Sandpoint committee reviews proposed parking-management plan, discusses City Beach, fees and stormwater upgrades

City staff presented a draft parking-management plan to the Sandpoint Sustainability Committee on Jan. 28, outlining paid parking at city-owned lots, resident and nonresident passes, estimated costs to maintain parking infrastructure and plans to pursue grant funding for stormwater treatment at City Beach.

The presentation, led by Jason Welder, a city staff member, laid out data from a 2022 parking study and proposed charges for off-street city lots intended to increase turnover, raise revenue for maintenance and reduce the current high occupancy of city lots. “Free parking isn’t free,” Welder told the committee, summarizing the plan’s rationale.

The plan would not change on-street time limits; it applies only to city-managed off-street lots, including the City Lot, City Beach lot, Sand Creek lot and Dock Street. Welder said the city maintains roughly 1,602 parking stalls in the downtown commercial district — about 505 off-street and 1,097 on-street — and that many off-street lots reach or exceed capacity during peak summer hours. The 2022 study found City Beach and several off-street lots at or near 95–100% occupancy at noon on summer weekend days.

Why it matters: Welder said the proposal aims to move toward an 85% occupancy target for parking facilities during peak times — a standard the presentation described as improving turnover and reducing “cruising” for spaces — and to create a parking improvement fund so resurfacing, stormwater treatment, lighting and other capital needs are funded without drawing from other general fund priorities.

Key elements of the draft parking policy and fee schedule presented

- Proposed base hourly rate: $2 per hour at most city lots with dynamic (peak) pricing of $3 per hour at waterfront lots such as City Beach; Welder said the City Beach summer…