Sandpoint urban renewal approves $40,000 for security cameras at newly repaved downtown parking lot

The Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency voted on June 3 to approve up to $40,000 to install two quad‑lens security cameras at the newly repaved downtown parking lot.

Holly, a city planning/project staff member, told the board the cameras — one facing Oak Street and one facing Church Street — are the same model already in use elsewhere in the city and would tie into the police department’s system. “The estimated cost for all of the equipment, all of the installation is not to exceed $40,000,” Holly said.

City staff and police representatives argued the cameras help deter vandalism, speed incident response, and proved useful in a recent downtown arson investigation. Commissioners discussed installation timing, vendor integration, and financing: staff said conduit already exists in the lot but that the bulk of the cost is labor and integration. Several commissioners urged prompt installation for public-safety reasons; others expressed concern about adding to urban renewal obligations ahead of larger downtown projects.

The motion to approve the expenditure was made and seconded (transcript identifies the mover as Commissioner Bacowi and the seconder as Commissioner Sabella). After a voice vote approving the expenditure, Commissioner Perry recorded the only opposition. Staff noted final parking-lot contract quantities are still being finalized and said the city could consider using interest earnings from the district’s LGIP account to fund the cameras if needed.

Outcome: Motion approved. Staff will solicit vendor work for installation and integrate the cameras into the city’s existing security system. The agency and staff said they will present final contractor invoices in a follow-up report when quantities are finalized.