Lewisville outlines $9.9 million plan to expand animal services with surgery upgrades and kennels

City staff presented details of a proposed $9,900,000 project to expand Lewisville’s animal services facility, describing the base bid as the surgical upgrades and new kennel capacity the city promised voters.

The presentation, delivered in the council’s workshop by Chris McGinn and project lead Chris Squadra, said the base scope covers a new surgical suite with pre-op and post-recovery areas and additional kennel space for dogs over 20 pounds. Squadra said, "the surgery upgrades and the new kennels…that price was $3,400,000 out of the 9.9," and that other work would be listed as alternates to keep the guaranteed base scope within budget.

Why it matters: the project is intended to increase live-release rates and reduce animal length-of-stay, but construction cost escalation and operational continuity during renovation were central concerns for council. Staff described a conservative budgeting approach that treats some scope items as alternates so the city can deliver the core surgical and kennel improvements even if market prices rise.

Details and procurement schedule Staff explained the city is assuming roughly 1.1% per month escalation in current cost estimates and is using alternates to protect the base scope. Squadra said the team spent months right-sizing scope and budget and that alternates (examples: expanded laundry, relocation of cat isolation/quarantine, additional staff workstations) could be added later if subcontractor pricing permits.

On schedule, staff proposed a CMAR (construction manager at-risk) procurement: advertise the CMAR RFQ, shortlist in February, receive proposals and hold interviews, and return to council with a CMAR preconstruction contract in April. Staff said using a CMAR will add estimating capacity and could reduce the apparent escalation when subcontractor pricing is obtained.

Operations during construction Staff and consultants told council that phased construction, close coordination with rescue partners and an expanded foster program would be used to keep shelter operations running. Chris McGinn emphasized coordination with rescues and volunteers and highlighted the hiring of a new animal services manager, Britney Holt, as a resource: "it's going to be a multi-pronged approach, pushing the foster program, working with rescues," staff said.

Budget breakdown and contingencies Project documents presented to council showed $3.4M allocated to the core surgery and kennel work and a remainder reserved as pre-construction contingency, construction contingency and escalation (staff cited about $2,750,000 for those combined reserves). The presentation also included a $200,000 allocation for public art within the base bid package.

Next steps Staff said they expect to return to council in mid-April to recommend a preconstruction contract and then proceed with subcontractor bidding in July. They recommended moving forward cautiously with alternates carried as options in subcontractor agreements so additions can be added later without redoing core construction documents.

Quotes from the meeting "We're looking at the overall project budget of $9,900,000," Chris McGinn told the council. Project lead Chris Squadra added, "the surgery upgrades and the new kennels…that price was $3,400,000 out of the 9.9." On operations, staff said, "it's going to be a multi-pronged approach, pushing the foster program, working with rescues."

What remains open Staff said structural and geotechnical details (foundations and piles) still must be refined in preconstruction; the team proposed to hold preconstruction contingency to absorb foundation adjustments. Council members also asked about long-term value of alternates and whether some items should be built now rather than later; staff said the CMAR process may produce more favorable pricing next spring.