HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-27-21 Public Comment - C. Pincus - Commission SizeFrom:Clara SJP
To:Agenda
Cc:Rosannne Nash
Subject:commission size !
Date:Tuesday, April 27, 2021 8:30:01 AM
Attachments:city commission size.rtf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear city commissioners,
I think that increasing the diversity and representation of the Bozeman city commission can be
achieved by increasing the number of elected members.
I was thinking specifically of the upcoming election, for which we have a number of excellentpotential candidates.
When I ran this idea by Jennifer Madgic, (suggesting the number 7 as a possibility) she
pointed out another way in which increasing the total number would allow for more diversity:
Each of us has a considerable workload which makes it tough to be a commissioner and also work which
is needed to make ends meet unless a person is retired or has another source of income. Adding two
more commissioners may help reduce some of the current workload and would certainly help broaden
the overall field.
I took a look at comparative sizes of city commissions in our region, see below and att'd. Of the 19 cities, only 4 including Bozeman have 5-member commissions.
(I assume that large cities such as Portland and Salt Lake City, which I didn't include, havefull-time-salaried members who don't take on the work in addition to another career.)
MONTANA
MISSOULA - 13
HELENA - 5
BILLINGS - 11
GREAT FALLS - 5
BUTTE - 7
KALISPELL - 9
BOZEMAN - 5
WYOMING
CHEYENNE - 9
CASPER - 9
LANDER - 7
IDAHO
BOISE - 6
TWIN FALLS - 7
POCATELLO - 7
WASHINGTON
SPOKANE - 7
LEWISTOWN - 7
COEUR D’ALENE - 7
OREGON
BEND - 7
NORTH DAKOTA
DICKINSON - 5
MINOT - 7
-- Clara Pincus
2010 Spring Creek Dr.Bozeman MT 59715
406-582-8206 home303-815-6966 cell
CITY COMMISSIONS
MONTANA MISSOULA - 12 + mayor
HELENA - 5
BILLINGS - 11 GREAT FALLS - 4 + mayor
BUTTE - 7 KALISPELL - 8 + mayor
BOZEMAN - 5
WYOMING
CHEYENNE - 9 CASPER - 9
LANDER - 7 IDAHO
BOISE - 6
TWIN FALLS - 7
POCATELLO - 7 WASHINGTON
SPOKANE - 7
LEWISTOWN - 7 COEUR D’ALENE - 6 + mayor
OREGON
BEND - 7
NORTH DAKOTA
DICKENSON - 5
MINOT - 7