Top 12 Ideas From the Sandpoint Growth Task Force

At the third and fourth meetings, we selected 12 ideas and then worked on them to add additional resources and reasons why they should be implemented. Below is the list of the Top 12 Ideas from the Sandpoint Growth Task Force. Thank you to everyone for all your help!

Sincerely,

Stephen Snedden.

The Top 12 Ideas From The Growth Task Force Meeting

I. Task Force for Higher Education/Encourage Higher Education
a. Goal: Bring a fully-accredited top-tier university (4-plus years) to Sandpoint.
b. This could be phased in using existing resources/spaces, but without the loss of the above goal.
c. Utilize under-utilized resources,: large spaces in banks, local marketing professionals to raise community support, review examples of SFU (Simon-Fraser) Vancouver and Univ. of Toronto (who both grow this way).
d. Form a task force to pursue this goal. They should communicate with State & Local reps and be dedicated to accomplishing the goal.
e. Get support from the Economic Development Corp.
f. Create a Facebook group to inform sandpoint community members about this idea.
g. Resources/Reasons
i. 1st meet with Wild Rose Foundation
1. Round Table of interested parties and contacts including professors, Karl Dye, Dick Cvitanich, land/real estate developers, University of Idaho Extension Office, and Mayor Hellar
ii. Dr. Bird? He may be interested in supporting
iii. Resources: Roz Holland (Dennis Pence), Aspen Institute, Brad and Linda Scott, Existing Schools, Civic Clubs, Chamber of Commerce, Dick Cvitanich
iv. Resources: Pandhandle State Bank, Steve Holt and John Edwards, Bruce Pederson
v. Why: A place where people want to be.
vi. Resources: Ted Parvin – Film Institute, Wild Rose Foundation, University of Id Ext. Office, Sandpoint Institute, Idaho State Board of Education
vii. Resourrces: Successful Examples such as Simon-Fraser, The Scholars (Sandpoint PHD’s), Community Free School, Eugene
viii. Resources: Litehouse Family, Dr. Snedden, Quest, Thorne
ix. Why: Technical Education also necessary
x. Resources: Existing residents, teachers and professors, Alumni Networking, DSBA, BCEDC

II. Community Events Center/Teen Center
a. Definition of the Idea: Build a multiple-use community facility where teenagers, kids, elderly, anyone, can gather for athletics (ice rink? Indoor walking path_ in all seasons, large meetings, classes, etc. (Interest groups community events...) This should be a LEED-Certified, sufficiently close to the Downtown Core, in the hub of the linked multi-modal path system.
b. Steps:
i. Investigate if there are grants for this type of project.
ii. Look at successful models in other towns.
iii. Gather evidence of how this type of facility positively impacts the community.
iv. Ask the City Council to support this type of project -- how can you? Can you sponsor a web app to poll community members for support?
c. Get support from the Economic Development Corp.
d. Create a facebook group to inform sandpoint community members about this ideas.

III. Community Gardens and Local Produce Sales
a. Goals:
i. Sell to restaurants
ii. Use City Land as Garden/Geen House
iii. Get more locally grown food in stores + food banks
iv. Get Farmers Market Food approved for sale in grocery stores
b. Resources/Reasons
i. The food bank already accepts local produce from gardeners and farmers. The boxes for FB clients contain only non-perishables, so fresh is merely supplemental
ii. Why: Greenhouse provides heat need – translates to a use for biomass, carboard, etc. Recycling, Provides space for local who may not have it available, lowers city carbon footprint, boosts local economy
iii. Resource: local restaurants, Jeff Burns, Six Rivers Market, 100 mile radius movement, cradle to cradle, Michaerl Pollan (author), involve kids
iv. The City has a commercial kitchen, could this be used to turn local produce into non-perishables that could be contributed to the food bank?
v. Beware of having community gardens supplant local agriculture. We should also focus on supporting our existing farmers, some of whom already sell to grocery and restaurants.

