[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6250930,"mediaKeyId","3197505-a9d431973f27ffa43a55cb9b4ed7468f","parentId",3197505,"title","City staff offers EngageBozeman tools and a draft outreach plan to support commission’s study","audioSeconds",1059,"startMs",9506000,"endMs",10565000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3197505-a9d431973f27ffa43a55cb9b4ed7468f&start=9506&end=10565","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3197505-a9d431973f27ffa43a55cb9b4ed7468f/thumbnail_9506000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6250930/Bozeman-City/Gallatin-County/Montana/City-staff-offers-EngageBozeman-tools-and-a-draft-outreach-plan-to-support-commissions-study","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250930-dc158bd248b29b0c6241947f19323dab/orig.mp4?Expires=1773645059&Signature=TA1PW7hkYcG83y7hJ-ZZGRWEC8ckiotgKAVPZyVbB4vs2SlNzuFp41mVDgOg6Q9lbcTN2AyET~clZWngh9bEI13SRaqhYdxUIufM-3~Mf-rS5Ir-kYBsY3x-RSGBA7348gCWlZiCTJvAb5HWnfloZmc6saUnUlyYR35diVbGp0f4HBk78xpCaDEXICpvjCnd450pl8CdbLNfo3pUQ5T0zk4DZYfVqpJozHyqkcv~Vwr0iBr7e1vC3vQB~uIMzoP3-o9aTlaFiiH5TWKHFZ-313OIvKedZOQZjBoIP1PQNf2QtBpVtayeXZ9MktqB4pk95AuB03Ky6RkkvewBZOdALQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MT / City of Bozeman ","date","2025-05-01T00:00:00Z","article","City communications staff described the city’s communication and engagement capacity and offered the commission use of the EngageBozeman platform and other outreach tools during the Study Commission’s review process.

Chuck Wynne and communications staff explained that the city has a communications and engagement division that reports to the city manager and includes a neighborhood coordinator and digital media staff. The team described common engagement tools — the EngageBozeman project pages, email opt-ins, surveys (statistically valid and nonstatistical), open houses, community toolkits, social media, press releases and partnerships with neighborhood associations and community groups — and invited the commission to use those resources.

Staff offered to create a project page for the study commission on the EngageBozeman platform, set up a “stay informed” subscription for study-commission notices, and provide training or administrative access to the recording secretary (Caleb) so the commission can manage content. Staff said they can synthesize input from surveys, in-person events and written comments and present that material back to the commission. Commissioners asked for outreach beyond existing civic groups — specifically students, renters and people who do not belong to organized associations — and urged the staff to include MSU, the school district and business groups in outreach plans.

The commission discussed a draft engagement timeline: consult/involve phases through summer and fall (surveys, stakeholder interviews, stakeholder meetings at existing boards and neighborhood groups), deeper deliberations and workshops in the fall/winter, and public-facing summaries and required public hearings in the spring. Staff said they will send the city’s community engagement plan to commissioners and can train the recording secretary on using the EngageBozeman project page. The commission set deadlines for circulating drafts and summaries: staff to send the draft site link and engagement materials and commissioners to provide feedback on the communications/engagement drafts in early May.

Ending: Staff reiterated they will provide training and administrative access and asked the commission to confirm which outreach activities they will staff and which they want city staff to run; commissioners agreed to return input on priorities with their written summaries.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Bozeman Study Commission May 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City communications staff described the EngageBozeman platform, engagement team roles and a proposed outreach timeline; the commission agreed to use the platform and to route feedback and draft plans to staff for consolidation.","taxTitle","Bozeman City, Gallatin County, Montana","taxId",48745,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6250935,"Study commissioners summarize April 3 public hearing: trust, representation and advisory boards top concerns",2165,5019000,7184000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3197505-a9d431973f27ffa43a55cb9b4ed7468f&start=5019&end=7184","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3197505-a9d431973f27ffa43a55cb9b4ed7468f/thumbnail_5019000.jpg","/articles/6250935/Bozeman-City/Gallatin-County/Montana/Study-commissioners-summarize-April-3-public-hearing-trust-representation-and-advisory-boards-top-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250935-b1e887695622c365b1d4ff67182df4b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773645059&Signature=LKYOK6irg~hDOUXMKG0CaSejGtH61dUpdlDaWHK25ljZLON6n9cvaDpANaGgtFA4p5Q7fEQaKtATP7Y0oHge2P0JzJkEMpEV9-roDN11vjfBMDNo5h7idqbDQ7adhoaBUp4KhebNaEKh6AaPzRCIdPJXEOfc0T1avtLEWdwGImeg1jRQ74B3yEpJreVSv8AIP0ClcDtzpNxUt5pduBiRGKNT~YK12hlHuF6Hp-90-y2NqeAT1uOku-Nl5SsJpF4k3YAHeRu0n8KtrVA3Y-X7btObBZ-MNkp7IwGjjTkm8O~4-uHvWLW5bpAkqEdRPjHKMz6qdW8O24X4Y9BSGRVQqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Study Commission presented individual summaries of public comment gathered at the April 3 public hearing and in written submissions, and then discussed common themes to guide future study work.

