Helena City Commission member Gustafson used the communications portion of the commission's September 29 meeting to flag two transparency concerns — one about a construction project residents have been asking about, and another about upcoming public input opportunities for open lands planning.
On the first issue, Gustafson said she had received a city manager briefing on the DeFord project at a recent administrative meeting but then searched the city's website and couldn't find any updated information for constituents looking for details. She asked that the information be posted on either the parks page or the streets and transportation page — wherever it would be easiest for residents to find.
Her second concern centered on open lands listening sessions, which she wanted to see better publicized so Helena residents know they have a chance to weigh in. The dual request reflected a broader concern about whether city communications are keeping pace with what commissioners are hearing behind closed doors. Neither item required a vote, but Gustafson's remarks put city staff on notice that at least one commission member is watching how information flows from administrative meetings to the public-facing website.