The Waxahachie City Council on Monday approved an ordinance authorizing $22.2 million in combination tax-and-revenue certificates of obligation for capital projects and agreed to amend the package to substitute $1.9 million slated for a mobile command center with funds for design, engineering or construction of an expanded or remodeled animal services center.

The vote followed public comment from local animal-rescue advocates and debate among councilmembers about whether the mobile command unit was an essential purchase. The council approved the bond ordinance and the $1.9 million substitution in a single recorded action.

Chad, a city staff member, described the bond package before the vote: “This action does approve an ordinance authorizing the issuance of certificates of obligation to fund various capital projects in the city's, capital improvement plan. The total bond issuance is $22,200,000 and it consists of streets, parks, public safety, and wastewater projects.” Chad added that the issuance would be funded “through the ad valorem tax rate and the wastewater utility fees,” and staff expected to sell the bonds within about two weeks with funds available in September.

Earlier during public comment, Matt Craig, a board member of the Ellis County Pet Coalition, urged support for expanded shelter capacity and offered the coalition’s assistance: “We’re here to help.” Craig described increased strain on local fosters and rescues since the SPCA left the county.

Council debate raised differing priorities. Councilman Smith said the mobile command unit was not essential: “I personally do not feel that, the mobile command center was a priority, was a want, not a need.” Other councilmembers said they supported funding public-safety equipment but accepted Smith’s amendment to reallocate $1.9 million to animal services.

A motion to amend the ordinance to remove $1,900,000 for a mobile command unit and substitute that amount for the animal services project was made on the record, seconded, and approved. Council did not provide a detailed project plan for the animal center during the meeting; several members said a clear plan should precede construction spending.

Chad told the council the overall $22.2 million package covered multiple categories and that the sale timeline would not delay planned projects elsewhere in the package.

The city did not provide a project design or timeline for the animal services center at the meeting; councilmembers asked staff to return with more specific plans and cost estimates before moving forward with construction-phase commitments.

The council’s action changes the capital plan’s allocation but stops short of design approval or construction contract awards. Staff said bond proceeds should be available in September and would be applied to projects consistent with the ordinance’s authorizations.

Notes: the ordinance approved did not include a numbered ordinance citation on the council floor; staff said the sale and closing procedures will follow typical certificate-of-obligation practice and be delegated to city staff per the ordinance’s procedural language.