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Sandpoint staff lays out parking management plan with paid parking, passes, and in-lieu fees
Summary
City planning staff presented a draft parking management plan calling for targeted paid parking at congested downtown blocks and waterfront lots, a local pass program, a $25,000-per-space in-lieu fee for certain residential developments, and continued study of a future parking structure.
City planners presented a draft parking management plan to the Sandpoint City Council on May 7 that recommends targeted paid parking at the busiest downtown block faces and waterfront lots, a local pass program for residents, employees and marina slipholders, and an in-lieu fee for residential developments to fund future parking improvements.
Director Welker described the plan as a multi-year effort informed by a 2022 parking study, recent community surveys and extensive public outreach. “Effective capacity is roughly 85% occupancy at peak,” Welker said. “Our data show on-street spaces downtown are underutilized while off-street waterfront lots regularly exceed capacity at peak summer hours.” He told the council the city has about 1,054 on‑street stalls downtown (about 600 in use at peak hour) and that waterfront and the main city lot reach 97% occupancy in the summer peak.
Key recommendations in the draft plan include: reintroducing paid curbside parking on a handful of high-demand streets; implementing paid off-street parking at City Beach, Dock Street and the downtown municipal lot; offering discounted or annual passes for city taxpayers, a higher-rate pass for non‑city taxpayers, and specialized passes for marina slipholders and downtown employees; and requiring new residential development downtown to provide one parking space per 1,000 square feet of residential floor area with a maximum of 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit or pay an in‑lieu fee (staff proposed $25,000 per space) to a parking improvement fund.
Welker estimated, using a conservative rate model and seasonal adjustments, that parking-lot revenue (excluding on-street meter revenue) could reach approximately $330,000 annually if the city adopts paid parking. He and staff stressed technology choices, enforcement mechanisms and dynamic pricing would be developed in separate steps and that council would adopt rates annually.
Several council members asked about practical details — hours, seasonality, enforcement, and whether residents should pay. Mayor Jeremy Grama and councilors discussed the use of revenues to maintain parking assets and the possibility of dedicating a portion to transit (Spot bus) and other district benefits. Staff noted federal Land and Water Conservation Fund restrictions prohibit designating or privatizing specific stalls for private use.
Public commenters including property/business owners Mike Delaney and Tim Boden praised the city’s small-business focus and urged careful design to preserve downtown character. Councilors requested further analysis and said they want a final plan returned to council for adoption in June with ordinance language for Title 9 amendments to follow in July; staff indicated paid parking could be implemented the next summer pending technology procurement and a council decision.
No formal vote was taken on May 7; the council directed staff to return with a final draft that includes rates, implementation steps, technology options, and recommended uses for revenue.
