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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-07-20 Public Comment - R. Brey - Increase in residential parking permit fees.From:Chris Mehl To:Agenda Subject:FW: Increase in residential parking permit fees. Date:Tuesday, July 7, 2020 11:52:17 PM Chris Mehl Mayor, City of Bozemancmehl@bozeman.net406.581.4992________________________________________From: Ron Brey [breyron@gmail.com]Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2020 10:46 PMTo: Brit Fontenot; Ed Meece; Cyndy Andrus; Chuck Winn; Chris MehlCc: KPowell & S Griswold; ruppster@gmail.comSubject: Increase in residential parking permit fees. Dear Commissioners and staff, I am writing to question the proposed increase in residential parking permit fees. As the former staff person whocreated the district, I can tell you that one provision of the district is being misinterpreted. Both districts were created at the request of residents. Several Commissioners felt that they could not justify havingthe community at large pay for a portion of the costs of what was considered to be a special service requested by animpacted group of residents. To address this, they inserted the language you now find in Section 36.04.350 of theBozeman Municipal Code: " The amount of the fees shall be established by resolution at the level that covers thecost of administration and enforcement of the residential parking permit regulations in the residential area.". Theintention was for the districts to be "revenue neutral". The presumption was that all the costs and revenues of thedistrict would be reassessed from time to time to prevent residents outside the district from bearing any of thefinancial burden. The notion that the district fees would cover enforcement costs but fine revenues would not beconsidered in the net calculation of administration and enforcement costs is nonsense. I would encourage you to review the Municipal Code. There are many provisions for fines and fees for everythingfrom traffic offenses to misdemeanor offenses to library or recreation fees, court costs and so on. The disposition ofthese revenues is never specified in code just as it wasn't in the case o9f the parking district fine revenues. Theserevenues accrue to the General Fund and their disposition is at the discretion of the City Commission. Earmarkingthe disposition of district fine revenues was and is unnecessary and the failure to provide for that in the code isconsistent with all other similar fees and fines. Simple accounting to determine the cost of administration andenforcement after fine revenues fairly establishes the level for fees without impacting the Commission's discretion intheir expenditure. Again, the concern of the adopting Commission was that non-district residents not be responsible for district costs. Including the calculation of fine revenue in the establishment of permit fees accomplishes this.in<http://this.in> a manner that is fair to district residents and non-residents alike. While I am not familiar with their accounting methods, it should be noted that Missoula, with a nearly identicaldistrict charges $25 for residential permits and $25 for visitor permits. Helena's fees are $20 for residential permitsand $5 for visitor permits. In closing, I want to thank you for stepping up to grapple with parking issues. They are some of the toughestmunicipal issues to contend with that I know of and your service is much appreciated. Please forward my commentsto the members of the Parking Commission for their consideration. Sincerely, Ron Brey 1106 S. 3rdBozeman .