The Helena City Commission voted unanimously 4-0 to table a proposed ordinance that would have imposed nighttime parking restrictions at city trailheads, after public comment that split sharply between neighborhood residents describing serious safety problems and trail users warning the measure would punish responsible people.

Residents of the Readers Village and Carriage Lane neighborhoods testified to conditions they described as ongoing and dangerous. Cam Rigg of 21 Carriage Lane, who said he originally brought the issue to the city two years ago, told commissioners the situation is 'nightly' and involves 'criminals,' and pleaded for any workable solution. Aaron Haffy of 32 Carriage Lane said three vehicles have gone off the road into a ravine in recent years. Other neighbors described racing vehicles with modified mufflers, drunk driving, vandalism to trailhead bathrooms, garbage accumulation, gunshots, fights, and at least one incident involving a sawed-off shotgun placed in a neighbor's window well.

Opponents of the ordinance, including ultrarunner Chelsea Glenn, argued the parking restriction would not stop determined bad actors — who could still walk or be dropped off — while forcing out nurses, early morning workers, and high-mileage runners with legitimate reasons to park before and after restricted hours. Speakers Ashley Fischer and Katherine Kelly echoed those concerns.

City staff requested the tabling and said they will continue working with the Helena Police Department to develop a more targeted enforcement tool. The revised approach will come back to the commission at a future meeting.