Palm Coast to contribute for cold-weather shelter

Palm Coast Observer
News

The city of Palm Coast has agreed to contribute up to $6,000 this year to The Sheltering Tree, the cold weather shelter which opens to protect homeless people on any night the temperature is expected to drop to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

"I'm going to be beginning, very shortly, a national search for an assistant city manager. It's time to fill that piece of the succession plan."

— MATT MORTON, Palm Coast city manager

The money would come from Community Development Block Grant funding. The city has to seek approval for that money each year, City Manager Matt Morton told City Council members during the council’s Sept. 1 meeting, so a continuation of the funding in future years “would be dependent ... on that approval and continued will to use the funds in that manner.”

City Hall expected to reopen Oct. 5

Palm Coast is tentatively planning to reopen City Hall on Monday, Oct. 5 — later than originally planned — and hold its first in-person City Council meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Visitors and staff will be screened at the entrance with temperature checks and a brief questionnaire, and will be required to wear face coverings in common areas and anywhere it is not possible to maintain 6 feet of separation between people.

To particulate in the city's virtual City Council meetings in September, residents can listen at the city's website at www.palmcoastgov.com and can listen and make comments during the public comment portion of the meeting by calling 386-223-1690.

See city of Palm Coast updates and local testing locations on Palm Coast Connect at www.palmcoastconnect.com. City of Palm Coast-related questions can be submitted via Palm Coast Connect or by calling 386-986-2360.

Three appointed to Planning Board

The City Council appointed three regular Planning and Land Development Regulation Board members Sept. 1, plus one alternate board member.

The council selected Sandra Shanks, Clint Smith and James Albano for regular seats, and appointed Hung Hilton as an alternate.

The City Council voted unanimously to approve the agreement.

The Sheltering Tree is based out of the Church on the Rock, on U.S. 1 in Bunnell.

The city is making the contribution at the request of the Flagler County government, which asked the city to enter an interlocal agreement with the county and with the cities of Bunnell and Flagler Beach to contribute funding for the shelter.

Each of the three cities is being asked to agree to contribute up to $6,000, and the county is also contributing up to $6,000 and will invoice the cities annually on or before April 1 for 25% each of the cost the county paid to The Sheltering Tree for cold weather services. The shelter will be provided up to $1,000 per night of operation for up to 24 nights.

The county government is taking on the responsibility of sending out a bus on cold evenings to drop individuals at the shelter, and will coordinate with the cities on the bus’ route and scheduling so that it can reach the most homeless people, according to a city staff document.