HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-03-2020 Public Comment - L. Semones - Parking Benefit DistrictsFebruary 3, 2020
City Commission Members,
First I want to thank you for all the hard work you do on behalf of the community of Bozeman. This
ordinance has also come before you after considerable work by the Parking Commission, and that is also
greatly appreciated. As with any new ordinance, there are going to be many questions to be answered
and hopefully beneficial additions and changes as well before the ordinance goes into effect. I am here
to ask you to postpone making a decision on this new ordinance.
The Parking Commission, while composed of hard working volunteers who always act in a
professional manner, is an appointed commission. As such, they are not directly responsible to the
electorate. And yet, they would be making final decisions that would alter the environment of many
downtown neighborhoods in the future. It would seem that the commissioners would be the ones most
democratically responsible to make a final decision on creating, expanding or eliminating a parking zone.
There is a very wise provision in the resolution that would allow 60% of a parking management area
neighborhood to create, revise or eliminate a zone. Why is this not in the actual ordinance? Allowing
the residents of an area to have a say in the regulation is essential to a democracy. Additionally, the
notification period should be increased from 15 days to 30 days. People need time to take notice, and
respond appropriately.
There are other reasons for the commissioners to be the deciding body. There always needs to be a
place to appeal a decision. There are going to be complicated decisions in the future. Consider the
following: How will the new ordinance in the future handle the areas around schools where volunteers
come to work with the children every day such as Hawthorne, Longfellow and Whittier? Will volunteers
have to compete for timed parking passes? Will that harm the ability of schools to recruit parent and
community help? How will the areas around parks that sponsor regular community events such as
Bogert Farmers’ Market be regulated? On a Tuesday the vendors start arriving around 2PM, well before
the 5PM ending of the parking regulations. How will vendors park? Will the ordinance consider these
location unique situations? How will the parking for Sweet Pea be handled? Will all attendees to Friday
afternoon activities which begin at 4 PM have to purchase timed passes? Equally, the vendors for Slam
arrive on Friday afternoon. Will there be enough timed passes available to accommodate these events?
Also there could be challenges around new music venues such as the Elm on N. 7th. If a concert is not
held after 5 pm or on a weekend where will the attendees park? I am sure that these new venues will
also host bridal showers, wedding receptions, business events and parties, and other community
events. Will all concerts and events be required to begin after 5 or will the residential streets of
Midtown fill up occasionally with out of town people looking for timed permit parking? How will this be
handled since there is no event parking at the venue?
Granted, these are all considerations that will occur only after the 85% occupancy rule is applied and a
zone is created. We are all wondering exactly how the 85% rule works because it is not included in the
ordinance, rather is buried in other documents. It would be better to insert the language for this
provision directly into the document where people can reference it quickly.
I would also like to see each household allowed 2 parking permits. The downtown is full of old
neighborhoods with shared driveways and carports rather than garages. For example, we share our
drive with our neighbor and cannot park cars in it. We each have one car in the carport. However, since
my daughter and her family live with us, we are using the street to park 2 cars. I feel 2 cars per
household would be fair. This is another one of those local exceptions that will have to be dealt with.
As you can see, there are going to be exceptions due to events and locations in the future, and as a
voter, it would be most democratic to have an elected body both approve creation, expansion and
dissolution of a parking zone, and also to mediate the language for exceptional situations.
Thank you for your time and your hard work.
Linda Semones
404 S. Church Ave. Bozeman MT 59715