HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 5328 Establishing Urban Parks and Forestry Board Resolution 5328 Page 1 of 6
RESOLUTION 5328
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
BOZEMAN, MONTANA, ESTABLISHING THE URBAN PARKS AND
FORESTRY BOARD, AND DISBANDING THE TREE ADVISORY BOARD,
THE CEMETERY BOARD, THE TRAILS OPEN SPACE AND PARKS BOARD,
AND THE RECREATION & PARKS ADVISORY BOARD.
WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 4.07 of the Bozeman Charter permits the City
Commission to create boards, commissions, or committees as determined necessary; and
WHEREAS, on April 16, 2018, the Bozeman City Commission formally adopted the
Bozeman Strategic Plan via Resolution 4852; and
WHEREAS, the Strategic Plan Section 1.2 Community Engagement encourages the City
of Bozeman to “[b]roaden and deepen engagement of the community in city government,
innovating methods for inviting input from the community and stakeholders” by “restructure[ing]
or combin[ing] City boards and committees to more effectively advise the City and engage the
public;” and
WHEREAS, City Staff prepared a Memorandum and Proposed Plan for board
restructuring, made the plan available on May 20, 2021 for public review, and provided public
notice to inform the public of the opportunity to review and comment on the Proposed Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission held public work sessions on February 23, May 25,
and June 22, 2021 during which it received and reviewed all public, written and oral testimony on
the restructuring of City boards; and
WHEREAS, on June 22, 2021, and in consideration of such testimony, the City
Commission confirmed direction for City Staff to move forward with restructuring and
consolidating the City’s thirty-six Citizen Advisory Boards; and
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WHEREAS, the City Commission now concludes that the creation of an Urban Parks
and Forestry Board is necessary to further the stated priority of Community Engagement as
established in Strategic Plan Section 1.2, and to further other goals and objectives of the City.
WHEREAS, the City Commission created and established the Bozeman Tree Advisory
Board (“BTAB”) pursuant to law and determines to disband the current TAB and assign its duties
and functions to the Urban Parks and Forestry Board;
WHEREAS, the City Commission created and established the Cemetery Board pursuant
to law in 1986 and determines to disband the current Cemetery and assign its duties and functions
to the Urban Parks and Forestry Board;
WHEREAS, the City Commission created and established the Recreation & Parks
Advisory Board (“RPAB”) pursuant to law and determines to disband the current RPAB and assign
a portion of its duties and functions to the Urban Parks and Forestry Board; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission created the Trails, Open Space and Parks Bond
Review Committee (TOP) in 2013 pursuant to law and determines to disband the current TOP and
assign its duties and functions to the Urban Parks and Forestry Board.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of
Bozeman, Montana, that:
SECTION 1: DISBANDING OF BTAB, RPAB, TOP, AND THE CEMETERY BOARD
The Bozeman City Commission hereby disbands the BTAB, RPAB, TOP, and Cemetery Boards
effective at 11:59 PM on November 30, 2021 and in doing so hereby recognizes Ordinance 2085
will supersede Ordinance No. 1364 (April 12, 1993) for TAB, Ordinance No. 1993 (Dec. 18, 2017)
for RPAB, and Ordinance 1857 for TOP, and Ordinances establishing the Cemetery Board.
Effective 11:59 PM November 30, 2021, the appointment and terms of all current members of the
BTAB, RPAB, TOP, and Cemetery Boards shall terminate.
SECTION 2: CREATION AND PURPOSE
OF THE URBAN PARKS AND FORESTRY BOARD.
The Bozeman City Commission hereby creates and establishes the Urban Parks and Forestry Board
effective beginning December 1, 2021. The Urban Parks and Forestry Board will assume all duties
current held by the RPAB, BTAB, TOP, and Cemetery Board. The Urban Parks and Forestry
Board will promote the use of Bozeman’s trails, open spaces, and parks not only for improving an
individual’s physical and psychological health, but also as a tool to strengthen and foster the
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wellbeing of the community-at-large through promoting an outdoor culture and lifestyle. The
Urban Parks and Forestry Board provides advisory recommendations to the City Commission, and
if requested by the City Manager to the City Manager, on issues pertaining to the City’s urban park
system, Sunset Hills Cemetery, and the City’s urban forest. The Urban Parks and Forestry Board
will encourage policies and programs that:
1. Promote the enhancement, preservation, and acquisition of greenspaces and public
lands;
2. Cultivate and foster park systems and environments that break down barriers to
participation in outdoor recreation;
3. Encourage the promotion of urban parks and forests;
4. Provide recommendations about the City cemetery; and.
5. Consider principles of sustainability and the Bozeman Action Plan in its policy
recommendations.
