The Helena City Commission left Monday's meeting without approving any of four recommended Open Lands major projects after a split vote and a motion that died for lack of a second left the body at an impasse. Commissioner Reid moved to approve three of the four projects — improvements at the Oaks, Knob Hill, and North Benton — while excluding a contested proposal to pave the parking lot at the Davis Gulch/Middle Ford trailhead. That motion failed 2-2, with Commissioner Logan and Mayor Dean voting no. Mayor Dean said she opposed the partial approval because she did not want to forfeit an awarded grant tied to the fourth project.

Following the failed vote, Commissioner Logan moved to approve all four projects together, but no commissioner offered a second and the motion died. The commission ultimately agreed by consensus to bring the item back to a future administrative meeting. City staff confirmed that no grant deadlines are currently at risk from the delay.

The contested fourth project would pave the parking area at the Middle Ford/Davis Gulch trailhead, using an awarded grant of roughly $27,000 — covering staff labor costs — with a required city match of approximately $38,500 for asphalt and painted stall striping, bringing the total to around $65,500. Staff argued paving would help enforce parking discipline in a tight footprint. Commissioners Reid and Gustafson said spending open space bond money on a parking lot feels like a mismatch, with Gustafson also questioning whether the traffic-calming component of the project belongs under streets funding rather than open space. The commission directed the deputy clerk to schedule site visits for interested commissioners to view completed comparable projects at the Limekiln and Dump Gulch trailheads.