City council reallocates funds for parking lot amid downtown revitalization delays

The City Council of Sandpoint held a special meeting on April 9, 2025, where key discussions centered around funding for local projects, particularly the downtown revitalization efforts and the construction of a new parking lot.

During the meeting, council members addressed the availability of additional revenue from Sura, which has opened up funding opportunities for various projects. Notably, the decision to delay construction on the downtown revitalization this year has allowed for the reallocation of funds to build a new parking lot. This project’s budget has increased from $2.50 to $4.40 without impacting the general fund.

Concerns were raised about how this additional funding might affect the remaining budget for the downtown revitalization phase three. It was clarified that the funds from Sura are revenue-dependent and that any money used for the parking lot would come from the budget allocated for the downtown project.

Council members expressed optimism that Sura's conservative revenue forecasts might be exceeded, particularly due to the success of recent developments, which could lead to more funding for future projects or enhancements to phase three of the revitalization.

Additionally, plans were discussed for a new digital kiosk that will display a city events calendar, aimed at improving public engagement with city activities.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the city's strategic approach to managing its resources and the potential for future developments in the downtown area.