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Home My WebLink About05-29-26 Public Comment - C. Kazakoff - Re_ Dispensary Location RulesFrom:Admin - Big Sky Tutoring To:Bozeman Public Comment Subject:Re: [EXTERNAL]Re: Dispensary Location Rules Date:Wednesday, May 27, 2026 12:44:54 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. Hi Mike, Thank you for your reply! I appreciate it. Will I be informed if the issue is put onto the agenda, or should I just check this website to see if this issue has made it onto an agenda? Thanks,Callie On Wed, May 27, 2026 at 12:40 PM Bozeman Public Comment <comments@bozemanmt.gov> wrote: Good afternoon, The City Clerks’ Office has received your comments and they will be sent to the City Commissionand relevant staff when they are processed out tomorrow afternoon. For an item to be scheduled on an agenda, that decision can come from the City Manager, theMayor, or three City Commissioners; comments alone do not place an item for discussion on anagenda. Additionally, anyone is welcome to come and speak at any City Commission meeting, there is a designated public comment opportunity for non-agenda items. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly. Thank you, Mike Maas, MPA City of Bozeman | 121 N. Rouse Ave. | Bozeman, MT 59715 406.582.2321 Pronouns: he/him/his **Please note updated email address** From: Admin - Big Sky Tutoring <admin@bigskytutoring.info> Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2026 12:31 PM To: Bozeman Public Comment <comments@bozemanmt.gov> Subject: [EXTERNAL]Re: Dispensary Location Rules 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. Hi there, I am just writing to confirm that the City Clerk has received this comment. What is theprocess for getting this onto the Commission's meeting agendas? Will you let me knowwhen the Commission will discuss this issue so I can plan to attend their weekly meeting onthat day? Thanks, Callie Kazakoff Owner, Big Sky Tutoring On Fri, May 22, 2026 at 2:22 PM Admin - Big Sky Tutoring <admin@bigskytutoring.info> wrote: Hello, I am writing today to ask the Bozeman City Commission consider changing the verbiagein Ordinance 2048 to expand the types of protected business/organizations and their proximity to cannabis dispensaries. I have attached three letters for review, each one is from an organization located at 1716W Main St. All three of these organizations serve babies, children and teens. A cannabis dispensary is slated to open in our building and would utilize the same entrance door asour three businesses. We all feel uncomfortable bringing children and teens into a space that requires them to pass an adults-only cannabis dispensary. Please review our three letters for a more detailed picture of our concern. Thank you so much, if you need anything else from us, please let me know. Best, Callie Kazakoff Owner, Big Sky Tutoring 1716 W Main St Suite 8F Bozeman, MT 59715 -- Best Wishes, Callie Kazakoff Owner, Big Sky Tutoring admin@bigskytutoring.info bigskytutoring.info 406-312-1558 If you are satisfied with our services, please leave us a Google Review! City of Bozeman emails are subject to the Right to Know provisions of Montana’s Constitution (Art. II, Sect. 9) and may be considered a “public record” pursuant to Title 2, Chpt. 6, Montana Code Annotated. As such, this email, its sender and receiver, and the contents may be available for public disclosure and will be retained pursuant to the City’s record retention policies. Emails that contain confidential information such as information related to individual privacy may be protected from disclosure under law. -- Best Wishes, Callie KazakoffOwner, Big Sky Tutoring admin@bigskytutoring.infobigskytutoring.info 406-312-1558 If you are satisfied with our services, please leave us a Google Review! ROOTS FAMILY COLLABORATIVE 1716 W Main St. #8D, Bozeman, MT 59715 406.224.5530 | hello@rootsfamilycollaborative.com May 22, 2026 Dear City of Bozeman Officials, We are writing on behalf of Roots Family Collaborative, a nonprofit organization that has provided services to new and expecting families and their infants at 1716 W. Main St., Suite 8D since June of 2023. Since 2017, Roots has been committed to creating trauma-informed, welcoming, and supportive spaces for families during the perinatal period. We recently learned that a marijuana dispensary may be moving into a space within our shared commercial building, utilizing the same common entrance as our organization. We are writing to express our significant concerns regarding the compatibility of this proposed use within a building that currently serves highly vulnerable populations, including infants, young children, teens, individuals in recovery, and families navigating