IV. Rezone 1st Ave. and Cedar St.
a. Goal: Establish retail only commercial zone in this area.
b. Resources/Reasons
i. Why: Add diversity to downtown core, open up space for more local stores/goods sales, basic needs can be fulfilled in D.T. core (no Ponderay), adds foot traffic and vibrancy through diversity
ii. Resources: Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Caldwell, City of Aspen, DSBA, Jackson Hole

V. Recycling + Banning Styrofoam
a. Goals: Make it easy/desirable to separate + collect different aspects of "waste"
b. New City projects use certain "wastes"
c. Electronics, batteries, etc. collection
d. Resources/Reasons
i. Resources: STI, text, “Cradle to Cradle”, Bruce Millard, 100 mile radius movement, Utne Reader, Mother Earth News, Mandate garbage separation, Reader
ii. Resource: Biomass burners, cardboard/waste incinerators
iii. Why: important to citizens, environmental benefits, less waste, could be partially funded by new stimulus grants
iv. CTA group – recycling and energy efficiency
v. Encourage worm Bins! Teach residents how to use them.
vi. What about starting a business paper recycling service?

VI. Boyer Ave. from Dubs to the Airport
a. Goal: Maintain residential character of Boyer Ave (unlike 5th Ave).
b. How:
i. thru comp plan + zoning controls
ii. Don't make Boyer a super highway - transportation grid.
c. Resources/Reasons
i. Why is it important? Safety of the neighborhood / Maintain the character of the neighborhood / community-oriented development (such as a community center) could be encouraged in this area – just not retail /commercial related
ii. Why is it important? Currently there’s a transition area between 5th and Boyer. This zone shouldn’t edge on one side of a street. Prevent commercial creep.
iii. Resources: City Council has the power to protect this street (zoning) they should make it a priority
iv. Resources: through zoning ordinances and their transportation plan

VII. Pedestrian Overpass for 5th Ave.
a. Larch to Cedar: 5 lanes/2 directions (1 death on 5th at Poplar) How: 1. Overpass. 2. Pedestrian operated lights.
b. Cedar to Pine: 2 lanes/1 direction. How: Better Signage - at least.
c. What we want to accomplish: get multi-modal (non-motorized) to downtown hub safely.
d. Resources/Reasons
i. Economic Stimulus Fund
ii. Why important? Multi-modal safe crossing of 5th Avenue / Accessibility to downtown and City beach
iii. Resources: Since this is a state highway, the DOT controls this. The City should strong arm the DOT for safety and accessibility.

VIII. Accessible Bike + Walking Paths (sidewalks)
a. Summer problem? Maybe not.
b. Winter problem? Yes
c. Better snow removal for parking and neighborhood: sidewalks and crosswalks
d. How: Include in city snow removal plan.
e. Enforce city ordinance on commercial sidewalks snow removal.
f. Resources/Reasons
i. This situation can be resolved by the public works division
ii. Resources: plows have guards for driveways, please have them use them at sidewalk intersections
iii. Why important? We can’t get around in the winter!
iv. Resources: Enforce existing snow removal codes – both for residential and commercial

IX. Art incorporated into Byway
a. Ponderay paddler coming out of Sand Creek between Cedar Street and Bridge to Beach
b. Murals or metal work on concrete.
c. Resources/ Reasons
i. Resources: murals along freeways in Tucson and Phoenix are awesome (cast in concrete with color and themes)

X. Create non-motorized multi-modal network/connect parks
a. Why: To encourage walking and biking instead of driving
b. To make it safe for people to do so.
c. How: More signs (or banners) indicating safe bike access
i. painting bike corridors on to streets
ii. take a survey from bikers to find out where they need trails most.
d. Resources/Reasons
i. Banners/Signage, metal “fish” banners in Sandpoint – change image to bikers
ii. Places: Existing parks, empty lots (in neighborhoods), railroad right of way, bypass
iii. Why: Saves fuel, environmental benefits
iv. Why: improves tourism and image as bike-friendly
v. People: students- special design art and architecture for planning and artwork (signage, studios, park benches, water fountains)
vi. Why important: benefit city aesthetics
vii. Tucson, AZ: Bike Paths w. parks and nice artistic signage along river- Tucson AZ
viii. Resources: Bikes Belong, League of American Bicyclists, University City and Regional Planning Program, ITD – IFA-1 Safe Routes to Schools, Rails to Trails, Pend Oreille Pedalers, North Idaho Bikeways
ix. Add to City’s aesthetic appeal
x. Bike route along western city boundary along tracks and slough
xi. What about snow removal and bike lane marks covered in snow?
xii. Improve quality of life
xiii. Continuity of lanes and demarcations
xiv. Safety for pedestrians and cyclists
xv. Places: Tuczon, AZ; Davis, CA; Burlington, VT; Aspen, CO; Boulder, CO
xvi. Why: Supports local businesses
xvii. Why: consistent with City’s global warming initiative

