Council approves shelter renovations

The City Council unanimously approved on Tuesday plans to renovate the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter.

The project was recommended by the Planning Commission, with no opposition. It was appealed only as a matter of policy when the city is the applicant, affording the council an opportunity to review the plans for the two-phase project, which could be constructed separately or consolidated, depending on bids and funding.

“We are hoping for a complete remodel,” shelter volunteer Elizabeth Bauer said. “Plans are being drawn so you can split the project, but we favor a one-phase restoration.”

Phase 1 of the renovation includes a 272-square-foot addition and reconfiguration of the entry, administration area and the cat kennel.

The addition creates a more efficient layout by uniting the staff office and the volunteers’ area, where the public is assisted. It also makes the cat kennel more visible and accessible.

Under-floor plumbing needs to be replaced.

Concrete floors will be removed, new radiant heating will be installed, augmented by solar power.

Dog and infirmary kennels, the restroom and grooming, food preparation, and laundry areas will be completely renovated

The 913-square-foot rear portion of the building, which serves as the quarantine area, is proposed to be reconstructed in Phase 2.

The wooden roof and floors are rotted, the kennels sit on asphalt paving and the area has no heating, rendering it unusable in winter months.

Plans are to demolish the structure and reconstruct it with heated, concrete floors, masonry walls and floor drains.

“Originally, the project include creek restoration, but that was postponed because of environmental constraints and the costs,” said Wade Brown, city project manager.

The Laguna Creek runs between the building and the parking lot access to the facility by a bridge.

The creek has eroded its banks and edged closer to the facility over the 60 years since the building was constructed by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and operated by it until the city acquired it in the late 1970s.

But the creek may have stabilized in recent years, City Manager Ken Frank said.

The parking lot does not appear to be losing more ground, and the bridge is still intact.

The City Council upheld the Planning Commission approval, directed staff to move the project along and transferred $500,000 from the Laguna Creek restoration appropriation to the Animal Shelter renovation and stash the creek restoration in the city’s Capital Improvement Program for future years.

Preliminary costs for the entire building project, including design, temporary facilities for the animals during construction and relocation costs, construction and a contingency fund, range from $1.4 million to $1.8 million.

The capital improvement fund has $900,000 earmarked for the shelter renovation, about $800,000 of which was expected to be donated, but only $587,000 was realized, hence the transfer from the creek fund.

“We are hoping for affordable bids to build it all at once, but we could split it and bring [Phase 2] back at later date,” Brown said.

The three members of the council who voted on the project — Council members Jane Egly and Kelly Boyd were absent — tacked on to the action that they approved the council’s desire to complete both projects while keeping an eye on the creek.