HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-08-23 Public Comment - N. Snively - Public Comment on City Commission Meeting 8_8_23, Agenda Item 1.1(STR)From:Nancy Snively
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Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public Comment on City Commission Meeting 8/8/23, Agenda Item 1.1
Date:Tuesday, August 8, 2023 11:36:06 AM
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Public Comment on City Commission Meeting 8/8/23, Agenda Item 1.1
August 8, 2023
Dear City Commissioners,
I fail to understand why the City of Bozeman wants to impose more obligations on hosting platforms for vacation
rentals. It seems like an overreach and only makes more work for
everyone involved - including the City of Bozeman! I mean, who is going to review all that information and what is
the city going to do with it? What happened to privacy? Is it really the city’s business who rents and what they
paid? Are hotels going to have the same reporting requirements? Are stores and restaurants going to start reporting
who bought what?
I do not believe that short term rentals are as big a cause of the housing problems in Bozeman as people say. For
instance, if STR’s go away, many of the homes currently used as short term rentals, will just sit empty except when
the owners are using them. They will not become long term rentals. Thus there may be long periods of time when
the city isn’t making money from their occupancy in terms of occupancy taxes, and money being spent in local
stores, restaurants, gas stations, and on entertainment, tour operators, car rentals, et cetera. Managers, handymen,
and house cleaners are needed, providing even more jobs. Homes used less, use less gas and electricity, as well, so
those businesses are also impacted. And if owners then need to sell those houses when the rental income goes
away, many will not be affordable for the average Bozemanite to purchase any way. I truly don’t’ believe that
getting rid of STR’s is going to solve, or even make much impact on, the housing price and availability issue in
Bozeman.
If you want to control the number of short term rentals, why not get rid of those who aren’t legally compliant and
properly licensed to operate? Then, get out of everyone’s private business, and stop blaming and nit picking at
vacation rentals, and get down to serious work on the housing mess in Bozeman! Bozeman needs AFFORDABLE
housing, not approval for more luxury units.
Sincerely,
Nancy Snively