By Edmond Ortiz
The city of Boerne is partnering with a Kansas City-based architectural company on separate projects that will yield a new municipal animal shelter and a new police dispatch area.
New animal shelter
Boerne City Council on Feb. 24 passed consent agenda items covering the two projects. Council authorized city staff to execute a $47,500 architectural services contract with Hoefer Welker, who will provide conceptual designs for a new animal shelter.
According to city officials, Hoefer Welker will explore sustainable practices to extend the longevity of the new animal shelter. The current shelter is operational at 330 S. Esser Road.
The architects will also work with current shelter staff to determine the final scope and size of the new facility, including land requirements with an eye toward future structural expansion.
The architects pledged to design an animal shelter that will accommodate the needs of Boerne’s current population of 24,000, which is expected to reach 30,000 in a few years.
The new Boerne animal shelter will also be designed to serve the needs of Fair Oaks Ranch, which has a population of more than 11,000.
The new facility will also have a cold storage and freezer section, and areas where staff can help animals with immediate medical needs, and those found to have rabies.
Police dispatch
The other approved consent agenda item authorized city management to execute an architectural services pact with Hoefer Welker to design a new police department dispatch area at a cost of $51,500.
The city is using a design-bid-build approach with the police dispatch center. There is no firm deadline for completing either the police dispatch area or an animal shelter.
Boerne city officials are working with a Kansas City-based architectural firm to design separate projects that will produce a new city animal shelter and a new police department dispatch area. (Photo by Edmond Ortiz)
