Missoula Civic Wrap-up for Oct. 23 to 29, 2026
It was a quiet week for votes. On Monday, the Missoula City Council approved a package of contracts and set a Nov. 2 public hearing on annexing the KOA campground property on England Boulevard. With two of three commissioners present, Missoula County approved a $347,158 building contract and a loan transfer to Aware Inc. Newly posted minutes confirm the county's settlement of a lawsuit over a Frenchtown mini-storage project. The county also took questions on its draft data center study, and the City Council wrapped up its two-day forum on domestic violence.
City of Missoula
City Council
The council met Monday, Oct. 26, with 10 of 12 members present; Kristen Jordan and Eric Melson were absent. Members approved the six-item consent agenda 10-0, with no public comment on those items.
The largest item was a construction agreement with MET Automation and Controls, capped at $1,042,739.16. It pays for the second phase of replacing the programmable controllers that run the city water system.
Members also approved:
- A $368,845 funding contract with Missoula Aging Services for fiscal year 2027
- An electric easement for NorthWestern Energy within the Park on North Scott Street
- Mayor Andrea Davis's reappointment of James Crosby to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board through September 2029
- $1,906,918.63 in claims
The council also adopted a resolution of intent to annex 3710 England Boulevard, the KOA campground property, and to zone it Limited Urban Mixed-Use (LU-MU) once it joins the city. The resolution set a public hearing for Monday, Nov. 2. Staff presented the proposal to the Land Use and Planning Committee on Wednesday for discussion only.
Missoula Current reported that the roughly 7-acre parcel off Reserve Street is owned by Missoula Valley Properties and that the annexation includes an easement for a future third lane on England Boulevard. Traffic engineer Troy Monroe said England will need that lane, according to the report.
The Rose Park neighborhood leadership team gave an update. Audrey Hayes said a neighborhood action plan is being built from 55 survey responses and described work on the Slant Street gateway, a memorial garden and a rain garden project. The council also proclaimed First Responders Day.
Committees
The Climate, Conservation and Parks Committee voted 11-0 on Wednesday to recommend a $445,446 contract with Dakota Playground for playground equipment and safety surfacing at the Park on North Scott Street. The contract goes to the council's consent agenda.
The Committee of the Whole held the second session of Councilmember Gwen Jones's domestic violence forum on Wednesday. This session focused on the justice system. It was informational and took no action, and Jones has said the forum could lead to legislation early next year.
Missoula Current reported that County Attorney Matt Jennings described significant progress but said the justice system was not built for interpersonal violence and can retraumatize victims. Assistant City Attorney Angie Robertson-Bakken said rules of evidence make it hard to show juries the history of a relationship. Police Detective Nate Griesse called Missoula's response a "gold standard" in the state.
Other city news
The city announced Oct. 29 that it will not form a special improvement district to pay for a train horn quiet zone in the Lower Rattlesnake. In a 2025 survey with 758 responses, 58.3 percent of respondents wanted horn noise addressed, but 40.5 percent supported paying for it through the district, according to the city. Public Works will look at a wayside horn at Greenough and Madison only if existing funds can cover it.
The city also announced Oct. 23 that Franklin Crossing, a planned 192-unit affordable apartment project, received federal low-income housing tax credits. The project still needs final council approval, which the city expects in December.
Missoula Current reported new details on the Missoula Redevelopment Agency's Oct. 23 vote to relocate Camp Mak-A-Dream from the Franklin Crossing site. The city will buy the building for $468,000, pay moving costs and provide up to $65,000 in rent assistance. Camp Mak-A-Dream must move out by April 15, 2027.
Coming up
- Monday, Nov. 2: Council public hearing on annexing and zoning 3710 England Boulevard
- Monday, Nov. 9: No council meeting
- Monday, Nov. 16: The Reserve to Scott master plan returns to the council
- Wednesday, Nov. 18: Planning Commission hearing on Reserve to Scott
The $445,446 North Scott Street playground contract is expected on a consent agenda soon.
