Bozeman commission and city staff hold retreat to clarify roles, priorities and improve public outreach

Bozeman City commissioners and senior staff met in a recorded retreat to review roles under the city charter and discuss ways to strengthen collaboration, communication and public trust. The session, organized by City Manager Chuck and attended by department directors and commissioners, included directors’ briefings on core services and time for commissioners to outline priorities such as housing, transit, sustainability and parks.

The retreat’s purpose, organizers said, was not to make policy decisions but to “get out from behind the dais” and improve working relationships so the commission’s policy direction and staff implementation remain aligned. “This is not something we are trying to hide,” Chuck, the city manager, told the group as the session opened. He repeatedly stressed that the commission sets policy and the manager and staff carry out operations.

Directors used the meeting to summarize essential, day-to-day responsibilities…