Copperas Cove city council to provide direction for animal shelter bond election
By BRITTANY FHOLER
Cove Leader-Press
The Copperas Cove City Council will be providing direction on procedures for a bond election for a new Animal Shelter/Animal Control facility during its regular meeting this evening.
The city council had previously agreed to funding the animal shelter project through certificates of obligation, but in a recent meeting, changed direction due to the nearly $5 million price tag associated with the construction of a new facility.
A need assessment completed in 2017 showed the current facility is inadequate for expansion and provided pricing options for both indoor and outdoor facilities that were higher than anticipated. Brevard Architecture was contracted in 2020 to provide preliminary design and cost analysis and produced plans for a facility under $5 million.
Three sites were identified as a possible location, two of which were not considered acceptable based on needs, with the final one left being on F.M. 1113 next to Fire Station 2.
With the direction to send the issue to the voters, the animal shelter will be decided on through a general bond of obligation election.
Council will need to decide when to place the item on the ballot in November 2021 or in 2022.
There will also be a public hearing for public comment regarding revisions to the city’s animal ordinance. Last year, the City Attorney recommended changing the term “Animals” to the term “Dogs” in the Dangerous Animals section. The attorney also recommended removing the ability to declare an animal as dangerous for an attack on another domesticated animal, changes which mirror the Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822.
Later on in the regular meeting, the council will then take action on amending the ordinance.
The council will also take action on the reappointment of Rachel Baker to Position 1 of the Quality of Life Advisory Board for a term beginning May 21, 2021 and ending May 21, 2023.
During the workshop meeting, the city council will hear an update from the city’s new Utility Administration Manager Jo Ann Perez regarding the Utility Administration Donation Program.
The workshop meeting will begin at 5 p.m. and the regular meeting will begin at 6 p.m. or 10 minutes after the workshop meeting concludes.
In-person attendance is permitted in the Council Chambers, 508 S. 2nd Street. The public may also participate in these meetings via Zoom by calling 888-475-4499, using meeting ID 9866029818 and passcode 2545474221. The public may offer comments via phone as provided by the agenda and as permitted by the presiding officer during the meetings.
Written questions or comments may also be submitted up to two hours before the meeting via email to Lisa Wilson, City Secretary at lwilson@copperascovetx.gov.