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6/13/2025
“Missoula This Week” is reported and written By Katie Fairbanks. Send your Missoula news and tips to kfairbanks@montanafreepress.org.
County attorney tells commission complying with the law is ‘essentially impossible’
The Missoula County commissioners last week moved to join a lawsuit against a new state law segregating bathroom use by sex.
“It is essentially impossible to comply with,” Missoula County Attorney Matt Jennings told the commissioners during a June 3 meeting. “I think the idea, of course, is trying to force individuals to make other decisions or disappear from public life.”
House Bill 121 affects public bathrooms, locker rooms and sleeping areas, as well as those in domestic violence shelters. The law allows individuals who encounter an individual of the opposite sex in a restroom or changing room to sue public facilities or domestic violence shelters that do not take “reasonable steps” to prevent that.
The ACLU of Montana challenged HB 121 the same day Gov. Greg Gianforte signed it into law in late March. The plaintiffs include transgender and intersex Montanans who say the law forces them to use restrooms that don’t match their gender identities or appearances. Enforcement of the new law is on hold as the lawsuit makes its way through court. The state filed a notice of appeal with the Montana Supreme Court in early June.
Jennings told the county commissioners they could wait and see what happens, but Missoula County has several reasons to get involved, including the cost of complying with the law, the fear of a lawsuit and the impracticability of following the law. The county also has a duty to the public and to its employees, which includes transgender and intersex individuals, he said.
“If the goal is to get clarification on the parameters of the law, your future obligations, the rights of your employees and your citizenry and what you are supposed to do, then joining as a plaintiff is the clearest, most straightforward and direct way to be involved,” Jennings said.
The bill has some “absurd results,” such as the lack of an age limit, meaning a parent bringing a child of the opposite sex into a bathroom is not allowed under the new law, Jennings said. While the bill allows for facilities to make policies to accommodate young children or the Americans with Disabilities Act, the county does not currently have those on the books, he said.
Bill sponsor Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe, R-Billings, and supporters touted the bill as a way to protect women and girls.
Jennings said in his 11 years in the county attorney’s office, he’s reviewed thousands of cases and never come across an issue arising from someone using a bathroom not corresponding to their biological sex.
“That is not an issue as far as public safety; it doesn’t exist,” he said.
It’s undetermined how the law’s provision allowing lawsuits against the county or other public facilities is supposed to be applied, Jennings said.
“The issue for Missoula County is the impracticability of enforcing this,” he said. “We’re supposed to take reasonable efforts. What are those? I have no idea. They’re not specified in the law. There’s no tradition or case law about the reasonableness of how you’re supposed to enforce biological sex use of bathrooms.”
Some county facilities are required to have a certain number of bathrooms depending on staffing levels and the amount of public use, said Chris Lounsbury, the county’s chief administrative officer. Limiting bathroom access could violate fire and building codes and ADA requirements, and cause issues for large events like the fair, he said.
The formal filing will likely not focus on arguments other plaintiffs have made but the feasibility of complying with the law for the county and its impacts on employees and citizens, Jennings said. Following additional approval from the commissioners, likely next week, Jennings’ office will work to submit the filing within the next few weeks, he said.
Municipal candidate filing closes, four races going to primary election
Candidate filing for the upcoming municipal election closed on Wednesday, with 26 Missoulians signed up to run for 11 open positions.
The race for mayor and three city council races will have a primary election on Sept. 9, after the Missoula City Council on Wednesday decided to send races with three or more candidates to the primary. The council also voted to hold all-mail elections for the primary and the Nov. 4 general. In the September primary, only ward residents vote for their council member, while the mayor and judge positions go to a citywide vote.
The three incumbent municipal court judges — Jennifer Streano, Eli Parker and Jacob Coolidge — all filed for their seats and were unchallenged.
In the race for her first full term, Mayor Andrea Davis will face two candidates who previously ran for mayor. Davis was elected in November 2023 to complete former Mayor John Engen’s term after he died in 2022. Brandi Atanasoff, a public relations consultant, ran for mayor in 2023 but lost in the primary. Shawn Knopp also ran for mayor in 2021 and 2023.
Of the seven city council positions up for election, only the Ward 5 seat held by Stacie Anderson was unchallenged.
Ward 1 will have a new city council member as incumbent Jennifer Savage is moving to Ward 3 and running for that position. Elizabeth “Betsy” Craske and Lucas Moody will compete for Savage’s seat in November.
The Ward 2 seat is heading for a primary as five residents — Hayden Cook, Justin Ponton, Tim Garrison, Rebecca Dawson and Michele Whitmire — face off for Sierra Farmer’s seat. Farmer she is stepping away because of the position’s time commitment.
Council Member Daniel Carlino will face four challengers for his Ward 3 seat during the September primary — Savage, Nathan Coyan, David Knudson and Jon Vivas.
Incumbent Mike Nugent and David Quattrocchi will compete for the Ward 4 seat in November.
Kristen Jordan faces one challenger, Chris Foster, for her Ward 6 position.
Ward 6 Council Member Sandra Vasecka is running to finish her term after being appointed following a tie in 2023. Sean McCoy, who tied with Vasecka for the position in 2023, and Valeda “Lynette” Jonessian are also vying for the position.
Public Notice
The Missoula Parking Commission is seeking public comment on adding parking meters and making other changes to parking along the Hip Strip. The project area includes several blocks along South Higgins bordered by the Clark Fork River to the north, Connell Avenue to the south, Hazel Street to the west and Hilda Avenue to the east.
