The city of Austin is finally going forward with a new city animal shelter.

The Austin City Council approved a $20,000 land purchase at its public meeting Monday, just south of the Mower County Humane Society’s shelter at 22nd Street Southeast. It also increased the city’s animal shelter budget by $10,000 for more awning space for outside dog pens.

In addition, the council will soon look to award a bid to The Joseph Company to build the shelter, which could be completed this fall.

City officials bid the project out earlier this year, though they’ve planned for the project for some time. The city set aside about $370,000 in 2011 to build a new shelter. They have also worked with the local humane society in recent years to find space where a city shelter and the humane society could be built, to increase efficiencies.

The humane society finished its 9,000 square foot shelter last year and moved into the new facility last August. City officials now hope to finish the project this year.

The council discussed the issue at its March 17 meeting, opting to add $10,000 to the shelter budget to pay for more roof space outside so dogs in outdoor pens could have more shelter.

“If we’re going to do this, let’s do it right,” Council Member Roger Boughton said at the March 17 meeting.

Public Works Director Steven Lang said the council will likely approve the bid to The Joseph Company, which at $265,000 was the lowest bidder on the project, next month after the city completes its land purchase.

“We want to make sure we have the land to build on before we authorize the construction,” he said.

The current city animal shelter has been in use for more than 40 years and lacks proper space for animals, among other issues.