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Record of Proceedings

Sustainability Advisory Board Meeting - July 8, 2026

City Commission — Wednesday, July 8, 2026
BodyBozeman, Montana
SessionCity Commission
DateWednesday, July 8, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:34:02

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:38

Okay.

0:39

Oh, my mic is on.

0:40

All right.

0:41

Good evening and welcome to the July 8th meeting of the Sustainability Advisory Board.

0:46

Before we begin, I'd like to explain the various ways to participate in tonight's meeting.

0:51

First, you can join us here in person in the commission room, or you can join us remotely by going to Bozeman.net and clicking on the meetings tab where you'll find the agenda for this meeting.

1:00

Click the link on the agenda page to join.

1:02

You can provide public comment on an agenda item by using the raise your hand feature.

1:07

And we also take public comment in the room first and then move online.

1:11

Lastly, this board has decided to refer to one another on a first name basis for ease of communication.

1:17

With that, I call the July 8th meeting of the Sustainability Advisory Board to order.

1:24

Natalie, are there any changes to the agenda?

1:29

There are no changes to the agenda.

1:31

Okay.

1:31

Are there any disclosures board members would like to make on tonight's agenda?

1:40

Okay.

1:41

All right.

1:41

So we're moving on to approving the minutes from the previous meeting.

1:47

We need to amend the meeting minutes from the June meeting to reflect the attendance from four five is documented to four, which reflects the actual attendance.

1:58

So would anyone like to move that amendment to a vote?

2:06

I move to amend the minutes to accurately reflect the number of attendees at the meeting.

2:13

I'll second.

2:14

Awesome.

2:15

Thank you.

2:15

Kesley, would you please move that amendment to vote?

2:18

Nick?

2:20

Aye.

2:21

Kendra?

2:22

Aye.

2:23

Brooke.

2:23

Aye.

2:24

Eric.

2:25

Aye.

2:25

Chris.

2:26

Aye.

2:27

Great.

2:28

Okay.

2:29

Now would anyone like to approve the minutes from the June 10th meeting with uh including the amendment?

2:36

Please move it to a vote.

2:39

I move to approve the amended meeting minutes.

2:44

Second.

2:46

Kessley, could you please facilitate the vote?

2:48

Nick.

2:49

Aye.

2:50

Kendra.

2:51

Aye.

2:51

Brooke.

2:52

Aye.

2:53

Aaron.

2:53

Aye.

2:54

Kristen.

2:55

Aye.

2:56

Great.

2:58

Okay, thank you.

3:01

Are there any FYIs anyone on the board would like to share?

3:10

I have one.

3:12

Okay, so uh the next IWERP meeting, the integrated water resource update plan meeting will be in this room, the City Commission uh room at City Hall on Wednesday, July 29th from 11 30 a.m.

3:25

to 2 30 p.m.

3:27

They'll review conservation measures to complement um the previous discussion on water supply.

3:33

And you can join in person or online.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Environmental Protection█████████████████████████████████████████████70%
Renewable Energy██████████16%
Procedural█████8%
Economic Development██3%
Engineering And Infrastructure█2%
Community Engagement█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Sustainability Advisory Board Meeting - July 8, 2026

The Sustainability Advisory Board met on July 8, 2026, at 11:30 AM (UTC) in the City Hall commission room. The board considered a special presentation on proposed wetland and water course code amendments and an action item to recommend authorization of the Green Power Program Lead Community Agreement with Northwestern Energy. Both items were supported by the board, with discussions focusing on streamlining permitting processes and advancing the city's 100% clean electricity goal.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (June 10, 2026): The board amended the June meeting minutes to change the documented attendance from five attendees to four, reflecting actual attendance. The amended minutes were then unanimously approved (6 ayes).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Catherine Barry, Gallatin Watershed Council: Expressed support for the proposed removal of two submittal requirements (AJD and GCD jurisdictional determination) from the wetland and water course delineation report. She noted that a June 30 stakeholder meeting reached consensus on the removals and recommended requiring the wetland delineation report at the earliest development phase (pre-application or concept plan review) to improve avoidance of water resources.

