Cocoa City Council Meeting - December 9, 2025

This regular meeting of the Cocoa City Council convened at 6:00 PM on December 9, 2025, with Mayor Michael C. Blake presiding. The meeting included proclamations, public delegations, consent agenda, public hearings, and council business items. Key themes included homelessness awareness, youth sports recognition, zoning and development approvals, and administrative appointments.

Proclamations & Presentations

• National Homeless Persons Memorial Day (December 21, 2025): Mayor Blake presented a proclamation to Mr. Rob Cramp (retiring after 36+ years of service). Linda Graham reported that 78 homeless men and women died this year without safe shelter in Brevard County; over 1,000 homeless individuals remain. The proclamation was unanimously supported. Council members thanked Mr. Cramp and noted community acceptance of Orchid Lake (90-unit development).
• Cocoa Tigers 14U Youth Football Team (2025 ACYAA Division I Super Bowl Champions): The team went 15-0 and won a national championship. Alicia Phillips (secretary, Cocoa Youth Athletics) spoke, noting the program serves 250+ kids and is expanding. Council praised the program for keeping youth engaged.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Alec Greenwood (former deputy mayor) spoke on waste management issues (debris along US-1, multifamily/commercial confusion) and criticized Councilwoman Call’s actions regarding a 15-acre property on River Road. He urged council to consider ethics in appointments.
• Councilwoman Call’s response: She stated the ethics commission dismissed Mr. Greenwood’s prior complaint, ruling disagreement with policies is not corruption. She noted she lives near the property and walks by daily.

Consent Agenda

The consent agenda was approved unanimously (motion by Councilman Hearn, second by Deputy Mayor Weeks). Councilman Gones raised a non-agenda concern about noise in Cocoa Village parking lots after club closings (1:30-2:30 AM), noting police are aware.

Discussion Items

1. First Addendum to Solid Waste Agreement (Item 6-1)

Staff clarified the addendum corrects scrivener’s errors (removing commercial bulk pickup items not approved, correcting the commercial rate sheet). No rate changes. Waste Management did not charge correct commercial rates until November, giving the city one free month. Approved unanimously.

2. Windward Preserve Final Plat (Item 6-2)

Eric Roush (staff) presented the final plat for 385 single-family lots on 212 acres (south of SR 528, east of I-95). The plat is consistent with prior PUD approvals (December 2023). Conditions include correcting FPL easement, landscape buffer conversion, and recording conservation easements. Julie Salva (Keller Morrison) thanked council. Approval was unanimous.

3. Natural Gas Franchise Ordinance (Item 6-3) – First Reading

Ordinance 13-2025 approves a 30-year non-exclusive franchise with Pivotal Utility Holdings DBA Florida City Gas at a 6% franchise fee ($100k/year to general fund). Deputy Mayor Weeks inquired about future gas line expansion; staff noted opportunities with new developments. Approved unanimously.

4. Michael C. Blake Subdivision – Large Scale Site Plan & Preliminary Plat (Item 6-4)

Staff presented a plan for 30 affordable single-family homes (very low, low, or moderate income) on 2.56 acres in Diamond Square CRA. Developer: Lenar Holmes. Three floor plans (1,300–1,700 sq ft, 3-4 bedrooms). Variances approved via development agreement (April 2025). Staff and Planning & Zoning Board recommended approval. Dan Sarrow (engineer) confirmed the developer will build inventory homes. Approved unanimously.

5. Reasonable Accommodation & Certified Recovery Residence Ordinance (Item 6-5) – First Reading

Ordinance 12-2025 implements state-mandated procedures for certified recovery residences (sober homes) and reasonable accommodation requests per ADA/Fair Housing Act. CRRs will be allowed as principal use in multifamily and commercial districts; not allowed in single-family RU1-7 districts unless reasonable accommodation granted. Application fee still under development. Council questions about HOA rules clarified. Planning & Zoning Board recommended approval unanimously. Approved unanimously.

6. Appointments & Liaison Updates (Items 7-1, 7-2)

• Diamond Square CRA: Reappointed Angelia Smith and Crystal McQueen; appointed Amy Robison. Approved unanimously.
• Liaison assignments: Council voted to remove three inactive boards (Police Advisory, Sustainability Advisory, Utility Advisory) from the liaison list (motion by Councilman Gones, second by Deputy Mayor Weeks). Other appointments remained unchanged.

7. Deputy Mayor Election (Item 7-3)

Four council members nominated themselves. After a 10-minute recess, Mayor Blake cast a tie-breaking vote for Councilman Gones. Councilman Hearn rescinded his nomination in favor of Gones, resulting in three votes for Gones and two for Weeks. Motion to approve Councilman Gones as Deputy Mayor passed unanimously.

8. Grant Management Services (Item 8-1)

Approved piggyback contract with Merchant McIntyre Associates ($51,000 for 6-month trial; option for annual $102,000). Staff will evaluate progress and report to council. Councilwoman Call requested focus on park needs per the Comprehensive Plan. Approved unanimously.

9. Second Addendum to Improvement Agreement – Lakes at Cocoa Groves (Item 8-2)

Approved unanimously without discussion.

10. Windward Preserve Architectural Elevation Revisions (Item 8-3)

Developer Taylor Morrison proposed updating elevations (11 new plans with 4 elevations each) due to portfolio refresh. Council members expressed preference for earlier designs that included front porches and higher-end aesthetics. Pricing: 50-foot lots start ~$504k–$617k; 60-foot lots $636k–$748k. Motion to approve failed (3-2: Mayor Blake and Deputy Mayor Weeks in favor; Councilman Gones, Hearn, and Call opposed). The revisions were not adopted.

Reports

• City Manager Stockton: Announced public hearings (Clear Lake Road widening Jan. 12; SR 524 widening PD&E study virtual Jan. 20, in-person Jan. 22). FDOT five-year work program includes Michigan Avenue trail link. Vision Zero high injury network now includes no Cocoa intersections. Holiday events: tree lighting/boat parade/movie Dec. 12; Cocoa-Rockledge parade Dec. 13.
• Community Services Director: Announced a fitness court mural at Prevost Park. Council agreed to select three individuals for the mural; names to be brought to January meeting. Also promoted “Pictures with Santa” event Dec. 10 (food drive).
• Fire Chief Lamb: Reported on fire academy graduate program success (EMT graduation); November 15 large-scale drill with Brightline; annual turkey drive (1,600 families impacted, $1,600 raised by Women’s Club). Thanked council.
• Councilmember Reports: Councilmembers shared photos and updates on community events (Cocoa High football, food drives, youth programs, League of Cities meetings, park advocacy, etc.).

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous approvals: Solid waste addendum, Windward Preserve final plat, gas franchise (1st reading), Michael C. Blake subdivision (site plan & plat), CRR ordinance (1st reading), Diamond Square CRA appointments, deputy mayor election, grant management contract, improvement agreement addendum.
• Failed motion: Windward Preserve architectural revisions (3-2 against). Developer to work with staff on alternatives.
• Mural direction: Council to submit three names for Prevost Park fitness court mural by January.
• Park desert issue: Councilwoman Call requested evaluation of fire department training area for potential park use; city manager to assess.