Community Affairs Committee advances mayor’s IACS appointments after director’s shelter update

The Indianapolis City Council Community Affairs Committee voted to send two mayoral appointments to the full council with a “do pass” recommendation after hearing a presentation on shelter operations and plans for a new facility.

Kelly Diamond, director of Indianapolis Animal Care Services, described 2024 as a year of both challenges and organizational changes and outlined priorities for 2025 including finishing the department transition to an independent agency and preparing to move into a new shelter. “At the heart of our work is a commitment to animals,” Diamond said, noting that “87 percent of the cats and dogs that entered our doors left with a positive outcome,” meaning adoption, reclaim by owners, or transfer to rescue partners.

The committee’s action moves both proposals — Proposal 5, the mayor’s appointment of Diamond as director, and Proposal 6, the appointment of Danielle Hines to the Animal Care Services Board — to the full council for final confirmation.

Diamond told the committee the shelter broke ground on a new facility at 5001 East Raymond Street earlier this year and expects to move into the…