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City council moves forward on University Park negotiations

by RACHEL SUN
Staff Writer | December 3, 2020 1:00 AM

At a city council meeting Wednesday night, council members approved a resolution for an agreement with developers of the University Park Subdivision, heard presentations on ongoing COVID-19 education efforts by the police department and approved updated sign codes and building regulations.

In the previous council meeting, members instructed staff to negotiate with the University Park subdivision’s developers on several issues. These including requests by the developer to extend the building timeline from 2022 to 2025, defer a requirement for a right turn lane until further development necessitated it, and provide greater flexibility regarding regulations for a fence along Boyer Avenue.

All of those areas, as well as requirements regarding snow removal, the city and developer were able to reach an agreement said city consultant Phil Kushlan.

One negotiation yet to be agreed upon was the developer’s requests to allow a building bond that would allow some work to begin this winter instead of the spring. The city’s legal counsel had previously noted they could not recommend bonding for liability purposes.

However, Kushlan said, city code indicates that the city engineer would have discretion in the negotiation of some bonds for minor projects such as sidewalks.

“Discretion currently exists in city code, so if there were some minor issues … certainly the city engineer has some discretion in that to accept bonding,” he said.

The city also heard from Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon on the city’s education efforts regarding face coverings.

All the employees in the downtown area wear face coverings, Coon said, although some customers do not. Generally, he said, the public does a “pretty good job” and following social distancing protocols when not masked.

Council member Deb Ruehle told the council that since the last council meeting there had been 32 deaths recorded by Panhandle Health, and called for a 30-second moment of silence.

“More than two people have died every day since our last meeting,” she said.

Ruehle added that she planned to work with city staff and local businesses in providing signage to require masks. Council member Kate McAlister said that she had been checking in at local businesses and found that most had signage requiring or strongly encouraging masks, but most were not enforced.

“They don’t do any enforcement because they’re afraid, [of losing business],” she said. “The good news is economically they’re doing great.”

Council member Joel Aispuro asked Coon how the department was handling cases where masks were not worn for health reasons.

“If the individual says they have a condition that doesn’t allow them to wear it, we’re not allowed to ask questions,” Coon said.

Lastly, the council adopted updated codes for signage and building requirements, which included stricter live load guidelines for decks and balconies, and several added codes that addressed the need for affordable housing including tiny houses and townhouses.

The council passed the updated codes unanimously.