Sandpoint pushes for $1.6 million in City Beach grant applications as sailing group and residents warn about parking and marina changes

City planning staff told the Sandpoint City Council on Jan. 15 that the city has submitted two grant applications seeking about $1.6 million to address long‑deferred improvements at City Beach, including parking, stormwater treatment, lighting upgrades and hardscape repairs.

Planning and Community Development Director Jason Welker said the applications — for the Recreational Vehicle Fund and the Waterways Improvement Fund — were shared with the parks commission and state grant administrators and are due two weeks from the Jan. 15 meeting. “We are asking for about $1,600,000 between those two grants for improvements at City Beach,” Welker said, listing goals carried over from the 2010 parks master plan: repaving and stormwater improvements, energy‑efficient lights, shaded parking and a replaced boat ramp.

Welker said the parks commission recommends the department commit roughly half of the parks capital improvement budget in fiscal year 2026 as matching funding should grants be awarded — roughly $150,000 total: $100,000 toward the Waterways Improvement Fund grant and $50,000 toward the RV fund grant. “If those grants are awarded, we will have leveraged those $150,000 10x to achieve over a $1,500,000 budget for improvements at City Beach in fiscal year 26,” Welker said. He added that if grants are not awarded, the city will use its parks capital budget to identify smaller projects.

Why it matters: Welker said City Beach has deferred fixes dating to the 1970s and 2010 master‑plan goals remain largely unimplemented. The proposed improvements aim to reduce stormwater runoff to protect lake water quality, improve safety and provide sustainable funding for park maintenance.

Public comments and marina concerns

Several members of the public spoke during the Jan. 15 public‑comment period about potential changes at Windbag Marina and at City Beach. Sadie Long, commodore of the Sandpoint Sailing Association, urged the city to preserve the 100 dock as community lake access and to adhere to the encroachment permit conditions that reserve the west side of the 100 dock for nonmotorized watercraft. “Maintaining our operation on the 100 dock is critically important for us to continue providing our valuable services and lake access to our community,” Long said.

Resident Mary Catherine Roll said she opposed reducing required parking for the marina and cautioned against allowing private or commercial uses that could crowd residents out. “Losing slips that are used for the youth sailing classes is not acceptable,” Roll said.

City response and next steps

Welker said staff and the parks commission have begun public engagement and that a paid‑parking policy under consideration would be routed through planning and parks committees and subject to public feedback before returning to council. He emphasized that the grants would not fully fund all work and that the city’s proposed match is a partial commitment contingent on award.

Ending

Staff said they will return to council with more detailed grant materials and public‑engagement plans. No formal council action on the grants was taken on Jan. 15.