City Council pass a motion directing the city administrator to take the necessary steps to gift all or a portion of Wilson Park to the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter to construct a new shelter and a potential veterinary clinic with Rocky Vista University.

Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter (YVAS) has approached the city asking if we have land we are willing to gift them for a new shelter.  As a component of the new shelter, Rocky Vista University (RVU) plans to build a veterinary clinic to serve the community and complement Montana's first veterinary medicine college on the same site.  There are many details yet to be determined but before moving ahead, we need to understand the council's support to provide land for the project. 

If the council supports this idea, there are several formal steps and issues we will need to resolve including:
1.  City policy will be followed to dispose of city property including legal notice, posting on the property and holding a public hearing.
2.  A Land & Water Conservation Fund Recreation Grant was used to acquire Wilson Park.  Therefore, LWCF will also need to authorize the transfer.  We are working with LWCF to understand their requirements, which were understood to include replacing the gifted acreage with new public parkland or developing an undeveloped public property for outdoor recreation. 
3.  We are identifying potential sites and projects to meet the LWCF requirements and provide impactful improvements for city residents.   Some sites and projects under consideration include building a fines trail in the Heights connecting neighborhoods between Aronson and Constitution; the Stage Coach Trail; obtaining ownership of the trail network that connects Zimmerman Park to Indian Cliffs.
4.  Wilson Park is approximately 16 acres.  YVAS needs 3-5 acres and the RVU Clinic will need up to 3 acres.  We are assessing the best way to divide the property to meet the requested needs and also provide the neighborhood with usable parkland.  There are no park improvements on the site.  We primarily use the site to store snow in the winter and it holds a small tree nursery.  We believe a dog park is a great fit for this part of town, the site and would work well with YVAS.

Animal Arts completed a facility needs assessment for YVAS.  Their recommendations include building on a site with a minimum size of three to five acres, and more if additional future programs and/or partnerships are to be considered.

Below are some recommended qualities of a new site for Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter:

• In an area where YVAS can best serve its community.
• Not in a FEMA flood zone or plain.
• City utilities and three-phase power are available.
• Proper zoning designations and/or ability to rezone or achieve special use permits.
• In a safe area, easily accessible to visitors.
• Near a quiet area to allow for outdoor dog activities without disturbing neighbors.

City Council may:

• Approve; or,
• Not Approve

The next steps have limited costs primarily related to staff time.  In order to comply with LWCF requirements, improvements will need to be made to public land making it programmable for outdoor recreation or if they require the land to be replaced, land will need to be purchased or donated.  

City council is being asked to pass a motion directing the city administrator to pursue the necessary steps to gift approximately eight (8) acres of Wilson Park (~16 acres) to the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter to build a new shelter and veterinary clinic in a partnership with Rocky Vista University.