- April 24, 2024
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The guarded stretch of beach in Flagler Beach will be shorter this year: Only the length of beach along the boardwalk will be guarded, and two lifeguard stands north of that area will be eliminated.
"There won't be any further confusion about whether you're swimming or recreating in an unguarded beach area or a guarded beach area. That'll be very clear under our program."
— WILLIAM WHITSON, Flagler Beach city manager
"That way, the public and the citizens know exactly where it is," City Manager William Whitson said at an April 28 City Commission meeting, "and there won't be any further confusion about whether you're swimming or recreating in an unguarded beach area or a guarded beach area. That'll be very clear under our program."
The city is shortening the guarded area partly for staffing reasons, Ocean Rescue Director Tom Gillin told city commissioners at a meeting on April 28.
The city hopes to have 23 lifeguards this year — the same number as last year — but it's losing 12 of its more experienced guards this season, and it's not clear how many new recruits will complete the city's training program, Gillin said.
Guards are typically first hired when they're about 16, and then work for six summers or so, often until they're done with college.
Recruit training is in May, Gillin said, and the city has 14 new recruits the year.
"Now, out of those 14 recruits that are in the class, how many will make it through? We're hoping all of them, but you just we never know," Gillin said.
Guards will be on the beach seven days a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day, he said.
Commissioner Jane Mealy asked why the city can't keep the same length of beach coverage this year if it looks likely that the city will have about the same number of lifeguards as it did last year, when it had 23.
"I understood the logic about boardwalk to boardwalk ... yet the public is, from what I'm hearing, not very happy about that," she said.
Gillin said that the city, after losing some guards last year to areas that pay more, is giving its lifeguards a $1 raise this year. But, to stay in budget, the city is also reducing the overall numbers of lifeguard work hours, so more of the city's guards will be working part-time hours, rather than full-time.
Commisioner Eric Cooley said people already expect to see lifeguards in the pier area.
"So by default, they are all going — minus a couple people that just don't know any better — they're all going to the area that we're going to have guards anyways," Cooley said. "When you push them outside of that area, it becomes a question mark."
Commissioner James Sherman said the county government should pitch in more to support lifeguard coverage. Mayor Suzie Johnston echoed his concerns, saying other cities and the county government could also have their own lifeguards programs.
"Why is it up to the entire city of Flagler Beach to be the only area that has lifeguards?" Johnston said. "... If there is a cry for lifeguards, then we should be guarding all the beaches."
