Program Halted One Month After Launch
Sandpoint has suspended its newly launched paid parking program in the downtown core, covering the kiosks with trash bags and postponing enforcement while the city revisits its parking ordinance. The decision followed a contentious month marked by community pushback and technical problems that emerged when the program went live on July 1.
The parking initiative, which covered First through Third avenues and portions of Cedar Street in the downtown center, was designed to manage parking demand and fund street improvements. Under the program, drivers received two free hours of parking at downtown kiosks, with charges of $4 per hour thereafter. City-owned lots—including the Third Avenue and Church Street facility, City Beach, Jeff Jones Square, and waterfront access points along Bridge Street, Dock Street Marina, and the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail—were also subject to fees under the original rollout plan.
Council Directs Staff to Revise Parking Code
On July 15, the Sandpoint City Council voted 5-1 to direct staff to develop an updated parking ordinance. Council President Deb Ruehle cast the sole dissenting vote. The revised code is expected to restrict paid parking to city-owned lots only, removing the on-street charge requirements that generated substantial community opposition during the program’s opening weeks.
Councilor Joel Aispuro outlined the rationale for the pause, stating the city needed time to rebuild public confidence. “So we have a couple of weeks of chilling out, build a little bit of trust with some people in the community, educating … [and] table to bring back next meeting code that would only apply to the city parking lots,” he said.
The City Council is scheduled to review the proposed ordinance changes at its regular Wednesday meeting on August 5. City Attorney Fonda Jovick, a contractor with Lake City Law based in Coeur d’Alene, is working with Planning and Community Development Director Jason Welker to align the parking code with the council’s directive.
Implementation Challenges Preceded the Halt
The paid parking program’s first day was marked by operational failures. Kiosks defaulted to an all-day paid option rather than the intended tiered system, power outages disrupted service, and communication breakdowns between kiosks prevented consistent enforcement. Welker acknowledged the rough start, telling city officials: “As the project manager charged with implementing the city’s adopted parking management plan, I could have done better.”
The program emerged from a parking management plan the city adopted in June 2025. Parking fees are governed under City Code Chapter 6-2-11, which authorizes the City Council to establish fees by resolution. Signage authority is outlined in City Code Chapter 6-1-4-2.
The kiosks will remain covered until the council reconvenes in early August, giving city leadership a window to refine the ordinance language and prepare revised communications to residents and downtown business owners. The original plan reflected broader concerns about downtown parking availability and the need to fund infrastructure upgrades in Sandpoint’s core business district.
What Comes Next
The August 5 City Council meeting will determine whether the modified parking ordinance—limiting paid parking to municipal lots rather than on-street spaces—moves forward for formal adoption. Community input during that session could shape final adjustments before the program resumes operations.