OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Community Development Board Meeting - May 4, 2026

City Commission — Monday, May 4, 2026
BodyBozeman, Montana
SessionCity Commission
DateMonday, May 4, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:43:20

Transcript — Verbatim
1:09

All right.

1:10

Um good evening and uh welcome to the May 4th Community Development Board meeting.

1:18

Um called to order at 603 Montana or Mountain Daylight time.

1:27

Uh thank you for joining us.

1:28

We welcome the presence of those uh here in the city commission room.

1:32

Before we start this meeting, I'd like to remind those not physically present here of ways in which you can follow this meeting and provide public comments.

1:41

You can watch this meeting in real time and provide public comment uh should you so choose by joining us via video conference.

1:50

You'll find the link to join us by going to the city's website at uh Bozeman.net, click on departments, then on City Commission, and then on live stream and videos.

2:01

Find this meeting under the upcoming events list and click on the copy of the meeting agenda.

2:07

It is highlighted in blue.

2:09

Then click on via video conference, also highlighted in blue in the second paragraph of the agenda and follow the prompts into the meeting.

2:16

Um if you are joining us via video conference, and if you would like to offer public comment this evening, use the video conference raise your hand feature when it is your turn to comment, staff will call on you by name.

2:28

Uh please know that we will take public comments from those physically present here first, followed by those joining via video conference.

2:35

Uh in addition to joining us via video conference, there are three other ways you can follow this meeting.

2:40

These are for viewing or listening only, and you will be unable to provide public comment.

2:45

You can dial in and listen to the meeting.

2:47

You'll find the phone number and access code under section A of the agenda and under the via video conference heading on the city's website described above.

2:56

You can watch this meeting on cable TV channel one ninety.

3:00

Uh and you can stream this meeting under computer.

3:03

Go to Bozeman.net, click on departments, then on City Commission, then on live stream and videos.

3:10

Find this uh find this meeting under the upcoming events list and click on view live event event.

3:16

Um you can always provide public written comment before meetings by sending an email to comments at Bozeman.net.

3:24

Um, which I think will become or it has become comments at uh Bozeman MT dot gov, or by visiting the city's public comment uh webpage.

3:34

Any public comments received by noon on the day of a meeting will have been distributed to the board.

3:41

Um I don't believe there's anybody uh participating uh remotely.

3:48

Um so I'll start by introducing ourselves, uh, starting with you, Mr.

3:53

Bonnett.

3:56

Eric Bonnett.

3:58

That sure is sensitive.

3:59

Okay.

4:03

Lauren Maitro.

4:07

Um Jason Delamu uh Vice uh chairperson uh handling this meeting on behalf of our regular chairperson Ben Lloyd.

4:16

Mark Eggie.

4:17

Joey Morrison.

4:19

And uh also at the DIS with us, uh city staff.

4:23

Chris Saunders?

4:25

Sam Seigner.

4:27

All right, thank you.

4:33

Are there any uh disclosures from any board members?

4:41

Uh hearing none, are there any changes to the agenda?

4:48

None.

4:49

Thank you.

4:51

Um public service announcements.

5:00

Well, in my usual fashion, I'll throw out that the latest issue of the uh Bozeman Beat podcast came out, and uh once again it's a very uh informative and interesting.

5:09

Um I imagine if you're seeing this in some manner, you probably would agree.

5:14

And the rest of the community that's not, maybe, maybe not so much, but uh for us uh government aficionados, it's it's good stuff.

5:23

Um other public service announcements.

5:28

All right.

5:30

Next item is E approval of minutes uh from our prior meeting, which I believe was uh April 20th.

5:41

I'd entertain a motion.

5:46

I can provide a motion to approve the minutes from the April 20th meeting.

5:51

I'll second.

5:52

Okay, great.

5:53

Um there any uh comments or corrections that need to be made that anyone saw?

6:00

I would uh and I'm curious from either staff if this feels necessary.

6:07

Um so there is uh the the motion on the main the recommendation on the handsome lane um ZMA uh says motion carried six zero, but it was seven zero.

6:19

Um right below it, it has all seven board member names.

6:24

So it feels more of correcting an error than necessarily an amendment, but didn't know if staff had a preference as to how we would go about that.

6:35

I think it's been recognized on the record.

6:37

Um checks will do it as a correction.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████51%
Environmental Protection████████████14%
Procedural███████████13%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████9%
Community Engagement██████7%
Public Engagement███3%
Historic Preservation█1%
Water And Wastewater Management█1%
Land Use Planning█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Community Development Board Meeting - May 4, 2026

The Bozeman Community Development Board held a regular meeting on May 4, 2026, from 6:03 PM to 8:45 PM MDT. The meeting included a work session with the Forestry Division on the Urban Forest Master Plan, discussion of the board’s work plan, and routine administrative items. The board heard public testimony from two speakers regarding the master plan vision and tree preservation.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (April 20, 2026): The minutes were approved with a correction noted by Vice Chair Delamu: the motion for the Handsome Lane ZMA should record as 7-0, not 6-0. The correction was acknowledged on the record. Motion carried 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Daniel Cardi (Bozeman resident): Urged the board to adopt an updated vision statement for the Urban Forest Master Plan that explicitly protects and enhances ecological function and ecosystem services on public and private lands. He argued this would help inform code changes to protect the natural environment, aligning with a 2026-2027 city commission priority.
  • Marcia Cavaney (Bozeman resident, co-founder of Bozeman Tree Coalition): Speaking for herself and the coalition, she recommended better interdepartmental communication on green infrastructure, incentivizing developers to preserve native tree groves (e.g., cottonwood/willow), integrating wildlife corridors, and valuing mature trees for carbon sequestration, heat island mitigation, and wildlife habitat. She cited the success of permeable pavers on North 7th and the importance of preserving existing canopy over planting new trees.

