Sandpoint’s City Council approved a contract Dec. 3 to advance Phase 3 of the downtown revitalization project, awarding Welch Comer Engineers the design contract after a contested debate over scope and public engagement.

The motion to award the contract passed 4–3 in a roll-call vote after councilors rejected an amendment to narrow the project and add stormwater work at Farmlands Landing. The approved agreement covers full design from Church Street to Lake Street and a 30% conceptual design effort extending to Superior Street. City staff told the council the fee for Church-to-Lake design is $627,800 and an additional $113,900 covers the conceptual work south of Lake Street.

Eric Bush, the city’s project manager, said the contract includes streetscape and infrastructure improvements, traffic-calming elements, utility undergrounding and water-main reconstruction, plus a public involvement plan and technical-advisory-group meetings to guide design decisions. "When you have a design in the works, it shows…you have a stake in the game," he said, describing the staff rationale for including the 30% extension to Superior.

Welch Comer vice president Matt Gillis, who addressed the council remotely, said, "Our team is genuinely excited about this project…we can’t wait to get started and very much look forward to working with you, your steering committees and the public." Several council members supported that outreach record as a reason to approve the contract.

Opponents urged a narrower scope. Councilman Trevor Schreiber moved to postpone and to amend the contract to remove the east side of 1st Avenue, eliminate the 30% design south of Lake Street, and add Farm and Landing stormwater infrastructure. Councilors raised concerns that portions of the east side are not currently built to the city's "build-to-street" design standard and that private properties there may not immediately benefit from streetscape spending. That motion failed on roll call.

Mayor Jeremy Grimm and others said conceptual design for the Superior segment could unlock grants and make future funding applications more competitive; staff also noted Urban Renewal collections and potential TAP/CDBG grants as funding paths. Staff emphasized the project timeline is aggressive because certain grant programs and urban renewal uses need projects in motion before 2029.

Council direction included a desire for robust public input and technical-advisory-group involvement early in the design phase. With the contract approved, staff said public outreach and technical meetings would begin promptly.

The council approved the consent calendar and then moved on to other business. The project’s next steps include establishing the technical advisory group, completing early concept work, and scheduling public workshops as the consultant moves toward 30% and 90% design milestones.