Citizens For A Better Flathead

THE MISSION OF CITIZENS FOR A BETTER FLATHEAD IS TO FOSTER INFORMED AND ACTIVE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN THE DECISIONS SHAPING THE FLATHEAD'S FUTURE, AND TO CHAMPION THE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS, AND SHARED VISION NECESSARY TO KEEP THE FLATHEAD SPECIAL FOREVER. OVER OUR THIRTY YEARS OF WORK IN THE FLATHEAD, WE HAVE BUILT A REPUTATION AS A NON-PARTISAN, WELL INFORMED, AND SOLUTION ORIENTED COMMUNITY ADVOCACY ORANIZATION. WE FOCUSED ON LAND USE, WATER QUALITY, TRANSPORTATION, AND WASTE REDUCTION ISSUES. WE WORK TO ALERT AND INFORM THE PUBLIC OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN CRITICAL DECISIONS SHAPING HOW THE FLATHEAD GROWS. WE PROVIDE CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH TO INFORM THE PUBLIC AND DECISION MAKERS. WE SUPPORT COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND ADVOCATE FOR SOLUTIONS THAT RESPECT THE WELL BEING OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

LAND USE POLICY WORK: HELD DECISION MAKERS ACCOUNTABLE TO FOLLOWING EXISTING PLANS AND TO GIVING MEANINGFUL CONSIDERATION TO PUBLIC COMMENT BY GENERATING MANY HUNDREDS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS. HELP TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND DECISIONS GAVE MEANINGFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE WELLBEING OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. KEPT THE PUBLIC INFORMED AND SUCCESSFULLY ENCOURAGED BROAD-BASED PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ON A VARIETY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT DECISIONS SHAPING THE FLATHEAD'S FUTURE. INFORMED THE PUBLIC BY PROVIDING MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS AND REGULAR ALERTS BASED ON EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS. WE PROVIDED TESTIMONY AT NUMEROUS CITY AND COUNTY HEARINGS. WE JOINED TWO OTHER LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPD IN FILING SUIT AGAINST THE MT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FOR FAILING TO CONSIDER PUBLIC COMMENT AND FAILING TO CONDUCT A SCIENCE-BASED CAREFUL REVIEW OF A SUBDIVISION'S SEPTIC SYSTEMS IMPACT OF WATER QUALITY. OUR PROGRAM WORK HAS HELPED SECURE STRONGER POLICIES TO LIMIT HIGHWAY SPRAWL, PROTECT GROUND WATER, PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LANDS, AND CREATE A GREATER VOICE FOR THE PUBLIC IN NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: NORMALLY, WE PROVIDE LESSONS TO SOME 3200 STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE COUNTY ON WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING, BUT IN 2021 WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO PROVIDE IN CLASS PRESENTATIONS TO 594 STUDENTS DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS. TO REACH OTHERS WE DEVELOPED ONLINE RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS TO USE. IN 2022 WE ANTICIPATE BEING BACK TO FULL CAPACITY. PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED 1000'S OF RESOURCE GUIDES TO REDUCE WASTE AND PROMOTE REUSE, REPAIR, AND RECYCLING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. HOSTED A WEBSITE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. COLLABORATED WITH NUMEROUS CONSERVATION GROUPS, BUSINESSES, AND AGENCIES TO HELP REDUCE WASTE, INCREASE RECYCLING, AND ENCOURAGE CLIMATE-FRIENDLY OPERATIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.