The Nampa City Council voted 4–3 on Monday to approve an ordinance and a package of agreements that convey the Fort (Ford) Idaho Center and Horse Park to the College of Western Idaho.

The action followed a multi‑hour public hearing in which dozens of residents, business leaders, and representatives of organizations including the Snake River Stampede, Horse Park Foundation and CWI testified both for and against the transfer. Supporters said CWI has the financing tools and institutional focus to invest in deferred maintenance and expand educational uses; opponents warned the move would be a gift of a major city asset and questioned whether the complex is “underutilized.”

Clay Long, the city’s chief of staff, and city attorneys described the legal process for conveyance under Idaho law (Title 50, Chapter 14) and outlined the required findings that the property may be “underutilized or not used for public purposes” prior to a transfer. Legal counsel and staff also said the city completed extra title due diligence after discovering recording irregularities and corrected them prior to the vote.

College of Western Idaho representatives stressed the academic and workforce advantages they expect to bring. Nick Miller, speaking for CWI, said the college would use the site for “academic activation” — programs such as venue management and equine science — and reiterated that the college’s board and trustees would govern any long‑term decisions. Mike Pena, president of the CWI Foundation Board, told the council the foundation has begun fundraising to support improvements.

Opponents, including longtime community leaders and several equine‑industry speakers, urged delay, alternatives (including renegotiating management contracts or pursuing private investors), or a ballot advisory vote. Victor Miller and other speakers argued the Idaho Center had shown recent profit and questioned whether the city was being asked to “give away” an asset that still serves public events.

To limit long‑term risk to the city, council members approved detailed documents including a use agreement, a conveyance and acquisition agreement, a special warranty deed that reserves certain water rights and includes a reversionary clause if CWI abandons or transfers the property without the city’s consent, plus assignment and amendment provisions to existing management, food & beverage and operations agreements. Finance staff said the Fort Idaho Center fund balance available to the city at closing was approximately $5.3 million and that some fund transfers were part of the transaction.

Mayor Kling cast tie‑breaking mayoral votes where required during the sequential approvals; several motions passed 4–3. The ordinance’s proponents said the deal preserves long‑term public access commitments (including contractual protections for horse park events such as the Snake River Stampede) while moving ongoing capital responsibility to an institution that can access philanthropic and higher‑education funding sources. Opponents said the community deserved more time and more transparent alternatives to outright conveyance.

Council members who voted in favor said they were persuaded that CWI’s stewardship, academic activation and fundraising capacity offered the best practical path to preserve the complex and avoid increased city property‑tax burdens. Opponents said the transaction was rushed in a lame‑duck period and urged the incoming council and mayor to re‑examine the outcome.

The conveyance took effect as authorized by the actions the council approved at the Dec. 1 meeting; the agreements include provisions intended to protect specified public uses and to permit city remedies if CWI materially abandons or transfers the property without required approvals.