XI. Alleys
a. Goal: increase density, useable year round, decrease on street parking, transportation, utility corridors
b. How: Maintain alleys - plowing, grading, etc.
i. garages off street
ii. city planning of utility locations
iii. enforce existing codes
iv. zoning + design standards
c. Resources/Reasons
i. Solar lighting in alleys
ii. Resources: Landscape design architects
iii. Resources: other cities (what are they doing)
iv. Resources: highway district
v. Resources: neighborhood meetings
vi. Resources: ordinance changes and enforcement
vii. Resources: Alley czar
viii. Why: Facilitates more effective use of space
ix. Why: enhance or assist non-modal transportation plan
x. Why: auxiliary unit access
xi. Resources: maintenance of alleys in winter
xii. Why: alleys are ugly, in disrepair and dangerous
xiii. Resources: City Planning
xiv. Resources: Pedestrian Adv. Committee, Safe Routes To School Cmte., Bicycle Cmte, Public Works
xv. Resources: Comp Plan

XII. Affordable Housing
a. Goal: Ability of entry level working person to be able to own a home
b. Plan for future housing to be varied in kind + cost
c. How: Define affordability
i. Support community group involved in housing issues (e.g. Habitat, Housing Task Force)
ii. Utilize existing funding options - educate the community
iii. Zoning + Ordinance changes
iv. Building incentives
d. Resource/Reasons
i. Resource: Comp Plan
ii. Bend, OR / Seattle WA (land trusts)
iii. Resources: Idaho Housing Finance Agency
iv. Resources: Community Action Partnership
v. Resources: Trust / Foreclosure Purchases
vi. Resources: Surplus City Land
vii. Resources: Marketing
viii. Resources: University, Public Policy and Planning Depts.
ix. Resources: Developers and Contractors
x. Resources: Copper Basin
xi. Resources: Community Education
xii. Resources: Auburn University - Rural Studio
xiii. Resources: Parking Cottages in Sandpoint
xiv. Resources: other towns that have struggled with this issue – Jackson, Ketchum, Vail, Aspen, etc.
xv. Resources: local initiative support corporation, enterprise foundation, technical support and other advice
xvi. Why: Diversity of population and workforce will be lost without it.
xvii. Why: If this problem is not addressed, Sandpoint will become an exclusive community for the rich.
xviii. Why: Affordable housing keeps jobs in the core and keeps it vibrant
xix. Resources: Planning and Zoning Committee input
xx. Why: too expensive to live in
xxi. Resources: Facilitate a land trust with Coldwater, Unicep, Litehouse, Quest, etc.
xxii. Why: increase City tax base
xxiii. Why: Because the people who work here can’t afford to live here, shop here and retire here
xxiv. Why: attracts industry (and keep) for year-round employment

Urban Composting.

Check out this very timely article from the New York Times on urban composting. It complements the proposed idea at our second task force meeting to create community composting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/garden/19worms.html

Articles on affordable housing and green design.

In the last meeting, the topic of affordable housing and green housing design was brought up. Kimberly M. has shared several links to these sites, if you are interested. Thank you Kimberly!

http://soa.syr.edu/index.php?id=5357
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119876732563552709.html
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=wq.essay&essay_id=476601
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/06/AR2005080600
416.html
http://www.nahn.com/hplan.htm
http://www.smartcommunities.ncat.org/buildings/affhousing.shtml

Overview of February 12th Growth Meeting

The Sandpoint Growth Task Force met for the second time on February 12th, 2009 at Sandpoint City Hall.
Approximately 27 people were in attendance. This is a summary of the meeting.

