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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: