City of Townsend

Council Meeting Summary: June 16, 2026

Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Rauser called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.  Council members present are Angie Wintrow, JB Howick, Vivian Boaz, Peter Simon, and Nate Brown. Also in attendance are Jim Domino, Doug Sitton Cassie & Leroy Cooper, Nichole Simon, Eric Crusch, and Kari Williams

 Public Comment:  Any public comment on matters not on the agenda but within the city’s jurisdiction. (None)

Minutes from June 2, 2026:  JB made a motion to approve the minutes as presented.  Peter seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried.  .

Guest:  Business owner, Cassie Cooper addressed the council regarding the city’s zoning process, particularly focusing on the drive-through traffic analysis requirements. She shared her personal experience applying for a drive-through permit for her business. Aside from it being difficult to find the information on the City’s website, she recommends that the requirements be left in place, as she sees Townsend continuing to grow with new businesses. This will ensure public safety and prevent traffic congestion, because even small businesses can become unexpectedly busy.  Cassie made a suggestion for an improvement with the process, stating that when someone applies for zoning, the relevant section of the ordinance be printed and highlighted by city staff to make it more accessible.  .

Council members acknowledged her concerns and appreciated her feedback, especially since the Planning Board had previously discussed potentially removing some of these requirements, which could be seen as “red tape.” Mayor Rauser noted that Council Member Angie would bring these insights to the Planning Board. Angie acknowledged that the city website is difficult to navigate and confirmed it is on the agenda for improvement to make ordinances more accessible to the public. Cassie clarified that her frustration stemmed not from the requirement itself, but from the surprise of having to complete an unexpected and time-consuming step after initially being told the process would be simple. The council affirmed her input was valued and that steps are being taken to improve transparency and accessibility.                        

Broadwater Community Theater Event Application:  Jim Domino, Acting President of the Broadwater Community Theater, requested permission to host a street dance on June 20th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., closing South Spruce from the Brewery on Broadway to B Street.: The event will feature the band, Helena Handbasket, a catered dinner of ribs and beans provided by The Betsy (serving from inside the lodge), a full bar, portable restrooms, tables, chairs, and garbage cans. The lodge will be open, and the event has been heavily advertised. The application was received on June 2nd, which is not in compliance with the City’s events ordinance requiring earlier submission. The council acknowledged this as a lapse but expressed leniency for this year due to the newness of the ordinance, emphasizing that future applications must adhere to deadlines. The submitted certificate of liability insurance did not list the City of Townsend as an additional insured, which is a mandatory requirement. Approval was therefore pending receipt of an updated certificate within the next 36 hours. JB made a motion to approve the event application with the insurance condition. Vivian seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried. 

Bike Safety Rodeo Event Application:  Ruby Taylor presented the application for the annual Bike Safety Rodeo, scheduled for August 21st at Heritage Park, with a street closure request from B to C Street on South Pine. The event is a grant deliverable for the health department, focusing on bicycle safety for children. Activities include an obstacle course, helmet fittings (with free helmets provided for those in need), and education on hand signals and safe riding practices.  All required documentation, including insurance with the city listed as an additional insured, was in order. In response to Mayor Rauser’s observation of a child riding a bike without looking (potentially distracted by headphones), Ruby agreed to incorporate education on the dangers of headphones and other distractions into this year’s event. She also expressed interest in having an ER physician speak about head trauma at the helmet station.  Peter made a motion to approve the Bike Safety Rodeo Event.  Angie seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried.

American Legion 4th of July Fireworks and Parade Event:  Doug Sitton is here on the event’s behalf and requested an amendment to their existing 4th of July event application to include an evening street closure on Broadway from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. from  HWY 287 Front Street to Spruce Street. The closure is for public viewing of fireworks launched from across the head of Main Street (Yankees Field). It is intended for safety, to keep people away from railroad tracks, and to contain the crowd in a designated area. The Legion is coordinating with law enforcement to close off areas near the tracks. They are also working with Big Sky Fireworks to place “firework-free zone” signs (large white boards with red letters) along Broadway to prohibit personal fireworks. Big Sky Fireworks is fully insured, and the fire department (Ed Shindoll) will have two trucks and personnel on site.  A discussion arose about open container laws. While Montana has no statewide law against open containers on public streets, council members expressed concern about drunk individuals setting off fireworks. Bar owners (Amber, John, Chase, Mark) will be instructed not to allow patrons to bring alcohol onto the street, though enforcement on public property remains a challenge. Eric raised a concern that the city lacks enforcement “teeth” to penalize individuals who violate the firework-free zone, as no specific ordinance currently grants misdemeanor authority for such violations during events. It was suggested this might require a future amendment to the fireworks ordinance. The food service will comply with county health regulations (no home-cooked meat brought to the park), and a “eat at your own risk” sign will be posted. The parade will end around 1 p.m., with the fireworks starting around 10:15 p.m. The council requested that the Legion report back at the August 6th meeting to share what worked and what didn’t, to help improve future events. JB made a motion to accept the addendum for the evening street closure to the event application. Peter seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried.  The necessary form will be completed and attached to the original event application.

