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Record of Proceedings

Cocoa City Council Regular Meeting - May 26, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, May 26, 2026
BodyCocoa, Florida
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 26, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:37:53

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:01

Held on 65th Stone Street.

0:03

We would like to do invocation by Councilwoman Weeks.

0:09

Pledge of allegiance by Councilman Hearn.

0:13

And then we will do roll call, but before we get started, we'd like to have a moment of silence for one of our former council members, our deputy mayor,

Unassigned speaker

0:23

been

Speaker 1

0:23

brought to my attention.

0:25

So we're asking special prayers for her.

Unassigned speaker

0:37

Okay,

Speaker 1

0:38

Mrs.

0:38

Weeks, would you lead us in invocation?

Unassigned speaker

0:41

Our

Speaker 2

0:41

dear Heavenly Father, we just ask you to help us this evening to do your business, and Lord, we think especially yesterday of Memorial Day, and remembering all those that died for so that we can have the freedom to meet here this evening.

Unassigned speaker

0:55

And

Speaker 2

0:56

Lord, we think especially of those families and um Lord, just give them comfort.

1:01

And Lord, we just ask you to again give us wisdom in doing your business this evening.

1:06

In Jesus' name we pray.

1:08

Amen.

1:08

Amen.

1:09

Everyone, please face the flag.

Speaker 1

1:17

And to the Republican stands.

1:20

One nation.

1:22

Indivisible.

1:23

Liberty and Justice Broad.

Unassigned speaker

1:25

Sir, you can say the name of the person.

Unassigned speaker

1:28

Oh,

Speaker 1

1:29

one of them, my former student, and then the Deputy Mayor Joel Collins.

1:34

Okay.

1:35

Yes, yes, there's four.

1:37

Okay.

1:39

Thank you.

1:49

Madam Clerk, may we do roll call, please?

Speaker 3

1:52

Yes, Mayor.

1:54

Mayor Blake.

Speaker 1

1:55

Present Mail.

Speaker 3

1:56

Deputy Mayor Goynes.

1:57

Here.

1:58

Councilmember Hearn.

Speaker 1

1:59

Here.

Speaker 3

1:59

Councilmember Coss.

2:01

Here.

2:01

Councilmember Weeks.

2:02

Here.

2:03

City Attorney Garganisi.

Speaker 1

2:04

Here.

Speaker 3

2:05

And City Manager Witten.

2:06

Thank

Unassigned speaker

2:07

you.

Unassigned speaker

2:08

Thank

Speaker 1

2:08

you, Madam Clerk.

2:09

Proceeding on to items number two.

2:13

Agenda regular meeting

Unassigned speaker

2:15

of

Speaker 1

2:15

May 26, 2026.

2:18

Word of the wishes of council.

Speaker 4

2:21

Motion to approve.

Speaker 1

2:22

Second.

2:23

We've got a motion on the floor by Councilwoman Coss.

2:26

And a second by Councilwoman Weeks.

2:30

Chair's gonna call the question.

2:31

All in favor by saying aye.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement███████████████████████23%
Land Use and Zoning█████████████████17%
Procedural████████████12%
Federal Grants█████████9%
Code Enforcement███████7%
Water And Wastewater Management██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
Transportation Safety███3%
Lighting Ordinance███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Cocoa City Council Regular Meeting - May 26, 2026

The Cocoa City Council held its regular meeting on May 26, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting began with an invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of silence for a former council member. The council approved the agenda and minutes from prior meetings, heard public comments on property issues, infrastructure, and neighborhood concerns, and unanimously passed three land-use ordinances. The city manager announced over $9.7 million in state and federal funding. Council members gave community reports and discussed flooding mitigation on Indian River Drive.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the regular meeting agenda of May 26, 2026, and the minutes from the following meetings: Special City Council Meeting (March 19, 2026), Regular City Council Meeting (March 24, 2026), Special City Council Meeting (April 1, 2026), Special City Council Meeting (April 7, 2026).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • George Alan Cowert (2560 Hooper Road): Objected to the city's requirement for a driveway apron at his son's property (2570 Hooper Road), noting neighbors do not have aprons and the property line is over 50 feet from the road. He requested the same exemption and stated the apron would cost $10,000. The city attorney offered to review the issue with staff.
  • Paul Camus (116 Olive Street): Requested the installation of flashing crosswalks on Forest Avenue and North Cocoa Boulevard (near Hillcrest), and painting a 15 mph speed limit on Olive Street to reduce speeding. He also urged residents to wave at drivers to encourage slower driving.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Lanza (436 Summa Street): Complained about continued vehicle traffic at 435 Summa Street (deceased resident), loud music and offensive language from 434 Summa Street, and unkempt property. They also reported trash accumulation on Rebel Street. The deputy mayor directed code enforcement to re-inspect.
  • Anita Gibson (451 Stone Street): Asked the city to repurpose the old Jolie building (behind the new homes) into a daycare, mentor center, or other community facility to serve the new residential developments. The city manager stated the city is accumulating funds to address issues with that building.

