HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-17-23 Public Comment - D. Emmert - Ordinance 2149From:Dina Emmert
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Ordinance 2149
Date:Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:18:33 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.
City Commissioners,
I just wanted to reach out regarding Ordinance 2149. I was born and raised in Helena, MT and both of my
parents were raised in Kalispell, MT. On my dad's side of the family, I know we can go back as far as my
Great Great Grandparents (possibly further) for family that lived in Montana. I have lived here in Bozeman
since 2005. I do believe that the issue of affordable housing in Bozeman does need to be addressed.
However, I do not believe that Ordinance 2149 is the proper way to address that problem.
First, it's my understanding that Bozeman commissioned a study this summer by a firm called Economic
& Planning Systems, Inc. (or EPS). EPS found that about 63% of STRs are valued above the median
value of housing units. Those homes are far from being affordable. If the City stops them from being
rented short-term, they will not be converted to affordable housing. For the vast majority of Bozeman
STRs, those STRs are not transferable to affordable housing units. As a result, cracking down on STRs
does little to nothing to improve the affordable housing crisis we have in Bozeman. Second, STRs bring
tax revenue that can be used to create affordable housing. Just like hotels, there is an 8% total lodging
tax on a stay in an STR. Local entities get funds from that tax pool, which can be used for promoting
tourism or partnerships to create affordable housing options, among other things. Additionally, while there
is a shortage of affordable housing in Bozeman, vacancy rates for rentals are on the rise. Bozeman’s
HRDC is reporting that there is currently a 7% vacancy rate for rentals in Bozeman. These are just a few
of many reasons why Ordinance 2149 is not the proper course of action in Bozeman.
On a more personal note, I came to Bozeman in 1998 I bought a small house in Bozeman and had
essentially nothing to my name. I went to work, even when I didn't want to and had two small children. I
lived frugally and grinded through ups and downs trying to set myself up for a good financial and personal
future. I went through a divorce, had to reset everything, and got back on the same track of grinding and
setting myself up for success. We had to sell our house and I moved out to King Arthur trailer park and
then eventually rented a small condo. I then met my husband and at the time I was working 3 jobs to
make ends meet, we lived frugally and responsibly until we were lucky enough to move into our first
home. We continued to live frugally and responsibly and grind things out and eventually found ourselves
in position to buy our first rental property. We still live frugally and responsibly but also try to give back to
the community whenever we can, and we feel so grateful and thankful for the life we have been able to
create for ourselves, on our own, through hard work and personal struggle. I tell this story because this is
the story of the American Dream. Through hard work and dedication and ups and downs and struggles
we all have the opportunity for success. Nobody says it's easy. Nobody says everything will always go
your way. But we all have opportunities to grind through struggles to make our way through life. My wife
and I went through these struggles, but we are now lucky enough to own and STR in Bozeman ourselves.
This STR was hard earned and is part of how we are attempting to set ourselves up for hopefully
someday retiring. Additionally, we are self-employed and therefore do not have anything even close to
resembling a pension, or company health insurance, or things of that nature. Owning an STR is helping
us be in a position to pay for and afford these types of things.
At our STR, we have had guests including MSU parents, people traveling for work, people visiting
family/friends in the hospital, MSU guests (guest speakers and such), and many have mentioned their
thankfulness for a place to stay that is significantly more affordable than our hotel price situation in
Bozeman. Others have mentioned convenience to the hospital, ability to prepare their own food, or just
stay in a place that offers an alternative feel or look to what Bozeman has to offer as a community. We
employ cleaners, maintenance people, property managers and more. Like I mentioned earlier, I do
believe the affordable housing issue in Bozeman needs to be addressed, However, eliminating STRs is
not the answer to this crisis. Following the direction of groups who truly live and work in the world of
affordable housing, like HRDC, and the recommendations from the study the by Economic & Planning
Systems, Inc that was commissioned by the City of Bozeman, is the real long-term solution. Not theemotional hot-button issues of STRs that will do nothing to help with affordable housing but will jeopardizejobs and income for hardworking Montanans.
So, in conclusion, please vote no on Ordinance 2149 and please use the cities resources to moreappropriately develop a real strategy and solution to address affordable housing in Bozeman.
Thank you for considering my opinion.
Sincerely,