Following the vote by the City Council on Monday, July 27, 2026, the attached ordinance is submitted for first reading in support of the repeal of the Animal Control Advisory Board.

On July 27, 2026, the City Council voted to eliminate the Animal Control Advisory Board. This ordinance is repealing its creation.

 Council Member O’Donnell made a motion during the City Council meeting on February 9, 2026, to place on a future Work Session agenda the possibility of creating an Ad-Hoc Council Subcommittee to review all boards and commissions, their purposes and scope and determine whether they are statutorily required or whether some can be disbanded. The motion was unanimously approved. It was later determined this work would be done by the Council Operations Committee, beginning with the meeting on April 6, 2026. Below is the schedule of dates on which the Council Operations Committee met with representatives of each of the current City advisory boards, commissions, and committees.
 

Board, Commission, Committee	Disposition vote on July 27, 2026
Animal Control Advisory Board	voted to be eliminated by 9-2
Aviation and Transit Advisory Board	voted to be eliminated by 7-4 when the new airport authority takes over operation of the Billings Logan International Airport later in 2026; in the interim, the board will continue to meet to work on the transition and selection for appointment of the new airport authority board at which time the current board will be dissolved; a final resolution will be brought before City Council at such time
Board of Adjustment	voted to be eliminated according to state statue by 11-0
Citizen Police Advisory Board	voted to be eliminated by 6-5
Energy and Conservation Advisory Commission	voted to be eliminated [not extended after ending of the commission on December 31, 2025] by 7-4
Zoning Commission	voted to be eliminated according to state statue by 11-0

  
Public notices of this reading of this ordinance was published in the Yellowstone County News on September 11, September 18, and September 25, 2026.

The fiscal effects of approving this ordinance will require minimal activity by City of Billings staff.

The stakeholders include the leadership of the affected board: Tom Stinchfield

The Council may choose to approve this ordinance. Letters communicating this change will be sent to all current members of the affected board. Content on the website, in written communication, and in official records will be updated to identify September 28, 2026 as the date of dissolution (or as such time as these ordinances are signed by Mayor Nelson).

The Council may choose to reject this ordinance and the board will remain active.