The Bozeman Transportation Board unanimously recommended that the City Commission consider establishing a residential parking permit district (RPPD) near Gallatin High School to address student parking overflow in adjacent neighborhoods. Petitioner Courtney Johnson, a former city senior planner, presented the neighborhood's case, noting that the high school was entitled with 613 on-site parking spaces but only allows juniors and seniors to park on campus. This restriction has pushed younger drivers to park on neighborhood streets, with only 35% of available campus spaces being utilized due to students clustering near the closest entrance. Johnson documented safety concerns, including a near-miss involving a young child, and noted the area has over seven schools within a half-mile radius representing approximately 3,400 students.
Staff members Ben Bailey and Parking Manager Nick Foken presented two available tools under the municipal code—a residential parking permit district and a parking benefit zone—recommending the RPPD as more appropriate for this area. Staff estimated permits would cost roughly $132 each based on proportional analysis from existing districts and acknowledged that enforcement would require additional staff and a vehicle. The neighborhood collected signatures showing majority support for the proposal. All four board members present voiced support, with Chair Rio Roland stating it would be "a failure of government in its responsiveness to its residents to not consider this seriously."
In other business, Director Nick Ross reported that the City Commission approved the public agent plan for the transportation master plan update, and the McElhatton Road bikeable access improvements project came in almost half a million dollars below the engineer's estimate. The city also received approval for a right-of-way agreement for the first section of the Fowler Avenue connection from Oak to Durston. The board also heard a presentation from TDM Coordinator Candice Mastal on Bozeman's League of American Bicyclists evaluation, noting the city has maintained a silver designation since 2012 and would need infrastructure and education expansions to reach gold status.