HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-16-23 Public Comment - T. Witmer - Please vote NO on Ordinance 2149From:Showstone Properties
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Please vote NO on Ordinance 2149
Date:Monday, October 16, 2023 11:35:34 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Commissioners,
My name is Tessa Witmer and I am the owner of Bozeman Guesthouse, a short-term rentalproperty management company.
I manage short-term rentals at 15 homes in the Gallatin Valley. I only work with legal,
registered rentals. I am a licensed Montana Property Manager, I follow the rules, and if Ibring on a property that's not yet licensed, that is always my first step.
However, there are hundreds of short-term rentals in Bozeman that are not legal, not
registered, and not playing by the rules: either the rules that were passed in 2017 or the rulesthat were passed in August.
In my experience, the city's enforcement of the rules already in place is severely lacking. I
understand it would take the manpower of two full-time employees to effectively enforce therules that are already in place, and I understand that the City does not currently have the
manpower or budget to do so. However, creating more rules will not do anything to deterrulebreakers.
If Ordinance 2149 passes, not only will an entire industry be decimated without creating any
affordable housing, but the people who are operating illegal STRs will continue to do so. Only outlaws will have STRs, as those of us who follow the rules will be forced out of
business, having to fire our administrative assistants, our cleaning companies, our handymen,and our concierge service members. Guests coming to Bozeman will no longer have the
opportunity to stay in a place that is professionally managed, or inspected for safety and healthconcerns. And yet our friends at BTU still won't have affordable housing.
I am in support of responsible short-term rentals. The responsible thing to do is to enforce the
rules that are already in place, not make new ones. Then let the UDC create the new code. Gather data, do research, and make informed decisions. Allow a reasonable time for these
new codes and rules to settle in before making more snap judgments.
Passing this Ordinance would also create an image of instability on the city commission. Bozeman is going to stay on the map, but businesses will negatively view the impulsivity of
decisions such as passing this Ordinance.
I understand that BTU is loud and not going away. I admire their cause and their organization,but their target is misguided. We, the law-abiding, rule-following short-term rental owners
and managers -- are not the enemy.
Please do not disrupt our industry and our livelihoods. This ordinance is premature,irresponsible, impulsive, uneducated, and unnecessary. We are not uber-rich out-of-towners
trying to exclude people from housing. We are the working class who has invested our
businesses and our resources into a thriving economy and we are happy to play by the rules.
Please vote NO on Ordinance 2149.
Sincerely,Tessa Witmer
406.577.6535