Missoula council rejects rule change on tabling, denies term‑limits hearings and keeps opposition to TIF bill

The Missoula City Council on Feb. 24 rejected a proposal to change Council Rule 23 to allow debate before motions to table, voted against setting public hearings on proposed term limits for council members and the mayor, and declined to change the city's stated position on Senate Bill 2, a state TIF-related bill.

Councilor Daniel Carlino, who sponsored the rule-change and term‑limit items, asked the council to give members “the opportunity to speak on behalf of our constituents before we make that vote on whether or not to table an item.” He framed the rule change as “an essential cornerstone of our democracy” to permit elected members to speak on important proposals before a tabling vote.

Opponents said the motion-to-table procedure, as written in the council rules and guided by Mason’s Manual, is a standard legislative tool used to advance or end debate. Councilors who opposed the change said tabling is a transparent, majority-run mechanism that simply moves items off the floor when further work is needed.

The council also considered two separate motions to set March 24 public hearings on ballot measures that would amend the city charter to add term limits (three full terms/12 years was proposed by Carlino). Carlino said the hearings would let voters decide;…