Missoula County
Board of County Commissioners
Commissioners Josh Slotnick and Juanita Vero held the Tuesday, Oct. 27 administrative meeting; Commissioner Dave Strohmaier was not listed as present. Every item passed 2-0.
The consent agenda included:
- A resolution affirming the policing powers of the Missoula County Airport Authority
- A $347,158 contract with Langlas and Associates for improvements to the county building at 311 Woody Street
- A $31,000 contract with PCI Electrical to replace the fire alarm system at the Public Health Building
- A contract amendment with HDR of up to $20,000 for general consulting for Public Works
- Updated bylaws for the Big Sky Stewardship Committee
In a separate vote, the board approved documents transferring the Western Montana Mental Health Center loan and guarantee to Aware Inc. The minutes do not list the loan amount.
Minutes from the Oct. 20 meeting, posted this week, show that Slotnick and Vero approved 2-0 a settlement of a lawsuit filed by six Frenchtown neighbors. The neighbors had challenged the conditions the county set in 2025 when it approved a mini-storage project.
According to Missoula Current, the settlement adds these conditions:
- Lighting limited to 3,000 Kelvin, on motion sensors or timers
- Black fencing with landscaping
- Building backs facing Roman Creek Road
- No tenant access from midnight to 4 a.m.
- Security cameras that can't point at neighboring homes
- No bright siding
Deputy County Attorney John Hart said the original conditions stay in place and the county avoids further litigation, the outlet reported. Slotnick called it "a great resolution" and said the developer should have involved neighbors earlier.
Data center study
The county took public questions Tuesday evening on its draft study of data center impacts, which was released earlier this month. According to NBC Montana, Climate Action program manager Svein Newman said the study supports the emergency finding behind the county's moratorium on new data centers outside city limits.
State Rep. Bob Carter, D-Missoula, said similar concerns are being raised in Helena, that state rules are likely about a year away, and that local governments should act now. A Missoula resident who has worked in data center construction urged a full ban on evaporative cooling.
Missoula Current reported that the study recommends that the county begin drafting zoning rules, likely starting with noise, and press the Legislature and the Public Service Commission to protect local land-use authority. Planning Director Karen Hughes said the county has not yet seen any bill drafts. The study was also on the agenda for a virtual town hall with the county's community councils on Wednesday.
Other county news
As of Oct. 27, 43 percent of mail ballots had been returned and accepted, the county elections office reported. The office is urging voters to use drop boxes rather than the mail, because the Postal Service cannot guarantee delivery this close to the election. Late registration is in person only at the Elections Center, 140 N. Russell St.
Ballot drop-off options:
- Through Monday, Nov. 2: the 24-hour drop box at the Elections Center
- Monday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: drive-through at McCormick Park
- Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.: drive-through at McCormick Park, the Hellgate Elementary ball fields at 2385 Flynn Lane, and Russell Street between the Fairgrounds and the YMCA, plus any polling place
The county mailed 2026 property tax bills this week. The first half must be postmarked by Nov. 30, and the second half is due June 1, 2027.
In Lolo, the protest period for the proposed water and sewer district continues through Nov. 20, with a protest hearing set for Dec. 3.
Coming up
- Wednesday, Nov. 4, 6 p.m.: The Consolidated Land Use Board reviews the draft data center study and takes public comment
- Thursday, Nov. 5, 2 p.m.: Commissioners' next public meeting
- Thursday, Nov. 12, 2 p.m.: Commissioners' hearing on the data center study, where they are expected to give staff direction
- Nov. 16 to 19, 6 to 7:30 p.m.: Community Wildfire Protection Plan open houses at the Exploration Center in Missoula (Nov. 16), the Frenchtown Fire Station (Nov. 17), Bonner School (Nov. 18) and Sullivan Hall in Seeley Lake (Nov. 19)
Missoula Commons names people who speak in an official or representative capacity, including elected officials, staff, applicants and people speaking for organizations. We describe private residents who speak for themselves by neighborhood or town instead of naming them. If you spoke at a meeting covered here and would like to be credited by name, write to us and we will update the story.