mental health challenges. The proximity of a dispensary — particularly one sharing a primary entrance and common areas with these services — raises concerns related to: • the potential impact on families seeking mental health and perinatal support; • the exposure of babies and children to cannabis marketing, odors, or retail activity; • the preservation of a welcoming and trauma-informed environment for vulnerable populations We want to be clear that our concern is not rooted in opposition to legalized cannabis itself. Rather, we believe there is an important distinction between supporting legal businesses and ensuring thoughtful placement that considers the nature of neighboring tenants and the populations they serve. Families enter our building daily with newborns, toddlers, children, and teens. We respectfully ask the City of Bozeman to carefully review this proposed dispensary location and consider whether this is an appropriate placement for cannabis retail operations. We appreciate your consideration and your continued commitment to supporting healthy, safe, and thriving community spaces in Bozeman. Sincerely, Suzanne Bendick and Kerry Williams, Co-Executive Directors May 21, 2026 Dear City of Bozeman Officials, I am writing on behalf of our therapy practice, ManMade Mentors, which has been operating in our current office since 2018. We specialize in mentoring and supporting adolescents in our community. We are concerned about a marijuana dispensary reportedly moving into a neighboring space in our shared commercial building, which has a common entrance. Many of the teens we serve are navigating mental health challenges, substance use risks (including marijuana dependence), and peer pressure. The proximity of a dispensary, especially one sharing our entrance, raises significant concerns about the messages and exposure our young clients will face each time they come for therapy. This environment could undermine the progress they are working to achieve. While we fully respect that marijuana businesses operate legally in Montana, we respectfully ask whether any zoning considerations, regulatory reviews, or other processes might allow for reconsideration of this placement, given the youth-focused mental health services provided in our building. We would appreciate any guidance on options, next steps, or opportunities for community input. Thank you for your time and for supporting the well-being of Bozeman’s residents. Thank you, Shawn Helvey, LCPC Owner, ManMade Mentors 1716 West Main Street, Suite 8C Bozeman, MT 59715 www.manmadementors.com | 406.813.0301 May 21, 2026 Dear Bozeman City Commission, I am writing on behalf of Big Sky Tutoring to respectfully request an amendment to City Ordinance 2048, specifically Section 38.360.18, to include tutoring centers and childcare providers among the organizations that may not be located within 500 feet of a cannabis dispensary. Big Sky Tutoring serves students ages 5 through 18 on a daily basis, including Bozeman School District 7 students, private school students, and homeschooled children. Our facility functions as a dedicated learning environment where young students come to receive academic support, build confidence, and develop critical skills. These are impressionable individuals who deserve a setting that prioritizes focus, safety, and age-appropriate surroundings. Under the current situation, a proposed dispensary would share a common entrance with our tutoring center. This raises serious concerns about students being exposed to adult-use substances, whether through visible signage, customer activity, or odor. Such exposure is not appropriate for a youth-centered educational setting and may undermine the safe and welcoming environment we strive to provide. Additionally, I would ask the City to consider whether Big Sky Tutoring may fall under the “postsecondary school” protections outlined in Section 38.360.18(c), as informed by Montana Code Annotated 20-5-402. While we are not a traditional school, we provide structured, ongoing academic instruction to students across a wide age range, functioning as a supplemental educational institution. For these reasons, I respectfully request that the City amend Ordinance 2048 to explicitly include tutoring centers and childcare providers in the list of protected uses requiring a 500-foot buffer from cannabis dispensaries. Doing so would better reflect the realities of modern educational services and ensure that environments serving children remain appropriate and supportive. Thank you for your time and consideration. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further or provide additional information. Sincerely, Callie Kazakoff Owner, Big Sky Tutoring 1716 W Main St Suite 8F 406-312-1558