SANDPOINT — Ponderay mayoral candidates Steve Geiger and Tara Tribbett staked their viewpoints out Tuesday on a proposed 1-percent local option tax to raise funds for recreation-based projects in the city.

The tax, if approved by voters, would provide underground passage across BNSF Railway Co. tracks so the public can access the north end of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail and the two miles of shoreline along the lake. It would also bankroll development of turf fields and infrastructure at the Field of Dreams, a 50-acre parcel on the north side of town.

“It’s something we’ve been talking about for a long time,” Erik Brubaker, the city’s land use planner and parks director said of the Field of Dreams project.

Geiger, the race’s incumbent, supports the local option tax because the city works with an annual budget of less than $2 million, which dims hopes that the projects could ever be mounted.

“This provides safe and legal access,” Geiger added in reference to the Black Rock lake access project.

As many as 500 people a month stream over the tracks in the high season even though the rail corridor is posted with no-trespassing signs, Geiger said. It would also provide police, fire and EMS access to the north end of the trail.

Tara Tribbett, who’s challenging Geiger in the Nov. 5 election, opposes the local option tax because it does not meaningfully help the citizens of Ponderay, many of whom live at or below the poverty line.

“Turf fields and soccer fields have nothing to do with people in Ponderay,” said Tribbett, who cast the improvements as bricks in a path of gentrification meant to serve the well-heeled as opposed to the working class citizens who populate the city.

There are two open seats on the Ponderay City Council, with Gary Kunzeman, Brad Mitton and Brenda Thompson in the running. Neither Kunzeman nor Thompson attended Tuesday’s forum, which was sponsored by radio station KRFY, the Sandpoint Reader, Sandpoint Online and the Selkirk Association of Realtors.

Mitton said he supports the local option tax because it would be difficult to impossible to fund projects of any substantial size.

“I support it if the voters support it,” said Mitton, adding that development plans would have to be concise.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.