HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-14-23 Public Comment - Z. Stone - Public Comment - Ordinance 2147From:zethstone@gmail.com
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL][WARNING: ATTACHMENT UNSCANNED]Public Comment - Ordinance 2147
Date:Tuesday, September 12, 2023 7:36:24 PM
Attachments:230912 ZS city public comment.docx
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Hi – to whom It may concern please forward the attached file to the City Commission for
consideration regarding Ordinance 2147. Thank you.
September 12, 2023
Attn: City Commission
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771
Subject: Public comments regarding ordinance 2147
My name is Zeth. I'm a resident of the Gallatin Manor Complex located at 1806 W. Beall St. There is a
lack of safe and sanitary housing available for residents in Gallatin County.
The people who have been resigned to live in these conditions and targeted by this ordinance deserve
decency and humanity by the City’s elected officials and the civil servants which are under their
discretion. In this respect I echo the sentiments put forth from public comments previously submitted
online and given today in opposition to Ordinance 2147.
Next, I oppose any new appropriations from the general fund for any new FTEs to conduct these
sweeps. It bears stating the FY24 City budget proposal for law enforcement services alone accounted for
a whopping 26% of the total general fund. See City Manager’s Recommended Budget FY24, pg 79. The
City believes the best approach to address our existing supply deficits of housing for normal people is to
balloon a bloated department that is it’s largest by budget and FTEs.
Instead of growing the City’s public safety enforcement budget, the City should do the following:
a) use all available resources to begin staffing a housing authority;
b) leverage existing assets to produce safe and sanitary housing for these folks and others cost
burned; and
c) provide relocation expenses for individuals affected from vacancy reserves from existing public
safety department funds
Finally, before the City begins to further entertain thoughts of implementing any new rules on its
residents, they should follow existing state laws as set forth by MCA. As of today Monday, September 12
city officials have declined and ignored these obligations under statue 7-15-4403. The inadequate
supply of safe and sanitary housing is a feature and not a bug of over 50 years of ineffective strategy
from federal, state, and municipal actors believing the private sector could and would address the issue
of housing for the many.