Missoula County ordinance changes community council seats to commissioner appointments; staff outlines implementation and new administrative procedures

Missoula County staff briefed community-council members Thursday on an ordinance approved earlier this month that changes how community council seats are filled and alters several administrative processes.

Kyla, County staff, said a key change in the ordinance is that “the positions are no longer elected and they're commissioner appointed.” She said terms that end in 2026 will be handled by asking current members whose terms expire to submit letters of interest to the commissioners rather than filing with the Elections Office, and staffer Maddie confirmed letters should be sent to the commissioner's general inbox (bcc@missoulacounty.us) or to her direct email (mscott@missoulacounty.us).

Kyla said staff will reach out to chairs and treasurers about budgeting and invoice submission because the county will begin processing council invoices and tracking budgets; she added that while many councils may dissolve local checking accounts when the county takes over processing, staff recognizes individual council needs and will work with each council about timing.

The ordinance also requires that Missoula County be listed as an official account holder on official council accounts (bank accounts, P.O. boxes and digital channels). Kyla said staff are working to establish official county-hosted email addresses for councils and will update the online handbook and county website to reflect the ordinance changes.

Council members raised several operational questions during the meeting: whether appointed members will still take an oath of office (Kyla said staff would verify); how to handle officer vacancies in bylaws (staff suggested working with liaisons to draft guidance); and whether notice requirements should say a minimum of 2 days with a preference for up to 7 days — Kyla said staff will reconcile ordinance language with the bylaws to clarify that regular-meeting notice should have a minimum of two days but prefer one-week notice where possible.

Staff repeatedly cautioned against making decisions by email or other unnoted channels, recommending councils use meeting agendas and dedicated council email addresses to avoid unnoted deliberations. Kyla said interviews for new appointees are public and councils will have opportunities to provide feedback before appointments.

Next steps: staff will contact councils individually about budgets and accounts, publish the letters-of-interest submission process, update the handbook and website, and present additional timeline details at upcoming meetings ahead of term openings in April and vacancies in May.