Artist's concept of proposed Pflugerville animal shelter, provided by Quorum architects[/caption]

A new, 28,800 square foot animal shelter complete with a vet clinic and police substation could be proposed to Pflugerville voters during a November bond election.

On July 14, city staff recommended $19.9 million for an animal shelter and an expanded scope for the Weiss Lane reconstruction project. In June, a bond committee appointed by City Council presented a $31.4 recommendation for bond consideration, according to city documents, including road and park projects.

City Manager Brandon Wade said the animal shelter and Weiss Lane are top priorities and should be the focus of the bond election.

"While all the proposed bond projects are essential, these two [projects] are the ones I recommend we move forward on now," Wade said. "The shelter is why we considered a bond, and now the high school location and new homes along Weiss Lane are creating roadway demands."

Proposed layout for Pflugerville animal shelter, provided by Quorum architects[/caption]

Pflugerville city staff recommended the largest and most comprehensive of several animal shelter options presented by architecture firm Quorum. The $10.6 million project would increase the capacity for holding dogs and cats, give shelter dogs more cage room and outside access and add storage and breakroom space for staff.

Funding for the Weiss Lane reconstruction project was approved by voters in 2014, but a 2015 bond item would add an additional $9.3 million to the project and turn Weiss into a four-lane road with medians, according to city documents.

“[Weiss Lane] is going to be the center of our community and the gateway,” Mayor Jeff Coleman said.  “Twenty years from now this will be smack dab in the middle of Pflugerville. So its going to be an interesting conversation to watch people [have].”

If called, this would be the second bond election in as many years after Pflugerville voters approved two bond measures worth more than $53 million last November, the largest in the city's history. The November bond package was aimed at improving roads and parks and recreation amenities throughout the city.

Coleman said City Council will likely announce the official bond election items on July 28, and that voters will decide whether the city should move forward with the Weiss Lane and animal shelter projects.