City Council - Regular Meeting

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Ma'am, Amanda Dubel, citizens of Coco. Um, before we get this meeting started, I hope everyone had the opportunity to vote for today. today special election. So, I'm hoping you had the opportunity to exercise your civic duty. Okay, proceeding forward. Roll call, please. Madame City Clerk. Yes, Mayor. Thank you. Uh, Mayor Blake, present, ma'am. Deputy Mayor Weekes, here. Council member Goins, here. Council member Hearn here. Council member Cos here. City Attorney Gargani here and city manager Whitten. Thank you. Thank you. Please secure your cell phones and pages. Second request. Thank you very much. Proceeding on to item number two-1 agenda regular meeting of June 10th, 2025. What are the wishes of council? A motion to approve with the amendment. Okay. The amendment is under presentations. Uh, Rockdale Youth Football presenting um a gift to Mayor Blake and the Blake family. Okay, sir. I'll second that. Amending to that under awards and presentations. So, that will Would you like that to come first? Yes, that's fine. Yes, sir. Okay. And then we'll put proclamation recognizing aging matters second. Is that the correct interpretation? Yes. So, yes, sir. Chair's going to call the question. All in favor saying I. I. eyes have it unanimously. Proceeding on to minutes, excuse me, town hall meeting on March 25th, 2025. Also, town hall meeting of April 24th, 2025.

What are the wishes of the board? Motion to approve. Second. Okay, we have a motion on the floor and a second. Chair is going to call the question. All in favor saying I. I. Any nays? Eyes have it unanimously. Proceeding on to item number three, uh, presentation for the youth. Uh, Councilman Go, sir, you have the floor. Yes, sir. If we could come down. Sir. Yes, sir. Cuz I think we are we coming down for number two as well? Yes, sir. We can. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Hello, my name is Courtney and I am here representing Rock Youth Football and [Applause] so we at Rock Youth football and cheerleading league extend our deepest condolences to the Blake family. This small token is a reflection of our immense appreciation for all that councilman, doctor, principal, father, uncle, and devoted community leader, Mr. Dick Blake has done for our Rock Ledge Raider family throughout the years. Over a 100 kids, coaches, and board members have signed this poster as a simple yet heartfelt way to say thank you for sharing your father with our community.

His impact will never be forgotten. We thank you so much. Alice, can you present him with the poster? [Applause] So, we all know and love. We all know and love Mr. Blake. Um, and I really really I had to do something uh for the mayor um publicly because I know how much his father meant uh to him. Um, and I understand that, you know, he he's worked digitally digitally every year for the last 10, 15 years, every week, taking them to um the weight room and got them lifting weights. I think Mr. Blake started lifting weights more than you. Um, but but we really appreciate you and your family. Again, when you're doing this community work, sometimes um it's very tough and you don't get a lot of thank yous. And so, again, we appreciate you and your family for sharing him with us. Thank you very much, sir. Thank you, counselor. Thank you very much, sir. Thank you, Madam President. You're a blessing. On behalf of the Blake family, we just like to say thank you all for opening up your heart to include us. Um, not all um I just like to say we have a she meaning she hero here and I would like to thank President Mrs. Blunt for doing an outstanding job and her big brother uh Council Goins as well. There's big ships and little ships, but nothing like friendship, partnership, and leadership. And I thank you for your leadership, ma'am. So, we say thank you with open arms. All right. Great job. I thank you. Yeah. Come on up. Yeah. Come on. Thank you very much. Again, let's give our youth a round of applause. Job. Well

done. I look forward to coming to the James Goins football stadium field again. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Fine day there. Uh, next on our presentation, we have the honorable deputy mayor Weeks. She will read this proclamation into the minutes for aging matters. So, without further ado, the microphone is yours. Thank you, sir. Yes, ma'am. Proclamation. Whereas Aging Matters in Bvard, originally known as the Community Service Council, was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization on June 7, 1965, and today promotes the independence, health, safety, and quality of life for seniors countywide. And whereas Aging Matters is now the leading agency providing direct services to seniors across Bvard County and is kicking off its 60th anniversary 2025 to 2085 champions initiative on July 1. Whereas having grown alongside Bvard County now employs more than 90 staff members and mobilizes more than 800 volunteers who drive more than 400,000 miles. And whereas together staff and volunteers with support from a myriad of supporters provide life-changing services annually to hundreds of seniors countywide, including 79,000 hours of companionship respite. socialization, safety, and wellness checks, and light housekeeping in 2024. And whereas prepared more than 425,000 meals at its Bvard Community Kitchen, that's a lot. And dist and distributed them daily through the meals on wheels program weekly at 13 seniors at lunch community dining centers and monthly

