HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-10-23 Public Comment - A. Hinnenkamp - Urban Camping IssuesFrom:Andrew Hinnenkamp
To:Agenda
Subject:Urban Camping Issues
Date:Wednesday, May 10, 2023 11:41:32 AM
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Bozeman City Commision,
I'm a resident of Gallatin County and operate an engineering company that has
served the area and provided several jobs over the past 7 years. I'm writing to you to
address a serious issue that's affecting our business, several other businesses, and
residents of your city. There is a growing urban camping issue on West Hemlock
where our office is located. This issue has gone unaddressed by the city and electedcommissioners which has caused unlawful activities to escalate and affect our safety.
We have been in constant communication with Bozeman PD due to several incidents
that have occurred and continue to increase in frequency. Our employees havewitnessed assaults and drug deals in front of our office and are concerned for their
safety outside of business hours. The vehicles parked in the street either don't have
license plates, have expired plates, and/or are immobile. Trash, furniture, shopping
carts, junk are constantly littered all over the road. There have been multiple incidentsof theft on our property and the surrounding properties for power, water, wood, etc.
Some of the campers are running an illegal business involving renting campers that
they "own." This week there was a party in front of our office with multiple tents
setup throughout the public space and a campfire in the parking lot. This week, theFBI and Sheriffs arrested several people and confiscated a handgun.
It is just a matter of time until we or another business have a break in or worse - have
an employee involved in an incident. I am concerned for their safety and for my abilityto operate a business. The city and its commissioners are not responding to this issue
and appear to have a complete lack of care for the situation. Bozeman PD has been
very helpful in lieu of this and we appreciate all that they are trying to do. However,
they are short staffed and do not have the adequate resources to handle this situationwithout help from the city.
Our business has contacted multiple people at the city over the last 8 months and
have been told there is nothing that can be done, or that I should suggest legal waysof dealing with the situation. This is your job to address as an elected commissioner,
not ours.
Suggestions that we have heard from Bozeman PD and others:
Legalize camping within city limits but restrict where and how it can happen -
not near businesses, residences, schools or parks. This would ensure
campers have proper registration and that owners can be held accountable
for violating laws. This would also help the PD with tracking where sex
offenders and violent criminals are residing.
Find places to permit camping and provide services. Letting people decide on
their own cannot continue as it denies law and order.
Improve trash removal - there is a dumpster on our street that is constantly
full and surrounded by furniture and trash. Provide a paid trash service or
something with the permitting.
Have fines and penalties increase for repeated offenses. Talking with
Bozeman PD, some of the people would rather pay littering fines than pick up
their trash.
Please review Chapter 16 of the Bozeman municipal code. There are
multiple laws being broken and unenforced for certain residents within the city
limit. If there are problems with these laws you need to adjust them so that
they can be enforced.
Take care,
Andrew
--Andrew Hinnenkamp
Modulus | moduluscorp.com
706.945.4664