[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6209772,"mediaKeyId","3730857-c79b1f81c6392cfbd302102ab09e358b","parentId",3730857,"title","Missoula residents split after council’s decision to make Pride flag an official city flag; supporters and opponents spoke at public comment","audioSeconds",1330,"startMs",1931000,"endMs",3261000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3730857-c79b1f81c6392cfbd302102ab09e358b&start=1931&end=3261","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3730857-c79b1f81c6392cfbd302102ab09e358b/thumbnail_1931000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6209772/Missoula/Missoula-County/Montana/Missoula-residents-split-after-councils-decision-to-make-Pride-flag-an-official-city-flag-supporters-and-opponents-spoke-at-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209772-4b9c6cc4bf2c608c2bcdc76628a939fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1777668814&Signature=FUlB9GdIlq3KLpZ1MBsBqxqTz6Y6M3GvqUIu3y~59YFTJrhkGDvJ0XTmlJ6p27yubwToZdEawDrWGc1BCF6qqTVlS1rxcTcxsPseci5MoYc7OFPEE-M6~UL2E3bpT1MV2GzPLeeJXrd9NOCTjWXzIFBsr7xvzk-YWGySO1NFqNIG0sPBzn57r1KKI59YtdTZ6v3eGf-YKTbBkGzgpGbN3aH3cuHcrY0vxEFa-vmOO2P5xKvXg3jtkj0S5lnoOHZ104pEBKlw5H0GOWBaYh1iDdwEH-Sk~ZGY17JpJaaykFxJYzXV3Ou1dWJcwO3vigJi~SrDH1WtR2MmoduNwTtb2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Missoula, MT","date","2025-06-10T04:25:55.177Z","article","Following the City Council's decision the prior week to designate the Pride flag as an official Missoula city flag, multiple residents used the June 9 public-comment period to respond, offering sharply divergent views on whether the city should adopt flags that represent specific political or religious viewpoints.

Susan Campbell Renault told the council she opposes making any flag beyond the U.S., Montana and POW/MIA flags \"official for the city of Missoula,\" saying such symbols represent the entire population and that a municipal government should avoid endorsing what she described as strong political statements. \"No other flag, especially any flag that symbolizes a controversial topic or political viewpoint should ever be flown above any official government building that represents all Missoula residents,\" Renault said.

Carolyn Gliedwell urged the council to consider including a Christian flag if private-flag programs are open to outside organizations, citing the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Shurtleff v. City of Boston (which addressed municipal flagpole programs) as relevant to whether municipalities can accept privately proposed flags for display. Gliedwell said she wanted the Christian community to be included in the city's expression of diversity.

By contrast, Savannah Geary, who described herself as Guatemalan, thanked the council for making the Pride flag official and said the designation provides reassurance to groups under threat elsewhere. \"It really does mean a lot,\" Geary said, adding the action signals Missoula's willingness to protect vulnerable groups.

Mark Haika, a long-time resident, also praised the council's decision as reflective of Missoula's values. \"This is a cool city... you guys represent wonderful people,\" he told council members.

Councilor Jordan defended the prior decision during council comments, saying it was appropriate both to protect a targeted, marginalized community and to maintain local control over municipal decisions after a state legislative session that Jordan said \"actively tried to pass laws that specifically targeted our LGBTQ plus community.\" Jordan said the city's action balanced protection of a vulnerable group and local autonomy.

Councilors also used the moment to urge civility. Councilor Anderson reminded the public that the right to assemble and protest should be exercised peacefully and without property damage.

