Talks COVID-19 updates during virtual meeting

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint City Council approved Timber Creek subdivision’s preliminary plat on Wednesday which will allow the applicants to create 22 lots on their 4.37-acre site for residential use. Landowners will build all single family homes, a plan that is supported by Sandpoint City’s Comprehensive Plan.

“The property is zoned for multi-family, however, the context area in the comp plan designates it as Area 2, which is more translatable with single family,” Planning and Community Development Director Aaron Qualls said.

The plan was approved with 11 conditions, all requested from the Planning and Zoning Commission following the city hearing in March. There were no public comments from the April 1 virtual city council meeting.

Councilwoman Deb Ruehle, who was also a member of the planning commission, expressed two frustrations with the preliminary plat application. The first issue discussed was utilizing the lots as single family homes as opposed to multi-family homes.

“I just wanted to express my disappointment in the fact the developer chose not to develop more multifamily family usage, since we have such a housing shortage,” Ruehle said. “I realize it is private land and choice, I am just disappointed about that.”

In addition, Ruehle asked Qualls to clarify the Planning and Zoning Commission’s decision to approve a cul de sac for the area as opposed to a street connection, which Ruehle said could lead to “alot of dead end pieces that then feed into one main road and begin to have traffic issues.”

However, Qualls explained that Ruehle’s point was valid but likely an impossible solution for the applicants given the cooperation needed from the respective single homeowners to alter the Planned Unit Development (PUD).

“Our current comprehensive plan goal H3, Policy A, actually does actually discourage cul de sacs," He said. “To do something that significant, it’s not really within the power of the applicant to require that.”

Planning and Zoning recommendations included wetland mitigation, pedestrian pavement to lessen maintenance responsibility of the subsequent owners, access to sewer and drainage, a final utility plan and a preliminary improvement plan.

The approved site is located on Ontario Street and west of Northview Drive.

Along with the application approval, Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad and City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton addressed the council about COVID-19 updates.

“The city is in a very strong financial position right now,” Rognstad said. “We have maxed out our emergency reserve fund, so we are in a position where we can continue to maintain our level of service for a significant period of time, even in a crisis like what we are experiencing now.”

Rognstad has received numerous letters, in favor of and in opposition for the Memorial Field project, which was voted for continuation at the last regular city council meeting. Residents’ concerns specifically relate to the state’s ability to halt construction projects during this pandemic and the possible need to save more funds and attempt to lessen the blow on Sandpoint’s economy.

“I think the theme that I have heard in a lot of those letters are we shouldn’t be taking an action like that in the midst of an emergency that we are experiencing right now with coronavirus … but those one percent funds can only be used for infrastructure on Memorial Field and parks related projects,” Rognstad said. “It really is in the best interest of the taxpayers that we continue to move on with our plan. If it were to be delayed another year, our ability to afford that project would kind of be in question.”

Rognstad specifically pointed to grants that are contingent upon project completion this year.

Stapleton followed Rognstad with general city updates on COVID-19. Sandpoint is currently in phase three of a four phase response plan, which is the confirmation of one COVID-19 case in Bonner County without community wide transmission. As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, no new cases in the area have been reported.

Other recent updates include shutting down city hall, with only six to eight employees in the building at a given time. The option to come to meetings in-person was suspended following a recent incident where a council member was allowed into the building for a meeting after the council voted for virtual meetings. All council members participated for the meeting via live video and public comments were allowed through phone and email.

Rognstad said he was responsible for the confusion and let the councilmember in by accident.

“I was unclear myself whether it was optional for council members or not,” Rognstad said. “When I came to the meeting that day Councilman Andy Groat was outside of the chambers pacing back and forth on his iPhone and the sound was not coming through. It was causing feedback here and so I invited him in, not thinking it was going to be a problem.”

“I went back and listened six times to the first 40 minutes of that meeting and the vote was strictly that no councilmembers would be allowed in the chambers,” Councilmember Joel Aispuro said.

“I just think it’s important for us to pay attention. I know it sounds petty, but to me council votes are very important.”

Aly De Angelus can be reached by email at adeangelus@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @AlylDailyBee.