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Sandpoint staff outline Sports Center plan: pursue USTA partnership, expand programs and fix facility issues
Summary
City parks staff reported plans to pursue a partnership with the U.S. Tennis Association Pacific Northwest chapter, extend programming hours using volunteers, change membership fees and address several facility repairs at the Sandpoint Sports Center while preparing a fall grand opening.
Sandpoint parks staff reported a package of operational changes, partnerships and repairs for the city’s Sports Center, saying they will pursue a relationship with the United States Tennis Association Pacific Northwest (USTA PNW), expand programming for tennis and pickleball, introduce a volunteer-driven staffing model and correct safety and mechanical problems in the building.
Parks staff summarized two primary options under consideration: continue operating the center primarily as a tennis/pickleball facility (with or without a formal USTA partnership) or pursue a multi-sport adaptation that would add one or more courts or specialized surfaces. “We’re gonna pursue this relationship with USTA,” the staff member told commissioners, citing USTA PNW’s youth program catalog and a low operational burden for the city.
Staff emphasized that the USTA model would require only modest additional staff effort while offering youth programming and tournament support; staff said a key USTA request is that any multi-sport conversions be reversible within two hours so the space can resume full tennis play quickly. Staff also described local pickleball interest and programs; Charles Bomerino, a local teaching pro referenced in the meeting, cannot run youth programs at a private club because of that club’s insurance restrictions, staff said.
To increase hours without substantially raising payroll, parks staff said they will create a volunteer program and a new paid position. The proposal described using about six volunteers in exchange for free membership hours and hiring a membership-and-volunteer coordinator at $16.50 an hour (current front-desk staff earn $14 per hour). Staff said this will allow extended member-only morning hours and more weekend and weeknight availability.
Staff described a revised membership structure intended to simplify fees and encourage sign-ups: a standard month-to-month rate described as $99, a Bonner County rate at $69 and a city-resident monthly rate of $40; annual pricing for city residents was summarized in the meeting as roughly $39 per month when paid annually. Staff also said the city plans to adopt CourtReserve, a court-booking app used by many USTA clubs, at about $200 per month to replace a more expensive existing software spend.
Staff listed several short-term capital and operational items: a planned Labor Day–era grand opening with vendor booths and outreach to SilverSneakers (senior insurance-paid memberships); purchase of a special event court cover (quoted at about $13,000 per court); installation of batting cages and ball-field safety nets; a picnic shelter built with Rotary Club lumber donations and donated roofing labor; and miscellaneous playground punch-list work.
Facility repairs and safety items were highlighted. Staff reported two broken guy wires on large ceiling fans that caused the fans to run at unsafe speeds; the contractor had been replacing guy wires and an architect had indicated fan programming should restrict maximum speed but appeared not to be functioning as intended. Staff also described problems with building positive air pressure that previously kept doors from closing; the condition had been adjusted and was stable for several days at the time of the meeting. A splash pad generated an unexpectedly large water bill (staff cited a one-month bill near $7,000), and investigation found that meters were not reading the system correctly; staff are working with utility engineers to correct metering and sewer-charge allocations.
Staff said police and security-camera footage have supported enforcement efforts after vandalism incidents and that the city is considering installing similar cameras at City Beach and the new parking lot, with installed costs cited in the meeting around $40,000 per camera.
Staff also reviewed broader parks and downtown projects tied to operations: paid parking implementation at City Beach and select downtown blocks (the city passed paid parking two weeks earlier), improvements tied to two grants and planned RV-park and parking-lot work to be packaged with an upcoming RFP. On funding, staff noted an estimated overall RV-park and park improvements project cost of roughly $1.2 million drawing from grants and a city parks CIP contribution, and mentioned an Urban Renewal District arts fund for sponsorships.
No formal commission votes on these operational items were taken during the meeting; staff framed many items as ongoing implementation and asked for continued input. The presentation closed with staff reiterating that the USTA partnership, volunteer staffing, membership changes and facility repairs are priorities for the coming weeks and months.
Staff member: summary comments and follow-ups are scheduled to return to relevant commissions and the council as necessary. The city plans further public outreach and a fall open house to promote new programs and membership options.
