Sandpoint council adopts replacement for nondiscrimination ordinance after three-hour public comment

Mayor Jeremy Grama opened the council—s Nov. 19 meeting by saying recent events at the Sandpoint YMCA had "created confusion, uncertainty, and concern for both business and families," and announced a proposed ordinance to amend City Code 5-2-10, the city—s nondiscrimination ordinance. He framed the change as a way to "mirror state and federal law" and to reduce local controversy while respecting the dignity of all residents.

The council allotted extended public comment for the item and limited each speaker to two minutes. More than 100 in-person speakers and dozens of online commenters addressed the council. Speakers opposed to changing the ordinance repeatedly cited privacy and safety concerns for women and children after what they described as a YMCA incident; many urged immediate amendment or repeal. "We should not allow people's imaginations or purported imaginations to affect public safety," one resident said. Several speakers, including the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, argued the existing ordinance fills protections…