Provided by Ginny Merriam

Public Information • Communications Officer for the City of Missoula

www.ci.missoula.mt.us; (406) 552-6000

Missoula is one of the fastest growing areas in the state, but it hasn’t outgrown old-fashioned community involvement. Citizens who want to take an active role in community affairs have ample opportunity to do so, and local government welcomes participation.

Missoula City government is led by a Mayor and 12 City Council members, two for each of the city’s six wards. City Hall is downtown at 435 Ryman Street, at the corner of W Spruce Street and Ryman Street. Regular City Council meetings are at 7 p.m. Mondays in City Council Chambers at 140 W Pine Street.

Current office holders are Mayor John Engen, and council members Dave Strohmaier and Jason Wiener, Ward 1; Roy Houseman and Pam Walzer, Ward 2; Stacy Rye and Bob Jaffe, Ward 3; Jon Wilkins and Lyn Hellegaard, Ward 4; Dick Haines and Renee Mitchell, Ward 5; and Ed Childers and Marilyn Marler, Ward 6. The city’s chief administrative officer is Bruce Bender.

Missoula is also the county seat of Missoula County. A three-member Board of County Commissioners heads the county government. County commissioners are Bill Carey, Jean Curtiss and Michele Landquist. The chief executive officer is Dale Bickell. The commissioners’ weekly public meeting is held on the second floor of the Missoula County Courthouse at 200 W Broadway on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m.

Public safety is the responsibility of the Missoula County Sheriff’s Department, the Missoula Police Department, the Missoula Fire Department and the Missoula Rural Fire Department.

According to the Missoula Area Economic Development Corp, there are 50 full-time law officers in the Sheriff’s Department. The Missoula Police Department has 100 sworn officers. The Missoula Fire Department has 91 uniformed firefighters. The Missoula Rural Fire District has more than 60 volunteer firefighters. In addition, Missoula County claims about 96 detention/corrections officers at the Missoula County Detention Center.