It's T.I.M.E. New animal welfare facilities could be on 2025 ballot
City of Stillwater staff update Council on the progress to build a much needed animal welfare facility with suggestions of an April 2025 bond election.
Stillwater City Council
At Monday’s City Council meeting, Dawn Dodson, the Director of Communications for the City of Stillwater, provided an update on the plan to construct a new animal welfare facility. To fund the project, Dodson informally proposed an election on April 1, 2025, to issue a general obligation bond.
- Why it matters: The existing facilities on South Main Street are in poor condition and have been deemed inadequate to meet the community’s needs for sheltering cats and dogs.
- Where: The new facilities will be situated near the Stilwater Regional Airport on Hargis Road. Airport Director, Kellie Reed, played a crucial role in collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration to secure approvals for the project, considering the airport’s proximity.
Dodson presented initial renderings of the new facility and explained that the design is based on a needs assessment that accommodates future growth.
Project history: Since the T.I.M.E. (Together Investing in Municipal Excellence) community research initiative began in 2021, addressing animal welfare needs has been a top priority for City leaders.
The initiative revealed that residents prioritized transportation projects, a new fire station, and new animal welfare facilities. To avoid overwhelming voters, City Council decided to ask taxpayers to support each project individually.
- In 2022, voters overwhelmingly approved a half-cent raise of the Transportation Sales Tax to a total of one cent. The additional tax was estimated to generate $8 million annually for streets, sidewalks, multi-use paths, and trails. In FY25, the tax is projected to raise $10 million. A few months later, voters approved a GO bond to construct a new Fire Station #2.
- In March 2024, City staff presented their initial plan for a new animal welfare facility, which would have been situated between a residential area and the northern tip of Boomer Lake. However, area residents expressed concerns about the potential impact of increased car traffic and the effect on local wildlife.
- Undeterred, City staff returned to Council in May 2024 with a revised proposal to locate the new animal welfare building near the airport. Recognizing the need for additional time to obtain FAA approval, the GO bond was not scheduled for an election.
The angle of the proposed facility is intentional. According to City staff, this design will facilitate better heating and cooling of the kennels and catteries.
What’s next: Dodson said staff would return to Council in January 2025 with a suggested bond amount that should be reasonable to taxpayers.
- Go deeper on the Animal Welfare Building T.I.M.E. Project on the city's website.
- Who pays? General Obligation Bonds in Stillwater are repaid through a voter-approved property tax.
👀 Watch the presentation on YouTube
Timestamped video to start at Animal Welfare presentation.
Members Discussion
