Documents - Public Record

Apologies for the condition of some of these pdf files.  The documents are old, the quantity is huge, the scanning process was cumbersome, and the quality is not always the best... but they ARE readable and we want you to see for yourself what has transpired.

1980 Agreement
State of Idaho Department of Lands agreed to provide public trust lands adjacent to the Boise River for Riverside Village developer to construct a "bicycle path" and other amenities required by Garden City for approval of the subdivision.  Upon completion, the bicycle path is to be conveyed to Garden City. 

 

1983 Citizen Response to Bike Path Diversion away from the river.
6 phone calls, 22 letters, and 175 signatures on petitions were sent to Dept of Lands protesting this diversion.  Keep in mind that this was twenty-five years ago - before the Boise River Greenbelt was even very well-developed!

1992 Garden City Terms for acceptance of Riverside Village/BikePath
Letter from Garden City to Dept of Lands claiming that the path was originally intended for  private use by the residents of Riverside Village and demanding upgrades to the "Bike Path"  before Garden City will accept it. 

1992.Garden City Proposed Restrictions on Public Uses of RVGB
OK - read these three pages just for the fun of it.  These are the restrictions Garden City suggests for the Bike Path...  No bicycles, no dogs, no throwing of balls or anything else AND do NOT offer tobacco, alchohol, or narcotic drugs to any animal, reptile, fish or bird!

1992 Lands Letter to Evans - fix or we sue
We told you before that we hold you responsible.  If bike path is not complete by June 30, 1993, the state will take legal action.

1994 Lawsuit_- Dept of Lands sues Evans Bros & IFI
...for Specific Performance, Damages for Breach of Contract, and Injunctive Relief

1995 Agreement between IFI & Garden City re RV Bike Path
Negotiated by Evans between IFI & GC.  IFI agrees to provide legal description of pathway area that they will convey to GC which will contain minimum corridor of 15 feet width,  to replace asphalt surface with angular chips along entire length of path, and to  convey to City by Quit Claim and easement the pathway areas owned by IFI per the 1980 Agreement.  NOTE:  We have made a Public Info Request for this legal description from GC, but, so far, they claim they do not have it.  

1995 RVHOA to Lands - Request for land & TERMS
Although RVHOA was not a party to the imminent settlement, this letter communicates their approved terms and specifications, including "pedestrian traffic only and a width of no more than 8 feet."  They say they assume that their association will have a say in the exact location of the path and they request any excess area be conveyed to them.  (The State strongly disagrees and actually puts stonger language in the subsequent quitclaim to assure that Garden City does not eventually convey any of the former state lands to RVHOA.)

 

1996 Land Board Approval of Settlement
VERY GOOD SUMMARY of the entire history and mentions the bike path extensively.  If you only have time to read one document, make it this one!

 

1996 Minutes of Garden City Council Meeting - Agenda Item is "Riverside Village BIKE PATH CONTRACT."  We also have an audio recording of this meeting.  The significance of the approval of the Bike Path Contract was extensively discussed.  "Councilmember Pigg moved to direct the mayor to enter into contract for settlement with the state of Idaho and Idaho Forest Industries." 

1996 Settlement Agreement
1980 Agreement is frequently referred to, attached as Exhibit A and specifically incorporated within.  It specifically states that the purpose of the agreement is to resolve the dispute concerning implementation of the 1980 Agreement.  Signed by State of Idaho, Dept of Lands, Idaho Forest Industries, Evans Brothers Construction, and City of Garden City. 

 

1997 Garden City Greenbelt Master Plan aka "The River Master Plan"

This is actually a really good plan...  if Garden City would only follow it!
   Part 1 - Intro, Goals, Criteria & Site Characteristics
   Part 2 - Design Guidelines
   Part 3 - Development Patterns, Geographic Descriptions
   Maps - attached to the plan

1998 Land Board Approval of Quitclaim
Refers to Garden City participation into settlement as eventual owner, pursuant to the terms of the 1980 Agreement.  

1998 Quitclaim to Garden City by Idaho Dept of Lands
Approximately 20.1 acres of State land are delivered to Garden City.  At this time, IFI also grants the portion of the greenbelt on property that they own to Garden City.

2007 ORDINANCE 868-07
Garden City claims that this ordinance assesses penalties for riding bikes on the RV path.  However, all it actually says is “…in areas officially designated and signed as pedestrian only…” We do not believe that the RV Bike Path has ever been officially designated as pedestrian only.  See what you think. 

2007 City Council Ordinance Approval
We have read the City Code and the minutes of this meeting.  We believe that this Ordinance may have been approved improperly and not according to the process outlined in the Garden City Code. 

2008 Governor Otter Press Release regarding AG decision -

2008 October Attorney General decision regarding enforcement of the Agreements -