Across the commissioners’ briefings, recurring concerns included a perception that residents are not being heard, a feeling that the commission lacks geographic and demographic representation, and what many described as an outsized influence by developers and by unelected staff. Repeated suggestions were: study a ward- or district-based election system; evaluate whether the city should retain a city-manager form of government or move to a strong mayor model; reinvigorate or redesign advisory boards and neighborhood associations to provide earlier, clearer opportunities for public input; and consider ethics training and clearer rules about staff–commission communications.

Commissioners also reported praise for day-to-day city services — water, roads, parks and libraries — and for city staff professionalism. Commissioners identified several follow-up needs: presentations from comparable Montana cities (Missoula, Billings, Great Falls), meetings with advisory boards and neighborhood groups, interviews with current commissioners and department heads, and legal or external counsel on charter-change mechanics. Members agreed to produce short, written summaries of the April 3 public hearing and to submit them for compilation: individual summaries will be sent to staff and combined into a single packet for public posting.

Less-critical details: commissioners debated how to structure future summaries (staple individual summaries together versus producing a single synthesized summary) and agreed to deadlines for submission of edits. They also flagged interest in targeted outreach to groups that may not normally attend commission meetings — students, renters and people without formal organization ties — and suggested adding MSU, the school district and local business and neighborhood groups to the outreach list.

Ending: Commissioners agreed to submit edits and final summaries to staff by early May so the combined public record can be posted; staff will then prepare a consolidated list of study topics for the commission to prioritize.","Commission members presented consolidated summaries of public comments from an April 3 hearing, highlighting repeated themes: lack of trust in local government, calls for ward/district elections, stronger advisory boards, debate over strong mayor vs. city manager, and requests for more meaningful engagement.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6250940,"City attorney warns study commission public funds can only 'inform' — not advocate — on ballot measures",692,3623000,4315000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3197505-a9d431973f27ffa43a55cb9b4ed7468f&start=3623&end=4315","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3197505-a9d431973f27ffa43a55cb9b4ed7468f/thumbnail_3623000.jpg","/articles/6250940/Bozeman-City/Gallatin-County/Montana/City-attorney-warns-study-commission-public-funds-can-only-inform-not-advocate-on-ballot-measures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250940-0acbac4818e2ee3fcef1f4351add43f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773645059&Signature=NCHI1yfIGwLYyIntFt3Mj8leijG5RceawPTXXStzId0NxfVFiEt-p5MsUKKjPOv9SWsOX2nvg~7JLM0qfc9bcXl5nQmnZT1DUQBq2Cx93F7MZzjMW3HuXKRe067PupaaqLwUZspg8on5skkwKZBsPQrT2u2TwKYE03HZA9corvY6sHGoUP5g7gnyC0vYJrU10csz4XOuK0-Xm00vn0FALsXzPzy5ZpkJDRp~-NBMZ6SsOLV1e1lPyXpL8yogORxF95FO8-dnu8Psjsx~KjYstyLXULCB5nfmS18nkKEs3pWO4Gb3~P~uOcSLSW3LyIUUgG8Yy9xcLDUydXuYpM-p1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Greg, the city attorney who spoke to the Study Commission on May 1, 2025, reviewed statutory constraints on the use of public funds and other public resources for matters that might be placed on the ballot.

Greg told commissioners that whenever the city spends public money there must be a “clearly defined public purpose behind the expenditure of public money,” and he emphasized the distinction that local governments in Montana may use public resources to inform voters about the likely operational impacts of a ballot question but may not use public time, money, facilities or equipment to solicit support for or opposition to passage. He cited state ethics rules (Title 2) and campaign finance rules (Title 13) and described the Disclose Act (2015) as adding reporting obligations.

