HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-01-20 Public Comment - C. Selby - MSU_BHS permit feesFrom:Corinne Selby
To:Agenda
Subject:MSU/BHS permit fees
Date:Saturday, August 1, 2020 2:08:52 PM
Dear City Commissioners:
I will not be able to attend the Commission meeting on Monday, Aug 3 so I am writing to urge you to
consider the following:
1. Please require the Parking Commission to include both FEES and FINES in the revenue
generated by the parking districts as was intended in 1993 when the districts were created.
It is unacceptable to ask a small group of residents to fully fund a program that has become
a revenue generator for the Parking Commission. When both fees and fines are assigned to
fund the parking districts, it becomes clear that fees should be reduced to $20-$25 rather
than increased.
2. Given these uncertain times we cannot count on the 2020-2021 fines to generate the same
amount of revenue as this past year. However, any funds remaining after the expenses to
operate the parking districts (approximately $45,000) should carry forward to continue
funding the districts until times are more normal again. Parking fees should remain stable
while fines should keep pace with those set by MSU.
3. I would like you to consider a single permit rather than the current separate resident and
visitor permits. The permit system would be simplified by having one permit type that allows
one vehicle to be parked on the street at any given time regardless of whether or not it is
registered to the resident or a visitor. Why does it matter if it is a visitor or a resident? This
would cut down on printing costs and allow a single program to keep track of violations as
each permit is allowed only 1 vehicle parked on the street at any given time.
4. I would ask you to consider changing the fee structure to allow each property (not the
number of residences on a single property) to purchase the first two permits at the $20-$25
fee and allow for a potential increase in fees for those properties requiring more extensive
use of street parking (more than two permits). Properties with multiple residences create an
increased demand for street parking and should be expected to help pay for the operation of
the parking district.
5. The goal of the parking districts should be to allow these neighborhoods to have available
parking similar to any other neighborhood in the city. After all, the High School and MSU (or
the downtown area for that matter) provide benefits to the entire community, not just to
the adjacent neighborhoods. To claim that it is “elitist” to want to park on the street that
one lives on is somewhat ridiculous. We all pay taxes and have an expectation of the same
“privileges and services” of living in this wonderful city.
6. Why is not possible to find out what residence a license plate is registered to? This could be
a simple online lookup (or even a phone call). It is much more neighborly to remind someone
of the 72 hour rule than to call the police.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I do hope you will consider reducing the fee structure for
permits since the cost of administering the program is more than covered by the revenue generated
from fees and fines.
I do have another question. I asked Ed Meece a question last month. His response is in red. If 1 of 4
spends their entire day monitoring and enforcing within the RPPD’s, what are the other 3 doing?
Who enforces the 72 hour rule?
What is the parking permit enforcement staff? Why are only ¼ dedicated to enforcement on
a daily basis? What happens with the other ¾? All four (4) Parking Officers do enforcement
8+ hours/daily. 1 of those 4 officers spends their entire day monitoring and enforcing
within the RPPD’s.
Cheers…
Corinne Selby
709 S 6th Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 579-3831