Old Fire Training Facility to Serve as Temporary Animal Shelter

San Angelo City Council will entertain a zoning change for the former Fire Training facility in order to operate a temporary Animal Shelter at the site while the current shelter is renovated.  

Planning staff shared that two of the buildings would house pets while a third would accommodate shelter staff.

The Planning Commission wanted a time limit on the temporary use of the center for Animal Services and asked what would be appropriate.  Planning staff said it could take three to five years.

Construction Manager Al Torres said otherwise.  He noted existing shelter design plans are well under way and construction could begin in April or May.  

He stated the city needs a place to house dogs during current shelter renovations but that he has yet to be involved in the temporary shelter remodel.  

One year ago City Council approved seeking bids on a $2 million bond with the majority of proceeds to fund Animal Shelter renovations.  The city paid back the money in August 2023 having only hired an engineering firm for $118,000 for design work.  Normally construction financing is in synch with actual renovation work.  This project has widely missed that mark.

The January Planning Committee meeting came after a year of missed shelter renovation start dates and millions borrowed and repaid for a project that seemed stuck in molasses.  

It's hard to keep up with the varying stories.  What more might citizens hear on Tuesday?

Update 3-7-24:  The latest schedule information is:

....the bid phase is delayed to May 2024 with estimated construction completion in November 2024.

Update 7-16-24:  City staff indicated the budget for the temporary shelter is $232,000 and indicated Council already approved that amount.

Update 12-3-24:  Mr. Torres informed City Council that an electrical change order is needed for the permanent shelter renovation.  Morgan will bring that change order to Council on December 17th.  Once approved the engineers need four weeks to complete the redesign.  The project can then go out for bid.  Construction is expected to begin in February 2025 and will take six to nine months to complete.  The temporary shelter is expected to be completed prior to construction starting on main shelter operations.  

Update 4-15-25:  That December change order leaked all the way to April.  A staff memo on the project states:

The engineering task order was finalized April 8, 2025 and a purchase order should be issued soon. Then, the engineering firm can resume work to finalize design plans.

Engineering work continues two years after receiving the funds to undertake the project.

The memo also indicates temporary shelter preparation bids came in too high relative to budget.  There have been no bid documents for this project posted on the city's purchasing website.  The city "met with a co-op vendor on April 1" regarding the temporary shelter facility.  Over a year ago the city approved a zoning change to accommodate the temporary shelter.