On Nov. 5, Ponderay City residents will vote on a ballot measure to fund:

• Safe access to Lake Pend Oreille and the Bay Trail via a pedestrian/bike undercrossing and associated infra-structure and property for public lakeshore recreation. The proposed undercrossing would be large enough to allow emergency response or city maintenance vehicles for a potential future park and trail facilities.

• Development of a 50-acre park into a regional recreation and community facility at the city’s Field of Dreams property on McNearney Road. The city is developing a phased plan that includes both local and regional sports and recreation amenities, including indoor and outdoor team sport fields with artificial turf, indoor and out-door courts for sports such as volley ball, basketball, pickle ball and tennis, picnic areas, outdoor amphitheater, playground, and more.

Public Financing Proposal for Recreation Access in Ponderay

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How do I vote?

• If you are already a registered voter, just visit your designated polling location on Nov. 5, or get an absentee ballot to vote early. Voting information is available at Idahovotes.gov.

How can I get more information?

• Contact Ponderay City Hall at (208) 265-5468. Information regarding the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail is available at POBTrail.org.

Or drop in at one of the following open houses:Sponsored by the City of Ponderay, Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail and local businesses.

Each open house will be between 5 and 7 p.m. at the following locations:

Oct. 10, Ponderay City Hall; 288 Fourth Street in Ponderay Oct. 15 at Sweet Lou’s Restaurant; off U.S. Highway 95 by Holiday Inn Express

Oct. 24 at Ponderay Event Center, 401 Bonner Mall Way, behind Sandpoint Furniture

How will the City fund it?

• If approved by voters on Nov. 5, the city would add a 1 percent temporary sales tax to all sales made in Ponderay less than $1,000.

• The tax would automatically expire after 5 years. • A 1 percent sales tax would add 10 cents to a $10 item, 50 cents to a $50 purchase, $5 to a

$500 purchase, and so on. • All of the 1 percent sales tax revenues would stay in the city for the above projects.

Why is it needed?

• The city does not have adequate funds for recreation projects. While Ponderay is a regional shopping hub, the city’s share of state sales tax is only $115,000 per year due to its small population and relatively low taxable property value.

Current crossing locations are not safe or legal.