The Sandpoint City Council voted last week to advertise Phase I of the Memorial Field artificial turf project for bid but not without some concerns from representatives of Festival at Sandpoint and Sandpoint High School’s men’s soccer coach. Officials were assured that putting the project out to bid wasn’t a final commitment and that the plan could still be tweaked.

Bids are due back to the city by March 10 with the council giving thumbs up or down at their March 18 meeting, Public Works Director Amanda Wilson told officials.

“We can reassess to budget once we have the bids,” she said. Wilson walked council through the timeline which calls for substantial completion by July 21 and final completion by July 30. The Festival at Sandpoint will be held from Aug. 1-17 and fall sports start on the heels of Festival.

The city is going to request bids for two types of materials. Their first choice of infill is natural rubber and cork; the alternate bid request will be for a cork and sand infill and turf system. Both options were recommended by consultants Bernardo Wills Architects.

Wilson also addressed concerns and risks including the impact on osprey nests, spring weather, ability to deliver project on time, Festival operations, competitive procurement and storm water management. Wilson said that Avista is scheduled to install the osprey nest platform this month She also told officials that a former Festival production manager was on the design team for the tent anchors which are included in the project.

Festival at Sandpoint’s interim Executive Director, Ali Baranski spoke to the organization’s concerns about whether this work could be completed within the time frame or if it would be better to put off the project until 2021.

“I first want to make clear that we’re not actively looking at alternate venues, and we’re not moving the Festival to City Beach,” she said. “We now have less than six months. I believe we should be provided more time for a project of this magnitude.”

Wilson said that they’ve set realistic deadlines and that there are contingencies in those deadlines.

“So far we haven’t missed a deadline that the city is managing,” she said. But that, if need be, they could put in natural grass on top of the infill.

City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton added, “If the bids come back too high or the contractors can’t meet the timeline we can choose not to award the bid this year. We’re moving forward, but we can move back if necessary.”

Tanner French, SHS men’s soccer coach pointed out that the field dimension is disproportional. He inquired if the striping would be painted on or sewn into the artificial turf.

“If we want collegiate or semi-professional teams to come here, they won’t play on this field,” French said. He also had questions about the goal posts being an obstacle. Dell Hatch, the representative from BWA said that the intention was to sew the lines in, but that could be modified.

Mayor Shelby Rognstad said that it was important to get input from everyone who’ll be using the field.

“We’ll circle back with all coaches before we dial this down,” he said.

Besides the bid approval, Parks and Recs Director Kim Woodruff was seeking and received council’s approval of the Artificial Turf Field Use Policy. This proposed policy prohibits gum chewing, sunflower seeds, smoking or tobacco products, glass, bicycles, fireworks or pyrotechnics and pets.

Among other requirements for utilizing the field is the requirement to set temporary tents on plywood sheets and refrigerators and other cooking appliances on pre-approved decking products. All of these rules will help to prevent damage to the artificial turf.

Baranski pointed out that these demands will add to their budget which is already set. Councilwoman Kate McAlister said that if smaller organizations would want to lease the field that it might be cost prohibitive to do so.

Stapleton explained that the city would always have the option to make accommodations. She said, for instance, there is less likelihood that a glass wine bottle would break than a glass beer bottle.

“On the staffing side, the one thing we recommend is flexibility,” she said. “It’s not a one size fits all situation. Each event will have a separate agreement.”