Sandpoint staff propose paid off‑street parking, residents to get discounted passes

Sandpoint staff presented a draft parking management plan on Feb. 13 that would reintroduce paid parking at city off‑street lots and add fees at city boat launches to generate revenue for resurfacing and other maintenance.

Jason, Sandpoint parks director, told the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee the city’s 2022 parking study shows downtown off‑street lots are nearly full in peak summer hours while many on‑street stalls remain underused. "Free parking is not free. It's subsidized," Jason said, noting the city currently uses property tax dollars to maintain lots and that resurfacing projects could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The plan under discussion would apply only to off‑street city lots and would offer discounted resident passes while charging higher rates for nonresidents. In the version discussed with the committee, a Sandpoint resident annual pass would be $15 and a nonresident pass $30; Jason said some numbers have shifted in drafts and the fee schedule remains under review. The draft also proposes daily caps for nonpass holders (presented examples were $16 a day at some downtown lots and $24 a day at waterfront lots) and separate commercial passes for downtown businesses.

Why it matters: city staff estimate maintaining and replacing off‑street parking costs roughly $575 per stall annually, and the city faces immediate needs including a resurfacing project that could cost about $400,000 for a single lot and more than $1 million for work at City Beach. Jason told the committee the proposal would direct some parking revenue into a parking improvement fund and could dedicate a portion to multimodal projects such as pedestrian and bicycle improvements and improved connectivity to City Beach.

Key details and questions raised - Occupancy targets: Jason described an ‘‘optimal’’ target occupancy of about 85 percent for public parking; staff found off‑street lots at roughly 95–97 percent occupancy during peak summer hours and on‑street stalls around 51 percent, creating the imbalance the plan intends to address. - Resident and business passes: the draft includes a low‑cost resident pass and higher nonresident fees; staff discussed a range of alternatives raised by downtown business owners during outreach (including substantially higher business passes). - Boat launches: the proposal would add paid boat launches at City Beach and Memorial Field. Jason said regional comparisons and state guidance informed proposed launch fees and season passes, and staff estimate paid launches could generate near six figures annually to maintain launch facilities. Committee members urged that some revenue be allocated to boat‑wash stations to reduce invasive species risk. - Equity and access: committee members asked how people without smartphones or internet would obtain passes; Jason said staff would provide in‑person help at City Hall and other options. Suggestions included a short grace period (e.g., 15 minutes) for drop‑offs and designated short‑term spaces for families with small children or limited mobility. - Enforcement and hours: staff discussed limiting enforcement to peak daytime hours so lots could remain free overnight or in off‑peak months; the committee raised concerns about possible spillover onto residential streets. Jason said technology options under consideration include license‑plate recognition and text/QR code payment, and that enforcement policies would be set by City Council. - Relationship to the hotel project: Jason repeatedly said the parking plan is not tied to the proposed downtown hotel and that the city retains control over public parking. He said the hotel would be subject to the city’s existing options for parking requirements, demand analyses or in‑lieu fees and that city policy could bar hotel use of particular city lots if council chose to do so.

Public outreach and next steps City staff said the plan is still a draft and that more community outreach is planned before any ordinance or council action. Jason asked committee members to submit written feedback; staff plan to return a revised fee schedule to planning bodies and to present a final proposal to the City Council later in 2025 if outreach and revisions proceed as expected.

Committee response and concerns Committee members broadly acknowledged the city’s maintenance needs but raised practical concerns about enforcement, off‑season pricing, access for people with limited mobility and bicycle parking. Several members suggested pairing paid parking with added wayfinding and pedestrian signage to encourage walking from peripheral lots rather than driving into the core.

What’s next Staff will continue public outreach and refine the fee schedule and implementation technology before bringing a proposal to City Council for consideration. No formal action was taken at the Feb. 13 meeting.