HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-17-23 Public Comment - H. Walsh - Comments on Type 3 STRs - We would like to keep our Family Business Alive!From:Heather Walsh
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Comments on Type 3 STRs - We would like to keep our Family Business Alive!
Date:Sunday, October 15, 2023 6:36:50 PM
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The City Commission is considering approval of draft Ordinance 2149 on Tuesday, October
17, 2023. The Advisory Board recommended approval of this draft WITH some revisions. Iask the Commission to PLEASE consider accepting these revisions, and to consider families
like ours, when approving this Ordinance. Please allow the compliant Type 3 short-termrental owners to continue running their businesses. Our life will change drastically if we
suddenly have to shut down our short-term rental business. We have run a permitted, legal,Type 3, short-term rental since late 2016, in a small cottage across the alley from our family
residence. On the same property, we run a long-term rental, which has always been occupiedby friends.
Our short-term rental contributes a significant amount of income to our “two-parent working”
family. This income allows our family to stay in Bozeman, while raising our children. Myhusband and I are fortunate to work in careers, where we hope to impact the lives of others in
a positive way. I am a registered nurse at Bozeman Health, and my husband works for a localnon-profit. As we all know, salaries in these types of jobs, and in many industries, have not
kept up with the cost of living, nor with the cost of raising a family in this city. The Type 3STR we run next door, supplements our family income, allowing for some breathing room.
Our downtown home is modest, with no extra bedrooms for guests. My in-laws stay in our
STR next door, and come to visit their grandchildren, every couple months. In addition, mysister and her family regularly come and stay in our STR. Many friends and neighbors have
had family stay at our rental. Without this STR next door, family visits would be much morecostly, and frankly, less frequent.
We have followed the City’s rules. We pay our local and state bed taxes. Having been
permitted from the beginning, we have trusted in this process, and in the City. Now, thechance that this could all be taken away from us, has us worried… as we wait for a decision by
the City Commission.
Shutting down the 70 or so permitted Type 3 STRs, will not meaningfully increase rentalhousing in Bozeman. It is not a real solution to the long-term housing crisis that we face.
What about the more than 200 non-permitted STRs operating within the city limits? Has theCity done anything to enforce compliance? The City should start by regulating those who
have never been compliant with any rules or regulations.
We are just one family of many, who live in Bozeman, and operate Type 3 short-term rentalsas part of the family income. Please consider families like ours, when approving the
Ordinance, WITH REVISIONS, on Tuesday evening.
Sincerely,-- Heather Walshhkojala@gmail.com406-600-2088