City Council 2025: Amy Aguirre

I will represent with integrity, vision, and common sense. I am Executive Director of Angela’s Piazza: Women’s Drop-In Center and have worked there for nearly 15 years. I have a career in the nonprofit sector working with families to secure practical solutions to their hardships, barriers, and unique challenges. I have also seen first-hand that great goals can be accomplished when neighbors work together. It is imperative that the private sector, nonprofits, and service and faith-based organizations strategically collaborate with the City to achieve community-wide goals, such as supporting green spaces, public art, the Northern Lights Family Justice Center, and improving public safety overall. On a personal note, I grew up with foster children in my home here in Billings, which opened my eyes to how violence and chaos in the family, food deserts, and weak public infrastructure and recreation facilities can lead to the breakdown and loss of the promise of strong, core family traditions and values. These experiences, combined with my career in human services, give me great insight into how our community has the capacity to build and grow together when all voices are represented and acknowledged. Much of my work includes building bridges between the “haves” and the “have-nots,” and I look forward to bringing this collaborative approach to Council. I have seen how members of our community suffer, and I have seen how they prosper. I believe Council would benefit from a fresh voice and perspective at the table, and I have extensive experience with a variety of personalities to produce quality outcomes. With the divisive political climate we find ourselves in today, it is more important than ever that Billings’ leadership develop and demonstrate unity and vision, and lead with bold steps into a productive and welcoming future for those who come after us.

City Council is nonpartisan. My personal voting record has historically crossed party lines as I look at the candidate rather than the party. I would hope that my common-sense approach to policy making will also reflect this ideal, in that l intend to address the issue at hand. That is, I will look at the issue, listen to who is promoting a solution as well as those who do not support it, and cast a vote for the greater good.

1. Affordable Housing
Housing costs in Montana have risen much faster than wages, making it harder for many residents to afford to live in the communities they call home. Meanwhile, nearly 12% of Montanans live below the poverty line, and many more face economic instability. I would love to collaborate with local contractors, the City, and first time home buyer programming to identify empty lots in various pockets around town that would benefit from tiny houses. We could potentially create spaces with 4-8 tiny homes on a lot, adding affordable housing to our community. If these pockets of tiny homes are located in certain areas they could also potentially qualify for TIF funding to support their construction.

2. Public safety
I will work to support local law enforcement in their efforts to efficiently address public safety concerns. I understand that recruiting new officers has been a challenge, and that efforts are under way to be more visible and accessible to our young adults and students, in terms of career- building. I support these efforts, and also support keeping a strong academy that helps educate and train the new recruits.

3. Public parks
While our city budget shortfall is affecting all city departments, parks are no exception. But for some reason they are considered less important, and are therefore expendable. In my experience, as well as that of many friends and neighbors, these spaces are critical to quality of life. If you are living in a tiny apartment or room, you can get to a nearby park and relax in a soft, cool space where no one expects anything from you – no demands, just peace. If you want your kids and pets to experience nature, you can get to a park and they can freely play, explore, and enjoy the richness of creation. If you are homeless and do not have anywhere to go, a park is readily available as a space to simply exist and regroup. Our parks are like a piazza, where everyone is welcome! As a city council member, I intend to listen to the department’s challenges as well as successes, and I also intend to listen to community members as they bring forward their concerns and stories. I am willing to help champion projects and activities that come forward from these conversations for the greater good of our community.

I believe education is key. Mental health services are crucial, as well. Our community would greatly benefit in our efforts being more proactive to gangs and violence than reactive. I also like the efforts being made to engage officers with youth as a recruitment tool and will continue to support that.

J: I believe tiny houses are efficient and affordable, granting access to homeowners who would otherwise not have the ability to own a home. They are efficient in their use of space and resources, where minimal landscaping would be required, eliminating heavy upkeep or abundant watering. City services would be condensed, requiring fewer materials in construction.

E: Currently in Billings, there are numerous parcels zoned and developed for a single family unit. However, should the property owner want to relocate an elderly parent, for example, yet still wants to grant them independence, it makes sense to me that if they wanted to invest in an additional unit on their property, it should be an accessible opportunity to them.

I feel like this approach would be cumbersome and overreaching. I don’t know why council members desire to be in the weeds of every department’s budget – this task is up to the department heads and city administrator, in my mind. Council members have enough to do!

I know TIF districts focus on eliminating blight and encourage development of businesses as well as housing. I think our three TiF districts are being run exceptionally well and encourage them to keep up their good work. There are numerous spots in these districts that would benefit from housing and business development.

I believe these businesses are a vital bridge between our past, present, and future. For those of us who were raised in Billings, these fixtures bring warm memories and a reconnection with loved ones from our past. They are an opportunity to share the arts and our history with our loved ones in our lives today. And they represent our ability to hold on to things that matter while also looking ahead to the legacy we want to leave behind us. I believe the city of Billings should continue to invest in these businesses. 

I would have to do more research/consulting, but on the surface I think it could be beneficial to make this move. This would create some new jobs as well as potentially free up some time for the work that Council conducts.

I do. Investing in this enterprise is a wise move for marketing purposes. Our local business owners benefit from tourism, and this then helps them support their own families. Residents also benefit, in my opinion, because it’s a good opportunity to meet new people from other cultures and backgrounds.