HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-01-26 Public Comment - N. Nakamura - Unclear proposal for student representation on advisory boards From: Natsuki Nakamura
To: Bozeman Public Comment
Subject: [EXTERNAL]Unclear proposal for student representation on advisory boards
Date: Sunday,March 1,2026 7:16:30 PM
Attachments: 2025-R-19 Bozeman Student Advisory Board Resolution.odf
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As a disclosure, I am a member of the Economic Vitality board and a member of the Better
Bozeman Coalition action committee,but speaking only for myself.
Dear City Commission:
MSU has grown student enrollment rapidly (now over 17,000) and is the largest employer in
town (nearly 4,000 employees, myself included). Thus, the City of Bozeman and MSU should
absolutely do more to coordinate on policy to address growth, but I do not believe the
proposed resolution to add ex-officio MSU student members to five of the City's advisory
boards helps us get us there.
Resolutions usually explain the justification and reasoning for it in the "whereas" section,but
the proposed resolution simply states the existence of the advisory boards and that the "City
Commission desires" it.
Is the goal for these ex-officio board positions to empower more students to engage in city
issues? If so, perhaps instead a member of the City Commission should be appointed to
ASMSU as a non-voting member to keep students apprised of issues being discussed by the
City Commission or different boards and explain how or why students can make their voice
heard, since it takes a lot of time to follow City Commission meetings
Is the goal to encourage leadership in engaged students? If so, perhaps the City can
support/develop a "Civic Academy" as identified in their Belonging in Bozeman plan to
encourage folks to apply for city advisory boards, councils on campus, or boards for non-
profits. Students are already able to apply for city advisory boards and give public comments,
but there are many other ways people can gain leadership skills and get involved to impact
policies, on or off campus.
Is the goal to coordinate better between the City and MSU on important issues such as
housing, growth, transportation/parking, etc? If so, we need to ensure that there is
communication and buy-in between respective decision-makers. Perhaps we need new board
made up of representatives from MSU faculty, staff, and the elected ASMSU student body, as
well as planning and facilities folks from both the City and MSU planning departments for
these big conversations.
When the goal for this resolution for ex-offciio seats is not clear, the best way to achieve the
goal is also not clear. The elected ASMSU stated their reasons (their resolution attached) for
wanting representation on City advisory boards - are the City Commission's the same?
Thank you for your consideration,
Natsuki Nakamura
M 2025-R-19
A,-.,MSU
ASMSU 2025-R-19
Resolution in Support of Establishing a Student Advisory Council to the City of Bozeman
Sponsor: Isabel Watson Yes: 16 No: 1 Senators Present: 17
Co-Sponsors: Josey Blazer First Reading: October 1611, 2025
Second eading: October 2311, 2025
Vote Necessary: Majority 7N
Senat@ Speaker Walter Scheldorf
Intent: The Associated Students of Montana State University (ASMSU) supports the
establishment of Student Representatives to each major Advisory Board to the City of Bozeman
to advance student representation in municipal decision-making, promote civic engagement
and professional development among Montana State University (MSU) students, and
strengthen collaboration between ASMSU and city leadership.
1 Whereas, ASMSU is the official representative body of MSU's 17,000 students; and
2 Whereas, MSU students represent approximately a quarter of the City of Bozeman's population
3 and are underrepresented in municipal governing bodies; and
4 Whereas, the City of Bozeman maintains several City Advisory Boards and Committees that
5 recommend to the City Commisison on issues including housing, transportation, sustainability,
6 and community development, areas that directly and substantially affect the student body; and
7 Whereas, participation in these boards is often inaccessible to students due to multi-year term
8 commitments and limited awareness of opportunities in municipal governance; and
9 Whereas, the proposed Student Advisory Council Initiative offers a practical solution by
10 creating a nonvoting, one-year-term student seat on each major City Advisory Board, to be
11 filled at the discretion of the City Commission through an application and nomination process
12 administered by the ASMSU Senate and President and approved by the Commission; and
13 Whereas, this model accommodates the academic scheduling constraints of students while
14 maintaining continuity within City Boards, ensuring that student representatives can contribute
15 meaningfully without burdening Boards' operations; and
16 Whereas, student representatives will be selected based on demonstrated interest and
17 experience in relevant policy areas, and ASMSU will coordinate leadership and civic
18 engagement training to ensure their readiness for these roles; and
19 Whereas, these student representatives will convene monthly as the Student Advisory Council
20 to discuss ongoing municipal issues, receive public comment, and draft recommendations to
1
2025-R-19
M 2025-R-19
A,-..,MSU
1 the ASMSU Senate for approval and transmittal to the City Commission on matters impacting
2 MSU students in Bozeman; and
s Resolved, the Associated Students of Montana State University formally endorses the Student
4 Advisory Council Initiative; and
5 Further Resolved, submit this resolution to: Bozeman Mayor, Terry Cunningham; Bozeman
6 Deputy Mayor, Joey Morrison; Bozeman City Commissioners, Jennifer Madgic, Douglas
7 Fischer, and Emma Bode; Bozeman City Clerk, Mike Maas; MSU President, Brock Tessman;
s MSU Vice President of Student Sucess, Steve Swinford; MSU Vice President of
9 Communications, Mike Becker; ASMSU President, Lenny Triem; and the MSU Exponent.
Vote:
Sen. Johnson: Yes Sen. Ferguson: Yes Sen. Wood: Yes
Sen. Rapson: Absent Sen. Heiland: Yes Sen. Vroman: Yes
Sen. Thaut: Yes Sen. Makarchuk: Yes Sen. Ferrell: Yes
Sen. Blazer: Yes Sen. Nelson: Yes Sen. Lindemann: Yes
Sen. Koller: No Sen. Forney: Yes Sen. Metz: Yes
Sen. Persicke: Absent Sen. Jenkins: Yes Sen. Thorson: Absent
Sen. Storlie: Yes Pro Tem. Watson: Yes
2
2025-R-19