By Sara Beth Williams–
Almost one year ago, the Citrus Heights City Council approved a pilot phase lease agreement with FieldHaven Feline Center, allowing the low cost spay and neuter clinic to occupy one of the buildings of the former Citrus Heights Preschool building on Old Auburn Road.
But today, it appears no remodeling efforts have begun, leaving the cat clinic in limbo and unable to move into the building they leased, according to animal rescuers familiar with the matter who regularly partner with FieldHaven Feline Center.
Part of the lease agreement required the city to remodel portions of the building before the cat clinic could move into the building. Animal rescuers allege the city has not done any work or removed any of the former preschool materials out of the building.
In response to a request regarding why interior work hasn’t begun on the building, the city said in a statement Tuesday that, “Work on the City’s portion of the renovations to support the FieldHaven clinic continues to move forward and is expected to be completed this fall.”
On a visit to the site Friday and Saturday, two large shipping containers and another dumpster were seen on the property. On Friday, no one was on site and available to speak to regarding whether remodeling has begun on the interior of the building.
FieldHaven Feline Center is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that currently operates in Lincoln, according to the nonprofit’s website. City staff said the center expressed interest in establishing a Citrus Heights location and submitted a proposal to lease a city-owned property at 7555 Old Auburn Rd.
Following the approval of the temporary 18-month lease at the cost of one dollar, FieldHaven representatives said the nonprofit was planning to invest in multiple pieces of equipment themselves and has also received some equipment donations.
FieldHaven had anticipated opening within the first quarter of 2026 after some minor tenant improvements were expected to be completed by the city.
In May, during the annual Big Day of Service, FieldHaven representatives and a host of volunteers came together to plant a memorial garden in the main yard. At the time, the FieldHaven director said she wanted to open in September of this year.
The feline center’s director did not respond to multiple phone calls in an attempt to request comment this week.
The Citrus Heights City Council and city staff met with FieldHaven Feline Center representatives in a closed session on Wednesday evening, Aug. 12, to discuss real property negotiations, including price, terms of payment or both. The City Council did not report anything following the closed session.
If the lease continues beyond the pilot phase of 18 months, FieldHaven would potentially have to pay $2,500 per month ($30,000 annually) for a three-year term. Additionally, the city will then receive 250 spay and neuter vouchers for cats annually.
At the end of August 2025, the City Council voted unanimously to move forward with the lease agreement and received a round of applause from a full audience of small animal rescue representatives, volunteer rescuers, and kitten fosterers, who lamented the high cost of spaying and neutering, saying the vet bills run in the hundreds and even up to $1,000 when accounting for the cost of spay or neuter surgery, micro-chipping, and vaccines combined.
While small nonprofit rescues and volunteer rescuers pleaded with the city to approve the lease agreement, local veterinary clinic managers and owners spoke out in opposition, questioning the legality of the process in which the lease was brought forth and asking the city to “put a pause” on the approval of the lease so that it could be revised. Some business representatives said there was contradicting language in the lease, while others said the lease lacked specifics about what residents would qualify for free or low-cost spay and neuter services.
Some community members and veterinarian representatives questioned why a Request for Proposal wasn’t issued. City Attorney Ryan Jones explained at last year’s meeting that the lease did not require an RFP because the project is not a public project requiring construction, and there’s enough public community benefit, that the proposed $1 lease amount is not a gift of public funds.
A second building on the same property was also part of the purchase and was planned to be utilized as an Animal Control Services temporary holding facility. Now that Animal Services is transitioning from the Citrus Heights Police Department to the General Services Department, the city said that project is also moving forward.
City staff are “actively working alongside the design team to finalize architectural plans and specifications,” city officials said, adding that the project is anticipated to be advertised for construction bids in the coming months.
