HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-27-24 Public Comment - J. Negen - Public Comment From Bozeman Resident Joe Negen (Parking)From:Joe Negen
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public Comment From Bozeman Resident Joe Negen
Date:Monday, December 23, 2024 4:42:47 PM
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Hello City of Bozeman Public Comment,
I am writing today to comment on the parking laws that govern the MSU residential district
and my experience with the enforcement and implementation of those laws. Specifically Iwould like to address the method of enforcement (via inconsistent patrols), the method of
informing those receiving tickets (specifically the inconsistent use of the combination ofplacing tickets on the hood of cars, and the mailing of the tickets to the ticketed car), the
procedure for the purchasing of a parking pass - and the lack of a SOP that is consistentlyfollowed in the administration of this pass, in the notification (or lack thereof) in informing
residents of this parking district of permit renewal dates, and finally in the approach of citycouncil employees in the administration of fines. I will describe my situation and then take
these issues one by one.
I live on Garfield Street in the MSU Residential district, and Last week I received a piece ofcertified mail that indicated, to my great surprise, that I was subject to a boot notice for my
vehicle if I didn't pay $481 (6 total violations) in unpaid parking tickets. I was greatlysurprised by this, because while I live in the MSU residential zone, I am a resident of that
neighborhood and had purchased a parking permit. Today (December 23rd 2025), I went tothe parking division of the Bozeman City Hall to try to get to the bottom of this, I was
informed that my parking permit had expired (not something that I had been told about when Iinitially purchased the permit) and was told that there was no leniency in the parking fines,
and I would have to pay the $481 to keep my car from getting booted. Merry Christmasindeed.
I would also like to note that I will be referencing the document "Residential Parking Permit
District Parking Management Recommendations" (referred to as "RPPD Reccomendaitons"henceforth) to highlight how I think that the guidelines and solutions outlined in that document
failed to be upheld in my instance.
Method and Timeline of Enforcement - On Page 6 of the RPPD Reccomendations one ofthe listed short term solutions indicated was "Consistency in Enforcement," however this
seems to have failed to have been implemented, at least in the residential zone that I live in.There is no consistency in when the parking laws are enforced, and there will be instances
where patrols come through twice in a week, and then fail to come through for weeks ormonths at a time. You will see this inconsistency noted in the fee schedule from my parking
tickets if you would like reference them, as my car remains parked in the same spot, but wasticketed twice in a two week span in September, and then again in November with no
intervening tickets.
Method of Issuing Tickets - This is, in my mind, the biggest issue with the system of parkingenforcement that is in place currently, and the root of the problems I encountered here. I will
sometimes get a ticket on the windshield of my vehicle, but have gotten them in the past via
mail (though did not this time, I would like to note). This is, in my mind, an unacceptablesystem as it results in situations like mine, where I never received the tickets that were issued
to me. While I cannot comment on why I never received these, I would like to add that Ipurchased a parking pass and thought that I was operating within the rules, and was a lawful
resident of the MSU Residential district, and brought my lease to the Bozeman City Hall whenI arrived to seek some clarity on this situation.
The Procedure for Purchasing a Parking Pass - When I visited the Bozeman City Hall
today, I was told that when I purchased my parking pass in April of 2024 they did not checkfor tickets in my name. I was unaware of any outstanding parking tickets and so purchased the
parking pass and went on my way, thinking all was well. Additionally when I purchased thatpass I was not told that the pass was only valid until August 31st. I did, however, check the
box that indicated which residential zone I was in which indicated the expiration date, so Iadmittedly overlooked that piece of fine print. What I would like to see implemented in the
future is a standard "script" that is followed in the purchasing of a parking pass so that allresidents are informed of all existing parking violations (like I wasn't) as well as are made
explicitly aware of the expiration date for the parking pass (also, like I wasn't.) I would alsolike to add that the parking clerk informed me that there had been an email sent out reminding
people of the renewal date. I never received this email and find it strange that the reminder isby email if the enforcement is by mail.
Approach Towards Administration of Fines - This one is less about the actual
administrative process, and more about the general approach of the Bozeman Parking division.I would like to reference the stated "guiding principle" of equity, as referenced and defined on
page two of the RPPD Recommendations as "Public policy should strive to eliminate negativeimpacts on those least able to bear costs." I am not a rich person, I live in a not particularly
nice rental, and I pay a premium to live here in Bozeman because it's a good place to live.While I am not the "least able to bear cost," I am also far from the most. I am, however, a
proud member of our community who shops at local businesses, participates in localcommunity events, and is trying to build a life here in Bozeman. I don't need to beat the dead
horse of housing costs and general cost of living, because frankly it's already dead. All of thisis to say I found it very disappointing when I came to the Bozeman Parking Division and tried
to explain the situation and plead my case with them, that they insisted that I had to pay thefull $481 immediately, and there was no way to make any sort of accommodation for me. I
understand that the rules are the rules, but I did my best to not break the rules. I am a residentof that parking neighborhood, I had purchased the parking permit, and I came to them with all
of the relevant documentation with hopes that they would be able to see that I was notwillfully breaking the rules. But instead beauracratic systems seemed to overrule any sort of
human sense.
With all of this being said, I would like to see solutions proposed on the issues that I outlined,and would like to find some relief for the $481 fine that I incurred as a result of these issues.
Best,
Joe
Joe Negenjoe.negen@gmail.com
616-843-6656joenegen.substack.com/
