HomeMy WebLinkAboutProposed Charter Language 5.13 by Deanna CampbellCommissioner Campbell Suggested Edits to Article VII
May 13. 2026 Meeting
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Section 7.01. Public Engagement as an Essential Part of Civic Infrastructure
The active, informed, broad-based, and meaningful engagement of community members, both
individually and collectively, is essential to accountable local self-government and public trust.
The city shall treat public engagement as an integral part of effective and trusted governance,
not merely as an occasional process or activity. Public engagement shall include in-person
meetings, digital communication, virtual participation, and other public forums that allow
residents meaningful opportunities to participate in civic affairs.
Public engagement should facilitate clear two-way communication between the city and the
community. The departments of city government shall encourage cooperation and collaboration
in public engagement efforts with neighborhood associations, the Inter Neighborhood Council,
advisory boards, civic organizations, community groups, local institutions, and individual
residents.
The city shall strive to ensure that public participation processes are open, accessible,
transparent, and responsive, and that residents have meaningful opportunities to be heard
before significant governmental decisions are made.
Section 7.02. Institutional Structures to Support and Coordinate Engagement
The City of Bozeman shall formally recognize Neighborhood Associations, the Inter
Neighborhood Council, and advisory city boards as essential partners in municipal decision-
making, public education, and civic participation.
The city shall maintain, adapt, or establish institutional structures necessary to support,
coordinate, document, and improve public engagement on an ongoing basis and to strengthen
communication and accountability between residents and city government.
These structures may include:
1. Neighborhood Associations
2. The Inter Neighborhood Council
3. City advisory boards, commissions, and committees
4. Departments or administrative positions dedicated to public engagement and
community coordination
5. Participatory budgeting processes and citizen advisory commissions
Addition:
Section 7.02(6). Limitations on Independent Authorities
Commissioner Campbell Suggested Edits to Article VII
May 13. 2026 Meeting
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No independent authority, quasi-governmental entity, or permanent governing body possessing
independent policy-making, regulatory, taxing, bonding, land-use, or administrative authority
shall be created except by approval of the voters.
Boards, commissions, neighborhood associations, and advisory bodies established by the city
shall remain advisory in nature unless otherwise authorized by law and approved by the
electors.
Section 7.03 Principles of Public Engagement
Current
“To ensure public engagement centers on the needs and goals of community members…”
(Subjective language)
Suggested Revision
To support informed, transparent, and effective public participation in local government, the
City shall uphold the following principles: (cleaner, governance-oriented, more charter like)
(a)Current: Inclusion. Design engagement to be open, representative, and inclusive. Actively
recruit participants, use clear communication, and co-create processes with Bozeman’s diverse
communities. Be proactive in outreach to bring in diverse voices, partner groups, and ideas
Suggested Revision:
a) Public Participation. Public engagement processes should be open and accessible to all
residents. The City should use clear communication, provide reasonable notice of opportunities
for participation, and encourage broad public involvement from residents across the
community. (preserves openness, avoids ideology)
(b) Current: Transparency. Communicate clearly and in ways residents can understand to ensure
community members can engage effectively. Share complete results and explain how public
input affects decisions.
Suggested Revision:
b) Transparency. The City shall communicate clearly and provide information in a manner
reasonably accessible to the public. Public input, meeting materials, and relevant information
should be made available in a timely manner to the greatest extent feasible. (more precise,
more charter-like, avoids overpromising “complete results”)
c) Current Accountability: Provide meaningful ways for residents to influence decisions. Be
clear about the purpose, scope, and how input will be used, while allowing flexibility as
conditions change.
Suggested Revision:
Commissioner Campbell Suggested Edits to Article VII
May 13. 2026 Meeting
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c) Accountability. The City shall provide reasonable opportunities for public comment and
participation and shall clearly communicate the purpose and scope of public engagement
processes and how public input may be considered in decision-making. (preserves
responsiveness, avoids implying direct public authority, respects representative government
structure)
(d) Current Accessibility Make participation easy by using a variety of times, reachable
locations, welcoming spaces, and inclusive online options that account for technology and
access barriers.
Suggested Revision:
d) Accessibility. Public engagement opportunities should, when practicable, be conducted at
reasonable times and locations and include accessible methods of participation, including
electronic communication where appropriate. (cleaner, less bureaucratic, avoids implied
mandates)
e) Current Collaboration. Build ongoing relationships with residents, community groups, and
partners to support shared learning and long-term engagement.
