Plans for a new animal shelter in San Luis Obispo County are moving forward after the Board of Supervisors approved changes in order to bring two north county cities back on board.
Last year, the cities of Paso Robles and Atascadero pulled out of an agreement to pay for part of the $14.5 million shelter citing concerns over the cost. Instead, city leaders said they’d build their own shelter in the north county.
After encouragement from supervisors, city officials returned to the negotiation table in late 2017 and this week, the County Board of Supervisors passed an amendment to the shelter agreement changing some of the details of the original plans.
The amendment reduces the amount the cities would be charged for the project by $1 million. It also pledges to reduce the shelter’s operating costs an average of 5 percent annually for the first five years and shares governance of the shelter with the cities so the cities would be partners rather than customers.
The Paso Robles City Council approved the amendment at a meeting on Wednesday. The Atascadero City Council is expected to consider the amendment at a future meeting.
Previous coverage:
Plans underway for new SLO County animal shelter
Paso Robles, Atascadero to pull out of county animal shelter agreement
Paso Robles & Atascadero renegotiating SLO County animal shelter deal
