After budget disagreements earlier this year, the city of Davenport is moving to handle animal control and sheltering itself. Until a new shelter can be built, the city is entering into one more agreement with the Humane Society of Scott County.
During Wednesday’s committee of the whole meeting on June 3rd, council members considered an agreement to provide animal control services for up to one year at a cost of $20,000 per month or $240,000 for the year. Another section of the agreement states that the nonprofit will continue to provide shelter for up to three years, at a cost of $80,000 per month, or $960,000 per year.
“That means that the city has up to a year to stand up internal animal control and up to three years to design and build the facility on Pine Street,” Assistant City Administrator Teagan Trees said to the council. The city would pay $950,000 to purchase three parcels of land near West 49th Street, including 5002 North Pine St., 4922 North Pine St and a final parcel which does not have an address.
According to a city cover sheet regarding the land sale, it states, “A Special Use review will be needed if this property is acquired, once more detailed plans are available. City staff will be seeking architectural services to develop a plan to upfit the primary building for animal sheltering purposes. There are other buildings on the site that may be retrofitted later or demolished once final needs are determined.” The costs will be covered by the 2027 General Obligation Bonds.
Separately, the council will consider a contract with the Humane Society of Scott County for Trap-Neuter-Return services.
“So the past council passed in December an ordinance allowing community cats as a population control measure,” Trees said. “The city issued an RFP for a partner organization to administer that program. We are still working on a contract with the winning bidder, which is the Humane Society of Scott County, to define reporting and reimbursement requirements. The funding is not to exceed $250,000. This amount was based on the proposal we received. And we'll cover spay and neuter costs as well as the other requirements of the ordinance for up to 40 cats per week, which works out to around 2,000 cats per year. This program ultimately means fewer cats outside, fewer cats in shelter, and long-term operational savings for whoever is operating that shelter.”
The $250,000 comes from interest earned on American Rescue Plan Act funding.
At-Large Alderman Kyle Gripp says the agreement and contract would total over $1.3 million and that he is concerned this does not control costs.
“We're talking about controlling costs and saving money by taking over this operation. But we're not going to do that if we're committed to $1.3 million,” Alderman Gripp said.
“So you have operational costs, you're trying to control, addressing the overpopulation problem,” Trees said. “So eventually, if we turn this lever hard enough, there won't be as many. So there won't be the same funding needed. So to answer the question about do I anticipate another $250,000 next year? No. Do we potentially want to continue the program after the first year? Yes.”
The city is set to vote on the agreement, contract, and land sale at next week’s meeting, June 10th.
