What will they Build?
The People involved in #NothingFancyJustFunctional are concerned with the proposed plans for the new shelter as well as the lack of planning for the new shelter.
As of February 2020 it is not clear if the location and final building design for the project have been agreed upon. Because of this an accurate budget amount is unclear, making asking for funds from the Cities also difficult. Currently they are attempting to complete the project on a $6 million dollar budget. The proposed size and number of kennels available is currently less than the current space. Too few kennels and a location that does not allow for future expansion increases the chance of the Shelter returning to being a kill shelter.
Due to the long history of starts and stops on this project, the people involved in #NothingFancyJustFunctional are concerned the process of building the facility will be put off again and the facility that is eventually built will not meet the current needs of the existing shelter it replaces, much less meet the future needs of the shelter.
Pasco City Staff working on the project have been very open to the community feedback about the problems with the current design and the proposed location. Pasco City Staff continue to research these options and determine the cost associated with each to decide which are feasible within the historical $6 million dollar budget amount.
Changes to the current design are hoped for by #NothingFancyJustFunctional to accommodate more kennel space, as well as seeking alternative locations that will allow for more space to expand the new shelter as needed.
Below are of the most recent designs for the Shelter and the History of the Project:
The People involved in #NothingFancyJustFunctional are concerned with the proposed plans for the new shelter as well as the lack of planning for the new shelter.
As of February 2020 it is not clear if the location and final building design for the project have been agreed upon. Because of this an accurate budget amount is unclear, making asking for funds from the Cities also difficult. Currently they are attempting to complete the project on a $6 million dollar budget. The proposed size and number of kennels available is currently less than the current space. Too few kennels and a location that does not allow for future expansion increases the chance of the Shelter returning to being a kill shelter.
Due to the long history of starts and stops on this project, the people involved in #NothingFancyJustFunctional are concerned the process of building the facility will be put off again and the facility that is eventually built will not meet the current needs of the existing shelter it replaces, much less meet the future needs of the shelter.
Pasco City Staff working on the project have been very open to the community feedback about the problems with the current design and the proposed location. Pasco City Staff continue to research these options and determine the cost associated with each to decide which are feasible within the historical $6 million dollar budget amount.
Changes to the current design are hoped for by #NothingFancyJustFunctional to accommodate more kennel space, as well as seeking alternative locations that will allow for more space to expand the new shelter as needed.
Below are of the most recent designs for the Shelter and the History of the Project:
History
In 2009, prior to the recession, a feasibility study and preliminary design for a new 15,000 sq ft replacement animal control facility was completed by Shelter Planners of America. The study found that the current facility was in poor condition and too small for 2007 demand of approximately 2,200 dogs and 2,300 cats per year. The recommended replacement facility design would accommodate up to 3,060 dogs and 3,270 cats per year, more than twice 2014 animal intake of 1,337 dogs and 1,274 cats.
In 2015, Consultant Anne Pflug, completed an updated study regarding the replacement of the animal shelter. Ultimately this report recommended a smaller facility than what was suggested in 2009 based on a reduced demand for need, with no explanation for the reduced need. Possibly the suggested decrease in need was reflecting talks occurring at the time that Kennewick and Richland would leave the Interlocal Cooperative Agreement for Animal Control and Shelter needs. Following the Pflug White Paper, Shelter Planners of America reduced the size of the building significantly with a plan for a fully enclosed space recommendation of 7,982 square feet.
An Interlocal Cooperative Agreement between the City of Kennewick, City of Pasco and the City of Richland for the construction of an Animal Control Facility was established in December 2016. This agreement provides for termination by any party upon 30 days advance written notice. A request for qualifications (RFQ) was completed in mid-2017. Animal Shelter Planners of America and Meir Architecture and Engineering were chosen. This most recent report has the total space of the building at 10,132 sq ft.
