Bozeman Study Commission Meeting Summary – January 28, 2026

The Bozeman Study Commission met on January 28, 2026, from 4:00 PM to approximately 6:04 PM to discuss proposed changes to the city charter. The Commission addressed five agenda items related to the role of deputy mayor, partisan elections, filling commissioner vacancies, other elected offices, and scheduled future discussions. The meeting included public testimony, commissioner deliberations, and votes on preliminary charter amendments.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mary Bateson (Bozeman resident) opposed splitting the electorate into wards, arguing that commissioners should consider the whole city and that low pay discourages broad representation. She advocated for increased commissioner compensation rather than wards.
• Jim Webster (Bozeman resident) raised concerns about public notice and transparency, citing the recent UDC second reading process. He also urged the Commission to recommend restoring advisory board powers that state law has diminished.
• Daniel Carty (213 North Third, Bozeman) proposed increasing the commission to seven members, eliminating the deputy mayor, making the city attorney an elected nonpartisan position, introducing six district seats plus an at-large mayor, imposing term limits (max six years total among offices), and granting the mayor a veto overrideable by a 5-2 vote.
• Dar Armstrong (name from minutes) provided comment but no transcript details; position not recorded.
• Emily Talago (Bozeman resident, remote) supported nonpartisan elections and argued that commissioner pay should be a livable wage rather than part-time/full-time designation. She suggested that filling vacancies can include additional criteria under state law.
• Lara Grochowski (final public comment) questioned the extent of state control over local decisions and requested data on voter turnout for special elections; Ex Officio Mike Maas noted that the 2020 parks and trails district election had about 27% turnout.

Discussion Items

• Deputy Mayor Position (Section 2.03(b)): Commissioners supported eliminating the deputy mayor role. Commissioner Taylor noted the current system (elected mayor serves as deputy for first two years) causes confusion and limits intergovernmental relations. Commissioners Franks, Campbell, Strout, and Cestero agreed. The discussion also addressed creating a mayor pro tem to serve when the mayor is incapacitated. After debate about proper notice, a motion to eliminate the deputy mayor and draft a process for a mayor pro tem passed 4-1 (Taylor, Franks, Cestero, Strout in favor; Campbell opposed).
• Partisan vs. Nonpartisan Elections (Section 6.01(a)): All five commissioners expressed support for retaining nonpartisan elections, citing public comment, the model city charter, and the fact that all Montana cities use nonpartisan local elections. A motion to keep nonpartisan elections passed unanimously (5-0).
• Filling Commissioner Vacancies (Section 2.06(c)): The City Attorney explained that state law (MCA 7-3-704 and 7-3-708) sets a 30-day appointment requirement but allows the charter to specify a different method. Commissioners debated the tradeoffs of special elections (cost ~$100,000–$135,000, low turnout) versus extended appointment periods. Strout proposed a 60-day window; Franks echoed the need for more time while opposing special elections; Campbell supported special elections; Taylor suggested a hybrid approach based on remaining term length. No motion was made; the item was tabled for further research and will be revisited on February 5, 2026.
• Other Elected Offices (Article IV): Commissioners unanimously agreed to keep the city attorney, police chief, and other professional positions as appointed rather than elected. They cited the need for expertise and nonpartisan professionalism. A motion to retain Section 4.03 (Legal Officer) as an appointment passed 5-0.
• Items 5 and 6 (Duties of Commissioners; Number of Commissioners and Part-time/Full-time): These items were deferred to the February 5, 2026 meeting due to time constraints.

Key Outcomes

• Motion 1 (Deputy Mayor Elimination) carried 4–1 (Approve: Taylor, Franks, Cestero, Strout; Disapprove: Campbell). Staff will draft charter language eliminating the deputy mayor and adding a process for a mayor pro tem, to be reviewed at a future meeting.
• Motion 2 (Nonpartisan Elections) carried 5–0 to retain nonpartisan elections for mayor and commissioners.
• Motion 3 (Other Elected Offices) carried 5–0 to keep Section 4.03 (Legal Officer) as an appointed position.
• Vacancy filling discussion was tabled; commissioners requested cost and turnout data for special elections and further legal analysis.
• Future Meetings: The February 5, 2026 meeting will begin with a learning session on executive structure (city manager vs. strong mayor) presented by City Manager Dan Clark, followed by resumed discussion on vacancy filling, duties of commissioners, and number of commissioners. Decisions are preliminary until the final charter draft in May 2026.