[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6309244,"mediaKeyId","2413648-3374f66780ce6db1c7d12154cb340c1b","parentId",2413648,"title","Advocates, council press for review of Flagler Humane Society contract and capacity","audioSeconds",1861,"startMs",761000,"endMs",2622000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2413648-3374f66780ce6db1c7d12154cb340c1b&start=761&end=2622","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2413648-3374f66780ce6db1c7d12154cb340c1b/thumbnail_761000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6309244/Palm-Coast-City/Flagler-County/Florida/Advocates-council-press-for-review-of-Flagler-Humane-Society-contract-and-capacity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309244-7d637f3507be6dbd998eb97555b685ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194704&Signature=V9KDRcTuwf3kAMCPtMC0NqZJ7ZsvDjWiyo6gJDMWSHXvdmAeWvDeokYLWS5mmY0dq0RR-MrFfx9DJSeIIdozxAXFv7P2AQ8T9fKlaHf6B13fnoRNnKe9VDemQoWo857hw1~uwUp1LwMHbh4WMuGVQ5xaAGpz-CZhyY2uJ0TwZFN-7lcI57dw4UvnYzECA0x6B9Lt8VQ8~t0dCgHtnCd6A74nuGNbKXGbs2Pn5~VhuXBK-N5L3IGEaKQMjxcd2J~lEKg0ZpD87GEUMSD6nlOTiT3sRQ-O5wpFDr~hFp8pQasKtmCRlcWdbkUCMtxwq9iv6N3Hos1W5HnGdb3n4XhQgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Palm Coast, FL","date","2025-02-25T18:48:55Z","article","Wendy Tramarci, a representative of Bridal Refuge Flagler, told the Palm Coast City Council on March 3 that Flagler County and local cities together spent roughly $416,000 in fiscal year 2024 on Flagler Humane Society and urged local governments to consider creating a second municipal animal shelter.

Tramarci said Flagler County contributed about $284,000, Palm Coast about $90,000, Bunnell roughly $26,000 and Flagler Beach about $16,000. She told the council her group visited municipal shelters in other counties and found widely varying kennel counts, staffing levels and operating budgets. “We are only 1 of 13 counties in Florida to not operate a municipal shelter out of 67,” she said.

The presentation argued the county’s current shelter capacity and governance expose the community to risk if the private shelter cannot—or chooses not—to continue operations. Tramarci told the council Flagler Humane Society (FHS) operates 56 kennels and, according to the presentation she delivered, showed staffing figures and operating-cost comparisons that she said point to inefficiencies. She also said municipal shelters the group visited reported annual operating budgets typically below the $6 million figure FHS cited in earlier discussions and that an average from the visits was about $2.5 million.

Council members and members of the public contested some of those claims at the meeting. A board member who identified herself as a FHS board member said the shelter employs veterinarians and medical staff on multiple days per week and that the figure of “40 employees” includes nine thrift-store staff and multiple part-time roles. John Reynolds, a FHS board member, said the shelter runs programs for aggressive dogs and other services that affect intake and outcomes. Several public speakers, including Caroline Johnson of SMART and other volunteers, described volunteer-run lost-pet and foster networks that they said reduce shelter intakes and costs.

Vice Mayor (name not given) and Council members said the presentation nonetheless raised questions about transparency, accountability and how tax dollars are being used. Councilman Gampero and Councilman Miller both said they want to see alternatives and clarified that FHS is a private entity the city cannot directly operate but that the city can seek other service providers or municipal options.

City Manager (name not given) told the council staff would review any redline contract text, work with county staff and the Humane Society, and return with information this summer because the contract currently on file runs through Sept. 30. The manager and council set a near-term timeline: staff will gather answers to council questions, meet with county partners and target a joint city–county meeting in April to discuss options and next steps. The city manager said staff would send the presentation and questions to the Humane Society so the group can respond and meet with its board.

No formal motion or vote on the contract occurred at the March 3 meeting. Instead, the council directed staff to compile clarifying information, seek responses from the Flagler Humane Society and schedule a joint meeting with the county in April. Staff also said they would return with budgetary impacts and alternatives to allow the council to consider whether to renew the contract when it expires on Sept. 30.

Supporters of the Humane Society and several residents also spoke in defense of FHS programs, citing spay/neuter, vet and foster programs and arguing that volunteer-led efforts and the shelter’s programs have reduced intake and euthanasia in recent years. Several speakers recommended working cooperatively to improve oversight and performance rather than ending the contract immediately.

The council’s next steps, as recorded at the meeting, were: (1) staff to collect and deliver requested data and clarifications from the presentation to the council and the Humane Society; (2) staff to coordinate with Flagler County for a joint city–county meeting targeting April; and (3) staff to identify “worst-case” alternatives should the council choose not to renew the contract when it expires Sept. 30. The city manager said any recommended changes could have budgetary effects and should be returned to council for consideration.

