SANDPOINT — The Sandpoint City Council approved a motion Wednesday to begin construction of a modified version of the City Beach RV Park renovation project this winter, delaying construction of a restroom and shower facility to a later date. 

The council’s direction follows its vote last February to move forward with plans to renovate the RV park after accepting a $950,000 grant from the state. 

Community members have since weighed in on what they desired to see for renovations, including a fire pit area, tent camping sites and furnishings at every RV site. 

Considering every amenity, engineers estimated the project would be roughly $1 million over the construction budget, said Community Planning and Development Director Jason Welker. 

Consequently, project engineer Dan Tatock created alternative renovation options with reduced costs for the council to review. 

Welker said the council’s decision to begin construction this winter would not require an amendment to the construction budget.  

“We have a million dollars in our park's capital improvement fund in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year for the very broad term parks master plan identified projects,” said Welker. 

Although those budget funds weren’t intended for the RV park, improvements to the City Beach parking lot and RV park are identified in Sandpoint’s parks master plan, making that money eligible for the project, said Welker. 

However, the decision on whether to use that money is up to them, he told the council. 

“I don’t want to personally authorize that. I want you all to express that this is a priority that you’d like to see advanced this year,” said Welker. 

The first alternative renovation option, referred to as “the essential RV park,” would begin renovation this winter, using roughly $270,000 of the construction budget. It would see building the necessary infrastructure for an RV park, including utilities and site circulation, operational improvements and basic landscaping.

Although there is no restroom and shower facility included in that option, Welker said the site could be prepared for one in the future after applying for additional grants. It would also see a reduction in the landscaping budget and site amenities, as well as eliminating a patio and fire pit area and paved RV sites. 

“It just kind of reduces some of the ‘nice to haves’ from the RV park,” said Welker. 

The second option, referred to as “the signature RV park,” would retain a restroom and shower facility, but would use roughly $660,000 of the construction budget. It would also delay construction for a year, while advancing project design and applying for grants in January to secure a larger City Beach project the following winter. 

Welker recommended the council opt for the essential RV park and said the city can apply for additional grants to eventually produce a signature RV park. 

Along with seeing a renovated RV park next summer, Welker said after speaking with state grant administrators, the city is more likely to secure an additional round of funding if they chose the first option because the grant committee “likes to see a project that’s already underway.” 

Councilor Deb Ruehle’s motion to move forward with building an essential RV park and applying for grants next year to build a restroom and shower facility was approved by the council 4-2. 

“I think a big part of the reworking of the RV park is also to manage our storm water and to keep our lake clean,” Ruehle said.