Bozeman City Study Commission Meeting - March 5, 2026: Charter Revisions and Governance Structure
Bozeman City Study Commission Meeting
Date: March 5, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM (approximately 4-hour duration)
Location: Bozeman City Hall
The Bozeman City Study Commission held a regular meeting to continue revising the city charter. Major agenda items included public comment on the process, approval of the consent agenda, updates on community outreach, review of draft charter language for sections 2.01, 2.03, and 2.06, and extensive discussion on the commissioner-city manager structure, including whether the mayor should be a full-time position. The commission also planned future education sessions on wards, districts, neighborhoods, and advisory boards.
Consent Calendar
- Motion to approve the consent agenda for the March 5 meeting was moved by Barb and seconded by Jan. Approved unanimously (5-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Abby Jones (Gallatin Valley Sentinel) criticized the agenda for treating decisions on the executive branch as foregone conclusions, urging more public discussion before deciding on the mayor's role and city manager requirements. She recommended: (1) eliminate the mayoral election process and instead have the elected commission select a mayor from among themselves for a two-year term with a limit of two consecutive terms; (2) keep pay as a monthly stipend to avoid excluding those with full-time careers; (3) opposed full-time salaried mayor positions.
- Patty Steinmüller (Bozeman resident) expressed support for the commissioner-city manager structure but noted problems that have occurred.
- Hillary Brown (Bozeman resident) highlighted concerns about large severance payouts to past city managers (approximately $500,000 total to two managers within four years) and urged more control in the charter to protect taxpayers.
- Jennifer Areno (Bozeman resident) echoed concerns about severance and ethics violations, suggesting tightening the contract language.
- Daniel Cardi (Bozeman resident) proposed term limits for mayor and commissioners (two four-year terms each) and raised questions about full-time pay and succession.
Discussion Items
Update on Outreach Efforts
- Barb reported a well-attended presentation to the Valley Unit Neighborhood Association; residents generally favored the manager-commission approach and had questions about contract length.
- Deanna and Becky reported a radio interview and an interview with the Gallatin Valley Sentinel.
- Becky shared research from Hal Stanley on Bend, Oregon's charter review (2018): voters rejected wards; salary setting moved out of charter; increased citizen input through biannual goal-setting; city managers reviewed biannually; 13 neighborhood districts.
- Jan reported ongoing outreach with League of Women Voters, a planned Pachaka Chaw event, and programs with Bozeman Professional Women.
Unfinished Business: Draft Charter Language for Sections 2.01, 2.03, 2.06
- Barb presented draft language reflecting prior votes:
- Mayor elected at-large every other city election for a four-year term (first election 2029, taking office 2030).
- Vice mayor appointed by the commission to serve temporarily in mayor's absence.
- Vacancies: Extended time for commission to appoint, requiring a public forum with applicants. The charter includes a recommendation for the commission to adopt a standard process and criteria for filling vacancies.
- Debate over wording (e.g., "every other election" vs. completion of term) and whether the vice mayor serves a partial term if mayor leaves early. Agreement that next election after vacancy would fill the remainder of the mayoral term (two years if vacancy occurs early).
- Deanna raised concerns about lacking public input on alternative mayor models (e.g., commission-elected mayor) and suggested the issue should be revisited after ward/district discussions. Chair clarified the agenda item was to review draft language based on prior votes, not reopen debate. The commission confirmed the language generally captures prior decisions, with minor wording adjustments to be finalized by legal counsel.
Commissioner-City Manager Form of Government
- Motion to maintain the commissioner-city manager structure under the charter form of government (Moved by Becky, seconded by Jan). Passed 5-0.
- Discussion on Section 3.01 regarding the city manager:
- Professional requirements: No change; current indefinite term/at-will contract is working and allows flexibility. Greg Sullivan (City Attorney) explained the removal process and contract negotiation.
- Annual contract: No change; indefinite term with contract provisions has functioned well.
- Annual 360-degree review: After debate, the commission decided to add a sentence to the charter requiring an annual comprehensive performance review, but not specifying 360-degree (as that term may change).
- Commissioner norms: Discussed existing resolution (5124, 2019) and board amendment (5323) governing commissioner-staff relations. Decided to keep the charter language as is, but as a recommendation, the contract for the city manager should include a review of these resolutions during the hiring process.
