During a July 30 meeting, the Kyle City Council voted to reevaluate an agreement with Hays County and the city of Buda to develop a regional animal shelter. The council previously voted to dedicate the planned development site, Kyle Vista Park, as exclusive parkland.
City staff presented the council with cost estimates for new project development plans on Sept. 24, including maintaining the regional partnership and developing a shelter for the city’s use only.
The gist
The Kyle City Council is considering two development options for a city-run animal shelter, according to agenda documents:
A regional shelter serving Kyle, Hays County and Buda at a site other than Kyle Vista Park
A standalone shelter serving only Kyle at a site other than Kyle Vista Park
A regional shelter would be approximately 31,000 square feet and cost $21.7 million to construct. A Kyle standalone facility would be approximately 20,000 square feet and cost $8 million to construct, according to agenda documents.
The regional shelter would require six to seven acres of land for the facility, while the standalone shelter would require four to five acres. Both paths would be funded through Certificates of Obligation or General Obligation Bonds, according to agenda documents.
The breakdown
If the city maintains its agreement with Hays County and the city of Buda, all three entities will share the costs of both construction and facility operations.
The shelter would take in more than three times the number of animals it would if it only served Kyle, and would cover 75% of Hays County, according to agenda documents. Kyle would maintain full management of the facility.
Looking ahead
The council will evaluate the two development paths after the Nov. 3 election.
“This is something that we need to move forward on,” said Kyle Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale. “The [political] positions that are now open are going to be vital to this program one way or another. We have two very different thoughts on that. I agree that what we need to do is wait until January but have the ball moving on everything else.”
