City exploring parking ideas

SANDPOINT — The city is moving forward to develop plans for the future of the city parking lot.

At their regular meeting last Wednesday, council members determined to form a subcommittee that will investigate the best use for the property located between Second and Third avenues in downtown Sandpoint.

Consisting of council members Aaron Qualls, Shelby Rognstad and Jamie Brunner, the subcommittee will explore various possibilities for the property’s development. The subcommittee members will bring regular reports to the City Council regarding their progress. Within two or three months, they will bring a recommendation before the council regarding the plan of action they find best.

Throughout several meetings this year, council members been discussing better uses for the public parking lot. The property is particularly important to Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency members, who view an improved parking system as an important step along the path to downtown revitalization and have expressed interest in taking a more active role than usual in the project.

“I think this could be an opportunity for the council and SURA to form a positive working relationship,” Rognstad said.

Several approaches are on the table in dealing with the property. The city could title the lot over to SURA for development under the agency’s authority. Alternatively, council members could handle the request for proposals themselves. Subcommittee members will need to work with SURA to identify a plan that will suit everyone and define each entity’s responsibility for the project.   

“I think your initial task will be to look at various vehicles for the development of the site, whether it’s a city and staff driven process, or whether a light guidance or a strong guidance will be given to another agency such as SURA,” City Planner Jeremy Grimm said.

Council members met with SURA and Downtown Sandpoint Business Association representatives in March to begin a dialogue regarding the project. At that meeting, economic development consultant Mark Rivers said the lot gave city officials plenty of options. For example, SURA could build a multi-level parking garage on one portion of the lot while making the other portion available to a private developer. That construction would be privately funded and subject to property taxes, thereby increasing revenue.