HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-24-23 Public Comment - P. & M. Routhier - Please remove Urban camping ordinance from Tuesday’s Oct 24, 2023 “consent” agendaFrom:Mary Routhier
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Please remove Urban camping ordinance from Tuesday’s Oct 24, 2023 “consent” agenda
Date:Monday, October 23, 2023 10:00:44 PM
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Dear Commissioners,
With all due respect, we urge you to remove the urban camping ordinance from the “consent” agenda. We
participated in the City Commission meeting (via zoom) when the Commission voted on revised language for this
ordinance. The ordinance, as currently written, and as you well know, will do nothing to solve the problems
identified by concerned citizens. Those problems include the City’s failure to enforce existing laws such as
1) illegal sanitation (dumping of human waste on private property and city streets);
2) urinating in public;
3) illegal drug use;
4) public intoxication;
5) trespassing on private property;
6) littering on private and public property;
7) parking vehicles and/or trailers on public streets for over 72 hours, including those not registered and/or not
operational);
8) unauthorized structures (out if compliance with city codes); and
9) theft including illegal use of electricity and water.
The Commissions’ approval of this ordinance, which in our opinion, is ineffectual as written, will be an abdication
of your duties and responsibilities as public officials to safeguard and protect the safety and health of the taxpayers.
Just today, October 23, 2023, residents in Baxter Meadows received an email from our HOA Management
Company, advising us that crime in our area has increased and they provided recommendations on how to keep our
personal property and personal selves safe. This was shocking and proves that the issues driven by urban camping
requires strict oversight by the city officials, in order to ensure the health and safety of all taxpaying residents.
The city must enforce current laws and quality of life zoning and NOT pass this ordinance.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul and Mary Routhier
Bozeman, MT