Sign up for the free Missoula This Week newsletter and stay in the loop on Missoula city government, public school meetings, business news and upcoming entertainment and events. Sign up 03/20/2026 “Missoula This Week” is reported and written By Katie Fairbanks. Send your Missoula news and tips to [email protected]. City Council not deterred by state threats to sue Helena  A Missoula City Council member’s attempt to pass a similar resolution to Helena’s that directs city police officers to “avoid” assisting federal immigration enforcement lacks support to move forward, but not because of the Montana attorney general’s threats to sue, council members said this week.  Council Member Kristen Jordan began drafting her proposal in January following the Helena City Commission’s approval of its resolution. Jordan told Montana Free Press that after several weeks of reviewing the draft with the city attorney and soliciting support, it’s likely “dead in the water,” with no other council members signed on to the proposal.  The resolution Jordan drafted affirms the council’s support of the Missoula Police Department’s policy to “the extent permitted by law, avoid committing city resources to federal immigration actions for which it has no authority,” and states the city and police department will not enter into a partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as a 287(g) agreement.  Jordan said the biggest concern among other council members was that approving the resolution would endanger Missoula’s immigrant and refugee communities, though she said she found academic research showing benefits from such action.  “Most peer-reviewed research shows it makes communities safer when municipalities assert their stance on things,” Jordan said. “The average citizen knows what to expect from police, how they can participate or not and understand how police will handle crowds.”  Council President Mike Nugent told MTFP the city’s current immigration enforcement practices are explained online and protect residents. As stated by Mayor Andrea Davis and Police Chief Michael Colyer, that includes officers not asking about immigration status during routine public interactions and not enforcing federal immigration law.  Jordan’s proposal does little to change any actual law or current practice and could “open the city up to the litigious eye of the state,” Nugent said.  Attorney General Austin Knudsen last week sent a cease-and-desist letter to the city of Helena directing the city to change the resolution or face a lawsuit from the Montana Department of Justice. Knudsen said the resolution violates a state law passed in 2021 that prohibits local governments from providing refuge to illegal immigrants.  If Missoula passed a similar resolution as Helena, it’s clear the same state law would be used to challenge the city with threat of investigation, lawsuits and fines, Nugent said.  “We are not afraid of this conversation, but I think it would be counterproductive to give the false impression that council action can change or prevent any federal actions in the way the conversation would suggest, or to invite a state‑level fight that does not actually improve safety for anyone,” Nugent said in an email.  For the council members Nugent discussed this issue with, the attorney general’s letter has “almost zero” to do with their opinion on passing a resolution, he said.  “The real question, and the only question, is if the people of Missoula are safer if this council has this discussion or if it doesn’t, considering there are no real, concrete changes the council can make,” Nugent said. “It has very little to do with fear of the state.”  At this time, no final decision has been made on Jordan’s proposal, and the six-week window to add it to a meeting agenda remains open through mid-April, Nugent said. Council leadership is assessing the proposal and discussing with city staff and the mayor to determine next steps in accordance with council rules, he said.  Jordan said she plans to bring other resolutions that address the issue more indirectly. That includes a proposal to modify civil nuisance laws to limit crowd control mechanisms, so ICE or other agencies couldn’t use tear gas on crowds outside of a legal approach, she said.  “Hopefully it’ll stick on the council floor,” Jordan said.  Following Up  The Blackfoot Crossing residential and commercial development in Bonner is set to move forward without a controversial proposed truck stop after the Missoula County commissioners tweaked the property’s zoning plan.  Property owner Gregory Morse plans to convert the 107-acre former log yard into a mix of commercial, residential, industrial and recreational/open spaces. Morse said he requested new zoning districts for the property to allow for “attainable” housing and a new public water and sewer system, as well as a truck stop to help pay for the project.  However, dozens of neighbors opposed the proposed truck stop, with concerns about traffic, lighting, noise, pollution, safety and water use. After several hours of public comment and discussion during two meetings, the county commissioners March 12 preliminarily approved Morse’s request with a change that would prevent a truck stop from being built on the property.  “As is always the case with these sorts of decisions, particularly land use decisions, it’s a matter of balancing competing interests, of which there are clearly many,” said Commissioner Dave Strohmaier. “Today is a cautionary tale that unless folks feel as if they are being brought along on a project, it will feel as if something is being done to them.”  Most of the property was previously zoned for industrial use, and some areas would retain that designation. That includes two parcels within the Blackfoot Crossing property not owned by Morse — the former Harris Manufacturing building and a NorthWestern Energy parcel on the south side. The northeast corner of the property, designated as agricultural working lands, would also keep that zoning. About 42 acres in the middle of the property would be zoned Neighborhood Center, allowing for housing, retail and office uses. The strip of land along the Blackfoot River would be zoned Resource and Open Lands. Morse requested that the west side of the property be rezoned to Commercial Center to allow for a planned travel plaza and other businesses. The commissioners instead approved Neighborhood Center zoning for those parcels, which would allow some commercial uses but not a travel plaza. Morse expressed some concern about moving forward with zoning that differs from what he planned.  The county commissioners said “extreme creativity” from Morse’s team, county staff and other community partners will result in a project everyone can agree on.  “This is a very, very complicated project, and it is going to take extreme creativity to move forward, but we can do this,” Commissioner Juanita Vero said. “I really do believe we can do this in a way that honors the neighborhood and honors the interest of the county and the future.”  