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NAMPA, Idaho (CBS2) — The City of Nampa recently gained possession of the Hispanic Cultural Center of Idaho, prompting reactions from the city and Hispanic leaders.

Earlier this week, the city said in a recent news release they were taking ownership of the building immediately. The city leased the building to the center for $1 a year.

Doors are locked to the building, and staff were told they had to vacate by Thursday, which has been extended through Friday, July 14.

Mayor Debbie Kling gave more insight into the decision to take back the building.

"We just had a number of Hispanic community members come to us and share their frustrations and ask for our help as a city," Kling said. "And actually, I'm really excited because so many people have responded very positively thanking us for the action we have taken."

The center's president and CEO, Humberto Fuentes, disagreed.

"It's been known to me that the city has an eye on the building for the last 4, 5 years," Fuentes said. "And so, we've been trying to work with the city to answer any other questions. Those are allegations. They're not facts. What they're alleging is 'that we're not complying with the lease agreement.'"

Fuentes admitted that the news came as a surprise to him and the all-volunteer staff.

"We were scrambling for the last couple of days, trying to get all our stuff out and to find a facility to store them," Fuentes said.

Concerns over the building's long-term future will be addressed. The first step will be on Friday, July 14, at noon, when Kling will meet with Hispanic leaders in City Hall.

"Different organizations can give us their ideas and submit a proposal for how they could manage the facility," Kling said. "So that'll take a little while to put together, but that's the direction we anticipate going."

Kling wanted to make it clear the building was still for the Hispanic community and that the change would, in her words, give the building back to Hispanics. On the other hand, Fuentes said that while his team had to vacate the building, their mission did not stop.

"We plan to be around," Fuentes said. "The Hispanic Cultural Center as an organization is not dissolved. They might take the building, but we still have a fight to do."

There was a protest at 4 p.m. on July 13, and it lasted around 35 minutes. Fuentes and others peacefully spoke about the decision and the future. There was police tape put up around the building before the protest. It was taken down around 45 minutes later.

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