City of Cocoa Council Meeting - June 9, 2026

The Cocoa City Council met on June 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. All council members were present. The meeting opened with a moment of silence for Deputy Mayor Jewel Collins and Sue Smith. Key actions included approving CDBG and HOME funding, passing zoning amendments, directing a comprehensive flood mitigation study for Indian River Drive, and executing a dispatch agreement with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office expected to save $1.3 million annually.

Consent Calendar

• The meeting agenda and the minutes from the April 14, 2026 regular meeting were approved unanimously.

Presentation

• Preservation on Main Street Statewide Conference: Pam Shea and Chris Stagman of Historic Cocoa Village Main Street announced over 400 attendees for the upcoming statewide conference in Cocoa Village. A major event includes the Secretary of State's dinner at the Kennedy Space Center Apollo building, with an invitation extended to SpaceX. They thanked city staff, public works, and police for their partnership.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Melissa Pope (Mrs. Cocoa Florida 2026): Introduced her platform of blood donation awareness and requested a photo with the council.
• Paul Camus (116 Olive Street): Requested educational materials on the impact of removing property taxes, citing a 2019-2020 city handout. The Mayor and City Manager explained the significant budget impact, noting the police budget alone ($14M) exceeds total property tax revenue ($12M).
• Anita Gibson (451 Stone Street): Raised concerns about chronic illegal dumping and debris piles on Railroad Avenue. Deputy Mayor Goines confirmed the issue has been reported to code enforcement and public works.

Discussion Items

• CDBG and HOME Program Funding (6-1): Staff presented the FY2026-2027 allocations ($108,792 CDBG, $46,258 HOME). Four partner agencies (Aging Matters, Family Promise, Salvation Army, Central Brevard Sharing Center) spoke about their services. $70,714 was allocated to repay the Section 108 loan for the Dr. Jolie Smith Community Center. The funding was unanimously approved.
• Zoning Amendments (6-3, 6-4): Council held public hearings and unanimously approved the second reading of a text amendment for large-scale commercial recreation centers in the M-2 district and the first reading of an amendment allowing optical services in the Uptown CC district, requested by Freedom Optical owner Stacy Sidwell.
• Flood Mitigation on Indian River Drive (7-3): Staff presented a system-wide study approach to address flooding from multiple sources (tidal, stormwater, groundwater). Following public testimony from residents who connected the issue to recent development and road expansions, the council unanimously directed staff to engage an engineering firm for a comprehensive independent study.
• Interlocal Agreement with Cocoa High School (8-1): Council approved an alternative process developed by Deputy Mayor Goines for the $240,000 sports improvement agreement. The adopted language waives facility rental fees for four nonprofit 501c3 organizations per year on a first-come, first-served basis, with the city retaining no liability and receiving a quarterly report from the school.
• Dispatch Services Agreement (8-3): Council approved a multi-year agreement with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office to consolidate fire and police dispatch. The agreement is projected to save the city over $1.3 million annually while providing a smooth transition for current city dispatchers.
• Grant Acceptances (8-4, 8-5, 8-6): Council unanimously accepted the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant, a FEMA SAFER grant for fire staffing, and a grant for de-escalation and crisis response training for law enforcement.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Agenda and minutes approved.
• Public Hearings: CDBG/HOME funding approved. Grissom Street Comp Plan and Annexation postponed to July 14, 2026.
• Zoning & Planning: M-2 Text Amendment approved. Uptown Optical Text Amendment (First Reading) approved. Code Enforcement Board appointments approved.
• Flood Mitigation: Council unanimously voted to proceed with a comprehensive study of the Indian River Drive corridor.
• Cocoa High School Agreement: Approved with specific language limiting city liability to four fee waivers per year.
• Dispatch Consolidation: Multi-year contract with BCSO approved.
• Grants: Three public safety grants accepted.
• City Manager Report: Announced over $7 million in potential state and federal appropriations for the city, including a fire station, park improvements, and drainage projects.
• Council Reports: Councilmembers provided updates on district events, legislative meetings, and community outreach.