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