A little more than three weeks after announcing the reestablishment of the Sandpoint Parking Committee, the City Council voted unanimously Sept. 16 to confirm five nominees to serve on the advisory body.
Mayor Jeremy Grimm selected Brynn Williams-Woodruff and Scott Wilburn to serve one-year terms, expiring Aug. 31, 2027; Erin Riseborough and Luke Omodt for two-year terms, expiring Aug. 31, 2028; and Bob Clark for a three year-term, expiring Aug. 31, 2029.
“Each of these individuals brings unique qualities, perspectives and expertise that I believe will be valuable to the work of the Parking Committee and will benefit our community,” Grimm wrote in his appointment memo to the council.
When announced on Sept. 1, the committee was described as a “relatively short-term” group that would be “charged with reviewing the facts; considering the experiences of residents, businesses, employees and visitors; and providing recommendations to the mayor and City Council.”
At the Sept. 16 meeting, Grimm said the committee will meet every other week on Fridays, starting Sept. 25 at 7:30 a.m. in Council Chambers (1123 Lake St.). The meetings will last about an hour or hour and a half, with 10 minutes for public comment at the end.
The Sandpoint City Council. Photo by Ben Olson
The reinstated committee comes after a tumultuous rollout for the city’s paid parking program, which drew vigorous and outspoken opposition — particularly related to the kiosks in the downtown two-hour zone, which the council voted in August to remove.
Williams-Woodruff is a mechanical engineer and self-described “parking enthusiast,” who was born and raised in Sandpoint and wrote in her application materials, “I have watched the public discussions on parking with concern and occasional amusement and believe I can provide a rational and objective viewpoint on the topic.”
Wilburn is a longtime downtown business owner who has served on numerous committees, as well as business and government organizations.
“I have witnessed the reactions of my customers in the downtown area to the various changes in city policy over the course of my business ownership, and have a pretty good feel for how both locals and tourists respond to parking enforcement and policy,” he wrote.
Riseborough is a senior strategist and business change manager, who wrote that she brings, “Deep experience in leading large organizations through transformational change” with “an objective eye to data, understanding of human behavior and [an] empathetic approach.”
Omodt is an area educator who formerly served as a Bonner County commissioner and on the Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission.
“I am deeply committed to public service,” he wrote. “If the residents of the city of Sandpoint want to improve our infrastructure, funding vehicles and mechanisms must be found. As a lifetime Bonner County resident, I hope to bring perspective, hope, change and optimism to the committee as the city works through these difficult issues.”
Clark is a fisheries scientist and consultant with decades of experience, and has served on a number of commissions from the national to local level — including as a Bonner County zoning commissioner and member of the Natural Resource Committee.
“I have extensive experience working on contentious issues in front of a public forum. I also have had a career in reviewing technical documents and making informed decisions from the documents and relevant public testimony,” he wrote.
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