Council hears $120,000 'make ready' request and broader cost concerns for temporary animal shelter during renovation

Council members spent the better part of an hour on May 21 unpacking a request to prepare a temporary animal-shelter facility while the city's primary kennel is renovated.

Assistant Director Morgan (Neighborhood and Family Services) and construction manager Al Torres told the council that roughly 120–130 kennels will be displaced during the renovation of the Highway 67 shelter. Staff presented a $120,000 estimate to "make ready" a temporary building so animals can be housed safely while plumbing, HVAC and other upgrades are completed.

"The $120,000 will get us the facility prepped and up and going," Morgan said, adding that the figure covers construction work to equip kennels and utilities. Al Torres outlined the construction approach for the temporary kennels, saying crews plan to build elevated platforms with concrete block and install kennels on top as a faster, less-permanent solution than saw-cutting and pouring new trenches.

Council members pressed staff for additional detail about operating costs and capacity impacts. Tina Deki, the director of finance, and staff later explained that staffing and utility expenses tied to operating two sites could add to short-term costs: a building-maintenance technician (roughly $40,000 annual salary and benefits) and a part-time temporary crew and utilities estimated at about $72,000. That produced an inclusive short-term figure discussed in the meeting of approximately $232,000.

"It's not just a hard cost of $120,000; it's what else is going to be needed to really open up that temporary facility," the mayor said while questioning whether the original presentation had been clear about operating expenses.

Morgan told council she expects the temporary site to be operational within a two-to-three month procurement and two-to-three month construction window if staff receive direction to proceed. She also said the department anticipates maintaining a total capacity of roughly 180 kennels systemwide by reassigning staff rather than doubling positions, though daily capacity pressures remain because of staffing and standards of care.

Council members sought clarity on whether the temporary arrangement would reduce capacity at peak times. Morgan and staff said the temporary site would have 96 kennels (compared with 120 in the part of the existing facility that will be taken offline) but that staffing and isolation-room availability—not merely kennel counts—drive the shelter's ability to accept animals.

Several council members emphasized that operating costs and the funding source must be identified before any appropriation. "We need to go find the dollars," the mayor said; finance staff committed to working with the city manager to locate one-time funding or savings if council prioritizes the project.

No vote was taken on funding at the May 21 meeting. Council directed staff to return with a clearer, inclusive cost estimate and the recommended funding source(s) for any temporary-facility spending before the council would authorize expenditures.

What happens next: Staff will refine the budget for both one-time 'make ready' costs and temporary operating expenses, identify funding sources and return to council with a recommendation for formal approval.