The Bozeman Transportation Advisory Board recommended consolidating the Bozeman High School residential parking permit district to reduce its geographic scope while maintaining protections near the school campus. The board voted unanimously to direct staff to pursue community engagement on removing restrictions south of Main Street and along 15th Avenue, while keeping the district on North 11th, North 10th, and nearby cross streets. Parking Manager Nick Fogan presented data showing permit sales have increased from roughly 100 to 210 in recent years, though he attributed this to increased enforcement capacity rather than growing need. The board asked staff to collect additional data on citation locations and permit distribution before the city commission makes a final decision.
The financial sustainability of the permit program emerged as a concern. Director Nick Ross asked whether permit revenue covers enforcement costs, and staff confirmed it does not. Current permit fees of $36.75 annually would need to increase to approximately $300 to achieve cost recovery. During public comment, residents offered competing views. Kelly Wiseman, a former parking commission member, urged eliminating the district south of Main Street, while Chris Wasio, a nearby business owner, advocated retaining protections, citing the school's limited on-site parking. The board also heard from Transportation Director Ross about several upcoming safety improvements funded by the city commission's recent decision to double the annual STR20 Multimodal Fund to $300,000 per year, including school zone speed feedback radar units, new sidewalks and crosswalks near the Tree Streets neighborhood, and rectangular rapid flashing beacons at multiple intersections across the city.