Billings council debates moving meeting nights, converting work sessions and allowing topic-by-topic public comment

The Billings City Council discussed procedural changes to its meeting schedule and format on March 23, considering whether to shift the regular meeting night from Monday to Tuesday, to make all meetings business (action) meetings rather than work sessions, and to allow public comment after each work-session topic.

Arguments for moving to Tuesday included giving council and staff an extra business day to prepare and avoiding conflict with school-board meetings on Monday nights. Opponents cited incumbent commitments, summertime travel schedules and the risk that shifting the meeting would merely shift procrastination to the next day. Several council members suggested a trial period if a change is adopted.

On converting work sessions into business meetings, some council members argued it would reduce redundant presentations and speed decisions; others said work sessions provide necessary time for deliberation among 11 councilors and help staff understand policy direction before a formal vote. The clerk’s office cautioned that converting meetings would increase staff workload and packet preparation frequency.

Councilors expressed broad support for giving the public more timely opportunities to comment on items, with many saying they preferred comment tied to the topic rather than duplicative general comment at the start and end of the meeting. The mayor directed staff to explore agenda reforms and to route procedural proposals to the committee on committees and operations committee as needed.

Next steps: staff to propose agenda and timing changes, with committee review and potential future action; council left the regular meeting night as Monday for now.