In 2009, prior to the recession, a feasibility study and preliminary design for a new 15,000 sq ft replacement animal control facility was completed by Shelter Planners of America. The study found that the current facility was in poor condition and too small for 2007 demand of approximately 2,200 dogs and 2,300 cats per year. The recommended replacement facility design would accommodate up to 3,060 dogs and 3,270 cats per year, more than twice 2014 animal intake of 1,337 dogs and 1,274 cats.
In 2015, Consultant Anne Pflug, completed an updated study regarding the replacement of the animal shelter. Ultimately this report recommended a smaller facility than what was suggested in 2009 based on a reduced demand for need, with no explanation for the reduced need. Possibly the suggested decrease in need was reflecting talks occurring at the time that Kennewick and Richland would leave the Interlocal Cooperative Agreement for Animal Control and Shelter needs. Following the Pflug White Paper, Shelter Planners of America reduced the size of the building significantly with a plan for a fully enclosed space recommendation of 7,982 square feet.
An Interlocal Cooperative Agreement between the City of Kennewick, City of Pasco and the City of Richland for the construction of an Animal Control Facility was established in December 2016. This agreement provides for termination by any party upon 30 days advance written notice. A request for qualifications (RFQ) was completed in mid-2017. Animal Shelter Planners of America and Meir Architecture and Engineering were chosen. This most recent report has the total space of the building at 10,132 sq ft.
There are concerns that Richland and Kennewick, if pushed, will pull out of the regional Animal Control Authority agreement and instead try to provide animal control services and housing for homeless / lost animals on their own for each individual city. Most likely this would not be a positive outcome for the animals and concerns that those options may not include space for cats.
The following are some of the currently proposed locations:
Location on A Street (good visibility, close to old shelter site. No room to grow or expand, shared parking lot with little league.)
Former Bargreen Ellingston building in Pasco on 20th Ave (good building would just need remodeled, enough space for expansion, decent visibility. Residential area. May complicate dog walking a bit as it's mostly asphalt and sidewalk around there, no grass or parks, may be costly to install proper drainage.)
Mostly demolishing and rebuilding on the existing site (Current Shelter Staff favors this plan as the shelter and animal control can stay at the same address it has been at for years. Visibility and signage would need to be improved. Room for future expansion. Good natural area for walking dogs.)
A parcel of land near to Benton Franklin Humane Society in Kennewick, where they would construct a new building. (very poor visibility, expensive to purchase and to build on)
Location on A Street (good visibility, close to old shelter site. No room to grow or expand, shared parking lot with little league.)
Former Bargreen Ellingston building in Pasco on 20th Ave (good building would just need remodeled, enough space for expansion, decent visibility. Residential area. May complicate dog walking a bit as it's mostly asphalt and sidewalk around there, no grass or parks, may be costly to install proper drainage.)
Mostly demolishing and rebuilding on the existing site (Current Shelter Staff favors this plan as the shelter and animal control can stay at the same address it has been at for years. Visibility and signage would need to be improved. Room for future expansion. Good natural area for walking dogs.)
A parcel of land near to Benton Franklin Humane Society in Kennewick, where they would construct a new building. (very poor visibility, expensive to purchase and to build on)
People involved in #NothingFancyJustFunctional have reiterated to the the Cities that the location and look of the shelter are not really that important to us. What matters to us is that the shelter is built somewhere where it can be BIG enough and FUNCTIONAL enough to accommodate all the homeless and lost pets we love and fight for. #NothingFancyJustFunctional fears that if the shelter is not meeting the current capacity of animals in need that the shelter will be forced to euthanize animals it cannot rehome.
People involved in #NothingFancyJustFunctional have reiterated to the the Cities that the location and look of the shelter are not really that important to us. What matters to us is that the shelter is built somewhere where it can be BIG enough and FUNCTIONAL enough to accommodate all the homeless and lost pets we love and fight for. #NothingFancyJustFunctional fears that if the shelter is not meeting the current capacity of animals in need that the shelter will be forced to euthanize animals it cannot rehome.
We want to make life at TCAS easier and not more complicated.