Council May Vote To Make Festival Move If City Does Not Take Action, Memorial Field Neighbors Say They’ll Go To The Courts

The City Council is expected to decide today whether the Festival at Sandpoint will remain at Memorial Field after this summer’s season.

A council committee recommended last week that the city order the festival to move. The recommendation came after residents living near Memorial Field complained about noise, traffic and crowds that come with the festival concerts.

The neighbors also hired an attorney and claim the festival violates the city’s residential zoning codes. If the city does not take action against the festival, the residents said they intend to take the issue before a judge.

Festival officials have been looking for a new location.

Executive Director Connie Berghan said the first option would be to work out an agreeable arrangement with Memorial Field neighbors and users.

If that fails a new site will have to be found but it could take longer than a year to ready a new location, she said.

The meeting has been moved from City Hall to Community Hall because of the expected crowd. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m.

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Meeting The Sandpoint City Council meets at Community Hall 5:30 p.m.