Discussion Items

  • Special Presentation – Wetland and Water Course Code Submittal Requirements Amendment: Nick Ross, Director of Transportation and Engineering, presented on a narrow code amendment to remove two submittal requirements from the delineation report:
    • A2 (Approved Jurisdictional Determination – Army Corps): Originally included to identify federally jurisdictional wetlands after the Supreme Court's WOTUS ruling. However, obtaining an AJD can take 12–18 months and is a separate process. Removing it allows applicants to assume Corps jurisdiction and enter the 404 permitting process directly.
    • A8 (Determination of Water Course Status – Gallatin Conservation District): The GCD changed its policy and no longer offers preliminary jurisdictional determinations before a 310 permit application. Removal allows applicants to proceed without this upfront step; the GCD will make the determination when the 310 permit is submitted later.
    • Stakeholder engagement on June 30, 2026, including the Gallatin Watershed Collaborative and the Army Corps (the GCD could not attend but provided input), reached consensus on the removals. Future topics include city-defined mitigation ratios, on-site mitigation manuals, and potential joint permitting with the Army Corps.
    • Board Questions/Comments: Members expressed strong support for the amendment, noting it is practical and necessary. Specific questions addressed the risks of mitigation priority loopholes (staff confirmed the city retains authority through land use approval), the GCD's role, and the possibility of joint permit processes. No opposition was raised.
  • Action Item – Green Power Program Lead Community Agreement: Natalie Meyer, Sustainability Program Manager, presented the recommendation to authorize the city manager to sign the Lead Community Agreement with Northwestern Energy. Key points:
    • The program aims to develop a utility-scale renewable energy project (up to 50 MW) in Montana, owned and operated by Northwestern Energy, to help meet Bozeman's 100% clean electricity goal.
    • The Lead Community Agreement outlines roles, RFP design, rate structure, and a joint filing with the Montana Public Service Commission. It is non-binding regarding actual power purchase; the binding commitment comes later via a subscription agreement.
    • Participants (jurisdictions and commercial customers) will pay for the project through a tariff, with a floating credit based on locational marginal pricing. Early modeling suggested a modest premium with potential for a bill credit, but expiration of federal tax credits adds uncertainty.
    • Off-ramps exist: after PSC approval, after RFP pricing is known, etc. The board discussed the 50 MW cap, RFP selection criteria, interconnection costs, subscription terms (25-year project life), and impacts of federal policies.
    • Board Questions: Covered storage integration, RFP design, subscription fees, reserve fund mechanics, and potential delays if economics become unfavorable. The board emphasized the need to monitor market conditions and preserve options to pause if needed.

Key Outcomes

  • Wetland Code Amendment: The board provided positive feedback on the proposed removal of submittal requirements A2 and A8. Staff will present the same amendment to the Community Development Board on August 17, 2026, and to the City Commission on September 1, 2026.
  • Green Power Program Agreement: The board voted unanimously (6 ayes) to recommend that the City Commission authorize the City Manager to sign the Green Power Program Lead Community Agreement with Northwestern Energy. The City Commission will consider the recommendation at a future meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. Oh, my mic is on. All right. Good evening and welcome to the July 8th meeting of the Sustainability Advisory Board. Before we begin, I'd like to explain the various ways to participate in tonight's meeting. First, you can join us here in person in the commission room, or you can join us remotely by going to Bozeman.net and clicking on the meetings tab where you'll find the agenda for this meeting. Click the link on the agenda page to join. You can provide public comment on an agenda item by using the raise your hand feature. And we also take public comment in the room first and then move online. Lastly, this board has decided to refer to one another on a first name basis for ease of communication. With that, I call the July 8th meeting of the Sustainability Advisory Board to order. Natalie, are there any changes to the agenda? There are no changes to the agenda. Okay. Are there any disclosures board members would like to make on tonight's agenda? Okay. All right. So we're moving on to approving the minutes from the previous meeting. We need to amend the meeting minutes from the June meeting to reflect the attendance from four five is documented to four, which reflects the actual attendance. So would anyone like to move that amendment to a vote? I move to amend the minutes to accurately reflect the number of attendees at the meeting. I'll second. Awesome. Thank you. Kesley, would you please move that amendment to vote? Nick? Aye. Kendra? Aye. Brooke. Aye. Eric. Aye. Chris. Aye. Great. Okay. Now would anyone like to approve the minutes from the June 10th meeting with uh including the amendment? Please move it to a vote. I move to approve the amended meeting minutes. Second. Kessley, could you please facilitate the vote? Nick. Aye. Kendra. Aye. Brooke. Aye. Aaron. Aye.

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