Sandpoint staff seeks commission input on parks capital plan and development‑impact fee update; grants sought for City Beach work

City parks staff asked the Sandpoint Parks and Recreation Commission on March 12 to review and prioritize proposed parks capital projects as consultants prepare to update the city’s development impact fee (DIF) schedule.

City staff explained the context for the request: the parks development impact fee has not been updated in roughly 15 years and currently stands at about $3,400 for a single‑family residence. “The parks development impact fee for a single family residence in Sandpoint right now is around $3,400,” staff said, adding that state law requires DIFs to be supported by a capital improvement plan the consultants will use when they calculate updated fees.

The DIF consultants will meet with city staff in April to review five‑year capital improvement plans for parks, pathways, streets, police and fire. Parks staff emphasized they need the commission’s top priorities and, when possible, dollar estimates to feed into the consultants’ formula. Staff said they would prepare a short ranking survey for commissioners to complete and attach cost magnitudes to projects before the April visit.

Staff outlined funding sources the city uses for park capital work: grants (state and federal, including the Land and Water Conservation Fund), public‑private partnerships, the local “lot tax” mechanism used previously for field refurbishments, and the city’s Parks Capital Improvement Fund (codified as city code 7‑5‑5) funded by user fees and concessions. Staff stressed that development impact fee dollars are legally restricted to capacity/expansion projects that serve growth and cannot be used to refurbish existing facilities.

Near‑term and highlighted projects discussed by staff included: - Traverse Park: new playground elements and skate‑park expansion (skaters are fundraising for shade); pump track/pump‑track materials stockpile noted; larger field drainage and parking work previously estimated at roughly $6 million if advanced as a single scope because of landfill‑site complications. - Tennis courts: a planned refurbishment with construction bids expected (staff estimated an initial bid package around $200,000 and said alternatives would be provided if bids exceed budget). - City Beach: staff applied to the waterways improvement fund for parking‑lot resurfacing and drainage work and separately applied to an Idaho Parks & Recreation RV/campground fund for roughly a $1 million project (5% match) to upgrade the campground with utilities and accessible RV sites; staff said these grant decisions are expected in May. - Memorial Field and other user‑fee generating facilities: Memorial Field generated about $95,000 last year and user fees and concessions are deposited to the parks capital fund per city code.

Staff also described how the department intends to stretch limited funds: increased in‑house design and project management, leveraging volunteer and partner labor (examples cited include Pottery Peddlers trail work), and seeking matching funds for grants. Staff noted salaries and park maintenance labor are paid from the general fund, not the parks capital fund.

Commissioners and staff discussed timelines and the narrow window before the consultants arrive in April. Staff said they will circulate a short ranking survey and compile the commission’s feedback, attaching dollar magnitudes where possible. The commission suggested using small working committees and a park “report card” assessment to gather more granular information ahead of funding decisions. Staff asked commissioners to provide prioritized feedback promptly so consultants can incorporate park priorities into the DIF update.