Government
**The Bozeman Brief – Mark Egge**

Your shortcut to Bozeman city government — AI-powered recaps of every commission and advisory board meeting. The easiest way to keep up with what’s happening in Bozeman city government.

Latest Episodes:

City Commission — August 4, 2026 Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

City Commission — August 4, 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 third-year CDBG action plan totaling $355,712 in federal funding.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:00:47 – Consent Agenda and Survey Results
00:03:00 – Housing Crisis National Context
00:04:16 – Homelessness Down, Capital Gap Identified
00:05:33 – Data Clarifications on Housing Prices
00:06:47 – Commissioner Priorities and Directions
00:09:20 – Pre-Approved Plans Research
00:09:49 – Public Comment and Next Steps
00:10:25 – CDBG Approval and Closing

Advisory Board Roundup — Week of July 27, 2026 Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

Advisory Board Roundup — Week of July 27, 2026

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

Chapters

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:00:48 – Urban Parks and Forestry Board: Urban Forest Plan draft review

In this roundup

Urban Parks and Forestry Board — July 23, 2026

City Commission — July 28, 2026 Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

City Commission — July 28, 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.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:00:43 – Kennel License Appeal Continuance
00:01:01 – Consent Agenda & Water Conservation
00:01:24 – Opportunity Zone Debate
00:02:13 – Urban Forest Management Update
00:04:23 – Historic Preservation Program Overview
00:06:31 – Three Policy Questions for Commission
00:07:36 – Base Zoning vs. Overlay Standards
00:09:21 – Demolition Regulations & Policy
00:10:00 – Board Appointments & Closing

Bozeman City Study Commission — July 23, 2026 Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

Bozeman City Study Commission — July 23, 2026

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.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:00:06 – Ward Boundary Proposal Overview
00:01:09 – Political Party Language Controversy
00:02:05 – Population Threshold Debate
00:03:55 – Charter Article Reviews and Next Steps

Transportation Board — July 22, 2026 Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

Transportation Board — July 22, 2026

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 safety issues.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:01:10 – Bicyclist Community Evaluation
00:02:47 – Downtown Parking Survey Findings
00:03:38 – Paid Parking Discussion
00:04:39 – South 13th Avenue Parking Issues
00:05:06 – Gallatin High School District Petition
00:06:31 – Board Recommendations and Conclusion

City Commission — July 21, 2026 Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

City Commission — July 21, 2026

The Bozeman City Commission held an extended work session on July 21st to review the city's advisory board structure five years after a major consolidation. The meeting also covered updates on the Kagy Boulevard reconstruction project, approval of a green energy agreement with NorthWestern Energy, and the creation of a new Department of Communication and Engagement.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:00:28 – Advisory Board Review Scope
00:01:46 – Structural Changes and Reassignments
00:03:29 – Meeting Formality and Robert's Rules
00:04:19 – One Body, One Voice Debate
00:06:16 – Board Autonomy and Agenda Control
00:07:47 – Kagy Boulevard Construction Update
00:08:50 – Transportation Master Plan Engagement
00:09:25 – Green Power Program Agreement
00:10:36 – Department Restructuring and Closing

Community Development Board — July 20, 2026 Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

Community Development Board — July 20, 2026

The Bozeman Community Development Board receives a mid-project update on the Bozeman Creek Vision Plan, exploring flood mitigation strategies, trail connectivity, and creek restoration from Ice Pond Road to I-90. Assistant City Manager John Henderson presents 11 draft concepts emerging from community engagement, including a flood bypass via Mill Ditch and downtown greenway proposals.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:00:07 – Bozeman Creek Vision Plan Overview
00:00:50 – Mill Ditch Flood Bypass Strategy
00:01:56 – Downtown Parks and Trail Concepts
00:04:41 – Implementation Timeline and Next Steps

Tax Increment Finance Advisory Board — July 16, 2026 Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

Tax Increment Finance Advisory Board — July 16, 2026

The Tax Increment Finance Advisory Board's July 16th, 2026 meeting was unable to proceed due to lack of a quorum. Several board members had provided advance notice of their absence, preventing the board from conducting any business. The meeting was adjourned immediately, with agenda items deferred to a future meeting.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Introduction

Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board — July 15, 2026 Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board — July 15, 2026

The Historic Preservation Advisory Board heard a presentation on proposed design standards for the Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District, but board members raised significant concerns about complexity and whether the framework addresses the real issues—particularly bulk, mass, and scale of new construction versus window treatments. The board directed consultants to simplify the approach and clarify priorities.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:00:41 – Design Standards Overhaul
00:01:21 – Community Engagement Results
00:02:37 – Four-Tier Framework Proposed
00:03:21 – Board Questions Complexity
00:04:46 – Base Zoning vs. Overlay Gap
00:06:28 – Demolition Code & Next Steps

Bozeman Downtown Business Improvement District Board — July 15, 2026 Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

Bozeman Downtown Business Improvement District Board — July 15, 2026

The Bozeman Downtown Business Improvement District Board heard two major presentations on July 15th: the Bozeman Creek Vision Plan, which aims to mitigate downtown flooding and improve creek access through concepts like daylighting the creek and diverting water through Mill Ditch, and a downtown parking analysis based on survey data from over 1,300 residents revealing challenges with employee parking and visitor access.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:00:23 – Bozeman Creek Vision Plan Overview
00:01:25 – Flood Mitigation Concepts and Water Rights
00:03:50 – Downtown Parking Data and Survey Results
00:04:37 – Parking Vision Plan as Action Document