[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6476621,"mediaKeyId","5717995-12d8582278a7b07d41864956df57763b","parentId",5717995,"title","Escambia County animal welfare director urges new shelter to expand capacity, programs; board questions $34M price tag","audioSeconds",4218,"startMs",1185000,"endMs",5403000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5717995-12d8582278a7b07d41864956df57763b&start=1185&end=5403","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5717995-12d8582278a7b07d41864956df57763b/thumbnail_1185000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6476621/Escambia-County/Florida/Escambia-County-animal-welfare-director-urges-new-shelter-to-expand-capacity-programs-board-questions-34M-price-tag","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476621-4866316c7416da9e5e8e32ecdbf07849/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429578&Signature=BLTUtfujkmbOzwreh5hOmIwzc5Y6UjKt48fzbEsoRHNyTbwahGSS4CXL~7g7At4jKkRhCriirowYSclXQ6Ma~xj0YUWoecZevZ8hqTsDeIdSymc54K1vKL669mkrREEyzCIsAGV5eDqXgcjQU7JrFeLIA1letGZ0ekNRNdf9051LFER2zzHOJsqZfQz5d~TZNLTr~-AH4fZkglC3oDpSsLOIQbVqZWn8DbIKDJKStXtxfa8NDD8RAFiEFcMQ0jfjo~-keW374i0t1xGRXWf5e-1ixs0CDNd~zpQo7bVJVeP4xvM26xNZ5P0A1g2bWtGfL0ckI3cV7qbWqgSS-IIh0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Escambia County","date","2025-09-05T03:41:44Z","article","John Robinson, director of the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare, told the Community Redevelopment Agency on Sept. 4 that the county’s current shelter is outdated and that a new facility would increase capacity, improve animal care and support expanded community programs.

Robinson said the proposed design would raise functional dog kennel capacity from 105 to 168 and would provide expanded cat housing, clinical space for veterinarians and vet techs, separate intake and treatment rooms, pod-based housing to reduce cross-contamination and climate control throughout the building. “I think we’re probably overdue for a new facility that meets the needs of what we have in this community,” Robinson said.

The presentation described program goals beyond housing: a part-time veterinarian and vet tech (positions approved in the budget but not yet filled), low-cost spay/neuter services, expanded trap‑neuter‑return for community cats, a pet food pantry (Robinson said Jojo’s Paws helped about 2,400 families last year), volunteer and foster support space, a reentry training program for inmate crews, and a larger staging/storage area for disaster response equipment obtained through an MOU with the ASPCA.

Robinson said the Bacon Group feasibility study informed the kennel counts and layout and that the design emphasizes “fear‑free” animal movement and pod systems similar to modern shelter architecture to reduce disease spread and shorten animals’ length of stay. He told the board the current shelter frequently exceeds daily operational capacity (he estimated the shelter had around 298 animals in care at one point during the briefing) and described problems with the existing facility’s layout, lack of climate control and limited parking for staff and visitors.

Commissioners acknowledged the operational need but raised funding and scope concerns. Commissioner Berry called the price tag “shocking” and urged staff to reduce nonessential square footage while preserving critical animal‑care elements. “As we start looking at the footprint and we have to match what we can afford to the footprint, I don’t want to cut the kennel layout or the procedure rooms,” Berry said, but he asked to pare administrative and community‑meeting space if necessary. Commissioner May also urged a careful assessment of program areas and long‑term use.

On cost and financing, Robinson and county staff said earlier estimates ranged from the high $20 millions into the mid-$30 millions; Robinson said an initial number “right under $34,000,000,” while staff noted design choices and site selection could reduce that toward the high $20 millions. County staff indicated LOST reserves were a potential funding source and that procurement for design could begin “almost immediately.”

Board members asked several follow-ups: whether the county could secure municipal cost shares from Pensacola (staff said no formal city contribution currently but suggested there may be precedent for inter‑municipal agreements elsewhere), whether the facility footprint could shrink with a two‑story design, and how the county would staff expanded veterinary services (Robinson said recruiting shelter veterinarians is difficult and that the approved part‑time positions have not yet been hired). Robinson said a successful live‑outcome/transport coordinator could improve placement rates and reduce shelter population by moving animals into rescue and transport networks.

