Sandpoint pauses paid curbside parking plan after downtown opposition; staff to pursue lot fees, enforcement and technology

Mayor Jeremy Grama and city staff told downtown business owners that the city will not move forward with proposed paid curbside parking on First, Second or Cedar avenues after strong opposition at a recent outreach meeting.

Jason Welker, Sandpoint’s planning and community development director, said staff will “remove paid curbside parking from the plan for now” and focus instead on managing off‑street lots, parking‑pass programs and technology to enforce on‑street time limits and show real‑time utilization.

The change follows an outreach meeting at the Marigold Bistro that Welker said drew about 50 to 60 downtown business owners. Business owners and residents who spoke during the council’s public comment period urged the council to keep curbside parking free and to prioritize enforcement and other tools that increase turnover.

"We strongly oppose installing parking meters downtown," said Jill Seaton, who owns Local Yokel on Cedar Street Bridge. Seaton said local employees and repeat customers would be hurt by curbside meters and that merchants prefer stronger enforcement to encourage turnover.

Stacy Mueller of the Cedar Street Bridge presented an informal petition of about 150 signatures opposing meters and proposed a “Sandpoint Community Liaison” program to improve coordination between the city and downtown merchants.

Welker told council the parking management plan’s objective was not to raise revenue but to improve turnover and availability: "This was never about raising revenue for the city. It was about improving turnover and access and availability of street parking for those who need it the most." He said staff will update sandpointidaho.gov/parking as the city develops recommendations.

Council members and business representatives also discussed costs and past experience with meters. Several speakers asked for full cost estimates for purchase, service, maintenance and enforcement of meters; Seaton said the city previously was told there would be no upfront cost but an ongoing monthly fee.

Council members directed staff to continue stakeholder outreach over the next four months and to form a working group that will review technology options and staff recommendations before any further decisions. The city will explore paid parking only in off‑street lots and through permit/pass programs already authorized in the June parking management plan.

Clarifying details discussed at the meeting include that staff will: remove paid curbside parking from the near‑term recommendation; focus on paid management of city lots and a parking‑pass program; evaluate technology for on‑street enforcement and real‑time guidance; and continue outreach with downtown businesses prior to a future working‑group briefing to council.

The mayor and council emphasized that no final decisions on downtown curbside meter installation have been made.