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Candidates split on moving public comment as residents say late meetings reduce participation
Summary
Several forum attendees and candidates argued moving public comment to the end of meetings has reduced participation; many candidates said they favor returning public comment to the start to improve access.
Multiple candidates and public commentators told the forum that moving the Missoula City Council public-comment period to the end of meetings has reduced resident participation and made it harder for people with schedules or children to speak. At the event, several candidates said they would support restoring public comment to the start of council meetings or otherwise finding ways to increase public access.
Why it matters: Public comment is the primary mechanism residents use to raise concerns directly to council; changes in timing affect who can attend and whether community input informs council decisions early in a meeting.
Betsy Krask, a Ward 1 candidate, said she did not have the full backstory for why public comment was moved but described the effect: “When meetings go till 10:00, it is really difficult for people to make public comment at the end of long meetings.” Another candidate told the audience, “You used to be able to show up to city council at 6PM and say whatever you need to say to your local government. It’s on the record.” Several candidates agreed that earlier public comment makes it easier for parents, students and working people to participate.
Candidates differed on details and said they wanted more information before changing policy. A few said they would support putting large, costly projects to a public vote. Others suggested exploring alternatives such as splitting comment periods by topic or holding earlier meetings when high public engagement is expected.
Audience questions at the forum highlighted a perceived reduction in participation since the change. One public question submitted in advance said public comment “has reduced dramatically since it was moved to the end of the meetings.” Candidates uniformly said they would review the history of the rule and consider returning comment to the start, with several urging the city to prioritize accessibility for residents.
Looking ahead: Candidates who favored change said they would pursue options to increase in-person and remote participation if elected. Several recommended studying why the change occurred and weighing staff convenience against resident access.
