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.
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.