Brittany Kelley
KYLE — Kyle City Council listened to an update regarding the Animal Care Center at its June 17 meeting.
Assistant City Manager Jesse Elizondo began the presentation of the Animal Shelter Feasibility Study by providing the history of the city’s need for the shelter.
In 2024, the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter announced that it would not be renewing its interlocal partnerships and only serve its citizens, rather than serving as the intake shelter for all of Hays County. So, Kyle City Council approved a contract with Jackson & Ryan Architects Jan. 7, 2025 to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study on developing a standalone facility for the city.
The first phase, consisting of a needs assessment, community input and operations and data analysis, was completed and presented to council April 1. The second phase, which was presented at this meeting, consists of site evaluation and an operational/ financial feasibility.
Six proposed sites were evaluated, according to Kim Hanchen of Jackson & Ryan Architects, with four on the east side of the city and two on the west. The presentation noted that key components that were considered when searched were: not in the flood zone, had access to nature and walking trails, were four to six acres, easily visible and accessible to the community and didn’t compete with other planned programs.
Of these, the second site, located off of Dacy Lane and Sunflower Circle, was considered most viable, as it is 39 acres in total, had connection to the Vybe Trail and was already city-owned.
The proposed site plan includes 7.3 acres, with a walking trail, a barn, parking and a 24,752 square-foot facility.
“We have taken into account a lot of stakeholder input that we’ve been receiving throughout the needs assessment process, as well as a lot of public input that we got during that process,” said Hanchen, regarding the building's layout. “At the scale we’re looking at here, we’re accounting for approximately 41 dogs — that does not account for quarantine or medical isolation — and 36 cats.”
There is also a planned separation between an intake entrance and an adoption entrance, with the latter providing a warm and happy experience for the public, while the former can have a calmer environment for harder conversations, she said. The “adoption corridor” would have a hallway between two separate adoption rooms, each with five dogs. This is because it provides enough room for visitors to move throughout the space without creating stress for the dogs. There would also be a meet-and-greet yard and a play yard in this space.
Additionally, community input resulted in a proposed space for a veterinary clinic.
“In looking at operational costs, I wanted to start briefly with the revenue. We’re looking at approximately $127,000 annual operational revenue, as well as a one time fundraising capacity, including naming rights, in various locations for the facility that could be $600,000 to $1 million,” said Hanchen.
Projected annual expenses include:
• $1,587,000 for staffing
• $107,000 for animal and medical supplies
• $225,000 for cleaning and utilities
• $147,000 for administrative and vehicles
• $400,000 in recovered costs for the San Marcos agreement
This would be an annual expense total of approximately $1,666,000.
Based on the findings for the needs assessment, Hanchen continued, building construction costs are estimated to be $400-$500 per square foot, totaling $9,900,000-$12,400,000.
According to Elizondo, the first two phases were the most intensive phases, so the final phase will only encompass June through August, containing the regulatory/legal compliance and conceptual designs.
The final report is expected to be presented to council in August or September, with the final design contract coming forward in September or October. The full design is estimated to be completed in 2026 and construction in 2027.
Council member Miguel Zuniga questioned what would happen if an animal is not adopted.
Hanchen stated that the capacity calculations are based on an average length of stay of 14 days, but this will vary dramatically depending on the dog: “The goal for the facility is to develop the programs and the staff and the operational capacity to be able to work with a number of those animals to get them to an adoptable phase.”
She also mentioned alternative solutions, such as partnerships. One of these potentially being Prevent A Litter (PALS), as Lauren Foye, a representative of the nonprofit, spoke during public comment.
“I know that there is some concern that there may not be services provided [in the shelter] … We are looking forward to being a part of this project and being able to provide those services to the citizens of Kyle and Hays County,” emphasized Foye. “PALS supports it and we can’t wait to be a part of all the new things that you guys are going to be doing in the future.”
“Thank y’all, to all of y’all, that put the work into this. We were in a crunch when we were told that we were going to be having to find a new home for our adoption center when San Marcos decided to go a different route. So, what I want to say is thank you to the staff for taking this seriously,” said council member Robert Rizo.
In addition to listening to the presentation, Kyle City Council also voted 5-2 to approve the relocation of the Live Oak tree on Stagecoach for $932,800, with council members Michael Tobias and Bear Heiser dissenting. This amount includes the prep work and aftercare of the tree.
Council also discussed the final design of the upcoming senior center, to be located at 1500 Dacy Lane. The six breakout room design, with no fixed walls, was unanimously approved.
To listen to the council meeting, visit bit.ly/442OOss. Kyle City Council will meet next July 1.
