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Residents and downtown businesses tell Sandpoint council parking kiosks hurt commerce
Summary
More than a dozen public commenters at the Aug. 5 Sandpoint council meeting urged the city to rethink paid downtown meters, saying kiosks caused confusion, lost sales and unfair burdens on lower-income residents; business owners proposed moving kiosks to the beach or providing resident hardship passes.
At least a dozen members of the public addressed the council during the general comment period, with many focusing on the July 1 paid-parking rollout and downtown kiosk placement. Business owners and downtown representatives described customer confusion and reported falling sales since the kiosks were activated.
"Sales data from the core, that's our 49 businesses ... are reporting a 20% loss of sales this year, thus far," said Sherry Meekings, a downtown shop owner who said she canvassed local merchants. Multiple speakers asked the council to consider moving kiosks to City Beach, offering free or reduced passes to city and county residents, and creating hardship programs for low-income users. The council heard accounts of user-interface problems with kiosks and debit-card issues, and several urged clearer signage and more direct outreach before enforcement changes.
