CANYON COUNTY, Idaho — Nampa city leaders held a town hall listening session to hear community input on a proposal that would give the College of Western Idaho control of the Ford Idaho Center.
The proposal is connected to an upcoming levy override vote on Aug. 18, a decision city officials say could shape the venue's future for generations.
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Not all city officials support the current direction. City Council Member David Bills expressed opposition to the city's involvement in entertainment venues.
"I'm not in agreement that the city should be in the entertainment venue business," Bills said.
Mayor Debbie Kling emphasized that the discussion isn't about losing the Idaho Center but ensuring its long-term viability.
"What we want is ideas and solutions," Kling said. "We love the Ford Idaho Center — we just want it to be vibrant down the road."
Some residents at the meeting expressed concern about the rushed timeline, with one citizen noting surprise at the upcoming vote.
"If you're going to vote on the 18th, I didn't realize that was such a time frame," the resident said. "That's coming right up — that's next week."
READ MORE | Nampa residents weigh in on Ford Idaho Center's future as city council vote approaches
Others questioned whether the agreement would benefit Nampa residents at all.
"I think they're putting money in their pocket, and I don't think they should give things away that belong to Nampa," one citizen said.
"We are going to convey property to a vocational school that wants to become a college… that wants to become a university. This is crazy," another resident said.
Several community members described the Ford Idaho Center as "more than a building," highlighting events, including the Snake River Stampede, as a point of pride for Nampa.
If CWI takes control of the center, the agreement requires that the college enter into a 99-year lease with Snake River Stampede for the ticket office building, with a long-term vision of the building becoming home to a museum for the rodeo.
Before any decision is finalized, the proposal will go through a public hearing, a formal council vote, and final approval. The Nampa City Council is set to address the topic again at their Aug. 18 council meeting, where they may decide on next steps.
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