Suggested Revision:
e) Communication and Cooperation. The City should encourage constructive communication
between residents, neighborhood organizations, advisory boards, and city officials in order to
support informed public participation and effective local governance. (keeps cooperation, more
civic rather than ideological)
Purpose:
Section 7.05— “City Boards, Commissions and Committees”
Subsection (a) Purpose
Current Language
“City boards assist the City of Bozeman by providing expert and experienced guidance,
representing community perspectives…”
Suggested Replacement / Revision
The City of Bozeman recognizes that residents possess valuable professional expertise, technical
knowledge, lived experience, and community perspective that can strengthen public decision-
making. City boards, commissions, and committees serve an important advisory role by
providing informed recommendations, encouraging public participation, and supporting
transparent and thoughtful governance. (preserves expertise, is charter-oriented language,
avoids ideology)
Commissioner Campbell Suggested Edits to Article VII
May 13. 2026 Meeting
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Section 7.05(b)(1)
Current Language
“The board, in collaboration with city staff and commission liaison shall establish annual
priorities…”
Suggested Revision
Advisory boards may establish annual priorities and workplans related to the subject matter
within their assigned scope. In collaboration with city staff and commission liaisons, boards
should be encouraged to engage in open discussion, develop recommendations, and
communicate both majority and minority perspectives when appropriate. (preserves
independence, preserves minority viewpoints)
Suggested Addition Immediately after Section 7.04(b)(1) or as a new subsection 7.04(b)(2).
Formal recommendations to the City Commission should reflect the majority position of the
advisory board. When appropriate, dissenting or minority perspectives may also be submitted
as part of the public record to provide additional context for decision-makers.
Section 7.05(c)(2)
“Appointments, Compensation, Terms and Qualifications”
Current Language
“To ensure city boards, commissions and committees are inclusive, open, and accessible…”
Suggested Replacement
To ensure city boards, commissions, and committees effectively serve the public interest, the
City shall encourage participation from residents with relevant expertise, technical knowledge,
professional experience, and community perspective related to the purpose of each advisory
board, while remaining open and accessible to all members of the public. (centers on the
purpose around competency and informed guidance.)
Recommendations
(a)
City Resolution 5323 was referenced in public comment regarding the structure, effectiveness,
and independence of city advisory boards. Because the resolution was adopted by the City
Commission, the Study Commission cannot directly amend it. However, the resolution should
be reviewed and revised to strengthen transparency, accountability, and meaningful citizen
participation in the advisory board process, including the following concerns:
Commissioner Campbell Suggested Edits to Article VII
May 13. 2026 Meeting
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1. Review provisions that may unnecessarily restrict communication between advisory
boards and the City Commission, including the “One Body, One Voice” principle, in order
to ensure that differing viewpoints, minority opinions, and independent
recommendations may be communicated openly to elected officials and the public.
2. Improve communication and collaboration between city staff and advisory boards in a
manner that encourages respectful dialogue, the free exchange of ideas, and the
independent participation of citizen volunteers in the public process.
3. Provide greater flexibility and autonomy for advisory boards to develop goals, work
plans, recommendations, and areas of focus consistent with their assigned purpose,
while maintaining accountability to the public and the City Commission.
(b)
The city should establish a dedicated budgetary allocation sufficient to support the meetings,
communication, outreach, and operational needs of Neighborhood Associations and the Inter
Neighborhood Council.
(c)
The city should work collaboratively with Neighborhood Associations and the Inter
Neighborhood Council to expand meaningful public participation throughout the community
and encourage the formation and continued development of neighborhood-based civic
organizations.
This effort should include a review of existing ordinances governing Neighborhood Associations
and the Inter Neighborhood Council to ensure that such organizations remain locally responsive,
citizen-driven, and accessible to residents across the city.
(d)
At least once each year, the city should hold one or more public town hall meetings as an
additional and informal means of public engagement that allows residents direct opportunities
to raise concerns, share ideas, and participate in discussions regarding city priorities, policies,
and community issues.
City officials should make reasonable efforts to ensure that feedback received during these
meetings is documented, considered, and incorporated into future public discussions and
decision-making processes where appropriate.
( Removes “perception language, shifts from managed participation to independent citizen
participation, emphasizes minority viewpoints and dissenting opinions, reinforces accountability
and transparency, reduces governance jargon, avoids language implying city controls
Neighborhood Associations, adds responsiveness component to town halls so they are not just
symbolic listening sessions.)
Commissioner Campbell Suggested Edits to Article VII
May 13. 2026 Meeting
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