Sandpoint council told to identify projects now to spend urban renewal dollars before 2029 sunset

City staff told the Sandpoint City Council at a Feb. 11 strategic‑planning kickoff that the city must move quickly to identify and commit projects that can use urban renewal funds before the downtown and North District districts sunset in 2029.

"It's a use it or lose it type situation," said Speaker 9, the staff presenter on urban renewal, describing a scenario in which unspent increment returns to other taxing districts. Staff estimated the North District could have roughly $7.5 million available by 2029 and said downtown may have between $2 million and $3 million depending on final project costs and grant outcomes.

The presentation asked the council to identify priorities no later than 2027 so that design, engineering and contracting can proceed in time to obligate funds. Staff said certain projects — for example, short‑connector road links, stormwater improvements, or site prep for redevelopment — could be relatively low‑cost ways to commit money quickly and increase private investment.

Staff also noted that some downtown concepts in prior visioning and design reports are not adopted master plans but contain implementable ideas. A staff‑prepared color‑coded summary handed to council listed projects green (complete/near complete), yellow (in process) and red (not started), to help prioritize candidate uses for the urban renewal balances.

The council asked staff to return with lists of specific projects, estimated costs, eligibility under urban renewal rules and possible grant matches. That direction is intended to feed the upcoming strategic‑planning facilitator work and the capital improvement planning process.

Next steps: staff will compile project lists tied to existing master‑plan recommendations, estimate costs and timelines, and bring options to council for prioritization so funds can be committed and spent before the 2029 sunset.