It’s unclear when the commissioners will hold a final vote on the rezoning and related growth policy change, as county staff and Morse’s attorney said the date could be pushed to allow the developer to adjust the project.  Public Notice  Missoula County is hosting four open houses this month on the ongoing floodplain mapping update for the Clark Fork River, Bitterroot River and Rock Creek. The county is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Montana Department of Natural Resources to update the existing maps, which are based on data from the 1970s. The preliminary maps are available on the county’s Property Information System. Affected residents are encouraged to attend an open house to learn more about what the changes might mean for their property or to schedule an appointment with county staff.  The open houses will run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on:  Monday, March 23, at the Fairgrounds Floriculture Building, 1101 South Ave. W. Thursday, March 26, at Lolo School, 5305 Farm Lane Monday, March 30, at Frenchtown Fire Hall, 6875 Marion St. Tuesday, March 31, at Clinton School, 20397 E. Mullan Road 5 Things to Know in Missoula  The Missoula City Council on Monday denied a permit for a proposed radio tower in the South Hills neighborhood, citing opposition from nearby residents and safety concerns. Late last year, the Lighthouse Baptist Church requested a permit to construct the 80-foot tower on its property at 5425 Gharrett St. to provide an FM radio station airing “educational, religious and public service programming.” In early January, the council raised concerns about lightning and fire danger from the tower and requested more information. Building and fire officials advised that radio towers, when properly designed, installed, and maintained, do not pose a substantial increase in fire or public safety risk. During a March 11 meeting, several council members said the project does not meet the criteria of not having an adverse effect on the community and is not compatible with the neighborhood.  Mount Jumbo’s south zone reopened to the public last week after its annual winter closure. The north zone, including everything north of Saddle Road, remains closed until at least May 1. Maps of the areas are available online. The closure accommodates elk that rely on the lower elevations for food and cover during the winter and early spring, according to the Missoula Parks and Recreation Department. The herd naturally moves north as the weather warms and food becomes more plentiful. Missoulians in need can receive a variety of free services during the annual Project Community Connect Friday, March 27, at the Missoula Public Library. Providers and organizations will offer dental care, vaccinations, mental health and addiction recovery support, legal services, employment assistance, veteran services, housing assistance, public benefits, IDs, pet vaccinations, food and a community closet. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout the library and will affect regular library services and parking. Project Community Connect brings together a variety of services under one roof to remove barriers to access and help people connect with resources they need in one day that could otherwise take months, according to organizers. Those interested in volunteering can sign up online.  The Bureau of Land Management’s Missoula field office is preparing for spring prescribed burns on about 1,000 acres in the coming weeks. Burns will occur when conditions allow to reduce hazardous fuels, and timing depends on weather and fuel conditions, according to a BLM press release. The planned burns will generate smoke, and some may last several days. The agency is coordinating with Missoula County and the state’s smoke and air quality managers. Residents can check the air quality online. Prescribed burns can lower wildfire intensity and provide firefighters safer opportunities to manage wildfires, according to the BLM. For more information on the upcoming burns, call the Missoula Field Office at 406-329-3869.  The University of Montana is holding its seventh annual day of giving on March 25. The Big Give runs from noon Wednesday to noon Thursday. The fundraiser, held by the UM Foundation, aims to inspire alumni, donors, parents and friends to support students through charitable gifts in 24 hours, according to a university press release. Donors may support more than 50 participating groups, including academic programs, scholarships and athletics, listed online. Donors can also mail contributions to the University of Montana Foundation at P.O. Box 7159, Missoula, 59807. Last year, more than 800 donors gave nearly $500,000 during the campaign. Snapshot  Credit: Katie Fairbanks/MTFP Credit: Katie Fairbanks / MTFP Marlie Johnson gives Pepper her annual vaccines during the Street Dog Coalition’s free veterinary clinic at the Watershed Navigation Center in Missoula on March 14. Johnson was one of three veterinarians volunteering at the monthly clinic, which provides vaccines, exams and medication for pets of unhoused and low-income residents.  As the costs of veterinary care have increased, along with Missoula’s cost of living, the clinic has seen a jump in the number of dogs and cats it serves. From 2024 to 2025, that number increased 63%, from 212 to 346, according to the organization.  Despite the costs of pet ownership, and the barriers to housing it can present, clinic attendees and housing advocates told MTFP that animals provide important companionship. Read more about the clinic here.  Might be Fun  The Comedians with Disabilities Act will perform Friday at the Zootown Arts Community Center as part of a four-show tour recorded for an upcoming documentary, “The Comedians With Disabilities Act: Going Beyond the Punchlines,” about the power of human connection and humor. The film crew is from the BASE Film Extravaganza of Summit Independent Living in Missoula. The show is for mature audiences and begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.  The University of Montana is holding several free events for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The public is welcome to attend a screening of “My Native America” with filmmaker and former NFL player Jim Warne, followed by a QA from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday at the University Center Theater. The Comedians with Disabilities Act will perform at the UC Theater, followed by a discussion of the upcoming documentary from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday. The UM Autonomous Aerial Systems Office Drone Lab and Accessible Skies will hold a demonstration showcasing drone technology and accessible avian innovation at 5:30 p.m. on the Oval. The post Proposal to restrict police work with ICE ‘dead in the water’ appeared first on Montana Free Press. ...read more read less