No additional council action on flag policy occurred at the June 9 meeting; the remarks were part of the public-comment period and council members' general comments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Missoula City Council Meeting June 9 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Following a council vote the previous week to designate the Pride flag as an official city flag, Missoula residents used the June 9 public-comment period to voice both opposition and support. Speakers ranged from those urging only nonpolitical flags be flown to residents thanking the council for affirming inclusivity.","taxTitle","Missoula, Missoula County, Montana","taxId",4050,"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},6209778,"Lower Rattlesnake leaders tell Missoula council railroad noise, new subdivisions and a broken sidewalk threaten neighborhood safety",257,221000,478000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3730857-c79b1f81c6392cfbd302102ab09e358b&start=221&end=478","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3730857-c79b1f81c6392cfbd302102ab09e358b/thumbnail_221000.jpg","/articles/6209778/Missoula/Missoula-County/Montana/Lower-Rattlesnake-leaders-tell-Missoula-council-railroad-noise-new-subdivisions-and-a-broken-sidewalk-threaten-neighborhood-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209778-05a03d7691736b9072b18bbd3033ad29/orig.mp4?Expires=1777668814&Signature=mSyViroG36UePefFqk~5EvcMnqIq5NwRaKrO5qOXAtUMKnXPiwyJXiDNANfRaGxXen6JGjgSgumFPDMPVt306-yRBf1APHhV~uqJkTGoeu1EyQ6gOvU-dSqeTCM63SWiy~kwkpxfgGtQknZH7DUKfcAAuzW1njW5nQ783VerwSVKEWAritu4sXJPTcHPF~ILWQd~xBgQM0zZaxg~rp0eTPK8KqnRFmWAwLwIeU6a3-qOCblkQk1moumZ8Yb2JST0oxwgQS5ut~5jHpkBdd0lPOh2FK2wkTbxFCJAeDVmgip7lxxMv0fPreGTMmpdYDsueopabMeEqybAJSUUIpKxqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Robert Schultz, representing the Lower Rattlesnake neighborhood leadership team, told the City Council on June 9 that railroad horn noise remains a significant local problem affecting residents and people using nearby trails and parks. \"It is a significant problem,\" Schultz said, noting complaints come from people climbing Mount Jumbo, users of Waterworks and Mount Sentinel, and businesses south of the railroad tracks.

Schultz told the council that the neighborhood still needs \"800,000 to a million dollars\" and that extensive paperwork and bureaucracy remain before any mitigation work can begin. He also raised concern about two subdivisions proposed on or near Greenough Drive — including one on Cherry Gulch — that he said could create between 60 and 70 new residences and \"probably ... 100 more cars,\" and that the neighborhood has only two egress points (Greenough Drive and Van Buren Street), increasing evacuation and traffic concerns.

Schultz also highlighted a hazardous sidewalk on the south side of the east part of Gregory Bar (east of Van Buren Street), calling it \"perhaps one of the worst in the city\" and saying he believes the sidewalk is on park property and could be fixed by the city. He suggested either repouring concrete or converting the area to a trail and noted the location is used heavily during Griz games.

Mayor Andrea Davis advised Schultz that residents may report sidewalk hazards through the city of Missoula website and noted councilor Eric Nelson could help follow up. The mayor also offered to notify city teams internally to pursue the reported sidewalk issue.

