Community Council FAQs

A community council is an elected group of citizens representing a particular area of the county that can provide focus, leadership and continuity to that area. One of Missoula County’s primary goals for community councils is that they help improve communications between the county and areas outside the Missoula urban area. Councils can do this by disseminating information to citizens and providing a forum for the discussion of local issues, such as economic development, housing, land use planning and zoning, infrastructure needs and parks and recreation.  Community councils can provide a way for local citizens to become more involved and connected with local government by acting as a conduit to provide input and recommendations to the county commissioners. Community councils are intended to advance and promote the interests and welfare of the citizens and landowners of the council area.

There are seven community councils in Missoula County: Bonner-Milltown, East Missoula, Evaro-Finley-O'Keefe, Lolo, Seeley Lake, Swan Valley and West Valley (Frenchtown). Community councils currently cover 56.1% of the geographic area of Missoula County.

A community council differs from other community-based organizations because it establishes an official communication link between an area and the Missoula Board of County Commissioners (commissioners or BCC). Councils are part of county government, and they may recommend to the commissioners the creation of additional governance tools in a particular area, such as business or special improvement districts and multi-jurisdictional districts. They can also partner with county agencies to apply for grants and loans for new local initiatives. Community councils are encouraged to undertake such projects to address issues of local concern that are not necessarily initiated by the commissioners. However, community councils are not a separate legal entity and, as such, cannot enter into contracts or agreements. Councils can partner with county departments or other agencies to enter into contracts or agreements, but all contracts and agreements are ultimately brought before the commissioners for deliberation and approval. 

Community councils can help build community and find ways for citizens to come together around exciting projects as well as difficult issues.  Community councils often embark on community discussions that take a significant amount of time and often are difficult to work through. The County does not initiate the establishment of a council. Local leadership is necessary to start the process and engage local citizens. Once the Council is established, its success will depend on participation from a wide array of interests and interaction between citizens that is based on mutual respect. The process for building support can take time and will need continual maintenance. 

Council boundaries typically follow existing school district boundaries.  

A council provides information to the citizens and gathers local opinion regarding public health and safety issues such as economic development, housing development, land use planning and zoning, infrastructure needs, parks and recreation activities.  

Councils can recommend the creation of additional governance tools as needed such as business or special improvement districts and multi-jurisdictional districts, and they provide a framework to apply for and receive grants and loans.

Community Councils do not have the authority to adopt planning policy or zoning regulations.  Community Councils can be involved in initiating and/or guiding planning and zoning processes as an advisory body.   

Community Councils do not have the power to levy taxes and have no binding legal authority. Community Councils serve in an advisory capacity only per Montana Code Annotated (MCA) 7-3-223, 7-3-317, 7-3-417, and 7-3-516.

Community councils have the duty and responsibility to:

• Serve in a purely advisory capacity, with no power to levy taxes or impose its will on the citizens of the area.
• Facilitate communication with and among boards that govern community infrastructure.
• Communicate regularly with the citizens of the community by any and all means deemed necessary and desirable to obtain comments and suggestions regarding issues of concern to the community.
• Provide a transparent and open public forum for citizens that facilitates an unbiased discussion of all sides of community issues.
• Follow, and attend as needed, meetings of the commissioners and other county boards and commissions and any other meetings at which issues of importance to the community will be discussed. 
• Keep a record of all council acts and of all monies received and disbursed.
• Be familiar with bylaws.
• Attend annual training and all-community council meetings.
• Submit an annual written report to the County concerning its activities during the previous year and a budget proposal for the next or coming fiscal year. 
• Follow Montana law and Missoula County policies.

No, the council members are all volunteers from the community and do not receive any compensation for serving on the council.

Community councils provide letters, comments, emails and other correspondence to the commissioners to help the commissioners make decisions on various projects and keep them informed about important issues facing rural communities. While the commissioners encourage community councils to think about their communities as independent, councils also need to remember that they are an extension of the county commissioners’ office.

Councils are only advisory to the county commissioners and have no authority to advise tribal, state, federal or other entities on project grants or other policies. If community councils wish to comment on any project, be it county, tribal, state, federal or other, councils are limited to provide those comments to the county commissioners who may then advise the other entities accordingly. Community councils should not directly comment to other agencies but should provide recommended comments to the county commissioners. Councils may have informal communications with outside agencies for informational purposes.

Community councils are extremely useful to the county commissioners when they can provide their perspective about the range of issues and opportunities associated with projects and programs in their communities instead of only providing recommendations on a limited number of issues or projects. The commissioners also appreciate receiving information about the range of perspectives on an issue.

Community Councils are advisory in nature; therefore, they can submit comments to the County on issues that originate outside of their boundary, especially if it has potential to have impact in the Council area.

Community councils are prohibited from taking a position during an election on candidates, ballot initiatives and/or referenda. They are also prohibited from taking positions on local, state and federal bills and from lobbying the Legislature or Congress. A community council may express its opinion about legislation to the Board of County Commissioners. Also, individuals may take a position or testify on their own behalf, but not as representatives of a community council.