5:35 p.m.
Facilitating the meeting, Stephen Snedden welcomed everyone and acknowledged all elected officials
and city employees. He proceeded to provide the framework of the group, and a brief summary of
the first meeting. The end result is a compilation of 130+ ideas, and the launch of our blog: www.SdptGrowthTaskForce.blogspot.com

5:45 p.m.
Stephen explains the goal of this meeting is to narrow the 130 ideas down to approximately 25-30.
He provides the criteria for selecting ideas that can be implemented and put into policy.
Everyone breaks up into the same 5 groups:
1) Parks & Recreation
2) Community Design & Land Use- 7 total persons
3) Economic Dev./Downtown Revitalization- 8 total persons
4) Transportation
5) Special Sites
Community Design and Economic Dev/Downtown Revitalization were the most popular groups.

6:45 p.m.
Each work group's reporter presents the top 3-5 ideas to the entire group.

7:00 p.m.
Open floor for any additional ideas .

7:21 p.m.
Stephen acknowledges and introduces the co-chairs, and what their role will be.
Stephen advises those with ideas to do some research to bring back to share with the group.

7:30 p.m. --we are done.

Feb. 12th Idea List.

Idea List from February 12^th Task Force Meeting

The goal for meeting # 2 was to narrow down a list of 130+ ideas to 30-35 total ideas. These were the results.

Parks & Recreation

1) Linkage of Parks:

Easy access “to” and between parks

Easy access to points of interest in town

Network of bike and walking trails

Develop and improve relationships between parks and business'

2) Balance of multi-use parks:

Opportunities for all ages and interest groups

Vast arrays of athletic opportunities- soccer, tennis, and Skate Park, disc golf, etc

Opportunities for public participation; community gardens or artwork and

Creating safe parks.

3) Dog Parks

4) Pedestrian Overpass for 5^th Ave.

5) 18 hole Golf course

Community Design & Land Use

6) Create a non-motorized, multi-modal network with downtown as hub

7) City sponsored forum: how to implement goals of comp plan

8) Create Incentives to preserve, improve, and accomplish goals of comp plan created for

Historic buildings

9) Re-vamping alley system and utilize for new developments.

10) Clear communications with all interested parties in order to understand the developments

11) Task force for higher education

Economic Development & Downtown Revitalization

12) Re-zone 1^st Ave. ground level specifying un/acceptable businesses

13) Operate a business incubator to help locals start and grow businesses

14) Encourage Higher Education Institutions of various kinds

15) Gather info from other communities; learn through their successes and failures,

And make info avail to all

16) Facilitate communication between entrenched political social and econ groups

17) Zone Boyer Ave. –no strip malls

Transportation

17 Air port district

18) Easily accessible...bike, walking paths

19) Bike-transit route partnering with Schweitzer

20) HWY 2 re-routing/ More 2 way streets downtown

21) Improved recycling systems

22) Regional Water and Sewer Districts

Special Sites

23) Community bulletin

24) Integrate art into byway

25) Arts & CULTURE emphasis

26) Create more protection for trees

27) Recycling and banning Styrofoam, community gardens with local

Partnership into grocery stores

Additional IDEAS

28) Community composting

29) See more statistics, more transparency for community officials- used an example of

move0n.org, better communication. Community email.

30) Public art space- facilities,

31) Town currency to help community business-local downtown biz

32) Community events in a centralized area—incorporated diverse events—

General purpose—for housing more people

33) Space for teens- teen center

34) Transportation to get out of town to cities

35) Affordable housing- vocabulary- stop using the homogenized vocal-, in last 4 or

5 years “those people” reference, diverse typed housing so we are broken up

into economical brackets Diversity in our community

36) TREES –MODIFYING City Street LIST- OF TREES (LARGE ONES)

37) Community sponsored event- similar to lost in the 50’s, to bring in out of town

to include all dif elements of community.

38) Recycling and banning Styrofoam, community gardens with local partnership into

grocery stores

Idea List from February 5th Task Force Meeting

This is a summary of the ideas that were presented at the Task Force Meeting. They have been divided into categories. Please feel free to comment. Thanks to Councilman Reuter for assembling and transcribing these ideas.

- Stephen Snedden.

