Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-15-23 Public Comment - G. Thompsen - Appointment of Interim Commissioner, see attached letter.From:George Thompson To:Agenda Subject:[EXTERNAL]Appointment of Interim Commissioner, see attached letter. Date:Wednesday, November 15, 2023 12:07:30 PM 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. Mayor Andrus and Commissioners; Please review attached letter regarding upcoming appointment. (It is also being shared with other community residents and business) Having been closely affiliated with Bozeman for over 40 years I have become strongly attached to the College, community and active on City Boards for many years. However I doagree with Joey that Short Term Rentals damage neighborhoods,.and perhaps there are some other adjustments needed to sustain the Bozeman vibe. Unfortunately, we have been discovered. Prices for all goods, services, housing, labor will only escalate, matching other mountain destination areas. Unprecedented growth of residents,taxes and property cost triggering multi-million dollar budgets is scarcely a job for novices. It would be beneficial if Mayoral and Commissioner candidates were required to serve on City / County Boards four to six years prior to running for public office. I found the time on theImpact Fee Board provided insight to the City Staff long range infrastructure planning required to efficiently allocate public funding. While the Planning and Zoning Boards (Community Development) allows one to better comprehend the significant needs of both community residents and businesses struggling to create jobs and housing. The added benefit of serving on the Boards is developing positive relationships and mutual respect with City staff while recognizing their contributions in addressing the needs of voters. Good Luck. G. Thompson, Bozeman November 15, 2023 page1/3 RE: Commissioner Appointment criteria Mayor Andrus and Commissioners; The recent Bozeman Chronicle interview with elected Mayor Morrison suggested Bozeman isat an inflection point in its governing principles. It was then a surprise to read a statement inNext Door web page by Mr. Morrison that he had received out of state campaign funding. Such funding has no responsibility to residents. Of particular concern now is the selection of an interim Commissioner to fulfill the existing vacancy. Bozeman needs a Commissioner who understands the important allocation of economicand intellectual resources which have given the choices, opportunities to support thedreams and joys of its residents. As Bozeman grows, it has been exciting to see a new generation of entrepreneurial activity.These start-up businesses bring vitality, jobs which entice new residents to share the commitment and values of our community. It is not theoretical cultural voices, but business people who actually understand the economic and intellectual drivers which have allowedresidents to chase their dreams and choose effective financial paths to build their vision herein Bozeman. Just look at the many local businesses gaining national customers. Would strongly suggest reaching out to the local business community to find individuals withrequisite financial or business background to guide our city through the upcoming appropriations resulting from the large increase of tax revenue. It will be important to have a Commissioner who has actual financial equity investments in Bozeman and can educate, helpguide, advise Mayor Morrison through myriad choices leading to economic decisionsconfronting our City’s growth. Mr. Morrison has stated that small business landlords “do nothing” to earn rental income. Thislack of understanding how locally owned businesses have contributed to Bozeman’s growth is disconcerting. Please note that I have finally retired having provided and maintained lowincome housing for over 400 residents during the 16 year ownership of a small rental complex. All local business owners fold their own 50-60 hour work week, increasing interest rates onloans, labor costs , materials and tax burdens into the goods and services provided to ourcommunity. Small business owners hire other small business companies for their skills,services, and contribute their personal equity stake in the local economy. We need a Commissioner who actually understands and has experienced the personal satisfaction,rewards, and commitment in being an essential part of Bozeman’s growth. We do not need a Commissioner who holds ideological concepts, which resonate with a varietyof activists, small group of residents, or urban campers, while making choices which distractfocus and constrict the intellectual vigor of both young and old in our favorite community. Bozeman needs a Commissioner who understands the allocation of economic andintellectual resources which have given supported the opportunities, dreams and joys of itsresidents contributing to community. Thank you, G. Thompson See attached, earlier 2/15/23, letter to Commission is provided for context. This earlier letter(now edited) is provided for context. Page2/3 February 15, 2023, Mayor and Commissioners: RE: Tenants Union, Challenges to small local family owned rental property business Mayor Andrus and Commissioners; It is always a pleasure to hear a State of the City presentation with strong positive approach tounprecedented challenges of Bozeman’s rapid growth. However as a small business property owner I am very concerned about the elevated statuswhich has been given to the Tenants Union and potential implications of onerous requirements suggested by a Tenants Union as conferred by the Mayor, enforced by City staff. As such, I would like to briefly address such concerns and articulate the values which a smallrental property and family businesses has brought to our community over the past 40 years. This concern is based on implicit biases of one of the Union members and a former City Mayorwho have stated that small business (investors) and owners of rental property do nothing forour community and receive income disproportionate to their investment and sweat equity. 1.During the Covid crises a board member of the Tenant Union went on Bozeman Next DoorNeighbor and strongly suggested that renters did not need to pay rent per Federal guidelines. I responded that a small 600 SF one bedroom house on the northside has over four months ofrent which solely goes to paying city taxes. Said Tenant Union board member Joey Morrison, then took it upon himelf to dig out personal business information on my small LLC, disclose my properties and publicly state that “your rental properties give you $45, 000 a year for doingabsolutely nothing”. No mention is made of our personal choice to put sweat equity (billable hours) into renovatinglocal housing stock, loan payments which are not recorded in public documents, insuranceand increasingly costly maintenance. Due in part to the large cost increases in of hiring and scheduling construction trades people to do the maintenance which a 70 year old can nolonger do. Certainly our Commissioners know there is no “retirement pension fund” for smallbusiness owners. Please note that my sweat equity (as a former union journeyman carpenter billable chargewould now be +$75 hour here in Bozeman) was in addition to holding down a full time job 50-60 hours a week, and a part-time teaching job as adjunct professor in MSU College of Business. Equity is only created by a family business owner’s work and personal sacrifices. 2. If our City Commissioners support such an adversarial attack on a small businessproperty owner by a community led Tenants Union, I can only imagine the morass ofchallenges for all other small business owners trying to comply with onerous codes andspurious interpretations by our city regulatory agencies. Our Code writers and city staffhave only added unnecessary complexity to local business owners over the past 30 years.We simply don’t need them to monitor angry tenants who chose to live in Bozeman, Page3/3 Since 1976, living in Bozeman has always required a choice to work multiple jobs to afford housing. Nothing has changed in +40 years except increased desirability to live here. It is unfortunate that the City creates, and then requires, endless barriers to those creativeenough, who choose the mindset and develop necessary skills, to create a business in theirhome town. We all have equal opportunities to choose where we live, to create our own sustainablelifestyle and business. Our personal choices of lifestyles and willingness to tackle the long hours and hard work to building a business result in equity outcomes which may not be equal. It is unfortunate that disparaging comments by a former mayor (who receives an adequate University pension for actually “doing nothing” and our Tenants Union) will disincentivize the small mom/pop rental apartment business owners who provide approximately 70 % of rentalsin smaller communities (Wall Street Journal 1/28/23). At some point rental property ownerswill sell and reinvest elsewhere. Note that the future property buyer, if they chose to rent, will then be faced with higher property taxes and charge higher rents to cover their million dollarequity investment. $600,000 tear downs will reduce housing affordability. Any type of rentcontrols, tenants rights code enforcement will only exacerbate housing challenges andperceived inequities. Please engage actual small business property owners to be actively involved in determining and setting any City policy directives which impacts the economic viability of their smallbusiness. Thank You, G. Thompson Bozeman, MT 3. Tenants Unions: Please look at Boulder Colorado or New York City to see how tenants rights groups have impacted both number of rentals and lack of “affordable” rents. Pleasenote that any additional friction in providing rental housing will result in property sale andreplacement.