The two facilities were approved by voters in November and total around $26 million in bond funds. City staff expects the release of the Request for Qualifications for the architectural work on the animal shelter Feb. 3, and the bid for construction services on the public safety facility in October.
How we got here
In 2023, City Council awarded a consultant contract to Quorum Architects, a Fort Worth-based architect firm, to complete a needs assessment for a new animal shelter, and approved a contract with Eikon Consulting Group for the design of a new public safety facility to be built in the southern portion of Cibolo near I-10.
The current animal shelter was constructed in 2009, serving a population of around 15,000 residents, according to agenda documents. Now that the city has more than doubled in population, the animal shelter cannot keep up with the needs of the community, requiring additional space for housing animals and services, city staff said.
The details
City growth has also led to the need for a fourth fire station and public safety facility, which will be located off I-10 in the southern portion of the city. This will be the first fire station in that area, and will house emergency medical and police services alongside the fire department, according to facility plans.
With this facility, emergency response times throughout the city should improve, according to agenda documents.
Bryan Hugghins, executive director of safety and infrastructure, said city staff had originally looked at the possibility of putting the animal shelter in the same location as the current shelter, which is located at 108 Cibolo Drive, Bldg. 3, but decided the area near the Cibolo Sports Complex would be a better suited location.
Hugghins said one of the concerns about the area near the sports complex was the potential for flooding. To mitigate this concern, the proposed property for the animal shelter is at the corner of Schaeffer Road and Haeckerville Road.
Looking ahead
The final architectural design for the facility is expected to be brought back to City Council in May, Hugghins said.
