The Economic Vitality Board approved four months of previously unprocessed meeting minutes during its June 3rd session, with Staff Liaison Brit Fontenot explaining that a staffing transition had delayed the uploads. The board unanimously approved minutes from January, February, March, and April 2026. No public comment was offered during the meeting.
Chair Danielle Rogers and board members then participated in an "Avoid, Deny, Defend" safety training led by Officer Breanne Sanders of the Bozeman Police Department. Officer Sanders, the Community Resource Officer, walked the group through emergency response protocols applicable to the chambers and public meetings. She outlined the three-phase framework: avoiding or evacuating the area immediately, denying access by hiding and barricading, and defending as a last resort. Officer Sanders identified the two exits in the chambers and encouraged board members to think about improvised escape routes and defensive tools available in the room. She also noted that ballistic panels have been installed around the dais area.
The board raised practical concerns about managing threatening public comments during meetings. Officer Sanders advised that announcing a call to police typically de-escalates most situations. Fontenot added that the chair can call speakers out of order, pause, or adjourn meetings as de-escalation tools. Board Member Natsuki Nakamura raised the issue of online threats directed at board members, citing a personal experience from three years prior. Commissioner Douglas Fischer committed to raising the concern with city leadership. The board will skip its July meeting and reconvene in August.