HomeMy WebLinkAboutTree and Street Maintenance Assessments Public Comment from Geoffrey and Cynthia McBride, 8-7-14From:Geoffrey McBride
To:Agenda
Subject:Tree and Street Maintenance Assessments
Date:Thursday, August 07, 2014 1:41:35 PM
From:Geoffrey and Cynthia McBride522 Dell PlaceBozeman, MT 59715587-5906
To:Bozeman City Commission
Dear Commission:
The reason for this letter is that my wife and I will be out of town for the public comments for the treeand street maintenance public comment period in front of the city commission and would like to expressour concerns to you.
I spoke with Laurae Clark from the City Clerk office on Wednesday August 6th, she was veryknowledgable and helpful in explaining the proposal. The concerns that we have are due to the way thatthe city is calculating both of these assessments. We have an unusual lot, 65 feet wide at the curb and410 feet deep, this calculates to approximately 26,000 square feet. even though there is a maximumamount of square footage to be charged, 15,000 sf, this really has nothing to do with our impact andthe tree and street maintenance.
Our first question are the tree and street maintenance fees based on square foot as opposed to linearfeet of curb?
Recently I listened to the debate for the widening and resurfacing of E. Story and the transportationdepartment argued that the linear feet of curb owned was the best way to determine each homeownersshare of the cost. We think this should be applied to these assessments as well.
Laurae explained that the city does not have linear feet calculations for each house hold and that itwould be extremely expensive to go through this process. This is a lame excuse at best if the city isdedicated to implementing to most equitable way to enforce taxes on the general public.
The square feet of land a person owns does not necessarily translate into the actual impact on tree andstreet maintenance. As an example I will use a friend of ours property. Carson and Dede Taylor own alot at the corner of Tracy and Harrison. They have hundreds of feet of curb footage and parkway andwill pay the same, the maximum, or less for our 65 feet.
Thank you for considering our concerns.
Geoffrey and Cynthia McBride