Nampa City Council Meeting - February 17, 2026
Nampa City Council Meeting - February 17, 2026
The Nampa City Council held a regular meeting on February 17, 2026, starting at 5:01 PM. The meeting covered consent items, staff reports, several public hearings, and new business. The most significant action was the denial of the Orchard Acres master plan community annexation and zoning request.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the consent agenda as published unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Caldwell Veterans Council (CVC) Presentation: Terry Harrell (past chairman) highlighted CVC services including emergency assistance, transportation, and burial honors. Councilman Rodriguez noted the importance of veterans services and potential partnership. No public comment on non-agenda items.
- Orchard Acres Public Hearing: Over 20 residents testified, primarily opposing the project due to traffic congestion, emergency response times, water infrastructure, density, and impacts on farming. Many expressed support for property rights but opposed the specific proposal. The owners of the farm, Terry and Kathy Hendrickson, explained they could no longer farm due to residential encroachment and liability.
Discussion Items
- Staff Communications: Andy Zimmerman recognized Jordan Trevino for receiving the Southwest Idaho Operator of the Year award. Daniel Badger presented the FEMA floodplain update, reducing flood risk for 980 properties along Indian Creek, saving residents on insurance costs.
- Chief of Staff Updates: Clay Long announced upcoming council liaison assignments, and two new task forces (waste-to-energy and animal welfare).
- Planning and Zoning Report: Rodney Ashby reported on subdivisions, pre-annexation, and a continued Sagewood subdivision due to pump station issues.
- Health Care Reserve: Discussion on establishing a $500,000 reserve for potential high claims. Approved 6-0.
- ARPA Fund Reclassification: Transfer of $248,794 from Sherman Fire Flow projects to cover ARPA obligations. Approved 6-0.
- Orchard Acres Master Plan: Applicant Bonnie Leighton presented a 276-acre mixed-use development with 1,413 units, commercial space, and traffic mitigations. Public testimony raised concerns about traffic, fire response, school capacity, and water. The Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended denial. Council debate centered on density, fire station commitments, and infrastructure. A motion to approve failed 2-4 (Bills, Reynolds in favor; Scog, Rodriguez, Griffin, Jingula opposed). A motion to deny passed 4-2 (Scog, Rodriguez, Griffin, Jingula in favor; Bills, Reynolds opposed).
Key Outcomes
- Bylaws and Code of Conduct: Both adopted unanimously.
- Appointments: Confirmed to Fort Island Center CWI board (Mayor, Councilmembers Jingula and Reynolds).
- Health Care Reserve: Approved $500,000 reserve for health trust.
- Orchard Acres Denied: The annexation and zoning request was denied due to concerns about compatibility with surrounding areas and public interest in traffic safety and emergency response.
- Trailhead Contract: Awarded to Granite Excavation for $734,442 for the Matthew Peltzer Trailhead. Council requested signage honoring Peltzer, which staff indicated could be funded within existing budgets.
- Other Contracts: Approved design services agreement with Idaho Power ($1,164) for lift station upgrade, sewer reimbursement agreement with Wilde LLC, and bid to Idaho Gradient Trucking for street conversion.
- Executive Session: Motion passed to enter executive session for real property, legal consultation, and labor contract matters.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. It is five oh one and we are going to go ahead and start our city council meeting. Um Pastor Kelly Sears was going to open us up in the invocation, and I do not see her um at this time. So we're gonna go ahead and get started and um I was about to say Pastor David Bills. But Council President Council David Bills is gonna open us in prayer in the pledge, and if you'd like to participate, please stand at this time. Amen. Bills. Entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda is published. Still moved. Well, Clerk, who had a second on that? Councilmember Griffin. Griffin, okay, all right. All in favor, say aye. All right. All right. The consent agenda is approved. At this time we are moving to section uh three for an agency report. And I um do we have the Culwell Veterans Council present? I don't see them yet, sir. Okay. There was a presentation that was going to be provided by the Coldwell Veterans Council. And don't see them. I don't know. Was there was there a lot of parking? Uh I know odd question. Was there was the parking lot full? Is there another event going on? No. Okay. I just said sometimes there's usually competing events and parking can be challenging. Um if council's okay, I'll just go to we'll just move to staff uh communications and then we can come back to 3-1 once we see Cold Will present. So 4-1 Spencer will bring us a public work staff update at this time. John Spencer, director of water resources. Um staff communication will actually be presented by Andy Zimmerman. Um this is for an award that was achieved by one of his staff. Good evening, uh Mayor and City Council. I'm Andy Zimmerman. I'm the uh superintendent for the water renewal treatment facility. Um I'd like to congratulate Jordan Trevino on receiving the operator of the uh year for our lab at the water renewal facility. On 2020 or January 21st, she received from the Southwest Idaho operator section, which is a part of the PNCWA, which is the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association. Um she started with NAMPA in January of 2020 as a lab tech one. She moved her way all the way to recently as the lab supervisor. She oversees a team of six, and four over 40,000 lab samples run through her lab each year. These uh analysis are for operations for process control, our permit, and also our renewal permit. She has a class four license through the state of Idaho, which is the highest award or the highest level of certification licensure you can have for the state of Idaho. Um she's dedicated to improving and enhancing our lab capability. She's trying to bring a lot of store a lot of items in-house versus outsourcing. She also plays a key role in our outreach and education for uh the public and our school system. She does our plant tours and she also does classroom presentations at some of the schools. So I'd like to congratulate Jordan Trevino on receiving this Southwest Idaho operator of the year for our lab.
openpublica.com