Sustainability Advisory Board Meeting - March 11, 2026

The Bozeman Sustainability Advisory Board held its regular meeting on March 11, 2026, to review a water resources update, a new emissions modeling tool, and begin developing its 2026-2027 work plan. The board also heard public comments on Earth Day events, plastics reduction, and tree canopy initiatives.

Consent Calendar

• The board approved the minutes from the January 14, 2026 meeting, with an amendment to correct the vote tally from 5-0 to 6-0. The amended minutes passed unanimously (4-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Terry Quatrero (former beautification board member) expressed full support for the Bozeman Cleanup Week and Earth Day events, praising staff and volunteers. She requested the board help promote reusable bag use, support a poster contest for 4th-5th graders, allow volunteers to set up displays in city hall, and review expert information on microplastics health effects. She noted the single-use plastics ordinance passed with 63% support in 2024.
• Marcia Cafe (Bozeman resident, Bozeman Tree Coalition co-founder) invited the board to the Bozeman Tree Coalition's second annual meeting on March 31, 2026 (6:30-7:30 p.m. at Bozeman Community Library). She urged the board to preserve mature trees during development, citing a recent loss of two large spruce trees on an affordable housing project on North Seventh Avenue.

Discussion Items

1. Water Advisory Committee Update – Integrated Water Resources Plan (IWRP) Alternatives

Board representative Brooke Loniman presented a universe of water supply alternatives being considered by the Water Advisory Committee (WAC). Key categories included:

• Sourdough physical storage (new dams, naturalized storage)
• Water reclamation facility effluent reuse (non-potable irrigation, potable reuse, groundwater recharge)
• Non-potable irrigation utility and targeted retrofits
• Water rights acquisition/leasing (Gallatin Water Trust)
• Importing water from other basins (e.g., Missouri River, Yellowstone)
• Groundwater development (wells, joint Bozeman-Belgrade supply)
• Highlight reservoir optimization (purchase shares, raise dam, dredge, reduce conveyance loss)
• Other: valley storage, canal company reservoirs, ditch improvements, rainwater capture, cloud seeding, drought reserve, emergency interconnection with Belgrade, watershed restoration, snow fencing/mounding.

Board members expressed positions:

• Support for maximizing existing infrastructure (Highlight maintenance, buying shares), non-potable irrigation to save potable water, and joint water supply with Belgrade.
• Concern about new sourdough dams due to ecological impacts; cloud seeding due to unknown downstream effects; importing water from other basins as a last resort; privately held canal company reservoirs.
• Commissioner Bodie noted previous public opposition to a Canyon Ferry pipeline.

2. ClearPath 2.0 Emissions Modeling Tool Introduction

Kesley Carlson Handle demonstrated the ClearPath 2.0 online platform (by ICLEI and Climate View) for tracking community greenhouse gas emissions and modeling transition scenarios to achieve 2050 carbon neutrality. The tool shows 2024 reported emissions, business-as-usual projections, and sector-specific reduction pathways (e.g., transportation shifts to EVs, walking, cycling, electric buses). Key features:

• Granular modeling: e.g., 27,000 battery electric vehicles needed by 2050 for a 7% emissions reduction from personal transportation.
• Links city climate plan actions to transition elements.
• Intended as a public-facing communication tool; not yet live.

Board feedback:

• Support for the tool as a boundary object for community engagement, inspiration, and monitoring.
• Suggestions: monthly engagement updates (e.g., similar to water conservation emails), feature on Engage Bozeman with seasonal topics, ability for public to toggle scenarios (noted future capability by ICLEI), improved color contrast for accessibility, and linking to educational tools like En-ROADS.
• Commissioner Bodie highlighted the tool's value for demonstrating leadership and potential joint presentations with county commission.

3. Work Session – 2026-2027 Sustainability Advisory Board Work Plan

Natalie Meyer presented a draft work plan aligned with newly adopted Bozeman City Commission priorities (adopted March 3, 2026). Key items:

• Board Governance: ethics training (completed), advisory board effectiveness review.
• Planning Efforts: Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) updates (including deconstruction policies), Integrated Water Resources Plan engagement, Urban Forest Management Plan/Branch Out Bozeman, Bozeman Creek Vision Plan, electric mobility planning, green power program.
• Engagement: town-gown relationship with MSU, sustainable development awards (new, from public comment), Cleanup Week.
• City Facilities: high-performance building standard.

Board discussion:

• Members expressed interest in adding affordability and electrification topics. The intersection of sustainability and affordable housing was discussed extensively, particularly regarding long-term operating costs, solar orientation, and financing mechanisms.
• Commissioner Bodie noted the Fowler Avenue affordable housing project could be a venue for sustainability input, and the commission will hold a work session to define affordability strategies.
• Staff noted capacity constraints and that some items (e.g., electrification) are already embedded in other work plan items.
• Public comment from Marcia Cafe urged protecting mature trees in NCOD updates as a low-hanging fruit for sustainability.

Key Outcomes

• The board provided initial feedback on IWRP alternatives (support for existing infrastructure and non-potable reuse; opposition to new dams, cloud seeding, and importing water). Brooke will relay these to the April 6 WAC meeting.
• The board endorsed continued development of ClearPath 2.0 and offered suggestions for public engagement. Staff will consider feedback and aim to launch publicly when confident in data.
• The work plan discussion set a direction to finalize a two-year plan, including potentially adding an affordability/sustainability discussion item. Natalie Meyer will incorporate board feedback and bring a refined plan for approval at a future meeting.
• No formal votes were taken on the work plan or other agenda items beyond the minutes.