Sandpoint officials outline downtown parking redesign and paid-parking plan

City of Sandpoint staff and the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency on Feb. 4 presented a redesigned downtown parking‑lot plan and described a broader parking‑management proposal that would reintroduce paid off‑street parking and digital passes for frequent users.

The presentation included a new lot layout that staff said would increase the number of full‑size stalls, convert drive aisles to one‑way circulation to meet parking‑code width requirements and remove some existing landscape islands to gain efficiency. Brandon Stylance, an engineer on the project, told the board that if the two existing entrances are kept “we would have to convert them to 1 way, you know, 1 way in, 1 way out.”

Why it matters: City staff say the current pattern — free off‑street stalls downtown and largely free on‑street spaces — produces a mismatch between customers who need short visits and long‑term parkers who occupy off‑street lots. Jason Welker, Community Planning and Building Director, said a 2022 parking study found “during the peak season, we see occupancy rates at the off street parking facilities downtown of 97%,” while on‑street occupancy was substantially lower. The city has about 505 off‑street stalls, Welker said, and staff estimate the annual maintenance cost per off‑street stall at roughly $575, producing an annual maintenance burden near $300,000.

Details of the redesign: Staff showed a layout the team said would provide about 28 total spaces in the lot iteration presented — a mix of standard, compact and ADA spaces — and discussed phasing options. The plan would repave and reconfigure the interior in an initial phase and defer construction of a new Third Street entrance to a later phase if bids exceed budget. The Third Street entrance is intended to allow installation of controlled access infrastructure (gates or pay stations) in a later phase.

Parking management proposal: Welker described a two‑part policy: (1) a system of digital passes available to residents and nonresidents and (2) paid hourly parking for non‑pass holders to better allocate demand and help pay for maintenance and resurfacing costs. He said the city has presented the updated draft to two commissions and planned further presentations to Planning and Zoning and other advisory groups before Council consideration.

Budget and timing: Staff told the board there is about $150,000 budgeted for the lot this year in the urban renewal plan and that the city may pair urban renewal funds with a Community Development Block Grant request to the Idaho Department of Commerce for up to $500,000. Public works staff said they expect to finalize bid‑ready drawings and present the project to city council on Feb. 19 with the goal of awarding a contract so construction could start in April and finish before the late‑spring tourist season; staff described construction of similar lots taking roughly one week of intense on‑site work.

Questions and constraints: Staff flagged tradeoffs about retaining trees: some trees in the lot are in poor condition and might not survive construction, while others could be preserved at extra cost. Street‑crew input also influenced the proposal: one staff member said removing center islands improves snow‑clearing efficiency. Staff noted they may need to value‑engineer elements depending on bid results.

Next steps: Staff said they will refine cost estimates, coordinate with finance to confirm available urban renewal dollars and return with budget details. Advisory commission briefings and a council agenda item are planned before formal project authorization.

Ending: The board did not take formal action on the lot design at the Feb. 4 meeting; staff indicated they will return with cost estimates and a recommended phase plan for future approval.