Sandpoint council backs continued racket‑sports focus at Russell Center, tells staff to refine operations and explore USTA partnership

Sandpoint councilors on Wednesday directed staff to continue operating the James E. Russell Sports Center primarily for racket sports while pursuing a number of operational changes meant to increase revenue and community use.

Jason Welker, the city’s planning and parks staff and newly hired facility supervisor Ryan Wells summarized four weeks of community engagement since a May 28 public meeting and presented two main paths: maintain the facility’s current tennis/pickleball surface and expand programming and events under new supervision, or invest in surface conversions to support multisport indoor use (basketball/volleyball or turf). Welker said the city has recovered about 54% of operating costs since the center opened in December and that the facility is currently subsidized by the recreation fund; he emphasized the center’s potential for special events if a temporary court cover is purchased.

Donor Jim Russell, who joined the meeting remotely, asked council to give the center more time under the city’s operation, urged staff to prioritize incremental operational changes before committing to permanent surface reconfiguration and said he would prefer any multisport change be reversible within about two hours. Russell also suggested volunteer support and membership adjustments as ways to close the operating gap.

Welker and Ryan described a possible partnership with United States Tennis Association Pacific Northwest (USTA PNW). The nonprofit offered a program‑delivery model that would bring tested tennis programming and instructors; under the options discussed the city would retain 100% of membership revenue while USTA PNW would take a 70–80% share of program registration revenue (the city would keep a 20–30% revenue share depending on registration responsibilities). Councilors asked for more details on program pricing, staffing and the effect on court availability for existing users; Welker said specifics would be negotiated if the city pursues the partnership.

Councilors asked staff to pursue several operational priorities before any major capital changes: expand volunteer staffing to lengthen open hours and reduce part‑time labor costs, refine the fee schedule and programming (lessons, clinics, leagues), acquire a temporary event court cover (estimated ~$13,000 per court) to host non‑racket events, and actively market the facility. Several council members said they support a one‑year trial with the new supervisor and asked for monthly reporting on membership, revenue and staffing progress. Council voted to continue the current, racket‑sports‑focused approach while further exploring a USTA PNW partnership and small capital purchases such as the event floor cover; the motion passed on a roll call.