The presentation and the public exchange made the issues of shelter capacity, contract oversight and options for municipal or alternative sheltering a near-term item for the council’s work plan.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Business Meeting - February 25, 2025 Part 2 of 3","oneSentenceSummary","Wendy Tramarci, a representative of Bridal Refuge Flagler, told the Palm Coast City Council on March 3 that Flagler County and local cities together spent roughly $416,000 in fiscal year 2024 on Flagler Humane Society and urged local governments to consider creating a second municipal animal shelter.","taxTitle","Palm Coast City, Flagler County, Florida","taxId",3807,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6309239,"Flagler County presents airport zoning draft; council seeks answers on noise, safety and growth",4946,2711000,7657000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2413648-3374f66780ce6db1c7d12154cb340c1b&start=2711&end=7657","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2413648-3374f66780ce6db1c7d12154cb340c1b/thumbnail_2711000.jpg","/articles/6309239/Palm-Coast-City/Flagler-County/Florida/Flagler-County-presents-airport-zoning-draft-council-seeks-answers-on-noise-safety-and-growth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309239-77062e742f3a6fef8f40012c9922c1d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194704&Signature=PA80vs34b8KrLJjS7DSErqA1hsRA2DAFPLdUsH4fiT5U2P4bAfcmB-Bh8DwbmA1FL8dX0Ul9AzNoBKTwNNm19nN9WRMEsM0xmHLUeSwgHwuRxN8e9IMhXRI1grbMfnprDVOyZWHtkWfuivVb3EeJpHqTz~uSA2vXVA21gN6~OnCVMXqk~THwkOWkjUjyEr669m4ZSejm4nZDp-2hefEjnT4HujzgvIJlJuTwzNT06VyOC5Ym-lFkFhCeBPDyhARu8dKMJR74QHHAdH1nb175EXr7oyVBDFJt9zzxvHmLWeM8r9F3Up0bODmDt2vMZ9fNZ9Ce8cD5x9no9aMpUbNXOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Adam Mangle, Growth Management Director for Flagler County, briefed the Palm Coast City Council on March 3 about draft airport zoning regulations that the county is developing to comply with Florida Statutes chapter 333 and FDOT guidance.

Mangle said the statutes require local governments whose boundaries fall within airport hazard areas to adopt airport-protection zoning and procedures for permitting structures or other obstructions that could interfere with aircraft operations. “Airport zoning requirements are found in chapter 333 Florida Statutes,” he said during his presentation.

The county’s draft ordinance would create two mapped areas: an airport height-notification zone (a set of overlapping surfaces including horizontal and conical surfaces that trigger federal notice or permitting if an object or structure extends into them) and an airport overflight zone (which combines runway protection zones and noise contours and includes tighter limits on specified land uses). Mangle showed maps of the airport’s runways, the horizontal/conical/approach/transitional surfaces and the existing noise contours derived from an environmental assessment done as part of the runway extension.

Roy Seager, director of Flagler Executive Airport, told the council the airport will update noise contours as part of the upcoming airport master plan. “We will be doing an update to our noise contours in the upcoming airport master plan,” he said. County staff and airport officials said the master-plan update will begin in mid-2025 and will include a noise-contour update; that process can take many months and FAA review may follow.

Council members raised safety and quality-of-life concerns during lengthy questioning. Councilmember Pontier and others asked about the frequency of operations, the effect of touch-and-go training flights (multiple takeoffs and landings counted as separate operations) and whether unmanned tower hours increase safety risks. Seager and other county staff said the tower is a contract tower that is manned during daytime hours (the meeting record showed the tower is manned roughly 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and that radar and other situational-awareness systems for contract towers are handled by FAA funding streams outside local control. Seager said he has sought radar/systems funding from federal sources and noted FAA plans to deploy situation-awareness displays to contract towers.

Mangle said county staff had previously provided a draft ordinance to the FDOT aviation office and that the county intends to continue the adoption process this spring. The county outlined near-term steps: appoint an airport zoning commission, present the draft to the county planning and development board on March 11, aim for first reading of the ordinance on April 7 and second reading and adoption on April 21 (dates provided by county staff during the briefing and subject to scheduling). Mangle also said staff would answer council questions about parcel counts in each zone and other technical clarifications.

There was discussion about what would happen if future updates to the master plan or runway configuration expanded noise contours or runway-protection areas so that those mapped zones crossed into privately owned parcels. County staff said the draft ordinance addresses nonconforming uses and includes procedures for disclosure and handling of nonconformities; staff also noted avigation easements and past development agreements that included disclosure language for affected subdivisions.

No vote on an ordinance occurred at the March 3 council meeting; the briefing was informational. Council members asked the county to provide additional data (parcel breakdowns by surface zone, operations counts by manned/unmanned tower hours, and clarification of the timeline for the master-plan noise-contour update) and discussed possible options to address safety concerns, including exploring different tower-manning approaches, funding for situational-awareness systems and operational policies to reduce nighttime training flights.

","County staff briefed the Palm Coast City Council on a draft airport zoning ordinance required by Florida Statutes Chapter 333 and on airport surfaces, noise contours and the runway protection zones. Council members pressed for parcel counts, updated noise contours in the upcoming airport master plan, and information on tower manning and radar.","actionData","errors"]

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Advocates, council press for review of Flagler Humane Society contract and capacity

Flagler County presents airport zoning draft; council seeks answers on noise, safety and growth