The Helena City Commission failed Monday to approve any of four Open Lands major projects after two competing motions both fell short, leaving a roughly $27,000 awarded grant in jeopardy and stalling improvements at the Oaks, Knob Hill, and North Benton sites along with the contested DeFord trail head.

The first motion, brought by Commissioner Reid, would have approved the three projects not involving parking infrastructure while setting aside the DeFord trail head improvement. That motion passed 3-1 on the initial roll call, with Commissioner Logan voting no — but Mayor Dean then voted no as well, saying she did not want to forfeit the awarded grant money, and the motion failed 2-2. A follow-up motion by Commissioner Logan to approve all four projects failed for lack of a second.

The grant at stake was written specifically to cover staff labor costs for constructing the DeFord trail head parking area, with a $38,500 paving and striping component serving as the required local match. City staff member Langather told commissioners the DeFord grant was the first secured funding across all four proposed projects — the other three have pending applications but no awarded grants yet. Commissioner Reid argued that using open space bond money — originally passed by voters to purchase and maintain natural lands — to pave a parking lot accessed via an unpaved road was a philosophical mismatch with the bond's intent.

Public commenter Rob Fryat, who described involvement in creating the original open space bond in the 1990s, echoed that concern, urging the commission to prioritize maintaining existing trails over expanding parking infrastructure. Mayor Dean said she was open to identifying alternative matching funds but acknowledged staff had no other sources identified at this time.

City staff confirmed grant deadlines are not immediately pressing, giving the commission time to revisit the matter. Commissioners reached informal consensus to bring the full four-project package back at a future administrative meeting, with a potential site visit to DeFord — and comparable trail heads at Limekiln and Dump Gulch — to be coordinated by the deputy clerk.