1. SIDEWALKS & PEDESTRIANS

-Skateboards + bikes on sidewalks are unsafe for pedestrians, store ingress and egress and for the bikes and boarders with cars.

-Functional + detailed sidewalk network

-Streetscapes + sidewalks need to be functional year round.

-Plan to keep sidewalk clear

-provide assistance to residents that are unable to shovel/maintain sidewalks.

-sidewalk pedestrian bridge at Larch

-Improve and expand sidewalks

-Pedestrian/Bike bypass under or over 5th Ave.

-Make Downtown a place primarily for walking - some places just for walking (Main Street?)

-Downtown Pedestrian-Friendly, bike-friendly, but cars can still get around while not dominating.

-small lot made into parks for walkers to rest.

2. TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES

-Promote neighborhood electric vehicles and future modes

-turn Sand Creek into a winter arterial (skating/skiing)

-trolley system

3. TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS

-explore improvements of railroad station

-airport port district

-Reroute Hwy. 2

-Medians on arterials

-Functional alley system

4. PARKS SYSTEM

-Way for people to access parks easily (linkage)

-"Stem parks": all accessing one another connect to big lake Downtown etc.

-Dog parks

-Visually pleasing

-Parks on edges of town - land preserved for outdoor recreation (natural areas)

-Hiking trail, parks (Pine Corridor)

-Property Tax Relief for small parks, lots act, land trust.

-need more parks for sports - soccer practices/tournaments

-balancing multi-use

-more multi-use parks, soccer/golf/baseball

-Better use of open space

-watch chemical waste

5. BICYCLES

-Expand bike paths

-Create bike path arterials.

-Improve bike signage and markers

-connect bike paths.

-Improve + expand bicycle storage facilities

-Improve commuter facilities (showers, etc.)

-Temporary locker storage

-network of bike trails and paths connecting new parks

-Improve safety between motorized and non-motorized transportation

6. TRANSITIONS BETWEEN ZONES

-What about conflicts between uses where they bump into each other (single-family vs. multi-family)

-clear division between commercial and residential uses.

7. BUSINESS INCUBATOR

-A full-fledge business incubator. Need ground level encouragement for businesses to start + grow.

-a turn around in the goals of the small business center to foster new innovative ideas + job development, not just established businesses.

-Be mindful of the businesses we court and the impact they will have - very carefully.

-Bring in Green Business - regionally appropriate such as northern solar or hybrid or electric cars that are four wheel drive.

-Partnership with Bonner Business Center to foster technology while university is still being developed.

-Market Sandpoint to appropriate technology companies, not just a place to buy real estate. Alternative tech. transportation industry, etc. Aggressively seek + market.

8. CITY UNIVERSITY

-City University.

-Cooperative to bring in University not solely relying on Wild Rose

-Make zones open to education.

9. HISTORIC BUILDINGS/NEIGHBORHOODS

-process to definite "historic."

-City help for business development for historic buildings.

-Promote financial incentives to preserve historical buildings

-Historic equal emphasis on history + architecture city-wide

-allow community involvement in "historic" definition and planning.

-SA-1Pres. C. Protect the residential Character: Divert traffic, Redirect traffic, Identify (traffic?)

-SA-1 - Preservation (A): Benefits - what is there? Incentives - reimbursement, funding

-Walking Town to Where? Have a plan for the historic downtown with plagues on buildings, info pamplets, etc.

10. PARKING

-make parking "flexible" not more not less, but what makes sense.

-think about parking needs when densifying.

-CD-6 E - Parking is definitely a problem throughout the whole city - with open alleys - parking structures downtown and expanded parking, all would help.

-mixed commercial parking structure

-parking ramp

-Diagonal parking

-Change in parking regulations.

-Remote parking tied to fixed route

-Downtown Parking: use fee in-lieu for intended purpose - build parking.

11. PLANNING PROCESS

-Process for criteria + inventory + outcome

-Outside insight on all of this.

-Have a large group of design professionals "mock plan" what we'll get if the plan is executed.

-identify other "sister" communities that have already done this. "Use their plan as an outline."

-Identify builders who are utilizing good density plans in Sandpoint - include them in process.

-revise ordinances on transportation for consistency.

