to become a naturally functioning waterway. But it's not too late. I believe if we are truly "listening to the creek," (to quote the words of See Bozeman Creek) that we can delay or make conditional tonight's vote so an explicit and reasonable ecological goal is fleshed out. Architecture, engineering, hydrology and geomorphology are well represented but, as yet, ecology is not. I think it's time we get a little more clear on who is guiding the Bozeman Creek Vision Plan, the relationships at play, and what the goals are BEFORE any other engagement begins. And with all due respect, I believe, a clear expectation should be set with See Bozeman Creek moving forward. To their credit, according to their website they are seeking a naturally functioning and connected creek corridor with healthy riparian areas. We saw the graph but it's unclear how they really function as a group or a partnership. Case in point, a public comment this past spring on See Bozeman Creek letterhead was in support of an application to encroach into the Bozeman Creek watercourse setback for a future hotel. The applicant for the deviation is a listed See Bozeman Creek "partner" not tonight referred to as "member." Conversely, other listed partners representing their respective organizations opposed granting the deviation and/or gave testimony torightly uphold the value of watercourse setbacks. So while the code allows for watercourse deviation applications, I would hope you all agree that any officially recognized City partner on this project shall at the very least uphold minimum watercourse setbacks in the future. Please. I appreciate everyone's collective work to date and am hopeful for a communicative and transparent engagement process moving forward. Thank you."