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; opponents said the question is complex and better studied through a local government study process and that the public has not shown a large demand for charter changes.

On state policy, Councilor Andrew Campbell introduced a motion to change the city’s official position on Senate Bill 2 (a bill that would alter how some TIF revenue is treated) from oppose to support. Supporters argued SB 2 would place new limits and transparency on TIF and protect other taxing jurisdictions; opponents argued the bill would reduce future city revenues from newly taxable value and impair the city’s ability to finance long‑range capital needs.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to amend City Council Rule 23 (allow debate on motions to table): Sponsor — Councilor Daniel Carlino. Result — failed, 4 in favor, 7 opposed (Yes: Campbell, Carlino, Jordan, Vasika; No: Anderson, Becerra, Jones, Nelson, Nugent, Savage, Cheryl). The motion would have overridden Mason’s Manual procedures.

- Motion to set public hearing on term limits for city council (03/24/2025): Sponsor — Councilor Daniel Carlino. Result — failed, 4 in favor, 7 opposed (Yes: Campbell, Carlino, Jordan, Vasika; No: Becerra, Jones, Nelson, Nugent, Savage, Cheryl, Anderson).

- Motion to set public hearing on term limits for mayor (03/24/2025): Sponsor — Councilor Daniel Carlino. Result — failed, 4 in favor, 7 opposed (Yes: Campbell, Carlino, Jordan, Vasika; No: Becerra, Jones, Nelson, Nugent, Savage, Cheryl, Anderson).

- Motion to change the city’s official position on Senate Bill 2 (TIF allocation) from oppose to support: Moved by Councilor Campbell. Result — failed, 2 in favor, 8 opposed, 1 abstention (Yes: Campbell, Vasika; No: Carlino, Jones, Nelson, Nugent, Savage, Cheryl, Anderson, Becerra; 1 abstention). The council kept its opposition.

- Consent agenda (three items): Ratify accounts payable checks/claims dated 02/18/2025 ($1,179,430.42) and 02/25/2025 ($1,237,943.43); confirm promotions of Luke Dunning and Corey Grama to fire captain per Missoula Code Annotated 7-3-4122. Result — passed unanimously by voice vote.

Why it matters

The Rule 23 proposal would have altered how council debate is managed and how members can respond when a motion to table is made. Term‑limits proposals would have put charter amendments before Missoula voters; the council’s votes block the council‑initiated path to a ballot measure but do not prevent citizen petition drives. The SB 2 action reflects ongoing local concern about state-level changes to tax increment financing and how such changes could affect city budgeting and long-range capital planning.

Council comments and public input

Supporters of the rule change and hearings argued they would improve transparency and let minority voices be heard. “I’ve seen the tabling rule be used to cut off council member comment,” Councilor Jordan said during debate. Opponents cautioned that tabling is a normal parliamentary tool: Councilor Nugent said, “If the majority of the body feels as though ... enough debate and conversation has transpired then they would vote on tabling.”

Public commenters included Brandy Antonisoff and Lucas Moody, who told the council they supported setting public hearings so voters could weigh in.

What the votes do not do

Council votes on Feb. 24 did not enact term limits, change the charter, nor adopt new state‑law positions. They kept the city’s existing rules and its official stance opposing SB 2. Interested residents can pursue petition routes or bring revised proposals back to the council in future meetings.

Sources and provenance

This article is based on the Feb. 24, 2025 Missoula City Council meeting transcript and roll‑call votes. Topic discussion begins at the council’s regular-business item (discussion of motions to table and related proposals) and continues through the SB 2 debate and roll calls.