The proposal includes some metered and time-limited parking, residential permits and sections focused on enforcing safety regulations, said Jodi Pilgrim, director of parking services, in a press release. The proposal addresses a lack of available spaces, low turnover rates and difficulty accessing local businesses in the area, according to the commission.
Residents may view and comment on the area map and proposed changes . The commission is also holding informational meetings on June 18, from noon to 3 p.m., at the Hellgate High School cafeteria and on June 23, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Gild Brewing. Following the public comment period, the commission plans to present a proposal to the Missoula City Council in July.
5 Things to Know in Missoula
The Missoula City Council on Wednesday approved a request to remove a requirement for the Scott Street-Ravara housing development to include a daycare facility. The council initially approved the request in April, but Mayor Andrea Davis sent it back for further consideration after hearing concerns from some council members. The developer Ravara concluded that it’s not economically feasible for child care providers to operate at the site because of a recent change in demand for daycare slots for older children and other factors. The developer worked with the city’s Parks and Recreation department to explore building a facility for youth programs on the site but found it would cost the city about $1.3 million for construction and potentially more for operation, said Donna Gaukler, the department director. Several council members expressed disappointment that the daycare won’t be included but said they understood the economic reality.
On Tuesday, the Missoula County commissioners approved a $198,000 settlement with health department employees for unpaid overtime accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic. The county will directly pay employees their owed wages in amounts ranging from $11.47 to $5,927.88, for a total of $50,394.52. The county will also pay $147,605 for penalties, attorneys’ fees and other costs. The claims stem from 2021 and 2022 when employees were working multiple positions, with some eligible for overtime and some not, said Erica Grinde, the county’s chief people and risk officer. The county, like most government entities, was not used to having employees shift between different statuses, and the timekeeping system did not distinguish between exempt and non-exempt hours, she said.
The Missoula Parks and Recreation Board on Tuesday approved the location of five sculptures in Silver Park to be installed in September. Last year, the Missoula City Council approved an agreement with nonprofit Arts Missoula to create a . Funding for the project comes from grants and donations, not public funds. Sculpture Missoula, a nonprofit established to fundraise for the project, put out a call for sculpture proposals early this year and received 83 submissions, according to the staff report. A jury selected the five pieces, and park staff reviewed their suitability for placement in the park. The sculptures will be placed along the trail that borders the south side of the park, with most near the southwest end. Two informational signs will be installed at either end of the trail. The sites will be prepared in late July or early August, and the sculptures will be installed in early September. Photos of the selected sculptures are explaining the project.
Climate Smart Missoula is seeking volunteers to collect data as part of Missoula’s heat watch campaign this summer. On July 19, or Aug. 2 if needed, volunteers will collect heat data at various locations throughout Missoula County. Each volunteer will travel a preset route in the morning, afternoon and evening and use a simple heat sensor to collect data. The data will help the community understand heat patterns and prepare for rising temperatures, according to Climate Smart. Those interested can fill out a . In April, the Missoula County commissioners approved an agreement with the Museum of Life and Science to participate in the nationwide project and receive a $10,000 stipend for volunteer incentives, gear and other expenses. The work through the museum’s Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring is funded by a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
A new mural is in the works on Worden’s Market on Higgins Avenue as part of the Missoula Downtown Foundation’s grant program. Artist Madison Perrins began painting “Alive with the Land” on the south face of the market building on June 6. Work on the 1,250-square-foot mural will continue for a few weeks. The mural will “celebrate Missoula’s unique character and make the city feel even more welcoming, vibrant, and inclusive with a nod to Missoula’s beloved outdoor spaces,” according to a press release. Perrins has completed multiple murals and focuses on abstract themes that explore natural beauty, harmony and the outdoors. Tim France, the property owner, is helping fund the project.
Happenings
A “No Kings” parade and rally, organized by Indivisible Missoula, Missoula Resists and Stand Up Fight Back Missoula, is set for Saturday. Similar rallies are scheduled nationwide to coincide with Flag Day and a military parade to honor the 250th birthday of the Army and President Donald Trump’s birthday. The Missoula rally will begin at 4 p.m. at the XXXX’s and continue down Higgins Avenue to Caras Park. Following speeches, a community celebration will include local organizations tabling.
Indigenous Made Montana is holding a summer market at Caras Park on Saturday. The market will feature beadwork, prints, fashion, food and more from more than 40 Native artists and makers. The free event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and include music from DJ Carlos.
Montana Black Collective Missoula is holding a Juneteenth celebration at Fort Missoula Regional Park on Thursday. Everyone is invited to the free event, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Bella Vista Pavilion. The celebration includes free food on a first-come, first-served basis, multiple speakers, historical reenactments and children’s activities.
A long list of events is scheduled for Missoula Pride weekend, June 20-22. The celebration is financially supported by the Western Montana LGBTQ+ Community Center and includes events throughout June.
On Friday, the Run Wild Pride Fun Run kicks off at 10 a.m. at the rainbow crosswalk outside of the Missoula Art Museum. A Pride rally is set for noon at the Missoula County Courthouse. The first annual Two Spirit Powwow runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Caras Park and will include craft and food vendors, drum groups and communal dances. Tickets are available for the 7th annual Paddleheads Pride Night at Ogren Park.
A downtown block party runs from 11:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, with vendors opening at 11 a.m., music starting at 1 p.m. and a drag show at 6 p.m. The annual parade across the Beartracks Bridge begins at noon. Sunday’s events include a drag brunch and a closing party. The full list of events and more information are available on the .