Canyon County Development Services Department Welcomes New Team Leaders to Meet Strategic Initiatives

In a strategic move aimed at optimizing resources and enhancing services, Canyon County’s Development Services Department (DSD) is pleased to announce the addition of three key professionals to its leadership team, which is part of a broader initiative that involved restructuring the department’s staffing model.

The new staff members bring a diverse range of skills and experiences that will contribute to the department’s ongoing efforts to promote responsible development and enhance community well-being.

“These new hires of highly qualified individuals are a direct result of the leadership shown by our Board of County Commissioners,” said Sabrina Minshall, the Director of Development Services Department (DSD). “They have taken steps to improve the culture of the department, adjust the structure, and provide better compensation for high-demand, low-supply professions.”

The staff changes also helped to retain the existing development services team who have been working hard with a demanding workload, while staying fiscally constrained and adhering to the approved FY24 budget, she added.

“Land use decisions have a significant impact on the entire community. These changes will lead to more efficient, timely, and thorough services for the public, including processing the backlog of applications and updating unclear ordinances,” Minshall said.

While balancing diverse interests, the County’s development services team works to implement the County’s vision and values, provide stewardship of public resources, and ensure a prosperous future for all.

Meet the New Team Leaders:

Jay A. Gibbons, Assistant Director of Development Services

With a career spanning more than 32 years in Idaho’s Treasure Valley, Mr. Gibbons brings a wealth of experience in landscape architecture, parks project management, and land use planning. He holds a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Idaho and has been a licensed landscape architect since 1995. His current focus is on land use planning where he has been involved in the design of parks and recreation sites, hospital campuses, veteran cemeteries, subdivisions, multi-family, and countless commercial projects. He was born and raised in Mountain Home, Idaho.

Carl Anderson, Planning Supervisor

Mr. Anderson has more than seven years of professional planning experience. He spent six years as a Senior Planner at the City of Pocatello and one year as an Associate Planner at the City of Ketchum, where he worked on both current and long-range planning. Before becoming a Planner, he worked for 18 months as a Graduate Research Technician at the Boise State Public Policy Research Center (PPRC). Mr. Anderson holds a master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, both from Boise State University. He is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and is an Accredited Professional of the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU-A). Currently, he is focused on updating the County’s Zoning Regulations to meet the region’s current development needs.

Dalia Alnajjar, Engineering Supervisor

Ms. Alnajjar is a civil and environmental engineer with more than four years of experience in the private sector. Her work has primarily focused on land development and landfill design. She earned her degree in Civil Engineering from Boise State University. In 2024, Ms. Alnajjar plans to sit for the Professional Engineer (PE) certification, reflecting her commitment to advancing her skills and knowledge and upholding the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in the field of engineering.