Bozeman City Commission Regular Meeting - September 15, 2026

The Bozeman City Commission met on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Commission Room at City Hall. The meeting covered a special presentation on housing affordability civic dialogue, action items including a water adequacy ordinance and the Cattail Creek Corridor and Anchor Route Park Master Plan, and a pulled consent item regarding the Olympic Torch Relay. All votes were 5-0. Public comments addressed concerns about the Cattail Creek plan, the torch relay costs, and general safety.

Consent Calendar

• F.1–F.16 (except F.3): Approved unanimously (5-0). This included accounts payable, various professional services agreements, a resolution correcting resolution numbers, and final adoption of a text amendment to wetland and watercourse regulations. Item F.3 (Torch Relay Agreement) was pulled from consent and considered later as an action item.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Cindy Miller (Harvest Creek resident): Expressed concerns about the Cattail Creek Corridor plan, including removal of natural grasses, fire hazards, noxious weeds, and lack of HOA engagement. She requested that the Harvest Creek HOA board be involved in future planning.
• Heather Higgs (Harvest Creek HOA): Representing 525 homeowners, she listed concerns about the boundary between irrigated lawn and native grasses, weed management, fire risk, and impacts on adjacent properties. She requested collaboration with the city on these issues.
• Suki Nakamura (Bozeman resident, EV Board member): Speaking on the Torch Relay agreement, she questioned fiscal implications, noting the contract prohibits charging fees and the city has stated it cannot fully fund police and fire. She asked what Bozeman residents gain from the event.
• Terry Lundsden (Bozeman resident, Urban Parks and Forestry Board chair): Expressed support for adopting the Cattail Creek Master Plan.
• Ryan William Wilson (Harvest Creek resident): Supported the Cattail Creek plan, citing its similarity to the Gallagator Trail and the need for safe biking/walking routes. He also noted dangerous traffic conditions on Oak Street.

Discussion Items

• Special Presentation – Housing Affordability Civic Dialogue: Russia Chavez Perdinas (Civic Dialogues, powered by Change.org) presented results. The open phase received 193 ideas from 500+ residents. A lottery-selected panel of 100 residents, demographically representative of Bozeman, deliberated on housing policy options. Top priorities included reforming HOA covenants to allow ADUs (88% support), pre-approved pattern book for home plans (79%), fast-track permitting (72%), and a tourist/resort tax (71%). A workplan prioritized actions: immediate (pattern book, fast-track, HOA reform), near-term (MSU student housing partnership, low-interest loans, ADU incentives), and medium-term (tourist tax, down payment assistance). The city may request no-cost research support from Civic Dialogues.
• Action Item I.1 – Water Adequacy Ordinance (Provisional Adoption): Director Sean Coates presented the ordinance to move water adequacy requirements from Chapter 38 (UDC) to Chapter 40 (Utilities Code) for housekeeping. No substantive code changes. Duplicate language will remain until a spring cleanup. Public comment was silent. Motion to provisionally adopt carried 5-0.
• Action Item F.3 – Olympic Torch Relay Agreement (Pulled from Consent): Assistant City Manager Henderson noted the early stage of planning, with off-ramps, and that MSU may be a partner. Fiscally, typical city services (police, street closures) are absorbed in operations. Commissioner Sweeney raised concerns about staff burden and costs. Public comment raised concerns about waived fees and city trade-offs. Motion to authorize the city manager to sign the agreement approved 5-0.
• Action Item I.2 – Cattail Creek Corridor and Anchor Route Park Master Plan: Parks staff (Mitch Overton, Addie Jaden) presented the plan, a 3.25-mile corridor from Davis Pond to Bozeman Ponds, serving 12,000 people within a quarter mile. Key features: unified trail, wayfinding, native vegetation, limited turf conversion, and phased implementation. Public comments raised concerns about HOA engagement, grass management, and weed/fire hazards. Commissioners discussed pickleball prohibition in the corridor, future engagement for site-specific design, and herbicide policies. Motion to adopt the resolution carried 5-0.
• Appointments – Library Board of Trustees: Mayor Morrison disclosed a past professional relationship and campaign donation from applicant Amara Reese Hansel. Motion to appoint Amara Reese Hansel (short term ending June 30, 2027) and Emmy Chuck (full term ending June 30, 2031) approved 5-0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Items F.1 through F.16 (except F.3) approved 5-0.
• Water Adequacy Ordinance: Provisionally adopted 5-0; will be duplicated in code until spring cleanup.
• Torch Relay Agreement: Authorized City Manager to sign with LA28, 5-0.
• Cattail Creek Master Plan: Resolution adopted 5-0; future site-specific engagement with neighborhoods planned.
• Library Board: Appointments made 5-0.
• Commission FYI: Only one board vacancy remains (Sustainability Board). Commissioner Sweeney requested a work session on the neighborhoods program and noted park distribution disparities in older urban areas.