Local group proposes auditorium district and field house to expand year‑round recreation; council allows staff input

A newly organized local group presented a proposal to create a Mountain Community Center (auditorium) district to finance and build a multi‑use field house and future community facilities for Valley County and McCall.

Kurt Wolf, Parks and Recreation Director, introduced the team and said city staff will add value to the process where appropriate. Johanna (Valley County Treasurer) and Blake Lingle and other members described a multi‑phased facility intended for year‑round athletics, community events and recreation.

Nut graf: The group proposed creating an auditorium or community center district under Idaho Code Title 67, Chapter 49 to allow a local-option travel and lodging tax (up to 5% under code) across a district boundary (north Valley County including McCall and unincorporated areas). The presenters provided a conservative revenue estimate of about $1,500,000 annually for the proposed district and described a financing approach combining private fundraising, potential commercial activity and district revenue to cover operations and debt service for construction.

Presenters said the initial build would be a field house with partitions to host multiple sports and community events, and that the project team has formed a nonprofit and political-action committee and has secured some donor interest. The group showed comparisons to recently built field houses in Idaho and elsewhere and said districts in other Idaho cities (Boise, Idaho Falls and a recently formed Nampa district) provided precedents.

The presentation noted the district would be able to impose a local lodging tax within the district boundary and could finance construction through certificates of participation backed by expected district revenue. Presenters said a reduced tax rate would be possible if private fundraising covered construction costs; otherwise rates up to the statutory cap could be used. Johanna read a provision from Idaho Code Title 67, Chapter 49 describing the authority of auditorium/community center districts to construct and operate public auditoriums, exhibition halls, convention centers and sports arenas.

Council discussion focused on district boundary, whether McCall short-term rentals would be included (answer: yes, district would include short-term lodgings within its boundary), how tax rates could vary depending on fundraising, and the potential for district revenue to support other facilities in partnership with cities or counties. The council then considered a formal request to allow city staff to provide input to the Mountain Community Center District team; a motion to allow staff to provide input passed on a roll call vote.

Ending: The council voted to allow staff participation and to continue working with the community group. The district proposal will move forward through subsequent steps including boundary refinement, legal review, and further staff and council conversations.