- Mayor's role and full-time status:
- Motion: To add to Section 2.03(a) that "the mayor has been demonstrated to be a full-time position and shall be recognized as head of city government." Failed (2-3, with Jan and Carson supporting; Barb, Deanna, and Becky opposed). Opponents argued defining full-time in the charter is too prescriptive and may deter candidates.
- Recommendation: The commission approved (4-1) a recommendation that the city commission create a document outlining roles, responsibilities, obligations, and expectations for both the mayor and city commissioners, reviewed every five years.
- Compensation (Section 2.04): Tabled to the April 15 meeting, pending further research from the MSU Government Center on compensation options. A subcommittee (Carson and Deanna volunteered) will research and bring forward options.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously.
- Maintained commissioner-city manager structure (5-0).
- Draft charter language for Sections 2.01, 2.03, 2.06 affirmed as capturing prior decisions, with minor clarifications to be made by legal counsel.
- Added to Section 3.01: "The city manager shall be provided with an annual comprehensive performance review."
- Recommendation approved: City commission should develop a document for mayor and commissioner roles, responsibilities, obligations, and expectations (reviewed every five years).
- Motion to declare mayor a full-time position failed (2-3).
- Compensation discussion tabled to April 15, with research requested from MSU Government Center.
- Future education sessions scheduled: March 25 (wards/districts), April 2 (neighborhoods), April 15 (advisory boards). Discussion on potential panels (Jeff Krauss, Jason DelMeo, Kola Rowley) and coordination with MSU Government Center.
- Next meeting: March 25, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
That's what you want. Yeah, that's right. Is our phone off? The new phones you can't tell us much. No, I can't. You have to like there we go. Okay. Oh, now I see where we're not speaking. Can't remember my microphone, please. Could you hear me though? Yeah. I'm not very ready, apparently. I'll call to order the meeting of the Bozeman City Study Commission on March 5th at four PM. If you're able, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. It will be followed by a moment of silence, and you may be seated for that if you would like. Thank you. Is there any public comment at this time? Good evening, members of the study commission. My name's Abby Jones, and I am a resident of Bozeman. Um and I'm here to share a public comment on behalf of the Gallatin Valley Sentinel. Uh I first wanted to say that the agenda for today's meeting treats the decisions on the executive branch of our city government as foregone conclusions. You have skipped the vital step of having an open discussion and public comment on the options outside of your learning sessions with Dan Clark and have jumped straight to making decisions. For example, we shouldn't be discussing how much to pay the mayor until we've had a public discussion on even having a mayor. Do you believe you have sufficiently educated, educated and heard and heard comments from the public on the role of the mayor? The feedback we have received through our engagement in surveys says otherwise. I would offer the same questions regarding your agenda item for the city manager. Have you gathered enough feedback from the public on this form of government, or are you going by what you desire? Also, why would the agenda ask the question of professional requirements for a city manager if you were considering other options? These are examples of you creating a false choice that Bozin residents have to decide between. The Gallatin Valley Sentinel has the following recommendations on today's topics based on our public engagement and our surveys, which does not include any targeted outreach to nonprofits or special interest groups. They are links that anyone in the community can participate in.03B of the current charter to eliminate the mayoral election process and replace it with a process whereby the elected commission selects from amongst themselves a mayor who will serve as the presiding officer over meetings and the ceremonial head of the city, just as the mayor does now. Four, with these changes making the term of the mayor two years with a limit of two consecutive terms. Five, keep pay for the commissioner for the commissioners and the mayor as a monthly stipend. If you change the role of mayor to a full-time salaried position, you will exclude anyone who has a full-time career from serving as mayor. And that and the goal should remain to be inclusive of everyone. The current pay structure has not prohibited non-wealthy people from being in office. And the last thing we need is a career politician. Six, if the claim that there is too much work to be done to be both a commissioner or mayor and hold a full-time job, then perhaps the question should be the efficiency with Bozeman is being run. Many cities with similar population are able to run with far less compensation and even volunteer commissioners who operate with more complex limitations. On top of that, the new rules under the Montana Land Use and Planning Act should remain, should mean that the City Commission spends far less time on land use decisions than they have in any years prior. Further, Bozin residents are already facing rising costs and pressure on the city budget, turning any number of commission seats or the mayoral position into full-time salaried positions with full benefit and would add a massive unnecessary burden to the taxpayer. Bozeman can't afford to properly staff its police and fire departments, yet you are considering turning civic service into a career path. Apologize for a little bit over time. Thank you. Thank you. Any other public comment? Any public comment online, Caleb? Uh not right now. Thank you. All right.
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