Pflugerville leaders vote for road and parks bonds, against animal shelter bond

Coleman said the city's growth would require improvements, including more dog and cat cages, for the animal shelter. He also said staff offices at the shelter are inadequate.

"We have no plan," Coleman said regarding the potential use of bond money for a new animal shelter. "I wish I could say we had a plan. I wish I could say we are ready to take this to the voters. We are not."

The city has more than $1 million in its general capital reserve, Coleman said. The City Council could advise city staff to move $ 1 million into the city's general fund for use at the shelter and the work could begin in short order, he said.

Marshall echoed Coleman and said the animal shelter bond resolution was "vastly under-planned." He asked the citizens to give the council more time to plan and potentially call another bond election in the future.

Numerous citizens spoke in favor approving a bond measure for a new animal shelter, which could be located near Lake Pflugerville.

Gonzales said the council should own responsibility for not having worked to improve the facility in the past and plan the bond properly. He added that animals are living members of the community.

"[The animal shelter] is a functional part of this community," Gonzales said. "The animal shelter has always taken a back seat and continues to take a back seat."

Sattler also voted in favor of the animal shelter bond.

"I'm afraid it will get put on the back burner again, like it has in the past," Sattler said. "The citizens and the taxpayers have the right to decide."

The two bond measures to be on the Nov. 4 ballot are $28 million for transportation improvements and $25 million for parks and recreation projects, including a new sports complex.

The property tax rate affect the bonds would have, if approved by voters, was not immediately available.

Transportation Projects ($28 million)

• Pecan Street ($1.67 million)
• Pflugerville Parkway ($4.44 million)
• Weiss Lane ($3.77 million)
• Rowe Lane ($1.3 million)
• Heatherwilde Boulevard ($8.3 million)
• Pfennig Lane ($2.27 million)
• Local street improvements – Cactus Blossom Drive, Columbine Street, Ardisia Drive, Simsbrook Drive and Dashwood Creek Drive ($2.52 million)
• Local street improvement – Blackthorn Drive, Thackeray Lane, Gravesend Road, Isle of Man Road and Gower Street ($2.5 million)

Parks and Recreation Projects ($25 million)

• Trails ($1 million)
• Sports complex ($11.27 million)
• Lake Pflugerville master plan implementation ($8 million)
• Undeveloped park improvements ($4 million)