Discussion Items

  • First Reading - Annexation of 1.16 Acres on Grissom Parkway (Ordinance 07-2026): The parcel is east of Grissom Parkway, north of Oxbow Circle, and south of Canaveral Groves Boulevard. Owners Dale and Lori Morris seek to combine it with a prior 46-acre annexation for industrial development. The property requires city wastewater service, so annexation is mandatory. The council unanimously approved the first reading.
  • Second and Final Reading - Cirrus Mixed Use PUD Phase 2 Commercial (Ordinance 10-2026): Amendment to finalize development plans for two commercial outparcels (1.5 acres) on State Road 524, including a quick-service restaurant and a dental office. The council unanimously approved, with councilmembers noting a preference for a Chipotle.
  • First Reading - M2 Zoning Text Amendment for Large-Scale Recreation and Gym/Fitness (Ordinance 04-2026): Amends the land development code to allow indoor recreation uses over 12,000 sq. ft. in the M2 district, clarifying existing uses like Beachline Raceway. The council unanimously approved the first reading (re-advertised to correct legal notice).
  • City Manager's Report: Announced several recognitions and funding:
    • City communications team received a Certificate of Excellence from Florida Municipal Communicators Association.
    • Public Information Officer Jamie received an Outstanding Award for a civic workbook for kids and became a certified Advanced Public Information Officer.
    • Federal funding secured: $2 million for a new fire station in northwest Cocoa, $1 million for wastewater infrastructure expansion.
    • State funding pending gubernatorial approval: $2 million for the Cocoa Multimodal Station Access Road, $4.7 million for baffle box projects.
    • Upcoming Juneteenth event on June 20 at Cocoa Riverfront Park.
  • Councilmember Reports:
    • Councilmember Hearn: Shared photos from community events, graduation, and the mayor's breakfast.
    • Councilmember Weeks: Provided photos from various events, including a gas station issue near Lost Lakes (access gate blocked), and noted concerns about a utility easement.
    • Councilmember Coss: Raised a glare issue from a neighbor's lights on Tulane Street (no current ordinance); attended comprehensive plan and leadership workshops; proposed flooding mitigation measures on Indian River Drive (backflow prevention devices and riprap). She made a motion to prioritize these, but later withdrew to have the item placed on a future agenda. The city manager agreed to add it.
    • Deputy Mayor Goynes: Shared photos from Memorial Day, graduations, and other community events; praised city staff and the benefits of relationships with elected officials.

Key Outcomes

  • All three ordinances (07-2026, 10-2026, 04-2026) passed unanimously.
  • The council directed staff to investigate creating a glare ordinance and to research a potential park property on the District 2/4 border.
  • Councilmember Coss's request for flooding mitigation on Indian River Drive and Dixon Avenue will be placed on a future agenda for further study and consideration.
  • The city manager's announcement of $9.7 million in total funding was accepted with appreciation.

Meeting Transcript

Held on 65th Stone Street. We would like to do invocation by Councilwoman Weeks. Pledge of allegiance by Councilman Hearn. And then we will do roll call, but before we get started, we'd like to have a moment of silence for one of our former council members, our deputy mayor, been brought to my attention. So we're asking special prayers for her. Okay, Mrs. Weeks, would you lead us in invocation? Our dear Heavenly Father, we just ask you to help us this evening to do your business, and Lord, we think especially yesterday of Memorial Day, and remembering all those that died for so that we can have the freedom to meet here this evening. And Lord, we think especially of those families and um Lord, just give them comfort. And Lord, we just ask you to again give us wisdom in doing your business this evening. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Everyone, please face the flag. And to the Republican stands. One nation. Indivisible. Liberty and Justice Broad. Sir, you can say the name of the person. Oh, one of them, my former student, and then the Deputy Mayor Joel Collins. Okay. Yes, yes, there's four. Okay. Thank you. Madam Clerk, may we do roll call, please? Yes, Mayor. Mayor Blake. Present Mail. Deputy Mayor Goynes. Here. Councilmember Hearn. Here. Councilmember Coss. Here. Councilmember Weeks. Here. City Attorney Garganisi. Here. And City Manager Witten. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Proceeding on to items number two.

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