Council directs Russell Sports Center to 'stay course' under new supervisor; seeks monthly updates and continued talks with USTA PNW

The Sandpoint City Council on June 25 gave the James E. Russell Sports Center (JER) a yearlong opportunity to continue operations largely in its current form while asking staff to pursue programming, marketing and operational changes under the facility’s new supervisor and to continue talks with the United States Tennis Association Pacific Northwest (USTA PNW).

Director Jason Welker briefed the council on community outreach and usage since the center opened in December. “The facility has recovered around 54% of its cost since opening,” he said, adding that roughly the remainder of operating costs are subsidized from the city’s dedicated recreation fund. Welker and Ryan Wells, the facility supervisor now on site, presented attendance and membership trends, recent events (including a catered cornhole tournament), and options for expanding weekday and weekend hours, volunteer staffing, programming and special-event uses.

Donor Jim Russell, joining by phone, reiterated his family’s intent that the center operate primarily for tennis and pickleball and asked the council not to make permanent surface changes. “If we ever went down the path of multi use, that you explore options where you could return the center to 4 tennis courts and 14 pickle courts in two hours or less with minimal labor expense,” Russell said. He also recommended greater outreach to grow memberships and suggested specific membership-structure changes.

Welker outlined two broad paths: keep the current racket-sport-focused configuration and expand programming (with or without a formal USTA PNW programming partnership), or adapt the floor for multiple sports — which would carry added capital cost. He estimated a conversion to a basketball/volleyball surface or a single turf strip would each be in the roughly $160,000 range; an automated temporary event-covering product (to protect courts during graduation, dances or tournaments) runs about $13,000 per court (staff estimated roughly $30,000–$45,000 to cover a portion of the facility, shipping and handling included).

Council discussion focused on giving the new supervisor time to expand programming and on setting measurable checkpoints. A motion by Council President Raul Rule — as recorded in the minutes and summarized by staff — directed staff to continue primarily racket-sport operations under the new supervisor’s leadership, to pursue continued discussions with USTA PNW on a programming partnership, and to pursue availability of a temporary event floor cover (to enable tournaments, dances, special events). The council asked staff for regular monthly reports on membership, revenue, volunteer deployment and progress toward reducing the operating subsidy; the motion passed on a roll call.

Action: Council voted to continue primary racket-sport operations with enhanced programming under supervisor Ryan Wells, to continue negotiations with USTA PNW, and to pursue a temporary event floor-cover solution; staff will provide monthly operational and budget updates.

What’s next: Staff will refine fee schedules and programming options, work on volunteer onboarding and policies, return to council with budget and revenue projections as part of the FY2026 process, and continue discussions with USTA PNW; any permanent surface changes would require separate budget authorization and public review.