provide pet food to 160 clients through Pets on Wheels. I had no idea. Where has installed 178 ramps and 21,000 grab bars, operated the Sunflower House, which provides critical caregiver support, recruited RSVP, retired senior volunteer program, volunteers for its own and many other organizations, and conducted bonebuilders classes for 370 seniors to prevent osteoporosis. Now th therefore be it resolved that the city of Koko of Bvard County, Florida does hereby recognize and commend aging matters in Bvard for 60 years of distinguished service to the citizens and particularly the senior citizens of Bvard County and congratulate the board of directors and leadership team for a job well done. All right, let's give them a round of applause. Any other members from Aging Matter in the audience? Come on down. Yeah. You so young looking. You look like one of my former students, ma'am. Thank you. Yes. Come on down. Do you have anyone else with you? Come on. Yeah. Yeah. Lot in everybody. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you very much. Amazing. Amazing. Thank you. I knew y'all were good, but you're really good. Thank you so much. Thank you and the animals. I know it is. It is. Come on up. Come on up. Tighten up. Everyone's working. Oh, we're good. I Come on. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you again. Well, I'm sorry. Before we depart, would you like to say anything? Yes. Come on. There you go. Talk about that raffle or something that you all give me. I know, right? Um, good

afternoon. My name is Justennia Perez. I am the senior director of finance for Aging Matters in Bvard. With me tonight is Allison Atler. She is the program director for RSVP, which is our volunteer database that you just counted out. We have over 800 volunteers that she manages on a daily basis. Um, even though we're doing a lot right now, there's one thing I want to highlight and leave in your hearts tonight, and it is the fact that we're placing about, I would say, over 1,800 plates that go out of our kitchen daily to individuals that are homebound that need our services. And our waiting list is growing every single day. We're currently holding 346 individuals in their home that cannot receive a plate because we don't have enough to cover. So, if I can leave something in your heart tonight is please remember that with $30 a month, you can help us feed a senior for a whole week. So, that's a lot for us. It would be an amazing blessing if you can join our current campaign which is celebrating our 60th anniversary. Um, and that is looking for those champions that are going to jump on board and help with the donations so we can bring our waiting list down. Can Can I ask you something real quick? Let's give Miss Perez a round of applause, please. 501c3. 501c3. And we do have a program that you may want to solicit. Uh, talk with our city clerk, ma'am. Okay. For future reference, we'll do. Thank you so much. Monica, would you raise your hand for us, please? Ma'am, look over to your immediate left. Your immediate left. Immediate level. Heart level. Yes, ma'am. Make sure you collaborate with her. Ma'am, we'll do. Thank you so

much. Count it all joy. Again, let's give Aging Matter a round of applause cuz guess what, baby? If you live long enough, you will also too become seasoned. Thank you very much. God bless. Job well done ladies. Thank you. Good. Like donations, but glasses. Okay. Okay. Thank you for the awards and presentation. Um, city staff and council, I do appreciate you. Yes, sir. Yes, ma'am. Great job, Deputy Mayor Weeks. Ma'am, your articulation and u So, yes, sir. Um, your ability to convey your thoughts clearly. People don't understand, get it behind that microphone is some very challenging, but um, as we say in the country, the cream always rise to the top, man. Thank you, sir. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. All right. Proceeding on to item number four under delegations. You have a 180 seconds to elaborate under your particular question or area of concern. I have two cards under I have another one coming under delegation. I have Celeste

Coro and then after that will be Paula Nolles. Thank you. Miss Celeste, would you come forward? Sir and ma'am, we have seats in the front. To your left or to your right? I feel like the Beverly Hill buildings. Take your shoes off and come back here. Floor is yours. Good evening. Um, my name is Celeste Curado, resident of district 4. And what I would like to bring up is that as a as every US citizen knows, having fair and equal representation is the cornerstone of American democracy and is a civil right that is recognized and protected by the constitution. We have a fundamental right to be represented on key issues that impact us personally. Indeed, this applies to the city of Koko and the citizens, too. Yet on May 13th, I want to bring up the the issue that 4,000 residents living in Koko's District 4 were denied that representation and during a key city council vote. We believe Councilwoman CS was wrongfully recused from voting on ordinance 032025, a critical new citywide ordinance that will likely impact many of our lives. Miss CS along with her 4,000 District 4 constituents were prevented from weighing in on this new citywide ordinance. While all other districts and their residents were represented, both the city attorney and the city manager have stated several times that this is a citywide ordinance applicable across all city districts. If true, then why was Miss CS and her District 4 constituents singled out and kept from having fair and equal representation? Voting and representation are fundamental to the American system of government, allowing all citizens to

have a voice in the decisions that shape their lives. For this reason, I must insist that I and the other 4,000 citizens who li live in district 4 have the right to council representation on this critical citywide ordinance consistent with representation given to the other three city districts. do the right thing, council and mayor, and reinstate Councilwoman Cos and District 4's right to fair and equal representation on this critical citywide ordinance. Thank you for letting me speak. I appreciate that. [Applause] Esparan Ganeso, sir. Yes, ma'am. But I have I Councilman brought that to my attention. Ma'am, thank you very much. Squarani, um because of her ability not to vote, did they not ever reach out to the ethics committee? Help me understand why she's unable to vote. I would like to close to their attorney first. Ma'am, go ahead. I said that. Um, Councilwoman CS received um an opinion from the Florida Commission on Ethics regarding uh the JNK project. The Florida Commission on Ethics concluded that she has a voting conflict of interest regarding the JNK project. Subsequent uh to the first uh reading of the ordinance, uh Councilwoman Cas has requested an updated opinion from the Commission on Ethics um general counsel department and she received an updated opinion regard specifically related to the ordinance that's being proposed tonight. and the opinion of the uh

attorney for the Florida Commission on Ethics uh likewise concluded again that she has a voting conflict of interest with respect to the ordinance. Um so the city council neither the council nor myself um are recusing her from voting on this particular matter. It's it's just an issue of Florida state law regarding the ethics rules and um they've been interpreted by the Florida Commission on Ethics and that Miss Cas is duly advised. Okay. So, this is from the state, correct, sir? Not from the city of Coco or the Bvard County or anything of that nature. Is that my correct interpretation? Yes, I'm speaking of the the state of Florida, Florida Commission on Ethics. Yes. Okay. Councilwoman calls. Yeah. I just wanted to I guess that clears up uh there was a rumor that I had voluntarily uh recused myself, but um I was instructed to um and after that meeting where it was made very clear that this particular ordinance applies to the entire city, um I went back to the ethics commission to ask for another opinion to verify. Um, we got the opinion yesterday and it's based on it's based on a statement of facts and this seems to be what it's all relying on is I had back what two or three years ago um an estimate done on having septic to sewer hooked up at my house what that would be and it was that the estimate came back around 23,000 which was was a lot less than any of the estimates that had been provided by staff.

Now, anyone that's been by my house, and I know I see a lot of my neighbors here, you you know that the circumstances are my yard are probably no different than yours. Um, but because I had gotten the estimate and because the only other statement of facts they had were the estimates that had been submitted by staff made us look as though I was going to suffer a gain over the other 88 households involved. So and of course as you know um you know we have been told not to go forward in terms of getting estimates on our uh septics having our septics connected to sewage. So we really don't know where my particular household stands. So is um the ethics commission is making this ruling based on the facts and those were the facts that were presented to them. Obviously they haven't looked at my house and aren't in the neighborhood. So that is what we must abide by tonight and I will be recusing myself. Um, I regret that because I feel because I know that district 4 has more septic systems than any other district and it does leave us without representation. I'm also the only one on this council that has a background in water and wastewater. Um, but this is the way it is and we will hope for the best and the wisdom of the rest of the council. So, thank you. Um, being the only member here at large, I represent the entire city and I do

represent the constituents of all four districts and I know how to be fair and equitable across the board. And my thing is um Thomas Payne wrote a book called Common Sense. And I know at a minimum everyone here on this adasis has the ability to reflect upon common sense. So that's what I believe in. Thank you very much. Okay. The next card is Paula Nolles. Would you come forward please? I do. Okay. Thank you ma'am. Okay. Proceeding on to item number five, the consent agenda. Item one of the wishes of council. Motion to approve. I have a motion on the floor by Councilman Hearn. Second. Second by Deputy Mayor Weeks. Chair's going to call the question. All in favor saying I. I. I. Any nays? Eyes have it unanimously. [Applause] Proceeding on to item number six dash one. Get my facts together here. Item number 6-1. Approve the ordinance number 032025 on the second reading amending section 225 excuse me 22-5 and creating a section 22-5 decimal point.2 of the city code to update the city's mandatory sewer hookup policy and authorize the sewer system. Yeah. Do we? Yeah, we voted on. Okay. Connection

requirements following the expansion projects to provide a direction to staff for funding and new policies if necessary for the Indian River septic to sewer conversion. Now, um there's a few things I would like to say about this. I know Paisana, you're going to read it into the minutes as well, but there's a few things that I would like to say in reference of this particular item because I want to make sure I'm on the correct page. And if I may, and then I'll turn it over to you, Paisano. Sir, attorney Anthony Gargani. This is a framework, a road map for all septic to sewer projects. If you go to page 209, it talks about the conversion of an on-site sewer treatment and disposal system to centralized sewer system on and operated by the city of Cocoa. The next whereas we talks about the Boulevard County Save our Indian River Lagoon project plan was developed to identify and prioritize projects Also the plan was created in collaboration with scientists, economists, environmentalists and multiple government agency. It also conducted a detailed evaluation of septic to soil impacts to on local surface waters finding the projects utilizing septic systems are at risk of polluting ground and surface waters. Whereas Save our Lagoon has found that the increased service and groundwater pollution from septic systems contributes to increased presence. To save our um Indian River Lagoon, we've identified 2,763

prioritized on properties utilizing septic systems 4% of the overall business owners of the city of Coco. Also very important that we understand notwithstanding any provision in this section to the contrary that the city shall be authorized to require an existing residential house, building or property to discontinue or remove an existing property and functioning or failing septic system. The city reserves the right and it's very important that the right to assess all or portion of the city costs associated with the sewer line expansion project including but not limited to infrastructure and installation. The city has the right to reserve this. Again let me reiterate this is just a road mapap to mandatory connection not project specifically or detailed. We're not identifying one project over the other. It is citywide. Esquire Gargani, sir. Okay. This is uh second and final reading of ordinance 03-2025, an ordinance of the city council of the city of Coco, BVAR County, Florida, creating a new section 22-5.2 two of the city code authorizing the city council to require a property owner to discontinue and remove an existing functioning septic tank um or other existing functioning on-site sewage treatment or disposal system and connect to the city's sewer system in conjunction with the city sewer line expansion project that the city council deems financially and practically feasible to construct in the best interest of the public. Recommending section 22-5 of the city code clarifying the connection conditions that generally

apply when existing residential houses, buildings, or properties with existing properly functioning septic tanks or other existing properly functioning on-site sewage treatment or disposal systems must connect to an available public sanitary sewer of the city. providing for the repeal of prior and consistent ordinances and resolutions, incorporation into the code, severability, and an effective date. This is also a public hearing item. Um, I just want to bring to the council's um attention um based on a conversation I had with the city manager. The city manager um and staff are recommending a slight change to the ordinance. Um, with respect to page 7 sub paragraph M and page 8 subp paragraph C, it talks about discontinuing and removing an existing functioning septic tank. Um, staff is proposing language that states to discontinue and abandon or remove. That's better. So, that that's the only change that staff is um recommending. So again, it's a public hearing item. Be happy to answer any questions. Um, Esqua Gani, could you go to page 909 at the top page where it talks about on the framework road map very important that the city may establish an assessment methodology and payment structure which may include a lump sum payments, installation plan or installment plan, excuse me. Yes. Because again this is just this framework for a septic to sewer project. No specificity of a particular project. It's universal. All right. Anything else Esquire Garganis before I turn it over to the city manager? No, that's correct. Mayor, thank you very much. Uh, Equis and Councilwoman CS needs to um make make a

statement that she's recusing herself and for the record. So I am recusing myself based on the ethic the ethics commission's ruling. I'll step down and I'm submitting my 8B form. Please turn it into city. Thank you ma'am. Think we've all had to do that before. I know I have. Okay. Um, Deputy Mayor Weeks and then I would um hear from the city manager. Oh, okay. Did you would you like to say anything, ma'am? Well, well, I would I didn't know if we needed to vote on his change first or would we do that because I have something I would like to Okay. Um, well, I would like to um move to remove section F from the ordinance. Um, okay. Can we can we do that after we hear from That's what I didn't know. Okay. Thank you. Yes, sir. That's with your blessing. Yes, sir. Okay. That's page um six of nine. Eight of nine would be mine, but Yeah. Yeah. It starts at the bottom of eight where it says the city has a right to assess all portions of the city cost. Yeah. Associated with sewer lines, etc. Yes, sir. Okay. Um, please. Uh, Mr. City Manager, sir, you have anything you would like to share with us? Mr. Mayor, we don't have anything. The agenda report is uh unchange from the uh meeting two weeks ago. Okay. Thank you very much, Mr. City Manager. Okay. Um, I do have over 15 cards in front of me. If someone I would not deny you your right um of expounding on this particular item but

if someone is saying or have similar um concerns as you I would ask that you take this in consideration please ma'am please sir again this is just a framework the road map for connection from septic to sewer but not specifically speaking about any one particular project. Thank you. All right. First on the list will be Greg Henry and after Greg Henry, it will be Janice Smith. Please come forward and state your name. You have three minutes to expound on this particular Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Again, my name's Greg Henry. I live at 1907 North Indian River Drive. Um, a lot of what I was going to talk about has been discussed here. One of the issues being the uh conflict of interest issue. I I'm going to tell you right now I don't understand that because nowhere in this ordinance is there any mention of project JK or anybody's particular piece of property but I'll let it stand as is and so forth. Uh my second point I guess or question item that I wanted to bring up was was again in section F. Now I think what I just heard is there's a recommendation to delete section F. And does that mean the board is just going to consider it or is it deleted? I'm not sure. Um I I let me speak about it just real briefly. So my concern with F is F uh states that the city has the right to assess potentially all it could be or less but certainly potentially all of the city's subsequent expansion costs to affected property owners benefiting quote unquote from the project. Now, I believe a number of property owners in areas J and K agree that converting homes adjacent to the Indian River from septic to sewer is beneficial to the health of the Indian River Lagoon. I certainly am one of them. However, given that all the homes in the area are currently on presumably functioning

septic systems at this time, there are no specific benefits to only J and K property owners. quite the opposite when it comes to impacts to property because of the conversion and unknown costs that have yet to been totally defined. So I would then pres I would submit that therefore the project beneficiaries in this case when you have this situation are all Bvard County rep uh residents as well as specifically Koko residents in this case not just J and K. Um, in summary, of course, I just mentioned will not discuss the uh the uh conflict of interest. The ordinance uh that the cont the uh excuse me 22-5.2F to F. I would propose as a rewrite to exclude affected property owners from infrastructure installation and related cost. Just installation and related inf inf infrastructure installation and related infrastructure costs when the purpose of the sewer system expansion is to safeguard general public health and to achieve general environment protections and improvements. Those are my words, but something to that effect. In other words, I'm I'm on my concept of everybody benefits from this, just not people on project JK. Um, and the last one I'm I'll go ahead and yield because it looks like well, assuming it is it is made, but there was a discussion about deleting uh the requirement uh I believe a change has been proposed to delete the removal of on-site septic tank or other sewage disposal system after disconnection. I would just add to that. Yes. In fact, absolutely. Because there's absolutely no incentive for a property owner who is now paying the monthly sewer bill to go back and reconnect to an old system. So, it's a waste of money. I have 18 cards in front of you. Thank you very much,

sir. Thank you. Yes, sir. Next, um, Miss Janice Smith. Next will be Keith Wood and Frank Sod. Okay. Hello, Janice Smith, 21107 Claremont Drive, Cocoa, Florida. And we live, my husband and I live just west of Indian River Drive and east of US1. We currently do not have sewer service, but are hoping at some point that we will be offered that service because we sure do not want the advanced septic system. So, it is possible that a main line could reach our area, but I do have some concerns about the septic to sewer hookup. have been watching what's happening with JNK and have to speak up. I don't think it's fair or even consistent for any homeowner east of US1 to be told they'll have to pay 100% of sewer cost or even 40% of the cost over the grant money when no one else in Cocoa with sewer has ever had to. Indian Hill only paid 40% and still wasn't forced to connect. Peach Tree paid nothing. Rateayers covered it through the revolving fund in Friday Road fully funded by rateayers again and those were not considered affluent areas. So why now? Why is this shift where homeowners east of US1 are being asked to shoulder the full

financial risk? What message does that send to people like me and my husband that will be next to be required to pay for any over cost? I'm asking you to reconsider the precedent you're setting. I hope you'll protect all of us from future burdens like this by revisiting the decision to charge affected homeowners 100% of the sewer costs beyond the grant funding. It's just not right. It's not consistent with how the city has treated other neighborhoods. Thank you. Thank you very much. Ma'am, you speak about Peach Street. Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith. Yes. Yes. Come back to the microphone, please. Ma'am. Okay. Thank you, ma'am. Oh, I'm sorry. No problem. Somebody lost a paper clip. Yes, ma'am. You speak about Peach Street. What homes on Peace Street have we connected to from septic to sewer? I'm not sure specifically, but you would have that information. So, um, if you would, if you could, could you please tell me which one specifically whenever you get the opportunity the opportunity to do your due diligence? Okay. Because I I'm not aware of it and I've done my research, but I would like to find out because someone came up here made a broad statement previously about connection with the uh septic to sew on Pri Street and I would like to find out. Give me the house or the home or various homes. Okay. That it may be. If not, I just want to clear that narrative up, please. Okay. Thank you, county. Ma'am, I'll get you that. Yes, ma'am. Thank you, county. Um, Mr. Wood, sir.

Okay. I'm Keith Wood and resident in what is it? K. I believe that the project J Project J. You can pick it up if you like. Um, okay. I'm in Project J. Um, so I had a bunch of different things that I was looking at. Um, but you are all smart people. You have engineers who figured this stuff out. You have lawyers that do all the other work and see what the legal ease is in the details. And I no doubt think that you guys have uh you know your legal ducks in a row and your explanations for engineering. Um but uh I where I'm coming from I had 23 years in experience in the military and in that 23 years thank you. uh in that 23 years uh I was often required to figure out how to make it work without like following the exact guidelines that were set in front of us. And in doing that, I like learned how to make things work without having to stifle the creativity or the the work that needs to be done. So, sorry for the interruption. So, ultimately, uh you guys are equipped to figure everything out by yourselves. Uh so the only thing I can really do uh is add that

I don't think that it is a just proposition to say okay somebody has an advanced septic they're doing the right thing and they got it before the 2030 deadline and that person is now being required to not only hook up to sewer but then remove the sewer in its entirety from their card and it's like if if after you've spent $20,000 or more dollars to do the septic and do the responsible thing and now we have to do even more money just to make this meet or make spec. It seems to me like it's a punishment for trying to do the right thing. And so I would just say uh maybe we should kind of slow roll that and think about it before we just say boom. Um and then the next thing um I believe in you guys as leaders to do the right thing uh because uh I believe in in God and I know that each and every one of you is appointed to your duties and you wouldn't be here if it was not in God's will. So, I God bless each and every one of you and I look forward to what God does in this situation. Thank you very much, Mr. Wood. All right. Next, Frank Sullivan. And after Frank Sullivan will be Tammy Carter. Yeah. Council going, sir. Thank you, sir. M. Mr. Wood. Mr. Wood, can you come back? Um, so the the question that I have, you made some made some good points. So you made a reference to advanced septic like somebody put in advanced septic four

years ago. Um, why should they be required to um be connected to a sewer line? So, what if that language was inside of the ordinance where if if it's possible? I I don't I don't know if the the financing on the grants make this possible or not. I'm just asking the general question. What if that language is in there saying, "Hey, look, if you if you installed uh permitted advanced septic system within the last x amount of years um by the end of the project uh if we go forward, would you think that would be a give and take on just that portion?" I abs absolutely think that is uh would be a great foundation because we are all situated in a precarious place right at the edge of the water and moving back from it and we have paths or the street is lined with coina so it's really hard to dig but we do have all the funding necessary to make everybody switch to advanced septics if we could do that now and then at the 2030 Mark, we can tackle that again and have more conversations with maybe more infrastructure development at that point, but we absolutely can do everybody on an advanced septic and we can say, "Hey, we're we're leading the pack. We're at the cutting edge in this city and everybody can follow what us instead of us trying to fit the bill." I I appreciate that comment, but I I just want to just we've been going through this a lot probably the last four or five years and and so advanced septic is not well received by majority of people especially when we

first began this process and so that's something that I think you said that and also I got a few emails kind of going towards the advanced subject but but you see the issue is we have So there's so many different opinions about what what someone would like for their particular home or their area, right? So you got someone says vet septic, let's go and someone else says no, we must connect to sewer. And so we we you see where we are. I I absolutely appreciate your position and I agree with the the difficulty in that. But I think if if we talked to the citizens and said, "Hey, you could do advanced septic and the grant is absolutely going to cover everything or you can do sewer and there may be some more stuff involved." I think more people would be uh um they would be supportive of the advanced septic over the over the sewer. Okay. I appreciate that. Thank you. As for what is the state law about if there's a sewer line that runs through it in a mandatory connection within so many feet sir even if they buy the vents or already purchased the advanced septic system I mean the state law um states that um when a property is um you know in close proximity to the um available public sewer system. The local government can mandate connection and there's ample legal authority for that mandating connection. It's all contingent upon whether or not this the the public sewer system is is available under the

guidelines under the state. And that's why this ordinance is being presented because the city does not have a blank a blanket blanket mandate to connect to publicly the city's public sewer system and excuse me that you can't hear. No sir, we could not hear his response. Please he speaking into the mic. Ma'am, could you move up front please ma'am? So you he'll speak into the mic but you're more than welcome. hear what he's just said. I can't hear you. Good, ma'am. Okay. The the the qu the question that was presented I think somebody just turned up the mic. Thanks, Rob. That's perfect. That's the problem. Um, so the the Florida the Florida statute is clear that a local government like the city of Coco can mandate connection to a public sewer system if this public sewer system is available. Okay. So the state law does not require local governments to do that at least yet. Um, but the local government can choose to have a a sewer mandate policy and that's why we're here discussing this ordinance because the city of Coco for a long period of time has never had a mandatory hookup to the city's sewer system and um, you know, for a variety of reasons I presume. Um part is it's it's very um you know you know troubling to property owners that have septic systems, right? To have to be you know to abandon or or remove them and connect to the sewer system. But the law is very clear. It's there's ample authority for a local government to mandate connection to a public sewer system.

Okay. Um, who deputy mayor Weeks and then Councilman her I just wanted to say to you um in what you were saying about having to have it removed because uh they're proposing the change in the ordinance where you would not have to remove the one that you've got in there now. Yes, you would have to hook up to to the system, but you would not have to have it removed. And so hopefully that uh is helpful. In other words, you could fill it in with dirt if you have a septic system in your in your property or on your property instead of removing it completely. Yeah. So, you can fill it in with dirt, sand, whatever the criteria may be. All right. Um, Councilman Hearn, sir. Yes. Uh, to respond to your comments, which, um, I completely understand. as a property owner, you want to have uh say into which option you choose, which works best for you. Um I will go back to what Councilman Goan said. There's a difference in opinion um on this whole matter. Some some did want the advanced septic and there was actually a lot there was a lot of uh comments in favor of going to a sewer system. Um, however, in order to re receive funding for either direction that we take, uh, there's still going to it's going to be a mandate required either way. So, for the half that would like to go advanced septic, uh, that, you know, would be in your favor, then you have the other half that would rather choose to go sewer. So, if you don't have 100% on board for either or, we're not going to receive the funding. And that goes back to the whole uh issue of possible homeowners having to foot

the bill. So we're trying to avoid that as well moving to a uh more futuristic style of managing our septic or sewage and that's why I'm in favor of the sewer. Um, so I completely understand, uh, as stated, the intentions, at least in my understanding, intentions of the council is not to be punitive to the homeowners. We're just trying to move the city forward in a better way of managing our sewer systems here. Um, I think this language is, as was stated, this is a citywide, and when we say citywide, that doesn't just mean the city of Coco. That also means our neighboring partners that we service as well. uh in other cities as well. So that's why this language is here. I'm sure the citizens of Coco uh wouldn't want to foot a bill for a new development going on in Vieiraa. So I think that's why this language is put in this uh ordinance. So I hope that clears up a little of the misunderstanding, but I I definitely understand the the concern of wanting to, you know, choose what works best for you. So Mr. Walsh. Sir, what is the criteria? Is it mandatory 100% connection if depending on it? Can you differentiate the two for me please? Mr. Yeah, I think I think the uh the requirements to take the grant from Sarin River Lagoon require a mandatory connection. I don't know if every project in Bvard County that's received those funds has gotten a 100% but I know that they've had significant uh participation across the board. I mean that that's really all I know at this point. I've asked a few and you know I think for the most part because their ordinance has already been on the books. Their mandatory connection has

been on the books for years and they are primarily a sewer utility meaning about 99% of their revenue comes from sewer and they have two small water plants in I think in Mims and down in Barefoot Bay that do about 200,000 gallons a day where we do 20 million a day. uh so scale-wise so you understand uh but I think they've had uh you know a different response and they have a different path because they are a sewer generating revenue uh utility um but I I believe they've had a high percentage and I think we would want to achieve the highest percentage the language in the in the general contract from save our Indian river lagoon says 100% required to connect otherwise the clawback provision comes back which means We need to pay back any of the save our Indian dollars that we got for people who don't connect. So it's imperative that we comprehend that to its fullest. And my my my one last question to you sir is can our sewer system accommodate this? If we do not have the proper funding, if we do not get 100% connection, how do we offset the cost? Where do we get the money from? Well, I mean the the idea of this project is I mean we are seeking five, six, almost $7 million in joint matching funding on top of the funding from the half penny sales tax. So, the sales tax is designated about $6.7 million. And we're going to try to leverage that with a a D grant and a uh and another grant so that we can maximize the total pool of dollars for this u complex, you know, installation because of the coina and such. It's not as normal. It's it's not normal scale to spend that kind of money on on that shortage a distance for 88 lots, but because of the the uh the conditions along the coast there and the rock shelf, it really is going to be challenging. So, you know, the the goal

is to try to capture as much funding as we can. Right now, based on previous action by this council, we've u uh identified uh $1.2 2 million of the 6.7 already designated from Save our Indian River Lagoon that we would use that towards the private side of the homeowner connections, meaning what we're talking about here today, which is this septic tank abandonment or replacement or removal depending on what council feels is necessary in how the uh language is amended. So, um and then $1.8 million would be the match. So that would get us the 3 million that we were estimating to deal with and hopefully be more than what we need. So if if the cost to do the septic is 2 million on everybody's end, then there's no cost. If it is over, then there's things to talk about. And that's why that ordinance needs to be identified and at least adopted so we can even qualify for the money and then be implemented somewhere probably further down the line will be brought back to council once we get closer to actually implementing the project. meaning we've got funding lined up, we've got everything that we need, and now we get those bids in, and now we can see how close we are. And if we're close, we might be in great shape. If it's really far away, maybe council chooses to go a different direction. But you'll have that option, at least based on the way I've read this ordinance, because it's the way it's been structured on a project bypro basis to make that determination. I think I think nobody is saying at least you know these last few council meetings I think we are talking about putting the framework together so we can make the choice at the right time. We're not making that choice tonight about whether it's being spent or not or being implemented or not. We are simply identifying that the ordinance needs to be in place for us to even begin to qualify for D and other grants that are floating around there and make us more competitive in which to receive those grants. Thank you sir. Again, this is the framework. Um, there's no determination tonight, ladies

and gentlemen, in reference a particular project. Councilman Gomez, Mr. Walsh, C, can you say that private side um both numbers, the matching and the grant? Yeah. So, u the private side, we applied for uh a 319 D grant uh for 3 million total, 1.2 to being pledged by the city via Save Our Indian River Lagoon, assuming we get that and that money has been set aside for us. So, there isn't any reason why we wouldn't think we wouldn't have that to use. And then the other 1.8 would be their match. So, the 1.8 in addition to the 6.7 total. So, when you look at the 6.7, if I'm pledging 1.2 of it for the private side, that leaves 5.5 roughly. And if I go for a 50/50 match for the other grant for the p for the public infrastructure, that's going to put us at 11 million. Rough numbers. And and I don't want to put you on a spot on this to give you a number, but do we I know we at one point had an estimated number from house to connection. Was that like between 15 and 20? I mean I mean per household say per household 15 20,000. It was like 30 33. It was it was high. And I think uh you know again I did a very quick estimate and a just a high level estimate because at the time and that was a couple years ago but I wanted it to be high so that we have money to use. I don't want to come short. I don't want to leave it thin. I would rather estimate high and if you remember I had three sections because a standard straight service line even if it's 150 ft back for some of those large setbacks is pretty straightforward. But when you've got a retaining wall and you've got a pool and you got to go around the side and you got trees in the way and and all the other things that I saw on the folks who are on the very north end, some of those folks may end up being below the road. So there may be a small replacement of a pump in order to lift probably what they're lifting up