Discussion Items

  • Urban Forest Master Plan Work Session: The Forestry Division (Alex, staff arborist) presented the update to the 2016 plan, which is being developed as an issue plan with consultant DGNA and subconsultant Planet Geo. Key topics include:
    • Current operations: 5 full-time staff plus seasonal help; approximately 28,500 city-maintained trees (boulevard and park trees, not private property).
    • Process: Public survey launching soon, three more public meetings (in-person and virtual), work sessions with Urban Parks and Forestry Board, and adoption expected by December 2026.
    • Key challenges: Species diversity (green ash dominance), age diversity, tree protection zones on private property, informal third-party tree installation process, and need for data-driven canopy coverage goals.
    • Canopy analysis: Using leaf-on aerial imagery every three years to track coverage and inform targets.
    • Heritage tree program: Voluntary recognition of exceptional trees on private or park land, based on HPAB work.
    • Board members discussed regulatory limits on preserving trees on private property (e.g., constitutional sideboards, Lupa requirements, irrigation rights), and suggested exploring incentive-based approaches or requiring applicants to explain why existing trees cannot be preserved. Vice Chair Delamu expressed interest in a future roundtable-style work session on thorny issues.
  • Cancellation of May 18, 2026 Meeting: Due to no scheduled items, the board voted to cancel the next meeting.
  • Community Development Board Work Plan 2026-2027: The plan covers statutory duties (zone map amendments, land use plan amendments, appeals), UDC code amendments, impact fee updates, issue plans (integrated water resources, Gooch Hill sub-area, transportation plan), and annual reports. Board members expressed interest in hosting informal discussion sessions ("fireside chats") on complex topics and ensuring the transportation plan aligns with land use goals. The plan was adopted.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes Approved: April 20, 2026 minutes approved with correction (motion carried 6-0 with 7 members present).
  • May 18, 2026 Meeting Canceled: Motion carried 6-0.
  • Work Plan Approved: Community Development Board Work Plan 2026-2027 adopted (motion carried 6-0).
  • No action was taken on the Urban Forest Master Plan; the work session was informational, with a formal public hearing and recommendation expected later in 2026.
  • Staff noted that board members will receive an email from Director George regarding board functions and potential process improvements.

Meeting Transcript

All right. Um good evening and uh welcome to the May 4th Community Development Board meeting. Um called to order at 603 Montana or Mountain Daylight time. Uh thank you for joining us. We welcome the presence of those uh here in the city commission room. Before we start this meeting, I'd like to remind those not physically present here of ways in which you can follow this meeting and provide public comments. You can watch this meeting in real time and provide public comment uh should you so choose by joining us via video conference. You'll find the link to join us by going to the city's website at uh Bozeman.net, click on departments, then on City Commission, and then on live stream and videos. Find this meeting under the upcoming events list and click on the copy of the meeting agenda. It is highlighted in blue. Then click on via video conference, also highlighted in blue in the second paragraph of the agenda and follow the prompts into the meeting. Um if you are joining us via video conference, and if you would like to offer public comment this evening, use the video conference raise your hand feature when it is your turn to comment, staff will call on you by name. Uh please know that we will take public comments from those physically present here first, followed by those joining via video conference. Uh in addition to joining us via video conference, there are three other ways you can follow this meeting. These are for viewing or listening only, and you will be unable to provide public comment. You can dial in and listen to the meeting. You'll find the phone number and access code under section A of the agenda and under the via video conference heading on the city's website described above. You can watch this meeting on cable TV channel one ninety. Uh and you can stream this meeting under computer. Go to Bozeman.net, click on departments, then on City Commission, then on live stream and videos. Find this uh find this meeting under the upcoming events list and click on view live event event. Um you can always provide public written comment before meetings by sending an email to comments at Bozeman.net. Um, which I think will become or it has become comments at uh Bozeman MT dot gov, or by visiting the city's public comment uh webpage. Any public comments received by noon on the day of a meeting will have been distributed to the board. Um I don't believe there's anybody uh participating uh remotely. Um so I'll start by introducing ourselves, uh, starting with you, Mr. Bonnett. Eric Bonnett. That sure is sensitive. Okay. Lauren Maitro. Um Jason Delamu uh Vice uh chairperson uh handling this meeting on behalf of our regular chairperson Ben Lloyd. Mark Eggie. Joey Morrison. And uh also at the DIS with us, uh city staff. Chris Saunders? Sam Seigner. All right, thank you. Are there any uh disclosures from any board members? Uh hearing none, are there any changes to the agenda? None. Thank you. Um public service announcements. Well, in my usual fashion, I'll throw out that the latest issue of the uh Bozeman Beat podcast came out, and uh once again it's a very uh informative and interesting. Um I imagine if you're seeing this in some manner, you probably would agree. And the rest of the community that's not, maybe, maybe not so much, but uh for us uh government aficionados, it's it's good stuff. Um other public service announcements. All right. Next item is E approval of minutes uh from our prior meeting, which I believe was uh April 20th. I'd entertain a motion.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com