Palm Coast City Council and the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners met Wednesday evening to discuss the future of animal control services and sheltering in the county. The meeting focused on whether Palm Coast could take over animal control duties currently handled by the Flagler Humane Society under contract with the county.
Current Animal Control Operations
Barbara Grossman, Palm Coast’s code enforcement manager, presented details about the city’s current animal control division. The city employs three full-time animal control officers and two administrative technicians, all certified through the state.
The officers handle a wide range of duties, including capturing stray animals, investigating cruelty cases, responding to emergencies, and managing cases that can range from single dog bites to situations involving nearly 100 animals in one location. Recently, officers dealt with a hoarding case involving 96 animals in a single house.
“We had 2,454 calls and cases since October,” Grossman reported, showing the high demand for services within Palm Coast’s 97.4 square miles.
The city currently licenses 5,665 dogs and 367 cats. Officers work in three-week rotation schedules for on-call duties, responding to emergencies around the clock.
Proposed Expansion to County Services
The discussion centered on Palm Coast potentially providing animal control services for unincorporated Flagler County’s 252 square miles. Initial proposals called for hiring two additional animal control officers and one administrative technician.
However, after reviewing intake numbers from the Flagler Humane Society, commissioners questioned whether two new officers were necessary. The data showed Palm Coast accounts for about 86% of animal intakes, while unincorporated county areas account for about 14%.
“Based on this, it doesn’t seem that two new animal control officers are needed,” said Commissioner Kim Carney. “I can see one more.”
The estimated startup costs for two officers, including vehicles, equipment, and benefits, would be approximately $150,000 in the first year, rising to over $160,000 by year five. Reducing to one officer would cut these costs roughly in half.
Shelter Capacity Concerns
While animal control staffing was the main agenda item, several speakers emphasized the need for additional shelter space. The Flagler Humane Society currently serves as the county’s only animal shelter.
“There is not one space opened up in over 20 years,” said Wendy Tari, a Flagler County resident. “The structure is really bad and very old-fashioned. And there is no money, no space, no anything to make it bigger.”
Mayor Mike Norris stressed that any animal control discussion must also address sheltering. “The biggest cost in standing up a facility is staffing,” he said, suggesting that partnerships with nonprofit organizations could help reduce costs.
Several community volunteers spoke about their willingness to help fund and build a new shelter, but emphasized they need a designated location before fundraising efforts can begin.
Other Municipal Involvement
The cities of Bunnell and Flagler Beach currently contract with the Humane Society for animal control services separately from the county. Commissioner Greg Hansen suggested including both cities in any countywide animal control system.
“I think the way to go is to have one animal control group because it takes a lot of money, a lot of training, a lot of capability,” Hansen said.
However, county staff reported that both city managers expressed satisfaction with their current service levels and are aware of the ongoing discussions.
Library Funding Discussion
The meeting also addressed potential cuts to library services at the Palm Coast branch due to budget constraints. The county plans to reduce hours and programming at the northern library when the new Nexus Center library opens in Bunnell in December.
City Councilman Ty Miller asked if there was “wiggle room” in the county budget to maintain current service levels, noting the Palm Coast library is heavily used. The estimated cost to maintain current services would be $180,000 to $190,000.
County officials explained that overall library hours would increase with the new facility, but some programming would shift to the Nexus Center. They committed to reviewing usage data three months after the new library opens and potentially adjusting staffing based on actual demand.
Airport Zoning Agreement
The boards also discussed finalizing an interlocal agreement regarding airport overlay zoning. Legal counsel confirmed that retroactive ordinances are not permitted under state law, requiring removal of language that would have applied rules back to 2016.
The agreement will include provisions for Palm Coast to provide input on any physical expansion of the airport or changes to noise contours that could affect city residents.
Next Steps
Both boards agreed to form a task force, including city and county staff, along with community volunteers, to develop specific plans for animal control expansion and potential shelter development.
The county currently spends about $300,000 annually on both animal control and sheltering services, while Palm Coast spends approximately $90,000 on shelter services alone. Officials noted that combining services could create efficiencies while improving response times across the county.
County staff will work with city officials to refine the animal control proposal, potentially reducing it to one additional officer based on the intake data presented. Both governments plan to include animal shelter development in their upcoming budget planning processes.
The meeting concluded with appreciation for community volunteers who work with local animal rescue organizations and support the city’s current animal control efforts.
The post Joint Workshop Between Palm Coast and Flagler County Discusses Animal Control and Shelter Services first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
