BREAKING: Salina Commission Votes 5-0 to Move Forward With Prairie Paws on Animal Shelter

The Salina City Commission voted 5-0 Monday afternoon to move forward with Prairie Paws Animal Shelter’s proposal to operate the Salina Animal Shelter, advancing one of the most significant changes to the city’s animal services operation in years.

The unanimous vote allows City staff to begin negotiating a final operating agreement with Prairie Paws. It does not immediately transfer control of the shelter. Once negotiations are complete, the agreement is expected to return to commissioners for final approval.

Rempp Pushed for an RFP in July

Monday’s vote follows a process that gained momentum in July, when Commissioner Doug Rempp pushed the City to begin looking for an outside organization to operate the shelter.

During the July 13 City Commission meeting, Rempp made a motion directing staff to immediately begin a request for proposals. He said commissioners had repeatedly discussed problems involving Animal Services without reaching a long-term resolution.

That motion died for lack of a second.

Two weeks later, on July 27, commissioners voted 3-1 to direct City staff to develop an RFP for operation of the animal shelter, setting in motion the process that ultimately produced the Prairie Paws proposal considered Monday.

The idea of outside management had been discussed even earlier. In February, the Animal Control and Appeals Advisory Board recommended that the governing body consider using an independent contractor to operate Animal Services.

Discussion continued through the spring and summer as residents raised concerns involving shelter management, staffing, animal care, volunteer access and euthanasia procedures.

Rempp Reflects on Parks and Recreation Oversight

During Monday’s discussion, Rempp also addressed the shelter’s history under the Parks and Recreation Department and the departure of former Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Hammond.

Rempp said he believes Animal Services may never have been a good fit under Parks and Recreation.

“It’s unfortunate with everything that has happened to get to here, and it probably never, maybe should have been under Parks and Rec, wasn’t a good fit, and the director, I guess, perhaps paid the ultimate price, in losing his job or resigning from his position, maybe in part due to that pressure,” Rempp said. “But I’m glad to see it getting removed from Parks and Rec.”

Rempp also supported moving Animal Control under the Salina Police Department, saying residents who have needed help have at times viewed the service as less responsive than it should be.

“Animal control, as it has been, seems to a lot of the community that has needed help has been less than responsive,” Rempp said.

He said placing Animal Control under the Police Department could allow calls to be dispatched more quickly.

Under the proposed structure, the two functions would be separated: Prairie Paws would manage the shelter, while Animal Control would remain a City operation under the Police Department.

Prairie Paws Was the Only Bidder

The City issued its request for proposals in August seeking an outside organization to manage and operate the city-owned shelter. Proposals were due Sept. 10.

Prairie Paws was the only organization to submit a proposal, and City staff determined that the nonprofit met the requirements established in the RFP.

Prairie Paws currently operates animal shelter facilities in Ottawa, Manhattan and Emporia.

During Monday’s discussion, Mayor Mike Hoppock said he had recently seen Prairie Paws’ Ottawa facility while traveling through the area and complimented the property.

“I was driving east and went by your facility in Ottawa,” Hoppock said. “That’s a nice-looking facility. Did you guys build that, or was it already there?”

The comment led to additional discussion about Prairie Paws’ existing facilities and operations.

Salina311 previously spoke directly with Prairie Paws CEO Vanessa Cowie, who explained that selection by commissioners would begin contract negotiations rather than immediately transfer shelter operations.

Proposal Calls for $462,000 City Payment in 2027

Under the proposal presented to commissioners, the City would pay Prairie Paws $462,000 in 2027 to operate the shelter.

The proposal includes an initial one-year term followed by two potential one-year renewals, each carrying a 2% increase:

2027 — $462,0002028 — $471,2402029 — $480,664.80

Prairie Paws also proposed up to $16,000 in one-time transition expenses for computers, software, signage, uniforms, utility connections and other costs associated with taking over shelter operations.

Animal Control Would Stay With the City

While Prairie Paws would operate the shelter, the City would continue handling Animal Control and enforcement responsibilities.

City staff estimated continued Animal Control operations would cost approximately $352,000 annually.

When the Prairie Paws payment, City-operated Animal Control and transition expenses are combined, staff estimated the first-year net cost at approximately $830,000.

The City’s existing 2027 budget anticipated a net cost of approximately $858,117 for the combined City-run shelter and Animal Control operation.

That puts the estimated first-year difference at roughly $28,000, meaning the proposal represents primarily a change in how the shelter is managed rather than a major immediate reduction in City spending.

Current Employees Would Have to Apply

The transition could also bring changes for current Salina Animal Services employees.

Prairie Paws' proposal does not automatically transfer City shelter employees to the nonprofit. Instead, current employees would have an opportunity to apply for available Prairie Paws positions during the transition.

Hiring and training would take place before Prairie Paws assumes responsibility for shelter operations.

What Happens Next

Monday’s 5-0 vote is not the final contract vote.

City staff and Prairie Paws will now negotiate the specific terms of the operating agreement, including staffing, veterinary services, shelter responsibilities, transition requirements and performance expectations.

Once those negotiations are complete, the agreement is expected to return to the City Commission for another vote.

Until a final contract is approved and the transition occurs, the Salina Animal Shelter remains under City operation.

Monday’s unanimous vote marks a major step in a process that developed throughout the year — from early discussions about outside management, to Rempp’s unsuccessful July 13 push for an immediate RFP, to the Commission’s later decision to formally seek proposals — and now places the City on a path toward outside management of the shelter.