SANDPOINT — The City Council voted to loosen its open container code, allowing community organizations to host one event during the summer months. 

The changes come at the request of the Sandpoint Lions Club, which asked the city to loosen the language to allow the organization to host a beer garden on the Fourth of July at City Beach Park. Janice Rader, president of the Sandpoint Lions Club said at the council’s April 1 meeting, that the garden is part of the fundraising for the Lion’s $25,000 fireworks show and that it didn’t do well in front of the hotel last year. 

“We were kind of excited this year because it was all approved. And then when we saw the policy, you excluded July and August,” Rader said. "We're hoping to file an amendment, if it's possible, you guys could amend it to July 4 so that we could have a beer garden there at City Beach to help offset the cost of the fireworks.” 

Councilor Pam Duquette, who was initially opposed opening City Beach open to alcohol service in October, said this was part of her concern with opening the area up to alcohol service. In the fall changes, no events were allowed during July and August, and Duquette pushed to only allow events in July, not August. 

Her motion to limit events in August did not receive a second and failed. While Duquette voted against the ordinance change on first reading, she voted for it during the final vote on the ordinance. 

Councilor Joe Tate was not on the council during the initial discussions last year but said he recognized the importance of the Lions Club. Tate asked Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon if he was on board and said that the support of the police was a key component of moving forward. 

Coon said he was comfortable moving forward with the changes for the Lions Club and that if unsuccessful, the council could revert course after this year. Before Council President Deb Ruehle voted in favor of the ordinance changes, she echoed Coon’s sentiment and said that changes could be made later to limit future events. 

“Councilor Duquette makes a really good point that July isn't just the busiest month, but Fourth of July is probably the busiest day down there. That being said, I think I'm inclined to give it a try,” Councilor Kyle Schrieber said. "We can always change it [on] July 5, if, if we decide, August shouldn't happen either.” 

The changes will open the 0.88-acre portion of City Beach Park for a single event by a community partner in August, if one should plan one. Mayor Jeremy Grimm said while the change was spurred by the Lions Club, who will get first dibs on July’s event because their request was first, the changes open City Beach up to any community organization in the future. 

“It's one event per month. So, the Lions Club would be first in line, and then they'd be done for the month of July,” Coon said. “No more permits would be allowed for alcohol events there [in July].” 

The initial changes were made in October 2025 to accommodate the CHAFE 150, whose post-ride party was set to be displaced from in front of the Edgewater hotel. The expanded availability was brought by former Councilor Justin Dick and approved unanimously. 

The full meeting can be found on the city’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/@CityofSandpoint. The council’s next scheduled meeting is set for Wednesday, May 6 at 5:30 p.m. 

    The area marked off by city staff for events with alcohol service in City Beach Park.