No formal council action was taken at the June 9 meeting on these neighborhood items; the presentation served as an update and a request for follow-up. Councilor Nelson was identified as a local contact for continued work on railroad noise and sidewalk repair.","A Lower Rattlesnake neighborhood representative urged the Missoula City Council to address persistent railroad horn noise (estimating $800,000–$1 million in needs), oppose two subdivisions that could add 60–70 residences and roughly 100 cars, and repair a hazardous sidewalk on Van Buren Street.",{"_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},6209782,"Missoula council adopts three special lighting districts to reimburse developers for streetlights",638,778000,1416000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3730857-c79b1f81c6392cfbd302102ab09e358b&start=778&end=1416","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3730857-c79b1f81c6392cfbd302102ab09e358b/thumbnail_778000.jpg","/articles/6209782/Missoula/Missoula-County/Montana/Missoula-council-adopts-three-special-lighting-districts-to-reimburse-developers-for-streetlights","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209782-4dc969eb9532e4499fa2edf90aaf379e/orig.mp4?Expires=1777668814&Signature=LEQORhgIcyJ0OiEqpLJhswGB2oebjbJyTOMYlFxC7hFv5FRjz8Xy-Jt3q~JUBWxW-cIO9ZKcehU~dIfBx2l9Wuqmmz28bI7MoZWEzlKRjB3eIbzeoXcWpDFf0P0u3L~6VRkol45vQfs-PUFdlTsh~79yN~X4bJ4hiiG6M8PMYzX14Mvq-piDTSeCe2iVMU4Bz7iLqk-JqB8hOTQ0xPGJKWNFzFR~r0M3HzrINf~i-OD5Yd~CLC7KhpH5d2gUW248vtl7MtDWk9JHa6vwjHtg3WiTqp0dF-h6KwIyl5k7GlRIJ4pUt47S13NM26GsJ2iHQHZev98FXhHSXiBpmNNq~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Missoula City Council on June 9 approved resolutions creating three Special Lighting Improvement Districts — SLD No. 53 (Heron's Landing, Phase W1), SLD No. 54 (Magnet Flats) and SLD No. 55 (Hellgate Village) — to reimburse developers for the capital cost of streetlights installed adjacent to collector streets. The motion passed by roll call after a public hearing and no public comments on the item.

City Engineer Troy Munro, who presented the proposal, said the districts pay developers for the design and installation costs and that homeowner assessments are placed on the tax rolls. \"The SLDs will pay the developers annually over a 15 year payment period,\" Munro said, and added that homeowner costs are calculated on the area of a parcel or lot on a square-foot basis and placed on the property tax bill.

The council heard that roughly a dozen streetlights already have been installed in the Mullen-area subdivisions cited in the presentation. Munro said the city has been converting leased lights to LED and that owning lights, rather than leasing them, can reduce long-term costs and improve response time for repairs. He also described a bonding fee that was allocated across the three districts and noted developers would likely see reimbursement about a year and a half after district creation.

Councilor Basica asked whether the properties in the districts are occupied; Munro answered that most parcels are largely built out and that Herring's Landing (as described in the presentation) was about 50% complete. Councilor Campbell voiced support, calling lighting \"a great public safety benefit\" and saying the assessment is \"very specific, very targeted\" compared with other levies.

Formal action: Councilor Becerra moved the resolution to create SLD Nos. 53–55 as described in the meeting materials. The council opened a public hearing, heard no public comment, and then voted by roll call. The clerk recorded yes votes from Anderson, Sarah, Campbell, Carlino, Jordan, Nelson (indicated by sign), Cheryl, and Basica; Councilor Savage was absent. The mayor announced the motion carried.

No additional directives or follow-up tasks were recorded during the meeting beyond the standard next steps Munro described: creation of the districts, placement of assessments on tax rolls, and developer reimbursement timing. The council did not amend the proposed districts at this meeting.

Background: Munro noted that Missoula requires streetlights with new development on arterial streets and evaluates collector streets under the Missoula City Public Works Standard and Specifications Manual. The SLDs were described as the mechanism to cover capital costs for required lights adjacent to collector streets while Road District No. 1 will cover operations and maintenance going forward.

What to expect: Property owners inside the new districts will see the yearly assessment on future tax rolls; developers will receive reimbursement as the SLD collection begins. Details, including district boundaries and the assessment spreadsheet, were included in the agenda attachments.","The Missoula City Council on June 9 approved resolutions creating Special Lighting Districts (SLD) Nos. 53–55 to reimburse developers for the design and installation of new streetlights; the assessments will appear on property tax rolls and be collected over 15 years.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Missoula residents split after council’s decision to make Pride flag an official city flag; supporters and opponents spoke at public comment

Lower Rattlesnake leaders tell Missoula council railroad noise, new subdivisions and a broken sidewalk threaten neighborhood safety

Missoula council adopts three special lighting districts to reimburse developers for streetlights