Bozeman study commission adopts five goals for charter review, schedules March 6 to finalize timetable

The Bozeman Study Commission on Feb. 19 adopted five goals to guide a two‑year review of the city charter and agreed to finalize a detailed timetable at a March 6 meeting.

The commission’s adopted goals include a requirement to “educate ourselves and the community on the City of Bozeman’s current structure, charter form and process of local government,” and a specific charge to “identify ways to educate all city voters on the study commission’s final report to encourage their participation in the November 2026 general election.” Commissioners voted to adopt the set of five goals as amended; the final motion carried unanimously.

Why it matters: The commission’s work could lead to proposed charter changes that would appear on a future ballot. The city attorney told members that under state law a city charter is defined as a document that sets a local government’s powers, structure, rights and duties; how the commission frames its work and how it educates voters will affect public understanding and any later vote.

Members and staff spent much of the meeting…