The League City City Council on Dec. 11 approved a $4.3 million construction contract for a new animal care and adoption center to replace the existing League City Animal Shelter. Council Member Nick Long was the sole member to vote against animal shelter contract. Council Member Hank Dugie was absent. “I do think it’s needed. … But I think it would be more appropriate … on a general obligation bond,” Long said. The new facility would be built at 755 W. Walker St., on a parcel east of the intersection of Walker and Cypress Pointe Drive. The single-story building will be 13,025 square feet, and construction will include green space and parking, according to a city memo.
The city received five proposals for construction, and Triad Retail Construction won with a bid of $4.3 million. Construction LTD proposed building for $5.2 million, and Construction Masters of Houston proposed $5.6 million, according to the memo. The $4.3 million cost is far lower than the original $7.5 million approved for the project. The council in August approved borrowing $11 million to afford a few main projects, including a new animal shelter. The existing animal shelter is overcrowded, prompting construction of a new facility. Overcrowding got so bad this summer that the shelter stopped taking in new strays and offered free pet adoptions for weeks.

In other business

The League City City Council on Dec. 11 also discussed the potential bond election to address drainage and traffic projects throughout the city. The city is facing about $250 million worth of projects, but officials realize that is too much to ask for at once. Instead, the city proposed three potential bonds:
  • $73 million on drainage projects and $72 million on traffic projects for a total of $145 million. This bond would be property tax rate-neutral if residents approved a 0.25 percent sales tax rate increase.
  • $73 million on drainage, $72 million on traffic and $24.5 million on building a new library for a total of $169.5 million. This also would be property tax rate-neutral if the sales tax increased.
  • $104 million on drainage, $88 million on traffic and $24.5 million on a new library for a total of $216.5 million. This option would increase property tax rate even with a 0.25 percent sales tax increase.
The council took no action on the bond but is expected to by Feb. 15. Residents can take a survey about the bond through Dec. 21. Residents could face a bond election as early as May.