City Government Branches
The City of Bozeman is a
City Commission/City Manager form of government with an elected Municipal
Judge. These three entities form the legislative, executive and judicial
branches of government.
City Commission
Five Commissioners, elected with no party affiliation, make up
the City Commission. They are elected to four-year overlapping terms as
part-time officials. Terms are staggered, and elections are held every two
years. For the first time in the 2007 general election, a candidate can
campaign for the position of Mayor, and if elected will assume the position of
Mayor during the last two years of his or her term (previously, the Commissioner
candidate who received the most votes in an election became the Mayor during the
last two years of his or her term).
The City Commission establishes policies governing City
operations and enacts ordinances and resolutions to amend or update the Bozeman
Municipal Code. The Commission levies taxes, adopts the City's yearly
budget, and appoints members to citizen advisory boards. Decisions made by
the City Commission protect the health, safety, general welfare, and future
well-being of the citizens of Bozeman.
City Commission meetings are held every Monday at 6 p.m. in the
Commission Meeting Room at 121 North Rouse.
Monday City Commission meetings are televised on cable channel 20. Reruns of
the Monday City Commission meetings are aired on Wednesday and Friday at 5 p.m.
and on Sunday at 1 p.m. Live meetings are also available for viewing through this web site.
Contact Your Bozeman City Commission 2008-2009:
To email the City Commission as a group, please send your email
to agenda@bozeman.net and the City Clerk's
Office will forward your email to the Commission.
Mailing Address: City Commission, P.O. Box 1230, Bozeman,
MT 59771-1230
Fax: 582-2323
City Clerk's Office: 582-2321, 582-2320
City
Manager
The City Manager is hired by the City Commission and acts as the
administrative head of city government. He provides the City Commission
with information needed to make informed policy decisions and is responsible for
the efficient administration of all City departments. To ensure quality
services are being provided to the community, the City Manager leads, directs,
coordinates and supports the City's workforce. He heads the Department of
Public Safety and the Department of Public Welfare while supervising the
Assistant City Manager and all department directors. The City Manager
signs agreements, contracts and Memorandums of Understanding between the City,
local businesses and state and federal agencies. He plans the annual
budget and attends public meetings and functions. The City Manager strives
to keep the public informed while encouraging citizens to become involved in
their local government.
To contact the City Manager, call (406) 582-2306, or write
City Manager, P. O. Box 1230, Bozeman, MT 59771-1230
Municipal Court
The Municipal Court is comprised of the Municipal
Judge, an elected official who hears cases involving violations of City
ordinances and misdemeanor cases defined by state criminal codes.
Municipal Court is responsible for civil and criminal violations, tax collection
under $5,000 and fees due to the City under $5,000. Municipal Court works
with the City Attorney's Office, the City Prosecutor and with police officers.
Municipal Court endeavors to maintain a current and efficient criminal and civil
docket and an efficient collection system.
Municipal Court is located at the Law and Justice Center, 615 S. 16th Ave.
Call (406) 582-2040 or write Municipal Court, P.O. Box 1230, Bozeman, MT
59771-1230.