Chamber, DSBA merger aids efficiency

SANDPOINT — The merger of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association should increase efficiency for everyone, according to the organizations’ officials.

Not many downtown business representatives showed up for an informational meeting on the recently-announced arrangement, which will have a transformational effect on the downtown organization. Those who did, however, received clarification on the way the new formation will operate.

According to DSBA board members, the biggest question they’ve heard since the agreement was announced last week is what will become of the money collected through the business improvement district. Established in the autumn of 2000, this tax ranges from $10 to $65 per month based on downtown business size and funds all DSBA activities.

The only financial impact the chamber will have on the DSBA is a nominal administrative fee, Greater Sandpoint Chamber president Kate McAlister said. Otherwise, all BID money will continue to benefit downtown businesses.

What’s more, DSBA board president Jim Lovell said consolidating into the chamber will reduce overhead like rent and administrative costs dramatically. Shared resources like office space, equipment, software, data collection and telephone reception will also make a big difference, he said.

“This will allow us to put a lot more of that money back into (the improvement district),” Lovell added.

By combining with the chamber, the DSBA will undergo a complete shift in character and operations. Even the name will be different by the time everything is finalized in October. Under the new structure, the DSBA will become council within the chamber. This council will consist of nine board members, each representing a different area of downtown business. Each board member will collect concerns from their industry and bring them to council meetings for consideration. Using this system, Lovell hopes the process of interfacing with downtown businesses will improve dramatically.

The new system should make things easier for DSBA manager Marcy Timblin, who can specialize more thoroughly and spend more time with business representatives. That’s because she won’t have to spend time learning new software or techniques when others at the chamber can handle the task, Lovell said.

However, not everything is changing. Popular initiatives like the Winter Carnival and downtown Christmas lights installation will stay on the agenda in the coming years. According to DSBA member Chris Bessler, the organization is proud of those events and big achievements like helping move North Idaho College downtown — they just want to do them more efficiently.

“There are a lot of things we do that are really essential, and we don’t want them to go away,” he said.

The DSBA and chamber are currently accepting nominations for board members to the new council. Nominations can be sent to McAlister at the chamber.