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Resident urges council to fast-track Farmers Branch animal-shelter expansion backed by private gift
Summary
A resident said a 2021 $1.5 million donation earmarked to expand the city's animal shelter should allow immediate work; she urged council to place the project on every agenda until completed and cited a needs assessment and concept design.
During the public-comment period on June 16, Christie Diamond urged the City Council to accelerate an expansion of the Farmers Branch animal shelter, saying a dedicated private gift and completed studies mean the project should not be delayed.
"Dorothy Holly left $1,500,000 as the sole purpose to expand the Farmers Branch animal shelter for her love of cats," Diamond said, adding that, with prudent investment, the donation's value "should exceed $2,000,000." She said a needs assessment and cost analysis are already complete and described a concept that would add roughly 1,000 square feet, expand the cat solarium, replace the roof and reconfigure space to increase cat capacity from about 30 to roughly 40.
Diamond asked the council to place the shelter expansion on each meeting agenda and continue discussing it "until it's completed this year" rather than allowing a multi-year delay; she cited ongoing capacity pressures and said euthanasia numbers remain a serious concern.
The presiding official and staff were asked to follow up after the meeting; no formal council action, funding appropriation or timeline was adopted during the June 16 session.
Why this matters: The request cites a named private donation and an asserted completed needs assessment, which, if accurate, could allow the city to advance a targeted expansion with limited additional capital. Council follow-up and a detailed scope, updated cost estimates and procurement plan will be needed before a contract or construction can proceed.
