SANDPOINT — City council members moved to maintain the James E. Russell Sports Center’s current course of operation under the guidance of recreation facilities supervisor Ryan Wells while also opening the door to engage with other sports, provided that they don’t interfere with the center’s intended racquet usages.

The council agreed to these terms, with the contingency that the JER Center would continue communications with the Pacific Northwest chapter of the nonprofit United States Tennis Association. Continuing conversations with USTA PNW will allow the racquet center to understand what the future could hold if the group were to manage all the facility’s tennis programming.

The decision was backed by several factors, the major one being Jim Russell’s perspective on the matter. Russell, the son of James E. Russell and one of the original donors, broke down the expenses for the center, noting that 75% of the facility’s total operating costs are wages and benefits.

Russell suggested that if the facility obtained two volunteers to work six hours a day for five days a week instead of using part-time workers, 40% of the projected shortfall in finances would be recouped. He also said that 148 monthly memberships, if renewed every month, would recover the entire financial shortfall currently projected.

“The original intent for the JER Center was for a community use facility, primarily tennis and pickleball, and was written into the donor agreement between us and the city. The capital expense to make permanent or semi-permanent changes would only add to the cost recovery burden, even if there was a 50/50 donor. The promise of new revenue for multi-use versus loss of revenue from reduction in racket sport, I don't believe, is well understood yet,” said Russell. “In my opinion, it's just simply too soon to run down the path of multi-use in terms of reconfiguring the center with permanent or semi-permanent changes to the courts.”

Russell requested that if the city explored options pertaining to multi-sports, they would consider options that allowed temporary changes with minimal labor expenses.

Community planning and development director Jason Welker noted his agreement with Russell’s comments, telling the community of Wells’ volunteer proposal that was “in the works.” The proposal would allow facility costs of 80 paid hours a week for part time workers to drop to 60 hours — reducing part time costs by 25%.  

The other information used in deciding the JER Center’s best steps forward comes from a May 28 special council workshop, where city officials expressed a general concern for the community’s interactions with the center. The facility had experienced a stronger-than-average cost recovery at 54% but experienced low member retention — the lack of programs offered was believed to be the main concern.

In an effort to determine the best course of action for the JER Center, city officials conducted a survey with workshop attendees, of which 73 completed. However, the survey revealed a 50/50 split between community members who wanted the center to remain the same and those who wanted to open the facility to multiple sports.

Some individuals believe that opening the facility to multiple sports would allow for a “significant increase in revenue” and an opportunity for local athletes to practice year-round. Others noted that the donation that allowed the construction of the JER Center was only intended for racquet sports and that “other groups (sports) should seek their own donors.”

History

The building’s eponym, James Russell, was a lifelong sports enthusiast who always talked about establishing a sports center for Sandpoint community members to enjoy. After his passing in 2019, Ginny and Jim Russell, wife and son of James Russell, offered to donate funds to cover the facility’s construction.

The family gave the city $7.5 million for the project, one of the largest donations a municipality in Idaho has ever received for a recreation project.

Throughout the creation process of the racquet sports complex, community members were told that revenue from memberships and user fees was expected to cover the facility’s maintenance and operation costs. City officials did not plan for city funds to support the property.

However, at a March 28 business meeting, Welker shared with the community that the 12-month projection of operation expenses is expected to be around $222,858 while revenue is projected to be $120,921.

    Sandpoint's James E. Russell Sports Center pictured in March 2025.