Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Bozeman public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
14 issues with medium priority
Bear activity and wildlife management
Deputy Mayor Fischer flagged bears raiding trash across Bozeman neighborhoods and wants a solution before next fall, including possibly a county-wide requirement covering private haulers.
Story Mill and East Gallatin Landfill Monitoring
The city signed on to help the state redo the river's pollution limits after a 2025 state law changed how water quality standards work. The city's wastewater plant will do most of the technical work, with $300k budgeted.
2026 Annual Staff Ethics Training
The city is revamping its annual ethics training after feedback from trainers, directors, and managers. The new format uses mixed large/small group discussion, one interactive ethics scenario, a quiz, and a word cloud of employee values, with training starting the week of November 9.
Storm damage cleanup and operations facility improvements
Parks crews are still clearing storm-damaged trees downtown and westward, and long-overdue upgrades are moving ahead at the 1975-era operations facilities on Tamarack and North Rouse.
2026 Park Land Trust Community Grant Cycle
About $200,000 in cash-in-lieu parkland money will fund community park projects in the 2026-27 grant cycle. The board wants tighter criteria focused on lasting investments rather than one-year operations, and a report-back requirement for grantees.
Water Adequacy Ordinance
A housekeeping ordinance moved water adequacy requirements (developers must offset their new water demand) from the zoning chapter into the utilities chapter — no substantive change, but it consolidates utility rules in one place for developers.
MDT I-90 and Kagy intersection project
The New Hyalite View Neighborhood Association was set to share information about Montana Department of Transportation meetings on the I-90/Kagy interchange, a project that affects traffic around a busy south-side intersection.
Potential November 2027 housing bond ballot measure
The city commission is weighing a November 2027 ballot ask focused on housing, with possible additions like a West Side library, mental health crisis response and a fourth fire station. The board may be asked for input as ballot language takes shape in early 2027.
Riverside Lift Station and Force Main change order
Riverside-area property owners are now on the hook for their share of $1.66 million in wastewater improvements, paid in semiannual installments over up to 20 years at 3% interest.
Year-Round Traffic Enforcement Grant
Bozeman PD landed a $134,745 state grant to hire a dedicated traffic enforcement officer for a year — a step up from the old overtime-only grants, aimed squarely at dangerous driving.
Proposed West Side library branch
The Library Foundation announced it's buying a west side parcel and plans to build a $25–30 million branch library entirely with private donations, then gift it to the city — asking only for an operating levy, likely in 2029.
Housing Mix and Ownership Rates
Rental apartments may no longer be the shortage they once were. Staff data shows only about 45% home-ownership in Bozeman, and staff point to townhomes as the most land- and cost-efficient ownership product to target next.
Tiered Creek Setbacks and Development Rights
Staff want the board's help designing a tiered system of creek setbacks — replacing the flat 75-foot rule — plus averaging of setback distances and possible transfer or purchase of development rights. Board members pushed for clear-eyed treatment of downtown parcels and fairness to landowners north of downtown.
Data Center Code Readiness
Staff say Bozeman's review process is mostly ready for data centers, but the code lacks standards for the continuous, penetrating noise they produce and for small modular nuclear reactors some operators bring as their own power.