Newly elected Bozeman Mayor Carson Taylor will appoint four new members to the Bozeman Planning Board Monday evening at the scheduled commission meeting.

The applicants to be appointed are: Brianne Dugan, Henry Happel, Paul Spitler, Lauren Waterton. Four positions termed out on January 31, 2016.

The Planning Board consists of nine members appointed to two-year terms as follows:

  • One member appointed by the City Commission from its own membership.
  • Three members appointed by the City Commission, one of whom, at the Commission’s discretion, may be an employee of the City of Bozeman or hold public office in Bozeman or Gallatin County.
  • One member appointed by the Mayor, upon designation by the Gallatin County Commissioners, who may be a member of the County Commission or an office holder or employee of the County.
  • Four citizen members appointed by the Mayor, who shall be resident freeholders within city limits, and who shall be qualified by knowledge and experience in matters pertaining to the development of the City.  These appointments are coterminous with the term of the Mayor.

The three existing members who had reapplied are: Laura Dornberger, Erik Garberg and Brett Potter, who ran against Carson Taylor for Bozeman’s mayoral seat.

Mayor Taylor explained with the new appointments, he feels it will create a 'broader' board with deeper expertise including an environmental and state perspective. Taylor continued, that this is not a vindictive decision, but an effort to provide an 'extra set of eyes' to the Unified Development Ordinance.

The City Planning Board is tasked to encourage local units of government to improve and plan for the future development of the City of Bozeman and areas adjacent to the City to the end that highway systems be carefully planned; that new community centers grow only with adequate highway, utility, health, educational, and recreational facilities; that the needs of agriculture, industry, and business be recognized in future growth; and that residential areas provide healthy surroundings for family life.

The Bozeman City Commission meeting is scheduled for 6pm at City Hall.

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