Robinson also flagged programmatic steps the agency plans to take before or independent of a new building, including continuing low‑cost spay/neuter partnerships, TNR target area work and expansion of the pet food pantry. He said the department will bring updated ordinance language and other materials back to the board before formal adoption; a full repeal-and-replace of the county animal ordinance is planned for a future meeting.

The board did not take a funding vote at the Sept. 4 meeting. Commissioners asked staff to continue refining design and cost estimates, to explore potential municipal contributions and contractual cost‑share options, and to return with timelines and staffing plans for veterinary hires and program implementation. Robinson said he would provide more detailed costing and the Bacon Group calculations that supported the kennel count.

A nodal takeaway from the discussion: board members support upgrading the shelter’s animal‑care functions but voiced clear interest in reducing project cost and square footage that do not directly affect clinical or housing capacity.

• Votes at this meeting: none on the shelter; procurement for design was described as actionable by staff but no formal board appropriation was taken.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Community Redevelopment Agency | Committee of the Whole Workshop | September 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","John Robinson, director of the Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare, presented a plan Sept. 4 to replace the county shelter with a climate‑controlled, pod‑based facility that would increase kennels from 105 to 168 and expand veterinary and program space.","taxTitle","Escambia County, Florida","taxId",12773,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6476613,"CRA approves consent agendas and three residential grant items unanimously",85,182000,267000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5717995-12d8582278a7b07d41864956df57763b&start=182&end=267","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5717995-12d8582278a7b07d41864956df57763b/thumbnail_182000.jpg","/articles/6476613/Escambia-County/Florida/CRA-approves-consent-agendas-and-three-residential-grant-items-unanimously","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476613-92fe06bc8e7eb88850052c044c6fcccf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429578&Signature=HVv5J1GgWwXhF0JhPu74qaOODe-sGUtVo0j8HHHFKo-1uZUK1CAwTz8gUz0SmcMT~pugYXqkK4aBU3c46zo5BtHauvdodKmRacosfy3XEjPpcApuXoVjlM01v8D99vYcV~~mdFns4v7jyh-IzkH6pdRBPBvHqjivvahFzyJKsiJNVshKysyuRrjS0qsrlVEH3GD-TTu4km0IXdnIdaobUDZKRd9p~2Sp3U-Gj~KknsaiG48vv2zNGipy7BiKJ7y-iiWCnV2BmpdwufvZIao-BP9~nUszQ~uHPi0pJzgsDU13LXxu94Ou~JbtiQPgGNZstVmznDiPlShSN9pLBrjrfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Escambia County Community Redevelopment Agency on Sept. 4 approved its consent agendas and three budget‑and‑finance consent items without recorded opposition.

Early in the meeting the board confirmed the meeting advertisement: staff said the CRA meeting was advertised in the Pensacola News Journal on Aug. 28, 2025.

The board moved and approved the technical and public service consent agenda (including approval of the Aug. 7, 2025 meeting minutes) by voice vote; the chair announced the motion passed unanimously.

Under the budget and finance consent agenda the board approved three related items: 1) a recommendation concerning residential improvement grant program funding and lien agreements; 2) a recommendation concerning cancellation of residential rehab grant program liens; and 3) a recommendation concerning residential roof program funding and lien agreement. A board member moved items 1 through 3, the motion was seconded and the chair announced the motion passed unanimously.

Outcome: All consent agenda motions on Sept. 4 were approved unanimously according to the meeting record. The meeting adjourned after the board’s regular business and the Shelter presentation and related items.

