The Bozeman City Study Commission approved charter language creating a standalone article for the Municipal Court, unanimously voting to recognize the judicial branch as independent from the city's legislative and executive branches. Judge Colleen Harrington requested the separate article, emphasizing that the court is not a department and should not be treated as one for administrative convenience. Commissioners Franks and Cestero will determine the article's placement in the charter, likely following the sequence of legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The commission spent most of the meeting revising Article 7, covering neighborhood associations and city boards. Commissioners Franks and Cestero presented updated language that broadened neighborhood association membership to include property owners, business owners, and nonprofit organizations—not just residents—based on input from the Inter-Neighborhood Council. The revised version removed a previous cap of 20 neighborhoods after public feedback, instead stating the city shall be divided into neighborhood associations formed to represent each neighborhood. Commissioner Deanna Campbell pushed for the Inter-Neighborhood Council to have agenda-setting power, though City Attorney Mike Maas cautioned this would require significantly different charter language than currently proposed.
The commission took initial positions on ward-based elections and other governance matters but did not vote. Commissioners expressed varied views: some favored keeping at-large elections with strengthened neighborhood associations, others supported district residency requirements or full ward systems. All commissioners expressed support for directly electing the mayor at large. The commission will continue these discussions at its May 13th meeting, with the full revised charter expected by May 20th ahead of the June 18th public hearing.