HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-23-18 Public Comment - H. Drake - Residential Parking Permit DistrictsFrom:agenda@bozeman.net
To:Agenda
Subject:Thank you for your public comment.
Date:Monday, April 23, 2018 10:52:05 AM
A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted.
Form Name:Public Comment Form
Date & Time:04/23/2018 10:51 AM
Response #:102
Submitter ID:7320
IP address:172.24.96.111
Time to complete:11 min. , 49 sec.
Survey Details
Page 1
Public comment may be submitted via the form below, or by any of the following options.
Public comment may also be given at any public meeting.
Email:
agenda@bozeman.net
Mail to:
Attn: City Commission
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771
In-person delivery to:
Attn: City Commission
City Clerk's Office
City Hall, Suite 202
121 N. Rouse Ave.
Bozeman, MT
First Name Heather
Last Name Drake
Email Address heathre@mac.com
Phone Number 406-425-1543
Comments
As a resident homeowner in the MSU neighborhood area, I am acutely aware of the parking challenges
already present on our residential streets. With many homes occupied by four, five, or six students, my
block is regularly lined with cars, some with permanent permit stickers, some with temporary "guest" tags,
and some with no tags at all. Our household has two vehicles, one parked in our one-car driveway and the
other with a permit sticker on the street.
The cost of each permit this year was increased from previous years by 150%, with the City's
acknowledgment that increase was to fund better patrolling and parking enforcement in permit areas.
While parking enforcement is present for periodic widespread street cleanings, I have not seen an
improvement on enforcement otherwise, and have had to proactively call the City's parking enforcement
department to enforce violations in our area.
I often have to park a few houses down the street from my own, which is currently not a problem.
However, opening up the residential streets around my home to permit-free MSU student/faculty parking
will likely push parking for residents out a block, or two, or more. This would be extremely frustrating,
especially when hauling groceries, small kids, and gear. Further, based on what we experience currently, I
have strong doubts that there will be regular enforcement of two- to three-hour parking time limits for
those without residential permits.
While it is true that on-street parking is open to the public, one expects that those parking on residential
streets are the residents and their guests/visitors. When I shop at the grocery or a home improvement
store, free parking is provided. For visitors who shop downtown, the City provides free two-hour parking on
the streets, in front of commercial storefronts and additionally with parking lots and a parking garage. The
Museum of the Rockies provides parking for its visitors. City Hall even has designated parking for and
limited to those conducting City Hall business.
MSU recently constructed a multi-layer parking garage on campus. So why are students needing to park a
half mile or more away from campus? Are they charging parking fees that students don't want to pay? Why
is the university not providing free parking to those paying tuition to attend classes there?
The continually increasing university student population has been straining the traffic, parking, and housing
availability of the entire Bozeman community. But what is the university doing to alleviate its impact on the
City and its permanent residents? We property owners, including private businesses, pay taxes and fees to
maintain and improve these streets and public areas. The bottom line is that the community's streets are
NOT MSU's "free parking" lot.
Thank you,
City Of Bozeman
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