The Bozeman City Study Commission met May 28th to examine the first draft of its tentative report, the document required by law to present to voters at a public hearing scheduled for June 18th. Commissioners Barb Cestero and Becky Franks (excused from this meeting) co-authored the draft, which follows Montana statutory requirements and mirrors the format used by the previous study commission in 2006. Chair Carson Taylor and Commissioners Jan Strout and Deanna Campbell provided feedback on structure and messaging. Cestero requested high-level input on what the report got right, what's missing, and what's factually incorrect—not wordsmithing at this stage. The amended charter language and appendices remain under development and will be inserted before the June 4th approval meeting.
Commissioners also advanced outreach efforts ahead of the public hearing. Cestero reported coordinating a neighborhood association presentation for late July, while Taylor plans to request a September Rotary Club presentation. The commission's new ballot education consultant from Dane Guild will attend the June 4th meeting to begin work on public messaging. During the charter amendment discussion, two of approximately 15 proposed amendments passed unanimously: one clarifying preamble language and another changing "influence decisions" to "public input regarding decisions" in Section 8.03. The remaining amendments failed for lack of a second. The commission will resume amendment consideration at the June 4th meeting before formally approving the tentative report draft.