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Time Set # 24.
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| Board of Supervisors |
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| Subject |
| Receive an update on the status of the new Yolo County Animal Shelter. (No general fund impact) (Blacklock) |
| Recommended Action |
| Receive an update on the status of the new Yolo County Animal Shelter. |
| Strategic Plan Goal(s) |
Operational Excellence
Thriving Residents
Safe Communities
Sustainable Environment |
| Reason for Recommended Action/Background |
As shared at a the April 26, 2016 Board of Supervisor meeting, the Jacobs Strategic Space Utilization Study (January 2015) determined that the current Yolo County Animal Shelter site is inadequate to address the County's existing needs as well as any growth. An exploratory committee was formed at the request of a recently developed 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Unleashing the Possibilities, and now includes representation from the County, the four cities within the County, the Yolo SPCA, and the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program. Since the formation of this committee, a variety of activities have occurred and are described in more detail below.
In April 2016, the Board funded development of a conceptual architectural drawing for a new animal services facility. The intent was to work collaboratively with the aforementioned group to complete this conceptual plan so that Unleashing the Possibilities could utilize the plan for fundraising. Additionally, the architects would work with the community, shared service partners, and Board of Supervisors to better assess whether to proceed with development of a new facility. With this approval, the County contracted with a leading California animal shelter architect, Indigo, Hammond & Playle Architects, LLP of Davis, California, to produce a needs assessment and conceptual drawings for a new Yolo County Animal Shelter. Indigo, in partnership with the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, conducted the scoped needs assessment to ensure adequate medical, quarantine, adoption and community space are identified, and develop potential construction and operating costs of a new facility. This assessment and supporting documentation was subsequently peer reviewed in September 2016 by the firm Animal Arts of Boulder of Colorado to ensure the proposed programming documents for the construction of the new shelter met current recommended animal shelter best practices while bringing the best value and the best outcomes for the dollars spent. Animal Arts concluded “(Our) overall impression of the documents is that they are complete and well executed” and shared minor questions and suggestions which were systematically addressed by Indigo and supported by the overall exploratory committee at the October meeting of this group.
Since October, the exploratory committee has met two additional times, with the primary focus on establishing site options and developing financing plan scenarios for both construction and operations/maintenance costs. Concurrently, in order to better support the fundraising activities of Unleashing the Possibilities, a conceptual site plan and artist’s rendering of the proposed shelter has been prepared by Indigo (see attached).
As described in the attached presentation developed by Indigo, the new animal facility will be developed using best practices, with a primary goal of promoting successful adoptions. The shelter aims to be accessible and visible to the public, easily maintained, efficient and cost effective, and financially sustainable. Care has been taken to design a facility that is the right size for the need in Yolo County. Options for a phasable facility are also being considered in order to work within initial established budget. Finally, the development of private/public partnerships will be important to the success of the funding and staffing of this facility. The following best practices and energy/sustainability features are being considered as part of the facility design.
Best Practices for Animal Care
- Separation of species to minimize stress
- Separate quarantine & isolation wards
- Indoor/outdoor kennels
- Double sided housing
- Acoustic control in all kennels
- Daylighting and natural ventilation to all animal areas
Energy & Sustainability Features
- Narrow, south facing roofs for optimized daylighting & ventilation
- Roof mounted photovoltaics allow for zero-net energy status
- Reduced water use with low flow fixtures and efficient cleaning systems
- Rainwater & greywater harvesting systems for landscape irrigation
- High efficiency mechanical systems
- All LED light fixtures with daylight controls
With this Board’s support, the next steps include gathering stakeholder input on the conceptual shelter plan through City Council meetings and a community forum, developing refined capital and operational cost projections, returning to the City Councils and Board to determine if and how to proceed to actual site acquisition, and ultimately construction of a new facility. |
| Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies) |
| The exploratory committee includes the County Administrator's Office, Sheriff's Office, Yolo County Animal Services, the Cities, Yolo SPCA, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program and Unleashing the Possibilities nonprofit organization, formed with support from the Rosenberg family. |
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