Canyon County to acquire short segment of Thirteenth Avenue for sheriff’s campus parking after council conditions exchange

Caldwell City Council unanimously approved a request from Canyon County to vacate a short segment of Thirteenth Avenue so the county can incorporate the right-of-way into an expanded parking lot for its new sheriff’s campus.

The council’s vote on Oct. 6 followed a presentation by Joe Dodson, principal planner for the city of Caldwell, and testimony from Rick Britton, public works director for Canyon County. Councilor William(s) Williams moved to authorize the mayor to execute the vacation provided the county returns a service or in-kind consideration valued at $50,000; the motion was seconded by Councilor Dittenburg and passed unanimously.

The vacation, labeled Vacation 25-01, would remove the city right-of-way between Albany Street and the railroad tracks and fold the segment into county-owned parcels to add parking adjacent to the county’s new sheriff’s building. Dodson told the council that utilities and the storm-drain public utility easement required by the traffic commission have been addressed and recorded. No utility providers objected during the notification process, he said.

Why it matters: the county says the additional spaces will serve the sheriff’s office and provide shared-use parking for downtown events, while the city will forgo ownership of the vacated roadway. Councilors raised questions about resident access, enforcement and how on-street parking near adjacent homes will be affected.

Rick Britton said the county intends the lot to be open to the public and used for overflow, jury trials and shared parking during city events. “Any of our parking lots are open to the public,” Britton said, adding there will be no county-only signage and the county wants to match downtown lighting and security standards.

Council discussion focused on value and precedent. Councilor Williams proposed the $50,000 reciprocal value — not a cash payment — as a way to provide offsetting benefit to the city and to address residents’ concerns about “giving away” public right-of-way. Staff confirmed the city has no existing policy or formula for appraising right-of-way and said an appraisal could be obtained if council wanted a market valuation prior to closing.

After the motion to approve the vacation, council later sponsored bill 40, ordinance 36 92, to formalize the vacation by title only; that ordinance was approved for publication and passed unanimously during the same meeting.

What the action does and next steps: the right-of-way will be absorbed into county parcels once the ordinance is finalized and recorded; a public utility easement for storm drainage remains in place. City staff noted the decision does not set a standard valuation formula for future right-of-way vacations.

Speakers and primary sources in the record include Joe Dodson, principal planner, and Rick Britton, Canyon County public works director, plus council members who moved and seconded the motion. Council members asked staff to preserve documentation on valuation options should similar requests return in the future.

Ending: With unanimous council approval and the associated ordinance passed, Canyon County may proceed with the parking expansion as described, subject to the recorded easement and whatever reciprocal service the county and city agree fulfills the $50,000 consideration.