• Advertisement confirmed: Pensacola News Journal, Aug. 28, 2025.","At the Sept. 4 Escambia County Community Redevelopment Agency meeting the board approved the technical and public‑service consent agenda and three budget & finance consent agenda items related to residential improvement and roofing grants; minutes and advertisement of the meeting were also confirmed.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6476618,"Escambia CRA discusses reinstating septic‑to‑sewer connection grant for non‑homestead homeowners; commissioners ask staff for eligibility and take‑up analysis",906,252000,1158000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5717995-12d8582278a7b07d41864956df57763b&start=252&end=1158","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5717995-12d8582278a7b07d41864956df57763b/thumbnail_252000.jpg","/articles/6476618/Escambia-County/Florida/Escambia-CRA-discusses-reinstating-septictosewer-connection-grant-for-nonhomestead-homeowners-commissioners-ask-staff-for-eligibility-and-takeup-analysis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6476618-fa9c4310b4de8bf4f3642795a9501533/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429578&Signature=OhC6hOcXFCD3YkPoAplXrF6~LA6YmrOPL7iiDpZHtIoQfoOkrn9CAkPdR4y4KAncwTTPHjBsDHdzpf6y3Jgf4t0~tOpXIXCnMxFjM7j45uAVnDJJXczh44x0U3jB23hfUGwFMAxxnDWb23mSgXwQST49AgG7aFS7TcqOcGYc83D5zgcdvgDBKsx51IrpBBRftpyuiPZQCDCkZsGm54xROnIRGYbHnsQUdge7Kp0v39It2zzr65hzh~Wbztw6iF2Qhc~VfMIKD07TR8Ghq4BmKh2cc7ZQPMZ1rmkZQ53ANjF3Z8StR3bFH~MkghSzsKJDbf-QtP6Xeft3ia1nGEvewA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Sept. 4 meeting, the Escambia County Community Redevelopment Agency discussed reinstating a previously placed‑on‑hold septic‑to‑sewer connection grant targeted at non‑homesteaded homeowners in county redevelopment areas.

Staff told the board the program had been paused and that the county is currently using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) rehabilitation dollars for some connections, which triggers federal environmental review requirements. “We’re utilizing some of our community development block grant, rehab dollars for this,” a staff member said, and described a broad Tier 1 environmental review in place for a multi‑phase project off Gulf Beach Highway.

Commissioners raised three recurring concerns: 1) who is eligible and how many eligible homeowners have not connected; 2) affordability of plumbing/tap fees for lower‑income households; and 3) whether the county’s funds are being used to subsidize ECUA (Emerald Coast Utilities Authority) tap fees and developer‑paid impact/tap fees.

Commissioner May pressed for more data: “We got hundreds of thousands of dollars, and people are not connected. I just want to figure out why,” he said, asking staff to produce an analysis of how many homesteaded and non‑homesteaded parcels in the affected CRAs remain unconnected and to return to the next CRA meeting with that information. Staff said they can use the property appraiser’s data to identify homestead status and whether properties are held in trusts.

Staff said low‑income assistance is available through a NED program tied to income limits (staff indicated 80% of area median income as the likely threshold) and that the low‑income assistance pool “is hundreds of thousands” of dollars. Commissioners noted connection costs cited in the discussion — “people can’t afford $5,000, $6,000, $7,000 to tap in” — and asked whether ECUA will partner on outreach (mailers, QR codes) to notify homeowners of available assistance.

Board members referenced recent project outcomes when questioning effectiveness: staff said Lee Street work had included about $3,000,000 in county investment; 92 laterals were installed with only 21 currently connected. By contrast, Beach Haven had over 300 laterals and more than 200 connections, demonstrating variation by neighborhood and median income.

The board also discussed permitting authority for septic systems. There were differing statements on record during the meeting: one staff comment said septic permits are issued by the health department, and another correction stated the Department of Environmental Protection began issuing septic permits in January 2025. A staff member also referenced a state statute that, if sewer is available, requires hooking to the sewer and that DEP would not issue a septic permit in that circumstance.

Outcome: Commissioners asked staff to return to the next CRA meeting with a targeted analysis — including the number of eligible homeowners who remain unconnected by CRA area, homestead vs. non‑homestead counts, trust ownership flags, available low‑income funding totals, and recommendations for outreach and ECUA partnership. No formal appropriation or policy change was adopted at the Sept. 4 meeting.

• Votes at this meeting: none specific to the sewer grant; staff directed to report back.","The Community Redevelopment Agency discussed reinstating a previously paused septic‑to‑sewer grant for non‑homesteaded homeowners on Sept. 4; staff said environmental review and federal funding rules are factors and commissioners requested a breakdown of eligible properties and connection rates before further commitments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Escambia County animal welfare director urges new shelter to expand capacity, programs; board questions $34M price tag

CRA approves consent agendas and three residential grant items unanimously

Escambia CRA discusses reinstating septic‑to‑sewer connection grant for non‑homestead homeowners; commissioners ask staff for eligibility and take‑up analysis