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Board directs staff to keep LDA on animal shelter project, seeks faster timeline and financing plan
Summary
After a lengthy update, the Board of Supervisors authorized staff to negotiate a bid-and-construction-phase contract with LDA Partners for the county's animal shelter project, instructed staff to prepare bid documents, and to continue exploring financing options. Supervisors pressed the architect on timelines and costs.
Calaveras County supervisors on Tuesday authorized staff to negotiate a contract with LDA Partners for the bid and construction phases of the county’s new animal shelter, after months of design work and a detailed update from county staff.
Jamie Andriola, principal administrative analyst, told the board LDA — the firm that produced programming and conceptual design for the shelter — is regarded as a leading shelter architect and that changing firms now would risk delays, duplication and higher costs. “Continuing with the team that developed the design gives us the best chance to stay on track, keep things consistent, and avoid delays,” she said.
The board approved staff’s recommendation but repeatedly pressed for firm deadlines and tighter accountability. Supervisor Topanelli said the architectural work has taken more than a year since the conceptual stage and demanded that any new contract include enforceable completion dates. “If I’m gonna award them a contract here to go forward on it … I need to make sure that contract has a time frame in it that they’re held to,” Topanelli said.
Staff summarized the project budget and financing status: recent LDA estimates put hard construction costs at about $9.76 million for dog and cat facilities combined; total project costs including soft costs and contingency were estimated in the range of about $13 million. The auditor’s office is exploring financing options; staff said the project qualifies for iBank’s Infrastructure State Revolving Fund program, whose rates currently range in the low single digits to mid-single digits, and the county is also talking with public finance advisors.
Andriola said the project’s construction drawings had been submitted for third-party plan review and that staff expected updated review comments within two weeks; additional revisions might be required. She recommended negotiating construction-phase services with LDA — limited to preparing division 0/1 documents, finalizing the bid package and providing construction phase support — and returning to the board with negotiated contract terms and a request to advertise for bids.
Supporters of the project who attended the meeting urged the board to keep the schedule and not let costs rise further. Debbie (Gimme Shelter) and local volunteers said private fund-raising and community groups are ready to contribute, and urged timely action to avoid further delay.
What the board decided: staff was authorized to negotiate a contract with LDA for the bid and construction phases, to begin preparing the full bid package, and to continue work with the auditor’s office and outside finance advisors on financing options. The board asked that negotiated contracts contain clear timelines and deliverables and directed staff to return as soon as documents and financing allow advertising for construction bids.
Why it matters: The new shelter has been under development since 2022. Delays in construction documents and financing have slowed the project’s progress; supervisors said timelines and enforceable milestones now are essential to avoid further cost escalation and to secure grants or low-cost financing while eligible programs remain open.
