Calaveras supervisors direct staff to pursue iBank loan for new animal services facility after parvo outbreak

County staff and shelter officials urged the Board of Supervisors April 28 to proceed with low-cost financing to build a new animal services facility after a recent parvovirus outbreak exposed operational and infrastructure shortcomings at the county shelter.

A county presenter summarized the debt advisory committee's review of three options for funding a proposed 10,555-square-foot animal services facility in San Andreas, saying the iBank Infrastructure State Revolving Fund option offered a fixed 4.39% interest rate with a 90-day lock and lower issuance costs, allowing the project to begin quickly and reducing exposure to construction-cost escalation. "IBank financing results in the lowest total cost," the presenter said during the staff presentation and recommended the board affirm the committee's direction to proceed.

Lisa Medina, who identified herself as environmental management staff for the county's animal services, told the board several puppies the shelter admitted recently tested positive for parvovirus. She described immediate mitigation steps — isolation, heightened sanitation, PPE use and temporary partial shutdown — and said the shelter is operating well above capacity with aging kennels and drainage problems that make isolation and infection control difficult. "We're at 187% capacity with 43 dogs," Medina said, adding that the facility lacks adequate isolation rooms and the current infrastructure contributes to disease spread.

Board members asked staff about timing and next steps. Staff said if the board affirms the iBank option the county would start procurement steps immediately (hiring a construction manager, preparing RFPs) with an estimated 18 months to two years before a new facility would be completed after contracting and bidding.

The board voted unanimously to affirm the debt advisory committee's recommendation to pursue the iBank ISRF financing at a fixed 4.39% rate and directed staff to finalize and return required financing agreements for board consideration. A county staffer reminded the public that the financing agreement will return to the board with full terms and conditions for final approval.

Next steps: staff will finalize financing terms and prepare agreements for a future board meeting; procurement for construction manager and build-phase RFPs would follow once financing is executed.