Sandpoint OKs concert series

SANDPOINT — The City Council approved on Wednesday an outdoor summer concert series at Farmin Park.

The Live After 5 concert series proposal was tabled by the council last month amid the ongoing debate over the city’s proposed resolution concerning the refugee crisis.

The series would run on Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. from early July to early September. Tyler Davis of Davis Promotions in Coeur d’Alene addressed a list of concerns raised by the local business community.

One of the primary concerns was the prospect of bringing food and alcohol vendors from outside the community to supply the event, which Davis said was not the case. He pledged to use two Sandpoint food vendors and three alcohol vendors, although he hasn’t yet inked a deal with any establishments.

Davis also said he would seek to use local musicians to perform an acoustic warm-up set to open for the headlining acts.

Davis said the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce was outwardly open to the proposal, but claims the chamber conducted a whisper campaign to malign and misrepresent the event to local businesses, stirring up concerns that it would affect their bottom lines.

“I’d ask the council to reconsider and actually analyze it for what it truly is — it’s an event that’s designed to be an affordable (entertainment) option and increase business to downtown. It’s certainly not going to take away from businesses and it’s not going to become a nuisance,” said Davis.

Chamber Executive Director Kate McAlister disputed Davis’s allegations and claimed Davis Promotions misrepresented the sponsorship status of a local business. McAlister said the chamber didn’t object to the event, but conceded that the organization did have concerns about how it would effect their members.

“I don’t like being accused of being shady,” said McAlister, who had moments earlier called Davis’s tactics “shady.”

Councilman Bob Camp urged the council to give the event a chance in the form of a trial run over the summer.

Councilman Thomas Eddy questioned what recourse the city would have if the series proved to be some kind of disaster. City Attorney Scot Campbell advised the council that it would be approving the series through the summer.

“This seems like it could be viable. We’re not going to know until we try,” said Council President Shannon Williamson.

Councilwoman Deb Ruehle advocated for a requirement that opening acts be local, but Mayor Shelby Rognstad said that may not be entirely feasible during the concert run and could also prevent concertgoers from being exposed to talent from outside the area.

“We need something written so the details don’t get lost in the event,” said Ruehle, referring to the requirements for local vendors.

To that end, the city and Davis are working out an agreement to ensure local vendors are utilized.

The approval came on a unanimous vote.