City Website Upgrade and Desired Features:  The council discussed features for an upcoming website upgrade, based on demos from two vendors. The goal is to create a user-friendly, accessible, and functional site that serves residents, tourists, and council operations. Suggestions for the new website include the following:   It must be mobile-friendly, ADA-compliant, and browser-independent (currently it only works on Google or Microsoft Edge, causing issues for iPhone/iPad users).  It must have easy access to frequently asked questions (FAQs), ordinances (with direct links to specific sections), zoning information, building permit applications (PDF and online), pet licensing, and city services (e.g., pool hours, garbage pickup schedules, city limits maps, water/sewer lines).  It must contain a city events calendar, live meeting videos (hosted on a linked YouTube channel), council meeting agendas and minutes, and a system for public comment (digital submission for those unable to attend hearings).It should also have  the ability to opt-in to email and text alerts for emergencies, city updates, and events. One vendor (Apptegy) offers a tiered notification system where users can select the types of messages they receive.  It would also be nice to include a resident login portal to pay bills, view payment history, submit service requests, and access grant processes. And also, a section for public works projects, current city initiatives, and a way for the public to comment on ongoing tasks. Council members stated it would be nice to have an automatic search engine optimization, automated social media posting, and the ability to drag and drop Word documents into the system for easier agenda creation. Internal communications for council members to receive emails with links to agendas and minutes and a desire for a mobile app and technology that can automatically transcribe and summarize meetings. Optional features could include tourist-focused features such as the promotion of local attractions, businesses, accommodations, and social activities, with links to TripAdvisor and Google Maps and perhaps a non-profit page and a Chamber of Commerce link. Additional considerations for new homeowners to receive an information sheet on city services and how to set up a city account and login.  Additional considerations are GIS mapping data for public access with layered information. The discussion was extensive, and the council agreed to continue refining the feature list.

Pending/Continuing Business:

• Investment Interest Rates: Kari reported that after initial outreach, Opportunity Bank increased the city’s interest rate on its short-term investments from 1.5% to 3%. Council members discussed comparing this rate with the State Board of Investment’s Short-Term Investment Pool (STIP), which is considered very stable with minimal risk. The plan is to monitor both rates and potentially move funds between them based on performance (e.g., if STIP offers a significantly higher rate). A follow-up report with additional information from Opportunity Bank and STIP is expected by the second meeting in July.
• Fire Memorandum of Understanding is not completed.
• Wage/Salary Update is not completed.
• Ordinance Review Status Report: JB provided an update on the status of ongoing ordinance reviews:
• Fireworks Ordinance: Tabled, to be revisited after the July 4th event.
• Tree Board Ordinance: The Tree Board is content with the current ordinance, but the council has not yet decided on its status. It was agreed to deprioritize it in favor of more pressing matters.
• Animal Control Ordinance: In process, with a focus on regulating fowl (chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys).  Fowl Regulations: Drafting includes a $20 annual permit (with one free renewal), requirements for coops (fencing, setbacks, no roosters), and permissions for multifamily units if all residents and the owner agree. Setback requirements are being reviewed to avoid being overly prohibitive for smaller lots. Public Concerns: Council member Angie expressed feeling targeted, as she keeps geese. She questioned the need for a fee, especially for 4-H projects, though exceptions were discussed. The goal is not to create a revenue stream but to establish health and safety standards. Catch-All Clause: Discussion on including language allowing the council to address unusual animals (e.g., wild fawns, birds of prey) not covered by the ordinance.
• Event Ordinance: Completed.
• Telecommunications Ordinance: Pending review by council.
• Title I and Title II (General Code): Pending review, redlined, and in final stages.       Title II includes sections on wages and salaries.
• Sewer, Water, and Building & Construction Ordinances: Identified as the next priorities, with sewer/water likely tied to the completion of the water tower project (pushing it to 2027). Building and construction (Section 11) is targeted for early 2027.
• Business Licenses and Health & Welfare: Pushed to 2027.

The council agreed to adjust the timeline and revisit the final plan at the next meeting.

Round Table: 

• Public Works Report (Eric):  Water Tower Project:-The transmission main work in North Harrison is complete. A water sample was taken, and results will determine if the June 22nd deadline for filling the tower can be met. Street Striping: A different crew will paint the fog line and center line in town this week, requiring public notice via Facebook and the website. A garbage can filled halfway with concrete was found on the south side of town. This requires manual removal and is a violation of city policy. Chip Seal Sweeping is scheduled as he likes to let it sit for seven days of curing. Sweeping of the affected streets will begin.  A problematic blower was finally repaired, though the vendor was criticized as “atrocious.”
• Fire Department Report:  No report was given.
• Mayor Report:  Massa Park has terminated their lease agreement with the City of Townsend. A letter from Bill Nelson, attorney for Penny and Mike Massa, stated they are declining to renew the lease for Massa Park effective immediately. Key implications:  The land reverts to private property. The city has no further responsibility for maintenance, including mowing or water for sprinklers. Benches in the park have “Massa Park” nameplates. It was decided these should be removed to avoid confusion, as the area is no longer a public park. A city-owned steel sign/banner for Massa Park, currently leaning against a distillery, will be turned around or stored, and the Massa family will be notified. The city will draft a public statement to inform the community. An official response to the attorney may be sent to clarify the city’s position and inform the owners of their obligations under city ordinances (e.g., weed control). The lease had lapsed for about 10 years, with both parties acting in good faith. Recent lack of response from the Massas and misalignment among the four siblings (one in memory care, one in California) contributed to the decision. The city is relieved of a long-term responsibility but acknowledges the end of a community asset.
• JB attended a Rural Summit and reported it was well-attended and informative, though discussions about a potential 25% reduction in the state’s general fund allocation to cities were concerning but not clearly confirmed.  Darrell Folkvord is retiring from his role with the Big Sky Rail Passenger Rail Association. JB has been asked to take over and sought council approval, which was granted unanimously, with a note to recuse himself if a conflict of interest arises.

**Sign-ups for swimming lessons are ongoing. Interested parties should contact our pool manager, TJ, at the pool for availability.

Adjournment:  Nate made a motion to adjourn the meeting; JB seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried.