HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-08-24 Public Comment - A. Sweeney - Proposed ordinance 2172From:Alison Sweeney
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Proposed ordinance 2172
Date:Monday, October 7, 2024 9:53:00 PM
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Hello Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Commissioners,
Please consider these comments on the proposed new ordinance.
I will preface my critique by saying that camping is not the solution. Transitional housing is a
proven solution when the goal is to get people back into housing. And that should be ourgoal. So I don't love seeing us spend money on not-solutions. While I want to see a safe place
for long term residents experiencing homelessness, I don't want to see us put money towardsinfrastructure (gas/electric hook-ups) to support camping. I want us to put any available funds
toward effective transitional housing.
Sec. 2.08.220 Permit Required for Camping on Public Right of WayI really think camping in the right of way is not safe. For anyone. It makes people targets,
and makes maintaining the right of way difficult or impossible. I'd like to see city landdesignated as a safe place for people experiencing homelessness, who comply with permitting
regulations, to have a semi-permanent place where they don't have to move constantly and itwill be easy to maintain the porta-potties and garbage cans we've already allocated. They will
also hopefully be less of a target for violence or harassment. This stability will also hopefullyhelp them to move into housing more quickly by removing the stress and disruption of
relocating every 30 days. What about the South end of Sunset Hills Cemetery?
A. Permits1. The city manager is authorized to issue and revoke permits to camp...
I struggle with the wording on this. I would feel much more comfortable if Code Enforcementwere in charge of issuing permits. Code Enforcement is under the City Manager, so maybe
that's the intent. The staff in Code Enforcement have close working relationships with thiscommunity and a knowledge of the lay of the land that the City Manager maybe doesn't. This
needs clarity. Maybe one of you could make an amendment to clarify.
Sec. 2.08.230 Violation and Penalty: Abatement.I cannot condone any shift from civil penalties to criminal penalties for campers. This will
only make rehousing more difficult. The fines suggested for campers are too high, while thefines for employers providing a camp facility are too low. Didn't the DEQ used to fine the
Yellowstone Club for polluting the Gallatin, and they just paid the fine and went on polluting. I may be misremembering this, it was when I worked up there 20 years ago, but I think this
strategy will result in the same type of employers ignoring regulations.
No Police Enforcement!Honestly I don't know what someone is thinking on this one. Code Enforcement is sufficient.
The US has a terrible record of police brutality and conflict in recent years. Do not createconditions in this community that will exacerbate that.
Sunset.I think "sunset" is inappropriate. There is no reason to think that we will be in a different
position in this community next October. We have no money allocated for transitionalhousing. I'd rather see this described in the ordinance as a date upon which the ordinance
must be reevaluated for efficacy, amended, or replaced.
Here's the few things I like:
Sanitation services
Some form of camping is still allowedA permitting process that would put someone into the coordinated entry system used by
HRDC, Family Promise, etc.Hopefully better clarity around the application process for receiving or revoking permits
Prohibiting camping in certain locations. Not because these people don't belong in ourcommunity, but because we need to minimize conflict.
Additional Concerns:Would the City be liable for someone who froze to death or was in some other way harmed,
through no direct action of the city, if that person was on city property at the time? If this is aconcern, the permit could include a waiver of liability.
Anyway, I'm sure a lot of really good suggestions have come from the community already, or
will at the meeting Tuesday. At least I hope so. Thank you for taking the time to read myinput.
Alison B. Sweeney
Bernadette's Handmade JewelryBozeman MT
406-404-5740alison-bernadettes.com