The Boise City Council will vote Tuesday on buying 154 acres in the Northwest Boise Foothills at the end of Collister Drive. The purchase would provide open space and trail access to the nearby 680-acre Polecat Ridge Reserve.

The property has been in the city’s “crosshairs” as a prime piece of land for years, said Doug Holloway, director of Boise Parks and Recreation. The city has a deal to buy it from the Bank of the Cascades for $500,000.

The property, formerly owned by developer Ramon Yorgeson, fell into receivership a couple years ago, said Holloway.

Since then, its sale price has fallen from $2.3 million to $999,000 this year before the city negotiated the sale.

In addition to providing access to Polecat Ridge, the 154-acre parcel is home to a population of Aase’s onion, a rare native plant.

“We appreciate the patience of trail users who have anxiously awaited access to this popular area in the Northwest Foothills,” Mayor David Bieter said in a statement.

A 2001 levy championed by then-Mayor Brent Coles raised $10 million for the protection of open space in the Boise Foothills.

A year ago, the Boise council voted to sell 705 acres east of town known as Hammer Flat to Idaho Fish and Game. That put $4.23 million back in the city’s Foothills fund. The city had bought that critical deer range from its developer-owner.

If the council votes to buy the 154 acres near Collister, about $3.7 million will be left in the Foothills fund.

With money from the levy and other sources, the city and its Foothills Conservation Advisory Committee have protected a total of 10,489 acres through acquisition, donation, conservation easement or land exchanges.

Protected land includes parcels in Northwest and Southeast Boise and land surrounding Stack  Rock near the Bogus Basin ski area.

City officials haven’t identified the next priority for their wish list, said Holloway.

“We’re waiting for the next opportunity,” he said.

The council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Idaho State Capitol.

Anna Webb: 377-6431