HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-16-26 Public Comment - A. Kociolek - Proposed edits to the City CharterFrom:Angela Kociolek
To:Bozeman Goverment Study Commission; Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Proposed edits to the City Charter
Date:Thursday, April 16, 2026 4:00:20 PM
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Dear Bozeman Study Commissioners -
In response to your April 15, 2026 discussion about neighborhood associations, I’d like to provide my
perspective as someone who has participated in NorthEast Neighborhood Association (NENA) events for
more than 20 years and who has current experience on the InterNeighborhood Council (INC) as "NENA
INC Rep" and INC Bylaws Subcommittee member.
Please note that I am submitting this comment as an individual, representing only myself.
Background and Vision
As other public comment has already attested, it is rather straight forward to create a new neighborhood
association so long as a champion exists to follow the steps and be in communication with the staff
neighborhood coordinator. In the past year, the INC has grown from 12 to 15 neighborhood associations. In
fact, we may have to find a new seating area for our INC meetings soon!
I appreciated and will build upon several suggestions I heard at your April 15th meeting.
The neighborhoods program (and, as applicable, the INC) should:
Be ongoing and voluntary and manifest as a City-supported expansion into existing and future
developed areas
Provide a ready-made, adaptable neighborhood association bylaws template that ideally includes the
power of representational voting on behalf of one’s neighborhood
Have a budget to hold mandatory meetings, reserve meeting space, and potentially even offer food
items to be eaten at the meetings that are often held over the dinner hour out of necessity
Neighborhood Associations should have the option to plan and carry out “fun” activities, such as
NENA’s Parade of Sheds, but also be recognized formally - individually or through the forum
known as the INC - as a main conduit between the City and its people on a wide range of, and often
serious, issues
Be respected and celebrated for its diversity, community-building from the ground up, and advisory
capacity on policy issues provided that neighbor-level input is garnered through surveys, polls, and
other means
Proposed Improvements to Charter Language
Given the Study Commission’s primary focus on the Bozeman City Charter language, I offer my editorial
suggestions as follows:
Section 4.06 Neighborhood Associations
(c) Minimum Standards. A neighborhood association must meet and continue to maintain conformity with
the minimum standards as established by ordinance in order to be recognized by the city and to be eligible
to elect select members to serve as delegates to the InterNeighborhood Council.
(d) InterNeighborhood Council. There is hereby established an InterNeighborhood Council to be
composed of representatives delegates selected by each recognized neighborhood association.
(1) The InterNeighborhood Council is an advisory board to the City Commission. The INC shall be
composed of one delegate selected by each recognized neighborhood association and shall provide a forum
for recognized neighborhood associations to come together, share information, and make recommendations
to the city commission, city staff, and the mayor on city-wide issues. This does not preclude a neighborhood
association from taking its concerns directly to the city of the commission. The INC shall also provide a
forum for non-recognized neighborhood associations, neighborhood groups, and city agencies to
communicate with recognized and non-recognized neighborhood organizations and groups.
(3) … The city may appoint a city commissioner as a non-voting liaison member of the InterNeighborhood
Council.
Rationale for proposed edits:
1. To be in accordance with current INC Bylaws, I propose changing “elect” to “select” and“representatives” to “delegates.” [Even though in spoken word most people refer to me as the "NENA INC
Rep."]
2. For 4.06.d.1., I have copied over current language from INC Bylaws that apparently has evolved since thetime of the last Charter update.
3. For 4.06.d.3. the current term in use is “Commission Liaison.”
4. Consistency in terminology and intention between INC's Bylaws, the City Charter, and vernacular used
by the current City Commission is prudent.
Note: INC Bylaws are in a proposed amendment stage but I believe those amendments, if accepted by theINC and ratified by the Commission, would be in accordance with my proposed edits here.]
Thank you for this opportunity to strengthen and make more clear the City Charter as it pertains toNeighborhood Associations and the INC.
Sincerely,
Angie Kociolek