The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About07-30-20 Public Comment - University Neighborhood Association - University Neighbors Assoc concerns = MSU_BHS Res Parking Permit Districts -funding and proposed permit fee increaseFrom:KPowell & S Griswold To:Agenda; Jeff Mihelich Cc:Ron Brey; Jim Goetz; Pat Flaherty; Kathy& John Francisco Brown; Dani Hess Subject:University Neighbors Assoc concerns = MSU/BHS Res Parking Permit Districts -funding and proposed permit feeincrease Date:Thursday, July 30, 2020 7:39:26 PM Attachments:UNA concerns MSUBHS RPPD fees and funding City Comm 8320.pdf July 29, 2020 TO: Bozeman City Commission Mayor Chris Mehl, Deputy Mayor Cyndy Andrus, Commissioners I-Ho Pomeroy, Terry Cunningham, MichaelWallner Bozeman City Manager Jeff Mihelich From: University Neighbors Association (UNA): Kathy Powell, President, 406-600-1164 powellgriz@icloud.com Kathy Francisco, Vice President, Pat Flaherty, Secretary RE: Concerns about funding and proposed increase in permit fees MSU/BHS ResidentialParking Permit Districts The University Neighbors Assoc board and neighbors are concerned about how the MSU/BHS Residential Parking Districts (RPPDs) are currently being funded and the proposed increase inpermit fees from $30 to $35. Residential Parking Permit Districts (RPPD) were established in 1992 and 1993 by Ordinance1345/1376. The City Commission minutes from 11/15/1993 clearly state that RPPDs need to pay for themselves without any tax payers dollars. The minutes also state that parking permit fees AndFINES are to be set so they generate sufficient revenues to cover expenses of the program. Fines areNOT to go to the General Fund but be used to help balance the cost of the program. According to Parking Services staff interpretation of the RPPD Ordinance, only parking permits fees should be used to cover the cost of operating the districts, not fees and fines. Parking says theRPPDs are not paying for themselves, have a FY2020 deficit of (-$54,378 ), and are not sustainable. Ron Brey, former Bozeman Assistant City Manager, was the city staff person who worked withresidents around MSU who wanted a parking district set up, similar to Missoula, to deal with the excessive traffic, worry about safety due to cars circling neighborhoods, and litter being strewn. Rondid the research and brought forward an Ordinance to the City Commission which was approved (seeattached 11/15/1993 City Commission minutes). Ron says in his letter to the current CityCommission dated 7/14/2020, using fees alone as the sole source of revenue for the RPPD programto cover costs is ABSOLUTELY WRONG! Ron goes on to explain that permit fees are to be established (annually) by resolution as listed in the RPPD Ordinance. Fines are not included in theannual adjustment statement because fines are supposed to be set as needed in order to matchparking violation fines assessed by MSU and/or to make adjustments based on enforcement issues. Using permit fees AND FINES as intended actually create a surplus at the current $30/permitfee. The MSU/BHS RPPDs ARE sustainable - Right Now! At Parking Commission meetings 7/9/2020 and in minutes from 6/13/19, Parking Program ManagerEd Meece stated that: FY 2020 & expected 2021 2,082 permits sold = $ 61,093 (at $30/permit) FY 2019 issued citations approx. = $100,000 *________________ Est revenue using fees and fines $161,093 FY2021 Budget Expenses MSU/BHS RPPDs ($115,471) Net Surplus approx. $ 45,000 NOTE: *FY2020 Parking fines may be less due to COVID-19 shutdown in spring, but a decrease of $45,000 is most unlikely. The MSU RPPD was set up to restore normal residential on-street parking for areas next to heavyparking generators like MSU. It is not “Elitist” as Mr. Meece often states. It is practical and has reduced traffic and improved safety with fewer cars circling the neighborhood. The UNA Board asks the Bozeman City Commission to: 1. Not increase the Parking Permit Fee to $35, but instead use surplus to decrease fees to $20or $25 2. Direct the Parking Services to follow the RPPD Ordinance and its intent. Use both parkingpermits and FINES from MSU/BHS RPPDs as revenue to balance the cost of operatingthese RPPDs. These fines are intended to help cover costs of the RPPDs and not be a “Cash Cow” for Parking Services. Attached is the UNA concerns in PDF form. July 29, 2020 TO: Bozeman City Commission Mayor Chris Mehl, Deputy Mayor Cyndy Andrus, Commissioners I-Ho Pomeroy, Terry Cunningham, Michael Wallner Bozeman City Manager Jeff Mihelich From: University Neighbors Association (UNA): Kathy Powell, President, 406-600-1164 powellgriz@icloud.com Kathy Francisco, Vice President, Pat Flaherty, Secretary RE: Concerns about funding and proposed increase in permit fees MSU/BHS Residential Parking Permit Districts The University Neighbors Assoc board and neighbors are concerned about how the MSU/BHS Residential Parking Districts (RPPDs) are currently being funded and the proposed increase in permit fees from $30 to $35. Residential Parking Permit Districts (RPPD) was established in 1992 and 1993 by Ordinance 1345/1376. The City Commission minutes from 11/15/1993 clearly state that RPPDs need to pay for themselves without any tax payers dollars. The minutes also state that parking permit fees And FINES are to be set so they generate sufficient revenues to cover expenses of the program. Fines are NOT to go to the General Fund but be used to help balance the cost of the program. According to Parking Services staff interpretation of the RPPD Ordinance, only parking permits fees should be used to cover the cost of operating the districts, not fees and fines. Parking says the RPPDs are not paying for themselves, have a FY2020 deficit of (-$54,378 ) and are not sustainable. Ron Brey, former Bozeman Assistant City Manager, was the city staff person who worked with residents around MSU who wanted a parking district set up, similar to Missoula, to deal with the excessive traffic, worry about safety due to cars circling, and litter being strewn. Ron did the research and brought forward an Ordinance to the City Commission which was approved (see attached 11/15/1993 City Commission minutes). Ron says in his letter to the current City Commission dated 7/14/2020, using fees alone as the sole source of revenue for the RPPD program to cover costs is ABSOLUTELY WRONG! Ron goes on to explain that permit fees are to be set annually as listed in the RPPD Ordinance. Fines are not included in the annual adjustment statement because fines are supposed to be set as needed in order to match parking violation fines assessed by MSU and/or to make adjustments based on enforcement issues. Using permit fees AND FINES as intended actually create a surplus at the current $30/permit fee. The MSU/BHS RPPDs ARE sustainable - Right Now! At Parking Commission meetings 7/9/2020 and in minutes from 6/13/19, Parking Program Manager Ed Meece stated that: FY 2020 & expected 2021 2,082 permits sold = $ 61,093 (at $30/permit) FY 2019 issued citations approx. = $100,000 *________________ Est revenue using fees and fines $161,093 FY2021 Budget Expenses MSU/BHS RPPDs ($115,471) Net Surplus approx. $ 45,000 NOTE: *FY2020 Parking fines may be less due to COVID-19 shutdown in spring, but a decrease of $45,000 is most unlikely. The MSU RPPD was set up to restore normal residential on-street parking for areas next to heavy parking generators like MSU. It is not elitist as Mr. Meece often states. It is practical and has reduced traffic and improved safety with fewer cars circling the neighborhood. The UNA Board asks the Bozeman City Commission to: 1. Not increase the Parking Permit Fee to $35, but instead use surplus to decrease fees to $20 or $25 2. Direct the Parking Services to follow the RPPD Ordinance and its intent. Use both parking permits and FINES from MSU/BHS RPPDs as revenue to balance the cost of operating these RPPDs. These fines are intended to help cover costs of the RPPDs and not be a “Cash Cow” for Parking Services.