The Bozeman Brief

Week of October 12, 2026: this roundup episode covers the Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board (October 13, 2026) and Sustainability Board (October 14, 2026).

Week of October 5, 2026: this roundup episode covers the Community Development Board (October 5, 2026) and Economic Vitality Board (October 7, 2026).

The City Commission discusses a three-year-old parking permit district application from residents near Gallatin High School, hears from state legislative lobbyists about upcoming session priorities, and holds a work session on potential ballot measures including housing, transit, and public facilities.

Constitutional monarchy parallels in Bozeman's charter vote. Mark argues that Bozeman voters should reject the amended charter and vote for maintaining the existing 2006 city charter.

Week of September 28, 2026: this roundup episode covers the Board of Ethics (October 2, 2026).

Week of September 21, 2026: this roundup episode covers the Community Development Board (September 21, 2026), Transportation Board (September 23, 2026), and Urban Parks and Forestry Board (September 24, 2026).

The Bozeman City Commission held a joint meeting with Belgrade on September 22, 2026, addressing regional growth, transportation, and behavioral health before returning to regular business. The session ran past midnight as commissioners grappled with two resolutions on the South Bozeman Technology District tax increment financing, fielding extensive public comment about the Innovation Campus's mil...

The Bozeman City Commission held an unusual special meeting on September 21, 2026, bringing back four former commissioners to explain their 2023 denial of the Shady Glen development after a district court found their original findings insufficient for judicial review. The commission heard detailed rationales on three key relaxations—affordable housing placement, emergency access design, and wetlan...

Week of September 14, 2026: this roundup episode covers the Downtown Area Urban Renewal District Board Meeting (September 15, 2026), Bozeman Downtown Business Improvement District Board (September 16, 2026), Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board (September 16, 2026), and Tax Increment Finance Advisory Board (September 17, 2026).

The Bozeman City Commission meets on September 15th, 2026, to hear housing policy recommendations from a change.org-affiliated civic engagement group, authorize a 2028 Olympic torch relay stop, and adopt a master plan for a 3.25-mile trail corridor connecting parks on the city's northwest side. The meeting also includes code housekeeping on water adequacy and library board appointments.

Week of September 7, 2026: this roundup episode covers the Sustainability Board (September 9, 2026).

Week of August 31, 2026: this roundup episode covers the Economic Vitality Board (September 2, 2026).

The Bozeman City Commission voted unanimously to streamline wetland code requirements by removing two submittal documents from the development review process. Commissioners also signaled interest in future discussions about when wetland delineation reports should be due and explored potential updates to wetland replacement ratios.

Week of August 24, 2026: this roundup episode covers the Transportation Board (August 26, 2026) and Urban Parks and Forestry Board (August 27, 2026).

The Bozeman City Commission revisited two contentious pieces of the Unified Development Code in an extended work session: the maximum height allowed in the downtown B-3 district and zone edge transition standards. Commissioners split on height, with three supporting the existing 90-foot limit and two favoring a lower cap, while directing staff to develop setback and step-back options and add new t...

Week of August 17, 2026: this roundup episode covers the Community Development Board (August 17, 2026), Downtown Area Urban Renewal District Board Meeting (August 18, 2026), Bozeman City Study Commission (August 19, 2026), Bozeman Downtown Business Improvement District Board (August 19, 2026), Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board (August 19, 2026), and Tax Increment Finance Advisory Board...

The City Commission adopts fiscal year 2027 property tax mill levies at the statutory maximum, approves utility rate increases tied to the $84 million shops complex project, and raises four special assessment districts. Commissioner Sweeney votes no on all assessments, citing equity concerns about the 15,000-square-foot residential cap. The commission also amends the strategic plan to prioritize t...

Week of August 10, 2026: this roundup episode covers the Bozeman City Study Commission (August 6, 2026).

Week of August 10, 2026: this roundup episode covers the GVMPO Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (August 12, 2026).

Week of August 3, 2026: this roundup episode covers the Bozeman City Study Commission (July 30, 2026), Community Development Board (August 3, 2026), and Economic Vitality Board (August 5, 2026).

The August 4th, 2026 Bozeman City Commission meeting featured an extensive housing work session where commissioners debated affordable housing strategies, from pre-approved building plans to local option sales taxes. The commission also reviewed results from the National Community Survey, heard updates on homelessness trends showing the first decline since the pandemic, and approved the city's thi...

Coverage of Urban Parks and Forestry Board — Week of July 27, 2026.

The Bozeman City Commission held a lengthy work session on the future of historic preservation, debating whether the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District is the right tool for protecting neighborhood character or if landmark districts offer a better approach. The meeting also featured a mid-process update on the Urban Forest Management Plan and several board appointments.

The Bozeman City Study Commission debates how voting wards would be drawn and adjusted under a proposed charter amendment. Commissioners work through Section 7.04 on ward boundaries, disagreeing on population thresholds, advisory board composition, and implementation timelines, while also reviewing edits across multiple charter articles ahead of a July 30th target date.

The Transportation Board meeting of July 22, 2026 covered three major topics: Bozeman's silver-level League of American Bicyclists evaluation and path to gold status, downtown parking survey findings revealing employee concerns and the case for paid parking, and a neighborhood petition for a residential parking permit district near Gallatin High School to address student parking spillover and safe...