Ames council prioritizes animal shelter in draft CIP; staff seeks consultant report on converting existing building, recommends rec center feasibility study

Ames City Council on Jan. 28 received public comment pressing for a new animal shelter and broader recreation options while staff said the capital improvements plan (CIP) now lists animal shelter relocation as the top near-term project and that a consultant report on converting an existing building is expected within about 30 days.

Why it matters: Council direction on the CIP will determine which large projects move into design, land purchase or bonding timelines. Staff said the animal shelter proposal could proceed faster if a conversion of an existing Dayton Avenue property proves feasible; if not, the city would pursue a purpose-built site with a longer timeline and likely a bond referendum.

Public commenters and volunteers emphasized animal-welfare, volunteer support and community benefits. Kevin Burke, president and CEO of DiscoverAIMS, urged the council to include a recreation center feasibility study in longer-range planning, citing lost visitor economic impact when Iowa State events cease and saying a larger facility able to host tournaments can improve operations through earned revenue. "A rec center is more than just a basketball facility," Burke said, adding it could include turf, courts and daycare and that a feasibility study would identify community needs and operating models.

Volunteers from the Ames animal shelter described current building deficiencies and argued those shortcomings affect both animals and people. "No PA system, no fire extinguishers. The tornado shelter is the hallway," said Kathy Parsons, a volunteer who said she once worked in building safety at Iowa State and emphasized concerns about public and animal safety in the existing shelter. Jennifer Hubbs, another long-term volunteer, said the current facility lacks sprinklers and adequate separation of stray and adoptable animals and urged against short-term "band-aid" fixes. She cited a 2024 resident satisfaction survey, saying 35% of respondents supported increased funding for animal shelter and control services.

What staff told the council: Paul (staff member) said the CIP (page 30) prioritizes animal shelter relocation as the number-one project and showed a funding approach staff is exploring: roughly $1,500,000 in private donations (about one-third of the project) with the city covering the remaining two-thirds. "I'm recommending the city put in about two thirds of the cost," Paul said, noting staff is working with a consultant to evaluate converting an existing 12,000-square-foot building on Dayton Avenue as a cost-effective option. "We're anticipating a report from the consultant on the existing...building for animal shelter in the next 30 days," Paul added.

If conversion proves infeasible, staff said the fallback is to design and build a purpose-built shelter on city-owned land east of the water plant; that route would likely require a bond referendum at a general election and add several years to the timeline. "The path has a lot of hurdles...timing is the biggest one," Paul said, noting bond referenda can only occur at certain elections.

On recreation: Staff said a rec-center feasibility study is in the manager's recommended budget (to be released the coming Friday). "I'm recommending $100,000 to do a feasibility study for a recreation center," Paul told council; staff said that study would assess program scope, operating costs and revenue options and return to council with findings.

Next steps and timing: Staff said the CIP will return for final decisions at the budget wrap-up session on Feb. 12 (staff later clarified second Tuesday is Feb. 11 for wrap up). If council supports moving forward quickly on the shelter, staff indicated there is a time-limited purchase option on a property and the city might need to exercise that option before full design is complete.

Discussion vs. decision: Council did not adopt a final CIP nor vote to purchase property at the Jan. 28 meeting. Staff direction and public input were the substantive outcomes: (1) staff prioritized animal shelter relocation in the CIP, (2) a consultant report on converting an existing building is expected within ~30 days, and (3) the manager included a recommended $100,000 feasibility study for a rec center in the upcoming budget materials.

Ending note: Council members thanked volunteers and staff and said they would consider public input and the staff reports as they finalize the CIP at the scheduled wrap-up session.