City on tight deadline to buy UI site

SANDPOINT — The city is on a tight timeline in its mission to get funding to purchase the University of Idaho property on Boyer Avenue.

“We have gone over the timeline with the University of Idaho, and their intention is to put this property out to a marketing brochure through a public process to sell the property probably sometime in May,” said City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton during Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

The city has been invited to apply for a grant through the LOR Foundation, and a proposal presentation is scheduled for March 6.

The crux of the presentation, Stapleton said, will be in regards to taking the property out of the hands of any potential private developers who might obtain the property when UI puts it on the market.

“We are excited about the opportunity to present to LOR,” Stapleton said.

To purchase the property and take it out of the UI timeline would allow more time for the city to “continue the robust public process in discussing what the community vision is for the property, how it reflects the charm of our community and the historic sense of our community that we wouldn’t necessarily be able to control if a developer is to acquire the site,” Stapleton said.

The city has held several public workshops, most recently hosted by Studio Cascade, a planning and design company contracted by the city to create a conceptual master plan for the property.

“What we are really excited about is this is the first project we launched our Open Town Hall platform on to really engage the public, get input and feedback,” Stapleton said. “We are looking at this as a first opportunity, hopefully, for this property to use this platform.”

About 750 people visited the Open Town Hall website while the recent UI property survey was open, looking it over and reviewing the opportunity to give input, she said. The city had 546 responses to the survey through the platform.

“When you look at our history with public involvement efforts, it really shows what this new tool really brings to us in the city in being able to engage our public in a good dialogue,” Stapleton said.

Of those who responded, 314 registered on the site, setting up for future surveys and allowing for demographic results as well. While city staff are still compiling the results of the public input, Stapleton said, the public can go on to the site and see the responses of the 314 public responses of those who registered.

The heart of the feedback, Stapleton said, is in the narrative responses.

“People took an awful lot of time, really sharing their perspectives and their desires in the narrative responses,” Stapleton said.

In accordance with feedback obtained during public workshops, many of the answers revolve around open space and a recreation center. One of the narrative answers, for example, states, “We do not have any indoor activities available year around like a tennis center … or swimming pool with climbing wall for the community. This could help give kids something to do besides hang out at the library foyer.” Many suggested an ice skating rink, while others stated that “trails and green space are essential.”

The public responses can be viewed online at peakdemocracy.com/portals/287/Issue_5904.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.