Exh 9AAGENDA ITEM 9A
FEBRUARY 10, 2003
STAFF REPORT
City of Atlantic Beach
Commission Meeting
AGENDA ITEM: Animal Control and Feral Animals
DATE: January 27, 2003
SUBMITTED BY: David E. Thompson, Chief of Police/DPS
BACKGROUND:
In the past, Atlantic Beach had an animal control officer who was licensed by the State of
Florida to trap and relocate nuisance, feral (undomesticated) animals. He obtained this
certification before coming to work as an animal control officer, and the licensing
permitted him to provide services for citizens having problems with nuisance, feral
animals. With this license, he could trap nuisance animals including raccoons, opossums,
and armadillos, and he could relocate them to woodlands away from civilization. This
individual is no longer employed with the City of Atlantic Beach.
Currently, there are two (2) Atlantic Beach animal control officers, and neither of them
have a state license for trapping and relocating feral animals. As a result, Atlantic Beach
animal control officers are not licensed to trap and relocate nuisance, feral animals.
The process for obtaining a "trapper" license is simple. However, the practical aspects
are more difficult to handle with existing resources. An application from the Florida Fish
and Game Commission will empower animal control officers to trap and relocate
nuisance animals. The most critical question is, "What do we do with the animals?"
There are three (3) options:
Relocate the animals to undeveloped, wooded areas
There is no place in Atlantic Beach where this is practical. This means that Atlantic
Beach will be required to identify appropriate areas outside of the city, and the City
will be required to obtain written permission from the landowners to deposit feral
animals onto their land. When animals are trapped, then the animals will be
- transported to acceptable locations where they may be released.
The most serious problem is locating people who own large tracts of woodlands who
would be willing agree to this arrangement. At the present time, we are not aware of
anyone willing to allow this relocation of animals onto their property.
AGENDA ITEM 9A
FEBRUARY 10, 2003
2. Destroy the Animals
If the animals cannot be relocated, then the animals will be destroyed. It is not
feasible to house the animals for more than a few days in Atlantic Beach, and there
are no facilities for "storing" these animals on a long-term basis. It is not acceptable
to adopt feral, possibly diseased animals to citizens. In the absence of other
alternatives, the animals will be destroyed. In addition to the distasteful nature of this
duty, this alternative is not as simple as it may appear.
Jacksonville will not accept nuisance, feral animals in their animal control facilities.
This means that Atlantic Beach will be required to destroy the animals that are
trapped in Atlantic Beach. Atlantic Beach does not have any facilities for euthanasia,
and it is unlawful to fire a gun in the city limits. The process and requirements for
"putting down" the animals could be costly, depending on the selected process.
3. Contract with a private pest control company to remove nuisance, feral animals.
There are private companies who assist citizens with these animals, for a fee. These
companies will identify problems, set traps, and remove nuisance, feral animals from
private property.
Jacksonville Animal Care and Control does not typically trap or relocate such
animals. If a private citizen calls in with a nuisance, feral animal problem, then the
citizen is referred to private businesses to resolve the problem at the owner's expense.
Atlantic Beach has communicated with two (2) companies who have made proposals
to pick up and dispose of nuisance, feral animals.
There are several alternatives relative to how such a system would work.
a. A citizen with a problem would be provided with a choice of pest control
companies and phone numbers. The citizen would contact any of the companies
and select one to assist, at the citizen's expense.
b. The City of Atlantic Beach would negotiate a price schedule, similar to the towing
services for cars, and refer citizens to companies that had agreed to the prices.
The citizen or the pest control company would trap the animals, and the pest
control company would pick up the animals and dispose of them at the citizen's
expense. The typical pick up of an animal would cost a citizen between $40-$50.
c. The City of Atlantic Beach could pick up a portion of or the entire expense of the
animal removal. The animal control officers would contact the pest control
company to pick up the animal(s), and the City would pay all or part of the cost of
the pest control company.
AGENDA ITEM 9A
FEBRUARY 10, 2003
In the last year that Atlantic Beach had two (2) fulltime animal control officers, they
relocated more than 500 feral animals. Before the City agrees to absorb the entire costs,
the costs for relocating feral animals could exceed $20,000 per year.
The time that was spent on the relocation of nuisance, feral animals in the past, would be
better spent dealing with the more prevalent problems in Atlantic Beach which are
problems with domestic animals.
Note: It is significant to recognize that many citizens do not support the relocation or
elimination of feral animals. The animals lived here before the people cleared the
wooded areas and eliminated the natural habitats. For every citizen who wants the feral
animals removed, there are others who prefer that the animals be left alone.
BUDGET: The budgetary impact is largely dependent on the direction from the City
Commission. Depending on the choices, these services may cost the City no additional
money, or the costs could exceed $20,000 per year.
RECOMMENDATIONS: NONE
ATTACHMENTS:
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER:
ITEM NUMBER: