Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008

Stanislaus County animal shelter plans firm up

Supervisors OK contract for design of new facility

A new animal shelter in Stanislaus County moved another step closer to reality Tuesday morning with the approval of an architectural firm to design the facility.

The Board of Supervisors approved the $428,057 contract for design and construction management for the proposed 16,550-square-foot shelter. The project is expected to remodel and expand the shelter on Finch Road. The estimated cost is $9.9 million to $10.8 million.

The county is negotiating with the cities that participate in the shelter to form a joint-powers agreement to fund the project.

Supervisor Bill O'Brien cast the only dissenting vote. O'Brien has voted against the expansion consistently, arguing that the county should have a comprehensive plan to reduce pet overpopulation before it builds a new shelter.

"I agree that we need immediate changes to the shelter. But we need to invest in (curbing) the overpopulation rather than just housing them," O'Brien said.

The new shelter will add an estimated $600,000 to operations costs, O'Brien said, and the county needs to spend that kind of money on spay and neuter programs. "If not, we will have an $11 million facility that continues to kill 13,000 animals a year," he said.

The other supervisors voiced support for the project.

"No question, we have to go forward with the shelter," Supervisor Dick Monteith said. "I feel the shelter in itself won't solve the problem, but it is a key element."

Monteith called on volunteers throughout the county to organize and help make the shelter a success. There is grant money that private groups can access, he said.

Supervisor Jim DeMartini said he thought most of the cities would join with the county in the shelter project. "It's a good deal for them. It's better to build one shelter than 10," DeMartini said.

Rick Robinson, county chief executive officer, said he strongly recommended moving ahead with the shelter. "We are prepared to move forward with or without the cities," Robinson said, adding that he hoped the cities would participate.

"Let's build it," Chairman Tom Mayfield said. "We've been talking about it for four or five years. Now's the time to act."

Bee staff writer Tim Moran can be reached at tmoran@modbee.com or 578-2349.