HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-08-23 Public Comment - G. Wentworth - ]Urban Camping- Baxter Meadows AreaFrom:Takami Clark
To:Agenda
Subject:FW: [EXTERNAL][Possible Scam Fraud]Urban Camping- Baxter Meadows Area
Date:Tuesday, August 8, 2023 9:12:42 AM
Takami Clark, MPA | Communications & Engagement Manager
City of Bozeman
Office: 406-582-2322 | Cell: 406-579-9237
tclark@bozeman.net
she/her/hers
From: Gavin Wentworth <gwentworth2@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, August 7, 2023 10:57 PM
To: Takami Clark <tclark@BOZEMAN.NET>
Subject: [EXTERNAL][Possible Scam Fraud]Urban Camping- Baxter Meadows Area
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RE: Kimberwicke,, Galloway, Equestrian, Caspian, Vaquero, Davis and other surrounding streets in
the Baxter Meadows area.
Takami,
I am writing to express my deep concerns with the "Urban Outdoorsmen" in the Baxter Meadows
area. Had I received more advance notice of the pending vote I would have included photos and
videos. Please share this information with the Police Chief and Fire Chief. I will forward additional
information under separate cover. I would strongly advise the Mayor, Police Chief and Fire Chief take
a ride through the neighborhood.
I have very grave concern over the current volume and behavior of the "campers." I understand that
some may be displaced due to the housing market, however that is clearly not the case in many
instances. People are using the neighborhood streets in lieu of KOAs and state campgrounds. That is
evident by the comings and goings along with the recreational vehicles they have in their possession:
bikes, canoes, kayaks, drift boats, 4x4s and the list goes on.
This is a list of some of the concerns:
1. "Cat- holing" in the farmers' fields and on private property-watershed pollution
2. Disposing of "black water", human waste in the storm drains- (Wildwood camper on
Equestrian is one example)-watershed pollution.
3. most of the "campers" never move so it is not as if they are going to the "RV dumping
stations."
4. dumping of garbage, appliances, bikes etc.
5. domestic violence issues that Bozeman police have responded to (7/23/2023)
6. excessive amounts of hazardous materials: multiple propane tanks, gas cans, oil cans etc,
stacked up in the hot sun and dry grass.
7. loose dogs
8. "Pop outs" and vehicles protruding into the roadway creating hazardous driving conditions.
9. Washer/dryers and freezers hooked up to extension cords.
10. Extension cords running off of car batteries in the dry grass.
11. generators sitting/operating in the dry grass.
12. open flames/campfires, in the dry grass
13. grills in the dry grass
14. smokers in the dry grass
15. Drug dealing on Equestrian-hand to hand transfer of money and goods in broad daylight,
many different vehicles coming and going. They are not running a vegetable farm stand.
16. Noise issues with the running of generators, & DV incidents.
17. Safety concerns of the residents. No one wants to walk on those streets anymore.
18. Campers and cars just left in the street with no ability to move them.
19. Vehicles parked on the dry grass.
It is abhorrent the "urban outdoorsmen" are allowed to run rampant with zero rules or
responsibilities. The apartments have restrictions on the size and type of grills that can be owned
and operated. And if a private homeowner had a stack of propane tanks in the blazing sun near open
flames, I am certain a visit from the Bozeman Fire Marshall would happen and an order to clean up
the hazardous materials would follow. And I have no words for the dumping of human waste in
the fields and storm drains. The town did come around a month or two ago for "enforcement",
however the violations were continued the next day.
The most egregious issue is the real and direct threat to life, health and property. These
individuals are carelessly storing hazardous materials and operating incendiary devices with
complete disregard to the excessive wildfire threat. Given the long Winter and wet Spring, the
fuel load is very high. They are operating with zero regard to the safety of the public. The high-
density housing, businesses and private properties, directly adjacent to these individuals, are at
tremendous risk along with the private property with livestock and the production farm fields. A
wind driven wildfire started by the careless mishandling of fuels and flames would rip through
the area faster than the crews could make it out of the fire station.
Please vote to create strict rules and regulations about how and where they are allowed to set up
camp. I am certain that if they were encamped in downtown Bozeman, swift action would be taken.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Please share this with involved parties as I do not have
an email address for the Mayor, Fire & Police Chiefs.
Regards,
GW