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BID weighs using $5,000 safety earmark for lighting and camera pilot after resource-officer plan failed
Summary
Bozeman City BID members discussed repurposing a $5,000 downtown safety line item—originally intended to support a resource officer position that did not pass—toward lighting repairs, tested cameras and a pilot program with businesses and the Bozeman Police Department.
Bozeman City BID members discussed redirecting a $5,000 downtown safety line item to practical, short-term measures such as improved lighting, lamp-base refinishing and a small camera pilot after a proposed dedicated resource officer failed to move forward.
Board members said the $5,000 had been earmarked in the BID budget to help market or partially fund a downtown resource officer position. That plan did not pass at the city level, so board members and staff discussed alternative uses for the funds before the fiscal year ends, including repainting or powder-coating lamp bases and testing a limited camera deployment in public areas such as a downtown park.
Members raised practical questions about who maintains downtown street lamps and whether the BID could pay vendors to repaint or refinish lamp bases. Staff said lamp maintenance is outsourced to different vendors depending on whether the issue is electrical or a bulb replacement; cosmetic work such as repainting or powder coating would be possible to scope and procure.
The board discussed cameras as a deterrent and an investigative tool. Members and several downtown business representatives described past incidents where individuals appeared to check camera coverage before vandalizing property, and said better camera coverage could both deter and help identify suspects. Board members noted a range of costs and operational limits: many commercial camera systems are motion-activated and produce large volumes of footage, cloud storage or local servers can be costly, and wired installations require additional wiring and infrastructure. Signs indicating “cameras in use” were suggested as an inexpensive deterrent.
Ideas discussed included: a small BID-funded pilot to install cameras in one park or an alley; a cost-share approach with downtown property owners; and approaching the city’s tax-increment finance (TIF/URD) program for a matching contribution. Members proposed approaching Bozeman Police Department to learn whether the department keeps a catalog of private cameras or would accept footage from a BID-coordinated camera network.
As a next step, a board member offered to contact Bozeman Police Department and collect cost and service details from board members who already use cameras. The board did not adopt a formal motion reallocating funds during the meeting; members framed the discussion as exploratory direction for staff and board follow-up.
