Sandpoint commission advances planning for downtown street‑lamp banner pilot

The Sandpoint Arts, Culture & Historic Preservation Commission on Oct. 14 discussed a pilot street‑lamp banner program aimed at activating downtown visual space and showcasing local artists and nonprofits.

Commission members said they counted 51 lampposts with banner holders along North First and Cedar and proposed a standard 18‑by‑30‑inch banner to fit varying brackets. Chairwoman Ellie Soskis said the commission should begin with a single seasonal banner of work by local artists, then expand if the program proves workable.

Why it matters: supporters said the banners can provide low‑cost placemaking and a visible sponsorship opportunity for nonprofits and local businesses. Commissioners framed the program as something that could be paid for by outside donors, a downtown business association or a single sponsor rather than the city’s general fund.

Discussion and next steps Commissioners reported a wide price range from vendors: online quotes ranged from roughly $52 to $95 per banner; members used $60 per banner as a working estimate. The group estimated that two seasons of banner replacements, plus an artist stipend and contingencies, could run about $6,000. Jason Walker, the city staff liaison, was asked to research actual vendor quotes, installation time and whether the parks or public works maintenance crew would handle installs and takedown.

Commissioners discussed program design: a single unified graphic for a season would lower printing costs; a sponsorship model or a single donor covering the program would be simplest to implement; an alternative would let nonprofits apply for blocks of banners but that approach would raise selection and equity questions. The commission favored starting with a simple pilot (one seasonal design featuring a local artist) and then soliciting nonprofit partners or sponsors for future rounds if the pilot succeeds.

Logistics and policy constraints Members noted the city’s sponsorship policy and sign ordinance limit certain kinds of off‑premise advertising and that any use of donated funds must comply with donor restrictions. Commissioners asked staff to check which department would be charged with installation and whether additional brackets are needed for other streets.

Quotations from the meeting "There are 51 on North First and Cedar," Soskis said when summarizing the count of posts with holders. Jason Walker and other commissioners agreed the 18x30 size would accommodate the two different bracket types found along the corridor.

What the commission directed - Staff to obtain vendor quotes for 18x30 banners and report back with line‑item pricing for production and installation. - Staff to identify installation time and maintenance needs with parks/public works and whether additional brackets are required to expand coverage. - Staff to investigate sponsor prospects (downtown business association, local banks and festival organizers) and return with budget options for a single‑season pilot.

Forward look Commissioners agreed to use winter to finalize program rules and printing, with a likely spring installation for a seasonal banner by a local artist if funding and logistics are confirmed.