Commissioner Gustiffson used Monday's commission meeting to raise public questions about whether the Open Lands major project process gives Helena residents a meaningful opportunity to weigh in before decisions are made. The concern was echoed by public commenter Katie Kelly, who told the commission she was unaware of earlier comment opportunities on the projects and said she would have participated had she known they were available.

City staff outlined the existing process: a community listening session held at year-end, followed by a 15-day public comment period, and a second presentation at the end of January with an additional comment window — a timeline shaped largely by the January grant application season. Staff also noted that three of the four projects currently before the commission originated from community-initiated requests that rose to the level of major projects through that process.

Despite the structured timeline, both Gustiffson and members of the public indicated the outreach is not reaching enough affected residents. Gustiffson called specifically for better communication around the timing of project announcements relative to grant cycles, so that neighbors and other interested parties have a realistic window to respond before funding decisions lock in project scope.