Cocoa City Council Regular Meeting – October 27, 2026

The Cocoa City Council met in regular session on October 27, 2026, with Mayor Michael C. Blake presiding. Deputy Mayor Goines and Council Members Hearns, Coss, and Weeks were present, along with the City Attorney and City Manager. The council unanimously approved the agenda, the September 8, 2026 minutes, the consent agenda, and all action items. The meeting included proclamations, public delegations, council business, and end-of-term reflections from council members.

Proclamations & Awards

• Council Member Hearns read a proclamation recognizing October 2026 as Women’s Small Business Month. Women business owners in the audience were invited forward, including Zetra Williams of Beyond Beautiful Inc., Latanya Simmons of Latanya Simmons LMHC LLC, Joy Rutherford of Joyful Wellness Center, Paula Knowles of Vital Passion Health and Wellness and Jamar Warriors Sickle Cell Alliance Inc., and Gloria Weatherspoon of The Lab Innovation Hub. Multiple speakers thanked the city for supporting small businesses and expressed pride in Cocoa.
• Deputy Mayor Goines read a proclamation honoring Armani Cobb, a graduating senior at Cocoa High School. The proclamation cited her 4.0 weighted GPA, her founding of Hired After Bars at age 14, her role as COO of Beauty Beyond Bars, her involvement with Pencils Not Prisons and the Yale Women in Economics Research Scholar Program, and her selection as young adult of the month from among more than 20,000 high school students nationwide. Cobb thanked the city; her mother, the Cocoa High principal, and a teacher also spoke in praise of her achievements.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Reverend J.B. Dennis, of 900 Friday Road, raised concerns about police response to activity at a location he identified as Greenwood. He described calling the Cocoa Police Department on October 16 at 2 a.m. about men smoking crack, drinking beer, and being extremely noisy. He argued that officers provided de-escalation counseling instead of making warrantless arrests under Florida Statute 901.15, and that the men needed detox, including at the Brevard County jail. He said similar calls had occurred about 50 times and called for action. The police chief responded that officers did respond and investigate, that they cannot search people arbitrarily, and that a complaint had been submitted.
• Former Councilman Alex Greenwood spoke about the city’s redevelopment history, beginning with his involvement in 1981. He said he was overwhelmed by the success of downtown Cocoa, noted two major hotel and apartment projects representing $120 million in investment, and mentioned an upcoming RFP for five acres of city-owned property. He said he would be protective of the city’s progress and expressed concern about council discord and negativity.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the October 27, 2026 regular meeting agenda unanimously.
• The council approved the September 8, 2026 regular meeting minutes unanimously.
• The council approved the consent agenda unanimously.

Discussion Items

• The council approved Resolution BAF 27-011-A, amending the FY2027 budget to accept Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) federal funding in the amount of $107,616 for a victim’s advocate with the Cocoa Police Department. The grant number was listed as VOCA C-2026 City of Cocoa Police Department-00149.
• The council approved the reappointment of Wesley Park and Marcus Wheeler to the Planning and Zoning Board for three-year terms and appointed Jessica Green to the open vacancy. Mayor Blake praised Green as a Citizens Academy graduate and community member. Council Member Coss supported Green but asked whether the council’s previously adopted selection and voting process should have been used. The City Attorney noted reappointments historically are handled through the appointment process. The motion passed unanimously.
• The council approved the Cocoa Police Department’s FY2027 Bulletproof Vest Grant application, identified as grant 2026-861, unanimously.

City Manager and Council Reports

• City Manager Witten reported that rain, king tide conditions, and wind were expected in the coming days, and that Public Works had checked drainage systems. He also introduced new planner Ali Mo, who joined the city from New Mexico and is three weeks into the role.
• Deputy Mayor Goines promoted a November 18 NIL education event at Eastern Florida State College from 7 to 8 p.m., featuring Antoine Owens, and encouraged community sharing of the event. He also thanked his family and the Diamond Square board.
• Council Member Weeks reported on the Florida Redevelopment Association conference, the groundbreaking for Meritage Homes townhouses off Cox Road, and a November 20 Cocoa High reunion fundraiser organized by Jada Brown to support smaller school programs. She encouraged attendance at the 47th annual Barbecue Bowl and urged people to pay the $5 parking fee at the school lot on Range Road.
• Council Member Hearns reported on a successful District 4 town hall and delivered an end-of-term reflection. She cited accomplishments including the Citizens Academy, the Cocoa Tiger Chorus’s Carnegie Hall opportunity, floating wetlands, Tree City USA participation, a greenhouse gas inventory, and Diamond Square redevelopment. She also expressed concerns about treatment on the dais, the dismissal of the sustainability committee, and the need to preserve transparency and independent thinking. She said disagreement is not dysfunction and questions are not disrespect.
• Council Member Coss asked staff to trim trees on Fern Street, from Prospect going west, where overgrowth was making the street dark near vacant houses.
• Mayor Blake gave a report on Florida League of Mayors and Florida Redevelopment Association activities, praised city staff and community programs, encouraged attendance at the Barbecue Bowl, and reminded residents of an upcoming community walk for District 3.

Key Outcomes

• All formal votes were unanimous: agenda approval, minutes approval, consent agenda, the VOCA budget amendment, the Planning and Zoning Board appointments, and the Bulletproof Vest Grant authorization.
• Proclamations were issued for Women’s Small Business Month and for Armani Cobb.
• No formal council action was taken on the police complaint or redevelopment comments raised during public delegations.
• The meeting adjourned after council reports, with several upcoming community events noted: the annual Barbecue Bowl on Friday, the NIL education event on November 18, and the Cocoa High reunion fundraiser on November 20.