Nampa council votes to convey Ford Idaho Center to College of Western Idaho after contentious public hearing

The Nampa City Council voted to convey the Fort Idaho Center complex to the College of Western Idaho on Dec. 1 after a long, closely watched public hearing that drew supporters, opponents and local event partners.

Councilors debated a threshold ordinance authorizing the transfer; the roll call produced a 3–3 tie before Mayor Debbie Kling cast the deciding vote to approve the first reading. Following that action, council approved a sequence of implementing documents including a use agreement, a conveyance and acquisition agreement, a special warranty deed that reserves certain city-held water rights, and assignment and amendment of management and food-and-beverage agreements.

College of Western Idaho representatives and community partners framed the transfer as a way to secure capital investment and long-term operational stability while maintaining event continuity. "We see the site as a way to activate space that serves both the community and academic needs," said Ashley Smith of CWI, noting the college's plans to preserve traditions such as the Snake River Stampede while expanding training and student opportunities.

Several stakeholder groups publicly backed the deal. "We believe CWI will be very good stewards of the property and add value to the community under CWI management," said Mike Pena of the CWI Foundation Board. The Snake River Stampede board, the Horse Park Foundation and venue advisory members also delivered statements of support during the hearing.

Opponents argued the center is not underutilized and warned that transferring ownership would remove local control over a public asset. "This conveyance as proposed is legalized theft," said Hubert Osborne, a Nampa resident. Others urged council to delay the vote until the incoming mayor and council members take office so the newly elected representatives could weigh in.

City legal staff and counsel repeatedly described the statute that permits a city to convey property determined to be "underutilized or not used for public purposes," and said the city followed required procedures, including re-notification after title irregularities were discovered and corrected during due diligence.

Agreements approved by council contain protections the city sought in negotiations: a recorded reversionary right that can revert title to the city if CWI abandons, transfers or otherwise disposes of certain interests without the city's consent; contractual commitments to preserve certain event uses and to work with major stakeholders; and specific reservations (for example, the city will retain identified water rights tied to the property). City counsel told the council these protections survive closing.

Council members who supported the conveyance said the college has access to financing tools, philanthropic resources and programmatic opportunities that the city cannot easily replicate. "If we can increase pathways for our kids and provide academic activation on that campus, that's where we need to be," Mayor Kling said when explaining her tie-breaking vote.

The council's votes on implementing agreements were taken in sequence after the threshold motion, each passing on 4–3 margins with the mayor's favorable votes where needed. The transfer also included assignment of the existing management company and food-and-beverage contracts under terms that the city said protect ongoing event operations.

With conveyance approved, city staff said title and closing steps, recording of deeds and final implementation details will follow. Councilors and staff emphasized that contractual commitments to the Horse Park and other anchor users are part of the recorded agreements.