Greg explained requirements tied to the Disclose Act and the Commissioner of Political Practices: if a city engages in an education campaign about a ballot measure and the city’s electioneering communications exceed $250 (treated cumulatively), the city must form an incidental political committee and begin filing reports on the use of public money for that educational activity. He described a conservative approach the city uses to avoid litigation and cited a prior legal challenge related to a 2018 public-safety bond as an example of the costs and delays that can follow when the education/advocacy line is crossed.

Commissioners asked whether individual commissioners may speak for or against a measure; Greg said elected officials speaking on their own time and using their private resources may advocate, but commissioners may not use public time, facilities or city email addresses for advocacy. He recommended caution in the run-up to any measure and said staff will help review draft educational materials; he offered the city attorney’s office as a resource for training and pre-publication review.

Less-critical details: Greg noted that the timing matters — after a governing body formally adopts a resolution placing a question on the ballot, the limitations and reporting triggers more clearly attach; he also said some communications (for example, encouraging people to vote without endorsing a position) do not, by themselves, trigger the prohibition.","Bozeman’s city attorney briefed the Study Commission on Montana law limiting the use of public resources for ballot-related advocacy, including reporting requirements under the Disclose Act and rules on incidental political committees.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6250944,"Bozeman study commission previews new website, asks members for feedback",289,2794000,3083000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3197505-a9d431973f27ffa43a55cb9b4ed7468f&start=2794&end=3083","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3197505-a9d431973f27ffa43a55cb9b4ed7468f/thumbnail_2794000.jpg","/articles/6250944/Bozeman-City/Gallatin-County/Montana/Bozeman-study-commission-previews-new-website-asks-members-for-feedback","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250944-9470343b8002746be7122b6c0dca9a8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773645059&Signature=EzAqBPXGvLIoy5zyBc1Q8tUcHarS4ZHn5wPJT6getKMoI6iRyTyfpy32oS669tUqS3CWnxzVMaqtMomeIvprlmu4~zPl2iVMst80q3Mmr5NVURBlhs4ZDRgXVkSmHpqqoBXTqOStpohZ6-nX4dCF6Mi0mcjXlA8kEsCxt5AXI4KWcx81GJvCqBS4MdAwHa9atMOCeSOF1JYt-iQHBK2XDEWG0Zwhj92e-YCptUatl3zi5t8wNIACtHmeNIxS3IL17HTF2drQdDtSYmibQEnzLrlntmBlOEqig9r58RWsJFaDjiJp0uogIz9PzIsEHrLzukVS5wEXklKBo0RAB3eOWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Study Commission for the City of Bozeman reviewed a draft public-facing website and confirmed a timeline for member feedback at its May 1, 2025, meeting.

Members heard a demonstration of the site layout, a plan to backfill past agendas and meeting materials, and details about a single “study commission” e-notification list that will notify subscribers of any posting for the commission. The commission’s staff said they purchased the domain to host the site and showed a working skeleton of sections for About, Agendas, News, Events, Plans and Resources.

Commission staff presented how the site will surface the current agenda, store meeting recordings and minutes, and display an accordion-style timeline of the study process. Staff said individual commissioner bios will appear on an “Who we are” page and that the contact page will include the formal public comment address. They also described an option for each commissioner to publish blog-style posts that would be collected on a single “News/Blogs” area but said posting would be optional.

Commissioners asked for practical features: a separate tab for meeting minutes/recordings, the ability for the timeline accordion to default-open on the current month, and for the “stay informed” notification to be a single opt-in for all study-commission notices. Staff said they will send a direct link to the draft site and asked members to provide written feedback by May 8; staff said they expect to be “pretty close” to a finished product by the May 21 meeting.

The commission agreed to finalize small edits by email and to deliver written summaries of the April 3 public hearing to staff for publication. Staff said they can give the commission a live link and will train the recording secretary or a designated staffer to manage project content. The site demonstration concluded with agreement that staff will circulate the direct site link to commissioners and that revisions requested by members would be incorporated before the next meeting.

Less critical details: staff identified the development contact (Cole) and said the city’s IT staff will assist with back-end settings; optional commissioner blog posts and a separate e-notification category for the study commission were described as configurable features.","The Bozeman Study Commission reviewed a draft website and confirmed next steps for public-facing content, notification settings and a feedback timeline ahead of a May update.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City staff offers EngageBozeman tools and a draft outreach plan to support commission’s study

Study commissioners summarize April 3 public hearing: trust, representation and advisory boards top concerns

City attorney warns study commission public funds can only 'inform' — not advocate — on ballot measures

Bozeman study commission previews new website, asks members for feedback