York County Council authorized staff to begin contract negotiations under RFQ 30-19 for architectural and engineering design services for an expansion or new animal services facility.

Jim Britton, presenting for the county, said the project team will do due diligence on renovating the existing building versus constructing a new, county-owned facility. Britton described an approximate target size of 30,000 square feet and said design-bid schedules could lead to construction bids in late 2026, depending on site work. He reported receiving 13 architectural-submittals and a shortlist of four firms for interview.

Britton discussed cost pressures and offered a working range: he said a "5-foot" (building-only) development number could be roughly $12.5 million to $13.5 million, with total project development costs higher depending on utilities and site work. Several council members reiterated a $16 million target discussed in committee and asked staff to constrain design to meet the council’s budget expectations.

Council voted to authorize interviews and negotiations with shortlisted firms and to return with a recommendation in February, with a more complete recommendation expected in March. The authorization permits staff to finalize terms and continue due diligence; no construction contract was awarded at the meeting.

What’s next: Staff will complete interviews, negotiate a design contract, and report back with a recommendation for contract award and a refined budget and schedule.