Though some said the matter wasn't one for the city to decide, Engen disagreed.
“The minute you all came down here, it became a city issue,” he said.
Ward 4 Councilman Jon Wilkins, a veteran, said the issue was designed to split the council during an election season. Wilkins said the Vietnam War never leaves him, and he came home ashamed.
“Tonight, I'm ashamed again. I will not vote for this resolution,” Wilkins said.
Ward 5 Councilman Jack Reidy, another veteran, said he was not elected to the council to consider foreign policy but to do other jobs, like maintain streets and help protect residents from fire.
“I don't think this is city business,” Reidy said.
He, too, did not support the resolution. Neither did Ballas, who said he believes the idea demoralizes troops and puts them in greater harm.
“I don't think you really thought about those soldiers over there,” Ballas said to supporters of the resolution.
He doesn't want the war but he doesn't want to compromise the safety of the troops.
Ward 2's Don Nicholson said he has reason to be on both sides of the issue, but he does not believe it should be under consideration by the City Council.
“This is a terribly, terribly divisive issue,” said Nicholson, who opposed it.
John Hendrickson, also of Ward 2, did not want to send a demoralizing message to troops, either.
Ward 5 Councilman Dick Haines said he questioned why so many women wanted to pull out of Iraq when radical Muslims don't allow women rights, like belonging to city councils. He told the female members of the audience and council members they needed to keep that in mind.
Nicholson, Hendrickson, Wilkins, Ballas, Haines and Reidy opposed the resolution. The following council members supported it: Ward 1's Dave Strohmaier and Heidi Kendall, Ward 3's Stacy Rye and Bob Jaffe, and Ward 6's Ed Childers and Marilyn Marler.
Residents stood in long lines to talk with the council Monday night, and Childers thanked the members of the public for their input.
“You're on all sides of the issue for all kinds of reasons,” Childers said.
Some said the matter was put forward to increase voter turnout, and if that happens Childers said it's a good thing.
“We want to increase voter turnout. Eight percent is miserable,” he said.
He also did not believe the vote was demoralizing, but said things like extended deployments and lack of armor lower morale.
The idea that citizens might vote shouldn't be demoralizing, he said.
Rye agreed. Troops ostensibly were fighting for democracy, and Rye said she did not want to suspend democracy at home and deny citizens the right to vote.
Rye and Jaffe sponsored the resolution, which in part says local housing money has been cut because more money is going to the war, and members of the Missoula police and fire departments are deployed.
Jaffe said the issue is one of profound importance to Missoula, but he still took to heart the comments from the public.
“I'm not insensitive to the issues that have been raised. I'm struggling with a lot of them,” Jaffe said.
Kendall said a thank you for the kindness of the debate, and Engen, too, said he appreciated the respectful nature of the debate.
Though some considered the conversation divisive, Marler said she enjoyed hearing from so many members of the community - a community she thinks the world of - and she voted to support the resolution.
“I think it's the patriotic thing to do,” Marler said.
Missoula residents also had much to say on this country's engagement in the Middle East - and its responsibilities here at home.
Feeling disenfranchised by politicians in Washington, D.C., opponents of the war in Iraq asked their local government to place on the ballot the referendum asking for troop withdrawals. Others said the measure would undercut the hard work of their sons and daughters spreading democracy overseas.
“I was infuriated when I read about this,” said John Jenkins, an Army Reservist.
Jenkins said he does not believe Missoula, a diverse town, can speak with one opinion on the war.
“The city of Missoula is not a political tool,” Jenkins said.
A retired Marine asked council members to stick with business in the city of Missoula and not waste time using resources on matters outside its jurisdiction.
“Stick to the potholes,” said John Keefe, who has three sons serving in the armed forces.
One of his sons is scheduled to return to Afghanistan in early July, and despite its high costs, his son tells him he wants to see the war through to its conclusion.
“He doesn't like the war. He wishes it were over,” Keefe said.
Keefe was one of several people whose children helped inform their opinions about the country's actions overseas.
Carol Bellin said her 11-year-old son was growing up in a time of war, and a war that is much too costly.
“As I raise a child, I just have to say this is a war we cannot afford,” Bellin said.
The war costs nearly half a trillion dollars, a figure she said she can hardly fathom.
“Please let the voters speak in a civil society,” Bellin said.
Earlier in the evening, another topic drew an emotional response.
To a round of applause, council members unanimously approved the purchase of 40 acres of open space near Kelly Island.
“This purchase preserves a small parcel of beautiful land,” said Ethel MacDonald of the Open Space Advisory Committee.
Teeming with wildlife and cottonwoods, the land will be bought with 2006 open space bond money after approval by the Board of County Commissioners.
“It's a very incredible area for wildlife,” said Jackie Corday, with the Parks and Recreation Department.
And at $500 an acre, some said it was an incredible deal. The city plans to deed the land to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, which owns Kelly Island.
Don Berg, a current owner, said in busy Missoula the area is a haven of quiet with birds, moose and bear.
“With mixed feelings, I am going to divest myself of this property,” Berg said.
Ward 4 Councilman Jerry Ballas wanted to be sure weeds don't overrun the property, and FWP's Pat Saffel said the agency constantly manages weeds on all its lands.
“We're just excited about the opportunity to have this become state property and look forward to managing it in the future,” Saffel said.
Council members also approved the preliminary 2008 budget, with Ward 4's Jon Wilkins abstaining and Ward 2's Don Nicholson and John Hendrickson in opposition.
Several council members asked about one item in the budget worth $400,000, which some believe should be refunded to citizens.
“There are a number of us very concerned,” said Ward 5 Councilman Dick Haines. Also, the Missoula Police Department's Mark Muir presented plans for $67,000 of grant money the city and county will receive from the U.S. Department of Justice. Money will go toward new digital video equipment and the Taser program. The budget also reserves $11,000 for an all-terrain vehicle to patrol parks and trails.
Jason Wiener, who filed to run for an open Ward 1 council seat, asked the governing body to consider whether it was appropriate to use an ATV to patrol non-motorized trails.
Two items will be considered later on: changes to subdivision regulations, including changes to definitions of agriculture; and a zoning amendment for the former Joseph Residence in the Rattlesnake.
In other business:
A department official invited the public to a kickoff meeting.“We're going to be starting off the update of the zoning code and subdivision ordinance,” said Roger Millar, director of the Office of Planning and Grants. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, in the Broadway Building conference room at St. Patrick Hospital. For more information, call 258-4657.
Advocacy specialist Travis Hoffman invited the public to this Thursday's Downtown Tonight and the Road to Freedom Tour, which will focus on the American Disabilities Act. The event runs from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Caras Park. Mayor John Engen proclaimed June 28 Road to Freedom Day. Ward 5 Councilman Jack Reidy announced his decision to bow out of another term.“I think I've maybe fulfilled my duties to the citizens of the city of Missoula,” said Reidy, who served more than two decades.
Bicycle/Pedestrian program manager Phil Smith introduced two bicycle ambassadors, who will cruise the city advising cyclists and walkers of the rules of the road.
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