HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.22.25 Ordinance 2172 Commission Presentation.Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Update to the City Commission:
Urban Camping in the Right of Way
Ordinance 2172
Overview for Tonight’s Presentation
•Ordinance 2172
•Preparation and implementation of Ordinance
2172
•Permit system
• Current conditions on ROW
•Take Aways
•City Manager closing remarks
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Ordinance 2172 (effective 11/22/24)
•Prohibited camping on public property and rights
of way
•Provided for a limited permit system subject to
enhanced place and manner restrictions
•Reinstated misdemeanor penalties for violations
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Intent of Ordinance 2172
-Improve ability to address environmental concerns
-Adopt consequences that deter behavior and are proportionate to violations;
-Create safer right of way and public spaces for all residents housed and unhoused
-Decrease the number of camp facilities on the ROW and allow unhoused individuals time to find alternatives
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Preparation and implementation of 2172
•Notice upcoming ordinance change
•Permit application start date
•Closed streets with environmental
impacts and highest areas of conflict
•Develop Administrative Order
•Develop application questions
•Revised website
•Fee implementation
•Develop permit process
Permit System
•Application
•Review
•Issuance
•Fee
•Renewals
•Highest # of permitted campers on ROW: 67
•Current # of permitted campers on ROW: 22
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•Name/Contact Information
•Describe camp facility and who owns it
•Who will be living in camper if approved
•Proposed Location.
•How long have you lived in Bozeman? How long have you been living on the right-of-way?
•Veteran status
•Employment status, where employed
•Average total monthly income?
•2147 violation?
•Connected with community organizations
•What is preventing you from moving off the right-of-way and to a safer and more stable location?
•Is there anything else you would like the City to know or consider regarding your circumstances?
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Permit System
•Application
•Review
•Issuance
•Fee
•Renewals
•Highest # of permitted campers on ROW: 67
•Current # of permitted campers on ROW: 22
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Citations
•25 individuals cite; 40 total citations
o Never applied: 10 (4 on; 5 off; 1 unknown)
o Denied permit: 7 (1 on; 6 off)
o Permitted: 8 (4 still permitted; 3 off; 1 on ROW with expired permit)
•Approximately 300 documented warnings
•15 have been resolved; 25 pending
•Court outcomes:
o 5 dismissed by prosecution; 2 DPAs;
o 8 guilty
•average fine imposed ($87.50) penalties have ranged $0 to $200.
•No jail time imposed
•Zero tickets have been issued by BPD
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So, what is the current situation in
Bozeman today?
149
187
174
196
237
224 229
200 193
172 164
195
175
141
158
143 139
184
126
75
54 54
46 42 40 39 36
0
50
100
150
200
250
4.23 5.23 6.23 7.23 8.23 9.23 10.23 11.23 12.23 1.24 2.24 4.24 5.24 6.24 7.24 8.24 9.24 10.24 11.24 12.24 1.25 2.25 3.25 4.25 5.25 6.25 7.25
VEHICLE/STRUCTURE ROW COUNT
Locations of
sustained
urban camping
in Bozeman
over last 3
years
Current permitted
camping locations
Current Camping
Locations
Where are people going?
•40 previously permitted now off
ROW
o 6 have moved out of state
o 14 have moved to another town
within MT
o 20 have gotten into housing,
private property, or campground
in local area
Affordable Housing
•Since 2020: 769 affordable units have been completed in Gallatin Co.– more than half (426 units) in 2024
(155 open in Bozeman in 2025)
•2105 affordable units currently in development across
county (currently 316 under construction in Bozeman)
•Several sources indicate a higher vacancy rate within the City then in years past
•Homeward Point set to open Fall 2025 (155 beds)
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This progress on the ROW takes significant staff time and resources
-In FY 25 110 tons of refuse taken to landfill off ROW (excluding tote service)
-In FY 25 towing costs of campers to impound and/or private property were approximately $55,000;
-Tows to landfill since January have cost approximately $11,500
-$18,048 for portable toilets
-Managing abandoned/towed vehicles and campers
-Everyday effort by Neighborhood Services to contact, connect, warn, clean, document, tow ($248,000 FY 25 staff hours NS to implement ordinance 2172)
-Competing priorities
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Next steps for Staff
•Continue permit system through Oct. 1
•Work with remaining persons as they navigate off
ROW – roughly 2/3 of remaining permitted
individuals have current plan to move
•Continue to consolidate locations to increase
efficiencies and save on costs
•Larger clean up effort in the fall
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Take aways
•Stricter penalties as a tool detoured behavior of those with alternative options and incentivized cleaner camps for those permitted
•Closing areas of high conflict created more tolerance
•Permits allowed further connection with persons on the ROW and aided connections to resources
•Permits created sense of pride over area
•A known end date for permits has been a motivating factor for individuals to work toward
•Not all individuals are motivated to change their circumstances, but this is small percentage
•Moving off the ROW takes a lot of individual effort and courage
Questions