Saginaw debates Saturday hours and online registration as architects outline a $18.6M new shelter plan

The Saginaw City Council spent a substantial portion of its Feb. 26 meeting on animal services, weighing a temporary operational change to shelter hours while hearing a complete needs assessment for a new facility.

Operational hours: City staff explained a June decision to close the shelter to the public for a three‑hour Saturday block — historically the shelter’s least busy public window — to reduce overtime and give staff predictable breaks. "The shelter operates with 8 employees: 5 full time employees and 3 part time employees," Jose Wheeland, shelter manager, told council, describing staffing challenges and the seasonal loss of summer student help.

Staff emphasized that the shelter remains staffed seven days a week for animal care and that appointments and special events would continue. Council members raised concerns about access for working residents who rely on Saturday hours and asked staff to pursue online registration. The shelter manager and staff described a viable, low‑cost online registration option through ShelterPro for about $300 annually; staff advised the software could be activated quickly once merchant processing is established, and council directed staff to prioritize implementation with the goal of an October 1 rollout if feasible.

Needs assessment and conceptual design: Quorum Architects (Kim Doughty Hickman) presented a programmatic needs assessment and conceptual plan that reimagines the existing temporary shelter (about 3,060 sq ft) as a modern, single‑roof facility of roughly 15,000–15,500 sq ft. The proposed facility design emphasizes separation of animals (adoptable, stray, quarantine/isolation), substantial storage, an intake Sally Port, training/multiuse community space, commercial‑grade laundry and wash‑down systems, and HVAC sized for recommended air‑exchange rates in animal housing.

Kim Doughty Hickman summarized construction estimates for current cost assumptions: a 2025 construction estimate of roughly $14.5 million, escalation to about $16.3 million by 2027, and soft costs (design, testing, contingency) of roughly $2.3 million. That yields an all‑in estimated project cost in the consultant's briefing of about $18.6 million excluding land; staff indicated an available parcel price in negotiations near $750,000 would be an additional line item.

Council and public reaction: Several council members asked whether the larger footprint is necessary; architects said modern layouts (smaller, multiple rooms with indoor/outdoor runs) reduce disease spread and operating time and increase adoption outcomes. Community speakers — including former volunteers and the shelter advisory committee chair — urged approval and said a better facility would increase volunteer recruitment and adoptions. Joe Stout, chair of the advisory committee, told the council that an improved shelter brings better outcomes and volunteer support and urged timely voter consideration rather than protracted delays.

Budget and implementation questions: Council requested a Moscow‑style prioritization (must/have/want) for the proposed components, a lifecycle breakdown of capital and operating costs, and coordination with public works on plumbing and sanitary solutions (solids interceptor, grinder or pumped holding tank). Staff agreed to present follow‑up items to the advisory committee and to the council.

Next steps: Staff will return with a more detailed prioritization, options for phasing, the feasibility of online registration by October 1, and coordination with public works on utility and plumbing options; architects will provide additional cost‑and‑phasing materials for council review.