The Bozeman City Study Commission met May 13th to review progress on an amended city charter ahead of a public vote. Commission members approved corrections to Article 4 (Personnel System) after Becky Franks discovered discrepancies between the 2006 draft charter and final adopted version. Franks reported conducting a full word-by-word review and finding no other substantive errors. The commission also approved plans to publish the amended charter as a clean document alongside the 2006 existing charter and detailed worksheets showing all edits, making changes transparent to the public.
Commissioners debated public engagement language in Article 7, with Deanna Campbell requesting slower deliberation and raising concerns about vague terminology unsuitable for charter text. Campbell successfully objected to including "authorities" in the engagement structures section, noting they carry significant governmental powers. Chair Carson Taylor suggested removing language he felt critiqued past practice rather than strengthened the charter. Jan Strout proposed adding community impact statement requirements to formalize how neighborhood associations present proposals to the city commission.
The meeting centered on whether to adopt ward-based or at-large city elections. Taylor, Franks, and Cestero favored a hybrid model where commissioners must live in designated wards but are elected citywide. Campbell stood alone supporting traditional ward-only elections, citing prior campaign promises and research showing at-large systems favor citywide interests over localized concerns. Public comment split similarly, with concerns raised about whether at-large voting adequately represents neighborhood perspectives. Running short on time, the commission deferred final decisions and asked Campbell and ex officio member Mike Maas to draft ballot options for the May 20th meeting.