Council leans against adding transit director as voting member on TPCC; favors non‑voting role

City staff presented proposed membership changes to the Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee (TPCC) tied to the Billings MPO redesignation under the Montana Land Use Planning Act. The proposed core voting membership would keep the mayor, the county commission chair and the MDT District 5 administrator, and staff recommended adding the director of aviation and transit.

Several council members objected to making a staff position a voting member. Council Member Scott Aspenlieder said he would not support adding a staff director as a voting member, arguing that elected officials should retain decision‑making authority: "Staff provides guidance and technical expertise, but the decisions need to be made by elected officials," he said. Other council members agreed, supporting a non‑voting or advisory role for transit and aviation staff so those experts can participate without altering the elected body’s voting balance.

Staff said the redesignation and membership change are meant to modernize governance and align with federal planning requirements; they also noted that in larger urbanized areas transit agencies are often a voting member. The council’s straw poll indicated general support for the TPCC structure but opposition to adding the transit director as a voting member; staff said they would take that direction back to the county and proceed with the redesignation materials and agreement updates accordingly.

Next steps: staff will pursue the redesignation request to the governor’s office and update interagency agreements; the council requested that transit and aviation be included at the table as non‑voting advisors.