Billings council debates moving meeting days, business-meeting format and adding per-item public comment

The Billings City Council discussed procedural changes to its meeting schedule and format at the March 16 work session, including whether to move regular meetings from Monday to Tuesday, convert work sessions into business meetings and allow public comment after each work-session agenda item.

City staff noted the change from Monday to Tuesday had been discussed previously and could provide an extra business day for staff and council preparation but might force other local boards and advisory groups to shift meeting dates. Several council members preferred keeping Monday meetings for personal scheduling reasons; others favored trying a trial period or delaying any change to a future council so newly elected members would know the schedule in advance. The council did not commit to a date change and decided to keep work sessions while seeking to streamline presentation length and packet preparation.

On public comment, a majority of council members supported adding opportunities for the public to comment after individual agenda topics during work sessions so citizens can speak closer to the subject under discussion; legal counsel noted an AG opinion allows one public-comment period at a work session but council may choose to provide additional opportunities. The mayor directed staff to work on agenda reform, add public-comment options closer to individual items (with limits on repetition and relevance), and return with recommendations to implement any changes.

No formal rule changes were adopted at the work session; staff were instructed to coordinate committee review and return proposals for potential trial changes and improved packet timing.