SANDPOINT — Newly appointed Sandpoint Parking Committee members introduced themselves Friday, Oct. 2, during the committee's first meeting. 

"I chose you all for a specific reason. I am so impressed with your ability to volunteer, your willingness to volunteer, and what you bring to the table here," said Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm. 

The reestablished parking committee comes after the council voted to remove on-street parking kiosks one month after its July rollout, reverting to the original free two-hour parking system with the option to pay for a time extension. 

The rollout was a point of friction for many community members, yielding protests over paid parking and a petition to recall Grimm and Council President Deb Ruehle. 

The five-member parking committee, made up of Sandpoint and Bonner County residents, will meet to discuss ways to improve parking policies and enforcement before bringing recommendations to the council in December. 

The committee's work program is structured to provide direction on permits, passes and enforcement, affordability and workforce access, and the two-hour parking limit in the downtown core. 

"The committee’s recommendations will help inform the council’s consideration of any additional changes to the parking management plan for 2027," Grimm said in a letter seeking committee applicants. 

Parking Committee Chairman Luke Omodt said that as a lifelong Bonner County resident, he has engaged in the greater conversation surrounding parking in Sandpoint. 

“I’ve been riding my bikes, falling on my bike, on these streets for much of my life, and now my children are doing the same thing,” said Omodt. “I’m very aware of how upset people are in regards to parking without necessarily understanding that we all want to park in a safe, efficient manner.” 

Omodt acknowledged that the committee was an advisory committee, and that the council is seeking its advice. 

“I want to be focused on listening to the community, but also making a recommendation and serving within the capacity as provided by the law, and move on,” said Omodt 

Parking committee vice chair and Sagle resident Bob Clark said he believes his experience will be helpful as the city navigates the ever-growing challenges of parking. 

For the latter half of his career as a fishery scientist, Clark said he worked in local, state, and international settings, equipping him with experience in public forums and handling controversial issues. 

“I’m in town pretty much every day,” said Clark. “I’m a hiker, spend a lot of time on the trails around Sandpoint, among other places." 

Consequently, Clark said he utilizes all the parking services and values public comment, seeing it as an opportunity to be productive. 

“I’m looking forward to hearing from people, hearing from government and what they think about the situation, and how us from the public can help,” said Clark. 

Parking committee member Scott Wilburn brings his perspective as a retail store owner in downtown Sandpoint. 

Wilburn has sold musical instruments for nearly 13 years, and said he often hears what tourists and locals think about the city's parking challenges. 

Parking committee member and Sandpoint native Brynn Williams-Woodruff works in town as a mechanical engineer. 

She applied to be on the committee upon watching the public discourse surrounding parking unravel and wanted to be a part of finding solutions. 

“There's obviously a lot of public debate in it, and I have feelings on it too, and I’m interested in seeing the process, and kind of seeing what the really logical flow is to make everybody happy here,” said Williams-Woodruff. 

Although Williams-Woodruff lacks government experience, she said she brings a different set of skills to the committee. 

“I’m an engineer, I understand the data. I understand what the background is. I understand why we need what we need,” said Williams-Woodruff. 

Parking committee member and Sandpoint resident Erin Riseborough said she applied after being sent the application link by multiple people. 

As a resident, Riseborough said she frequently hears varying opinions regarding parking; conversations she believes will inform the council's perspective. 

The committee will meet every other Friday until Dec. 11, where it will have crafted a 2027 recommendation package to present to the council.