-Relax codes

12. HOUSING

-5 Bd. 5 BA in CA-2 for 5 families

-Living quarters for hamburger flippers to walk to the core

-Strongly encourage residential downtown (upper building levels)

-does the plan encourage densities/housing types that the private sector won't provide?

-Residential Design standards / Cluster Design Standards

13. FOOD

-Parks + Rec. + Food

-"Park, Rec. & Food" - Park grows food for Food Bank

-Community Gardens

-Small parks within neighborhood to promote gardening.

14. DOWNTOWN VITALITY

-Downtown with drug stores, grocery stores, J.C. Penny, resturants,... places families can go and shop for everything they need.

-Family-oriented feel of Downtown. Families shopping downtown.

-Walmart split up all over First Ave.

-Places for people to come together.

-Move Real Estate offices off first floor of Downtown.

-Farmer's Market & Arts + Crafts examples of what we like - especially seeing families.

-community-wide annual event, like a World's Fair or Trade Show, celebrating Sandpoint and attracting appropriate industries - including education and arts.

-Encourage Diversity

-More 2-way streets downtown

15. TREES & OTHER PLANTINGS

-SA-2: Build on existing success, research, publicize, volunteer groups

-SA-2: (F) educate the community on care of trees, appropriate varieties, etc.

-SA-2: Solidify neighborwoods program and promote it. / Encourage the development of an urban forestry committee.

-landscaping w/native plants encouraged

16. ARTS & CULTURE

-SA-3 (C/B): Work cooperatively (City with community) to promote arts events

-SA-3 (A): Improve communication about community events

-SA-3 (A): Identify existing community arts & events (farmers market; arts fair @ city beach, art walks) and nurture them!

-Family-oriented entertainment & activities.

-Resident program, dance, orchestra, children's theater - help to support creation of university.

17. MISC.

-Land leases

-SA-1: B. Identify research report, volunteer groups.

-Transition Initiative Group work with Business Community. Not two separate visions.

-Switch from a place for second & third homes to a place to live and for families.

-cellphone use

-coffer dam on Sand Creek

-Trailers, boats on trailers, stored long-term year-round on city streets.

-mixed use w/incentives

-CD-3 A.... and with a consistency that blends the generational design + architecture, cobblestone/lights, colors

-make the plan work as well for the single-wide neighborhoods (Ella) as it does for "historic" neighborhoods.

-provide incentives + technical support for sustainable/energy-efficient construction and retrofitting.

Overview of the Feb. 5th Task Force Meeting

The Sandpoint Growth Task Force met for the first time on February 5th, 2009 at Sandpoint City Hall. Approximately 35 people were in attendance. This is a summary of the meeting.

Stephen Snedden welcomed everyone and made brief remarks. Elected officials and city employees in attendance were Jeremy Grimm, Sandpoint City Planner; Mayor Gretchen Hellar; John Reuter, Sandpoint City Council; and Carrie Logan, Sandpoint City Council.

Jeremy Grimm gave an overview of the draft Sandpoint Comprehensive Plan ("Comp Plan"). Jeremy made it clear that the Comp Plan is a vision document and does not provide details as to how to accomplish many of the goals and policies contained in the plan.

Following Jeremy's overview of the comp plan, participants selected one of five groups. Each group corresponded to a section of the comp plan. The groups then brainstormed on policies and ordinances related to their area of the comp plan. All ideas were recorded on Post-It Notes. Following 45 minutes, the groups reconvened and shared their ideas with the entire group by reading and placing their Post-It Notes on a community board.

Several co-chairs were chosen to help with successive meetings and present the Task Force's results to the Sandpoint City Council. Co-chairs are as follows:

1. Kimberly Manning
2. Kathy Osborne
3. Yuri Simon

The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:35.

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog for Sandpoint's Growth Task Force. We will try to keep this blog updated with meeting summaries and information. Please feel free to comment and we look forward to seeing you at the next meeting!

Meeting Schedule:

1. Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 5:30 pm at Sandpoint City Hall.
2. Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 5:30 pm at Sandpoint City Hall.
3. Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 5:30 pm at Sandpoint City Hall.

Sincerely,

Stephen Snedden, Facilitator