Bozeman study commission weighs wards vs. at‑large elections, requests more data and sets timeline for charter work

The Bozeman City Study Commission spent the March 25 meeting focused on whether to recommend ward‑based, at‑large or hybrid election systems and on next steps for drafting charter language.

Dan Clark, a consultant who prepared background materials for the commission, reviewed the advantages and trade‑offs of at‑large, ward and hybrid systems and urged commissioners to ‘‘identify the problem you are trying to solve’’ before choosing a model. Clark said there is no single solution that fits every community and emphasized practical tradeoffs: wards can bring neighborhood voices into the chamber but may produce parochial decision‑making; at‑large systems can promote citywide perspectives but make campaigns more expensive and harder for lower‑income residents to run.

Clark outlined implementation issues and a draft timetable for the commission’s work, including preparing a draft charter for internal review by May 7, legal review soon thereafter, approval of draft language and release for public comment in mid‑May, a public hearing on the tentative draft on June 17, and a goal of sending ballot language to the county elections office by Aug. 10.

Commissioners pressed Clark for more Montana‑specific data. Commissioner Jen asked whether ward cities had themselves voted to review their governments; Clark said the available Montana research is limited and agreed to look for comparative data on voter turnout under ward versus at‑large systems, examples of anti‑gerrymandering charter language, and evidence on how mayor selection (elected at large versus selected by the commission) affects collaboration.

Several commissioners raised alternatives and concerns. Commissioner Barb Sestero noted hybrid models that include a mixture of ward seats and at‑large seats as a way to combine local representation with citywide accountability. Commissioner Becky Franks asked whether structural changes would remain relevant given a 2023 state law that moved many building approvals into an adopted Unified Development Code; Clark said the statute likely shifts some front‑line engagement to neighborhood councils and code design rather than case‑by‑case commission votes.

Members also discussed practical implementation: how to draw ward boundaries when local datasets (school districts, census tracts) do not align with city limits; options for triggers to rebalance wards if rapid annexation skews populations; and whether mapping should be done by staff or deferred to a future commission with charter criteria set now.

Public commenters were divided. Resident Mary Bateson urged keeping at‑large elections and warned that wards could add complexity, increase boundary‑change churn for voters and reduce turnout; she said Bozeman’s nonwhite and lower‑income populations are not sufficiently geographically concentrated to gain representation through wards. Another resident, Terry Quattro, favored wards for lowering campaign costs and broadening participation, and several commenters suggested measures such as candidate handbooks, spending caps or public financing to reduce barriers to entry.

Votes at a glance The commission approved the consent agenda (minutes) by voice vote, the chair announcing the motion carried 4 to 0. The motion was made by Commissioner Barb Sestero and the public record shows the commission’s four voting members on the dais — Carson (Chair), Barb Sestero, Mike and Commissioner Becky Franks (attending by phone) — voted in favor.

What’s next Clark agreed to gather and circulate additional materials on voter turnout comparisons, anti‑gerrymandering language, mayor‑selection impacts and representation data for similarly sized Montana cities; commissioners asked for that material as soon as possible so it can inform learning sessions scheduled for April and mid‑April and further discussion in late May. The commission also confirmed the timeline to have draft charter language ready for public review this spring and to aim for August 10 submission of ballot language to the county elections office.

The meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m.