09/02/2024
“Helena This Week” is reported and written By JoVonne Wagner. Send your Helena news and tips to [email protected].
New policy requires city commissioners to attend at least half of their meetings in person
A new Helena city policy will limit the virtual participation of city commissioners and board and committee members during public meetings, despite concerns about accessibility and fairness.
Last week, the city commission adopted electronic meeting guidelines to comply with a state law requiring some cities to record meetings. Although Helena’s local government has offered the option to participate in electronic meetings since 2019, no official city ordinance was in place.
The policy states that a city commissioner or a city board or committee member can participate electronically in no more than half of their scheduled meetings, with some exceptions. Commissioner Melinda Reed raised issues regarding how these guidelines could impact current and future commissioners.
On average, there are between 50 and 60 scheduled city public meetings each year, and with the new policy in place, members will be expected to attend 25 to 30 of those in person.
Reed, a single parent of a young child, has voiced her concerns since the proposed policy was first introduced to the commission earlier this summer.
“I’m a little concerned that we will limit people’s ability to serve if we make it a physical presence requirement or start to make it so it becomes highly stressful to figure out how you’re gonna care for your child in order to be here,” Reed said during a July meeting.
The policy could impact people who want to run for public office but have young children and cannot afford childcare, lack reliable transportation or have a full-time job, Reed said.
She also disagreed with a portion of the policy stating that members attending virtually can’t cast official votes.
In past discussions, Commissioner Sean Logan said Helena’s policy is generous compared to other cities and communicates an expectation that public officials will be available to the public.
Although balancing personal lives, jobs and commission duties can be challenging, seeking a public position shouldn’t be taken lightly, Mayor Wilmot Collins said during Monday’s regular commission meeting.
“Civil service is both a privilege and a sacrifice,” Collins said. “No one should be discouraged from running for office, but you should also come with the understanding of the dedication and demands that represent the constituents we place on all aspects of our lives.”
Reed said during the same meeting that the city wasn’t keeping up with the benefits of technology.
“We’re looking at other people’s policies and procedures,” Reed said. “What I’d rather do is look to the future and set a different standard and be forward-looking and realize technology has opened a door and expanded people’s ability to participate, and I don’t know why we would close that door.”
The commission voted to approve the policy, 4-1, with Reed voting in opposition.
Public Notice
Labor Day closures: City administrative offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2, for Labor Day. Impacted city services will include Capitol Transit, the transfer station and garbage pickup. Residents can expect their trash to be picked up the following day. Contact the city transfer station at 447-8086 for more information on garbage services.
Sign ordinance scheduled update: A proposed sign code ordinance originally scheduled for final passage on Monday, Sept. 9, has been rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 23. The change will allow city staff to address concerns that were previously raised by the public about the ordinance during the next city administrative meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 4 p.m. at the City-County building.
Earlier this summer, city staff recommended that the commission approve the update that would bring the sign code into compliance with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, simplify the allowed sign types, sizes and locations, and add a curfew for electronic billboards.
5 Things to Know in Helena
City mill levy update: During last week’s city commission meeting, the city finance director presented the 2024 property tax overview that included a slight increase in local mill levies. The city has four levies, a general levy, a permissive health levy, a park improvement levy and a fire supplemental levy, totaling 152.37 mills for the 2025 tax year. Compared to last year, city residents will see a 3.6 mill increase and can expect to pay an additional $4.86 in taxes for properties with a market value of $100,000. Property owners with a value of $300,000 will pay $14.58 more, and owners of a $600,000-valued property will pay about $29 more.
Capitol traffic plan postponed: A proposed traffic plan that would create one-way streets around the Capitol was tabled during the city commission meeting. The mayor announced that the Capitol staff requested the postponement to allow them more time to explain the plan to the public. After the traffic plan was first introduced to the commission earlier this summer, some residents raised concerns about traffic flow, parking and safety. It was not announced when the proposal will next be discussed.
Pete’s Place: Last Monday marked the opening of the recently renovated early childhood center for St. Peter’s Health employees, named Pete’s Place. At the beginning of this year, St. Peter’s Health leased the Ray Bjork Learning Center from the Helena Public School District. The building makeover created an 11-classroom, state-certified daycare that accepts infants to preschoolers, according to a press release.
Home builders: The Helena Area Habitat for Humanity will host a Women’s Day Build on Saturday, Sept. 7, that is aimed to recognize women builders, according to the nonprofit’s press release. Women volunteers will help construct the outside walls of two houses in the East Helena Highland Meadows subdivision. Those wanting to participate don’t need prior experience, and Habitat for Humanity will provide a safety orientation, training, tools and personal protective equipment. Visit the organization’s website to register or for more information.
Israel-Palestine history session: A presentation on the history of Israel and Palestine before the current war will be held on Sunday, Sept. 8, at Plymouth Congregational Church from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jeanette M. Fregulia, the chairperson of the history program at Carroll College, will host the presentation and answer questions after. The social justice committees of Plymouth Congregational Church and the Big Sky Unitarian Universalists are sponsoring the event.
Might Be Fun
Kids learn Mann Gulch: The Montana Historical Society and the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest will hold a workshop for kids to learn about the Mann Gulch Fire. The workshop will cover how the historic fire led to the improvement of firefighter equipment, fire ecology and the smokejumper profession. The workshop will be held at the Lewis and Clark Library, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch, on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is open to kids ages 8 and up and registration is required.
Eye on Helena
St. Peter’s Health announced the previous day that the hospital will pay $10.8 million in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice after an investigation showed that Weiner, through the hospital, submitted false claims to federal health programs from 2015 to 2020. The DOJ filed a civil lawsuit against the doctor earlier this week.
