Council approves Bear Creek Park at 110 Moccasin Mike Road as site for new animal shelter with condition to preserve park amenities

The City of Superior Common Council voted to use city-owned Bear Creek Park, at 110 Moccasin Mike Road, as the site for a proposed new animal shelter and directed staff to preserve existing park amenities as part of the project planning.

Mayor Hagan and Councilor Mick McKenzie summarized a multi-year search for a shelter site dating back to early discussions in 2003 and renewed efforts beginning in 2008. Councilors and members of the public described nine earlier candidate sites that were ruled out for reasons including size, contamination concerns, wetland or FAA constraints, lack of utilities, parking challenges or high cost. Councilors said the Bear Creek Park site met several criteria: city ownership, roughly 13 acres of parkland, utility access, suitable soils from recent borings and proximity (about two miles) to the Douglas County Humane Society.

Public commenters and representatives of Bridal Allies (the local shelter operator) voiced support for the Bear Creek location. Rick Saleshead, representing Bridal Allies, told the council the organization and its board “wholeheartedly support the Bear Creek site” and urged the council to select a site to move the capital campaign forward.

Staff described a preliminary siting concept. Public Works Director Katzmann said the likely placement would be near the park entrance on the Moccasin Mike Road/Highway 53 corner (northeast quadrant), with the building fronting the highway, utilities available, an access road into the site and circulation that would put mechanical and service areas toward the rear. Two soil borings conducted in February returned results described on the record as suitable for building. Jeff (Public Works) estimated that the building itself would occupy a small portion of the park (building footprints discussed in a 6,000–10,000 square-foot range), with parking likely occupying another quarter to a half acre; staff said the structure and related features would use only a portion of the 13 acres.

Councilor Tom Fennessy (newly sworn) expressed general support but asked that the council ensure the shelter would not reduce park amenities; Councilor Fennessy also asked whether the Parks and Recreation Commission had been consulted. City staff said the Parks and Recreation Commission is advisory, that the commission had been notified by letter and that scheduling an emergency commission meeting before the council decision was not practical because of member availability. Councilor Fennessy emphasized public concern about retaining playgrounds and ballfields; staff and councilors discussed the idea that any amenities displaced by construction should be relocated elsewhere on the park property.

A motion to approve Bear Creek Park as the site for the animal shelter was amended to include a contingency requiring no reduction in park amenities. The amendment passed (record shows one councilor opposed to the amendment). The main motion, as amended, then passed with no recorded opposition. Councilors asked staff to prepare and show a footprint illustrating the proposed shelter location and the relationship to existing amenities before the council’s next meeting so the public and council could visualize the final layout.

Council discussion noted dependencies and next steps: the project requires a site before architects and engineers can produce detailed designs; the capital campaign and potential county participation must be clarified; Bridal Allies, Douglas County Humane Society and local contractors have expressed interest in participating; and fundraising events are planned. Councilors and the mayor thanked volunteers and partner organizations for prior work on the issue and said selecting a site would allow the next phase—design and fundraising—to proceed.