Missoula, Montana Development News
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Missoula City Council Meeting July 6, 2026
Published: Jul 6, 2026
Lower Rattlesnake Neighborhood Council Reports on Power Pole Replacements, Train Noise Reduction, and School Future
Pete Lesa, from the Lower Rattlesnake Neighborhood Council leadership team, provided an update on several community initiatives. These included a letter to Bonavville Power regarding plans to replace power poles in the Sunlight Recreation Area and concerns about potential ground disturbance from heavy trucks during replacement, suggesting work be done when the ground is frozen. The team is also working with the city's public works and mobility department to quiet train horn noise by installing wayside horns at the green railroad crossing. Additionally, neighborhood members are engaging with the Missoula County Public School Board regarding the future of Prescott School, with plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) likely in the fall.
Resident Raises Concerns Over Surveillance Technology, Airport Activity, and Detention Practices
During public comment on items not on the agenda, Matt Larson discussed the 'Bicotta' system, described as a camera system used at the University of Montana, and its potential deployment in city parks. He questioned the lack of a publicly accessible policy for this system, referencing state laws MCA 46-5-117 and MCA 46-5-118. Larson also raised concerns about the Missoula PD's potential existing use of such systems, the police commission's tabling of related issues, and a recent Supreme Court decision impacting surveillance technology. He further brought up issues related to the Missoula International Airport, the Missoula detention facility, and individuals held without arrest records or charges, referring to them as 'ghost prisoners.' Larson criticized the city and county for policies that are not publicly accessible and questioned the 'sanctuary city' status given these practices.
Advocate Urges City to Use Land Trusts and Creative Design for Affordable Housing, Critiques Large Parking Lot Proposal
During public comment, Susette Dusso encouraged the city to embrace all available tools, including Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and land trusts, to address the community's desperate need for housing. She advocated for developing land into neighborhoods rather than just developments, suggesting that land trusts could allow affordable buyers to avoid land costs and property taxes associated with the land. Dusso expressed concern about a specific recent parcel sale that includes a proposed 260-car parking lot, which she described as more akin to a shopping mall than a neighborhood. She argued that this development would create a strong heat island effect in an already dense heat island area and urged the city to revisit the design, be more creative, and create a neighborhood that aligns with the city's parks document, which emphasizes celebrating and recreating nature.
Resident Criticizes City of Missoula for Lack of Transparency and Accessibility in Public Information
During the consent agenda discussion, Matt Larson raised concerns about the city's transparency and accessibility of financial and agenda information. He criticized the file naming conventions for attachments on the HTML agenda, the aggregation and timeliness of public comments, and the inability to comment directly on the agenda via the Civic Plus platform. Larson also pointed out issues with the file naming of claims, the inability to view the full ledger, and the city's refusal to provide complete vendor information, comparing it unfavorably to practices in Great Falls and other cities. He further stated that the city blocks assisted technology from accessing and ingesting this information into accessible formats for disabled users and refuses to enable a read-only feature for public access. Larson suggested that the city is not providing budget information to AI tools like CoPilot or ChatGPT, which could help identify issues and improve public access to government information. He highlighted ongoing inaccessibility despite ADA appeals and court cases.
Missoula Fire Department Praised for Containing Weekend House Fire, Fireworks Safety Emphasized
Councilor Anderson took the opportunity to commend the Missoula Fire Department (MFD) for their swift response to a house fire in Ward 5 over the weekend. Thanks to their quick containment, the fire was limited to the structure where it originated, preventing it from spreading to neighboring houses, despite starting with a bush fire. Anderson emphasized that MFD personnel work 24/7 to ensure community safety, especially during holidays. They also reiterated that fireworks are illegal in Missoula not to limit fun, but because accidents can happen, and safe alternatives like drone shows and professional fireworks displays exist. The Councilor extended condolences to the constituents whose belongings were lost in the fire and wished them a better holiday period.
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