SECTION 3: FOCUS AREAS OF THE URBAN PARKS AND FORESTRY BOARD.
The following areas of focus will be subsumed by the Urban Parks and Forestry Board:
1. Organize the annual Arbor Day Program;
2. Review reports pertaining to activity in Bozeman’s urban forests;
3. Assess the equity distribution of access to urban parks and trails, with an emphasis on
traditionally underserved communities and neighborhoods, and address identified
issues of disparity;
4. Evaluate the City’s Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan from drafting
through adoption; and
5. Provide recommendations, when requested, about the City’s Sunset Hills Cemetery.
SECTION 4: POWERS/DUTIES, MEMBERS/COMPOSITION,
AND ORGANIZATION OF THE URBAN PARKS AND FORESTRY BOARD
1. Powers and Duties. The Urban Parks and Forestry Board is authorized to exercise the
following powers and duties:
A. Advise the City Commission and City Manager, when requested, as provided in
Sections 2 and 3 of this Resolution.
B. Abide by the Rules of Procedure, as set forth in a resolution to be approved by the
City Commission, for the Board’s operation and conduct of business.
C. The Board may have such other duties and responsibilities as the City Commission
or City Manager, from time to time, may direct.
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D. The actions of the Board are advisory only, do not constitute policy of the City, and
are not binding upon the City Commission or the City Manager. The City Commission or
City Manager may adopt all or any part of any recommendation of the Board.
2. Members: Appointments and Terms.
A. The City Commission will make all appointments to the Urban Parks and Forestry
Board.
B. The Board will consist of seven members. A quorum will consist of a majority of
all members.
C. Board Members may serve no more than (2) two terms. For the initial terms of
members, three members will be appointed to a three-year term and four members
will be appointed to a two-year term. Upon the expiration of the initial term and
thereafter, all members will be appointed to a two-year term.
D. Board Members must be at least 18 years old and be residents of the City.
F. Board Members will not receive compensation for their service. Board members
are entitled to previously authorized expenses, including travel expenses, incurred
during the discharge of duties.
G. Board Members serve at the pleasure of the Commission and may be removed by
a majority vote of the Commission for any reason.
3. Office of Agency; Staff Support. The Urban Parks and Forestry Board will maintain its
records in the office of the City department designated by the City Manager to maintain
the records of the Board. The City Manager may assign one or more staff to assist the Board
in its duties and functions. The City Manager may also designate one or more staff to serve
as the liaison to the Board. The City Manager may authorize the assigned Staff Liaison, in
consultation with the Board Chair and Commission Liaison, to develop and approve agenda
items for the Board’s consideration and assist the Board in all of its functions.
4. Meetings. The Urban Parks and Forestry Board meetings must be open to the public as
provided for in Montana law. Meetings must be held on a regular basis as necessary and
must be in the Bozeman City Commission room unless such room is unavailable or not
sufficient for the nature of the meeting. The Board must comply with and is subject to all
requirements and City policies related to open meetings and public participation and
engagement.
4. Ethics and High Performing Boards. All Urban Parks and Forestry Board activities and
its appointed members must comply with, and are subject to, the State of Montana and the
City Code of Ethics. In addition, the Board and its members must comply with and are
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subject to City policies related to the performance, behavior, and procedures of City boards,
as established by the City Commission or City Manager.
5. Public Information. All written and electronic information created by the Board or its
members in conducting its duties constitutes public information and is subject to disclosure
pursuant to Montana law.
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PASSED, ADOPTED, AND APPROVED by the City Commission of the City of Bozeman,
Montana, at a regular session thereof held on the 10th day of August, 2021.
____________________________________
CYNTHIA L. ANDRUS
Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________________
MIKE MAAS
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
___________________________________
GREG SULLIVAN
City Attorney
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