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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-23-17 Public Comment - R. Watson - Short Term Rentals1 Clerk Temp From:Ryan Watson <greenjeansinc@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, May 23, 2017 1:52 PM To:Agenda Subject:Short term rental Categories:Public Comment I just wanted to comment on the rules regarding short term rentals. Why is it that we need such oversight when the State already has and requires permits for properties that are over 35 bucks a night via the bed tax? Why should we make it harder for guests and travelers that may be stranded with out shelter or on the edge of finances to find an affordable spot to stay in Bozeman? THIS comes up over and over with folks that stay in arbnb’s here! The student that was kicked out! Family whose lease fell through! The guy that just felt like moving here and cannot find a HOME! Why are we saying too homeowners, (who have a job in Bozeman, love being a part of this vibrant community, can barley find and afford a home already and may want to have an option to rent a room out) that they can have family/children/guest stay in a room but can’t have a stranger. Requiring a fire inspector to check every location like this costs more money than makes sense, on an already burdened fire department/city system! Why in a shortage of affordable housing would we require more of the already strained homeowner? I really believe and have seen that arbnbs via their safety and affordable cost can help create a more vibrant downtown. It's the best way to travel in other countries and should be the best here. I urge you as leaders of the city to come to a resolution that make sense for a common person that wants to rent out a room and share an experience with a stranger! A $25 dollar business fee for AT HOME short term single or double room occupancy thats given by the current permit office and staff would be easy to implement. Encourage and develop a community that can afford to live here. Fosters business downtown, and affords those that do live here and have this option to spend more dollars in their community than on their mortgage! Thanks for your work and progress I think it does make sense to burden the owner that is out of state or just renting a home to have safety measures in place. Local management companies should be able to exist with out adding undue burden. You guys got a lot on your plate ;) Ryan Watson 321 Perkins Pl Bozeman