City of Fort Pierce Minutes of a Regular Meeting

Regular Postponed Meeting February 22, 2011
PIERCE, FLORIDA; DELETING SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO THE CHIEF OF
POLICE BEING SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THE COLLECTION OF
LICENSE TAXES AND CERTAIN ANIMAL CONTROL FUNCTIONS; PROVIDING
FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND SEVERABILITY; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE." was placed on first reading
and read by title only.
Chief of Police Sean Baldwin, Fort Pierce Police Department,
said this ordinance proposes that they remove certain sections
of the code that put the Chief in charge of animal control, so
that administratively they can transfer that function to Code
Enforcement. It is an administrative issue; it won't impact
services that are provided to the community and he believes it
will actually enhance the services. Right now the way Animal
Control is positioned, it is having to compete in the Police
Department with the priority for crime control; and with Animal
Control being a priority for the City, he does not think it is
doing it justice. In his conversations with the City Manager
and Peggy Arraiz (Code Compliance Manager), they all agree that
Animal Control is better suited in Code Enforcement, given the
circumstances. This is bittersweet for him. He is so proud of
the success the Police Department has had over the last couple
of years - working with the Commission and changing the
ordinance, reducing the cost of animal control, providing animal
control services by hundreds of thousands of dollars, they have
well over 1,000 animal registered now, where before they had
very few animals registered, they are seeing more and more
animals being spayed and neutered, which was the whole point of
their animal control program. So they are saving money, saving
lives, reducing unwanted litters of puppies and kittens. It has
been a teamwork thing between the Commission, the Police
Department, and community members, he is going to miss that
aspect of it. Mr. and Mrs. Parry have been an important part of
that team; and he knows they are going to stay on board and
continue to work for animal control. He does not think that the
public is going to see a difference, other than perhaps some
improvements. Ms. Arraiz has some fantastic ideas and he
believes she will be able to move Animal Control to the next
level.
Commissioner Alexander said in reading the summary, he sees
where the Chief is transferring funds. Is that for positions or
salaries? Is he transferring able-bodied people to the Code
Enforcement Department?
Chief Baldwin said they are going to transfer exactly what has
already been allocated for Animal Control. Animal Control
currently has three Animal Control Officers, some funding for
vehicle maintenance, gasoline, equipment, and supplies. The
remaining balance of that allocation is going to be transferred
to Code Enforcement so that Ms. Arraiz can manage that part of
the budget. They will see a reduction in the Police
Department's budget, but an increase in the Code Enforcement
Department's budget.
Commissioner Alexander asked so that means next year Ms. Arraiz
is going to have to scratch her head to see where she gets the
monies from?
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City of Fort Pierce Minutes of a Regular Meeting held on February 22, 2011
Copyright © 2011 City of Fort Pierce Florida