to a septic system, which is the drain field up at the edge of the road because their house is down on the on literally at the water's edge. Uh it would be the same thing. We'd want to lift that water into the sewer system so it can then drain on the gravity system. So we tried to do like a a minimum, a medium, and a high cost. Average those together, and I think we came out plus or minus 3 million, and then that's kind of where we landed on that. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. I was glad to see you didn't have the clock running. I didn't hear you. Glad to see you didn't have the clock running, but it will now. My name is Frank My name is Frank Sullivan. Live at 1705 North Indian River Drive. I've lived on Indian River Drive in Coco for almost 85 years in a family home that was passed down through my through the different generations. I've retired like many of our neighbors. We don't live in mansions and we don't have lots of extra money to live to turn into this this sewer. And I say that because I've heard from that Das that these are wealthy people just going to make their houses worth more. So I was shocked when the city council voted to saddle us with 100% of the unknown costs for a new sewer project. No other Cocoa neighborhood has ever been treated that way. In 2007, Peach Tree residents were not charged at all on Indian River Circle. Uh they paid just 40% and even now nine of those 34 homes have had not uh connected. And as of January of 24, the city approved and fully funded the

now Friday Road and Osage Street utility extension project near I95 out and around State Road 528. That $8 million sewer and water project was not charged to the developer once from the city. Pardon? Continue, sir. Okay. Um, why are we being treated differently? Is it because we live on Indian River Drive and assume to be wealthy? Many of us are not. We're retired families and working people. This isn't right. The city council should resend the vote. We desire the same respect that every other resident of Coco gets. Thank you, sir. I have a question, sir. Which, Mr. Mayor, which resident on Picture Street that we I'm asking you the same as I asked Mrs. Smith. Can you identify the home or homes that this is supposed to have taken place? No, just a picture street. So, you don't know if it's a home, if it's a business? No, sir. So, you can't give me 100% uh specifically speaking? No. All I can say that there was a project there on Peach Tree Street. Was there Was there one? You say residents. I'm thinking the home. I just want to know the home. That's I don't know. Thank you, sir. First. And Mr. Mayor, our sympathies for you, the loss of your father. I sat on several boys with him and he was a great asset to the community. Learned a lot from him. Thank you, sir. God bless. Um, next is Tammy Carter, please. And then after Tammy, um, Miss Celeste Colorado, are you speaking

for Gary as well, ma'am, when you come up next? Yes, sir. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Hi. One thing I'd like to start with mentioning this thought on my prepared mark was in 2022 when we talked about it. I believe it was released to from the city and it would have been the individual homeowners that would have to apply for the grants for the anorobic systems just as a point instead of going through the city. So we just need to check that. My one concern of Okay, we'll discuss that. But my one concern was that um they say that this is a framework. You've said this numerous times. So I've got to say a series of questions and then you guys can, you know, address my concerns. If it's a framework, then is it binding? And if it's a framework, then why is Lorine not allowed to vote if nothing's binding and it's come forward? And if it's a framework and it mentions, you know, the sewer and the staff refers to JNK and Indian River Drive. Is it really a framework? Um the other question is why is the ordinance because he's referring to, you know, we have to address it in 2030, but then if you look at the the 2030, you will still be allowed to have septic tanks or a central sewer system in 2030. you won't be um allow not allowed to have an advanced septic system if the sewer line is not available. You can still have that in 2030. Um according to SB1632 and executive order 2306 and I totally agree with the gentleman if they have done the right thing and put the septic system in already, they should not be penalized and have to pay more to keep the same services they have now. And the other question is why is the ordinance creating two different classes of citizens? It states in isolated and extraordinary hardship instances the ulility director may exempt owners of a property from a mandatory city connection required here

within upon finding that the connection to the city sewer is not feasible and does not adversely affect the public. But new words have been added. So if you live in the special septic one AJ and K the you it says that they however the utility director shall not exempt any property owner that is required by the city council to connect to the city sewer pursuant to section 22-52. So that seems to say if you are in this special class, it doesn't matter if it's going to bankrupt you, if you can't afford it, if your system's too hard, somehow you're going to have to pay the money and you there's no hardship, there's no excuse. Um, so that's basically Oh, and if the city basically in your website, you says in 2026 the resolution will come before the city for approval of assessment. How can you have an assessment in 2026 when the project is not started and then if you get a cost over one in 2027, are you going to come back and assess us again? Anyway, thank you. Those was my comments. City manager, could you address those comments from her, please? Yeah, she had she had more than than a few comments. I mean, on the on the website, that's just a a a guesstimate at a timeline. the assessment will be put in place when it uh when it's necessary to put it in place. That may be 2026, that may be 2029. And so um so the assessment occurs after all costs are known. Um the what were your other questions, ma'am? Um, one was about the language in the um, ordinance um, differentiating between Yeah, I think on I think on page six, the ability of the utilities director to the to grant hardship actually speaks to the uh, the change in the statute there.

So, so I don't, you know, if if the sewer line is available, Florida statute requires you to hook up and so I don't think he can exempt anybody out from that. Um, and so I think this speaks to that. Um, however, it seemed like the original clause I read at first was still in there and then there was a additional clause that added a separate stipul stipulation for the mandatory connection. So, if that's true, then the first one should be stripped. Well, I think I can address that. I think it's syncing up with Florida statutes, but I'll let the attorney hand. No, let me let me just address that. Okay. So, currently the city of Coco does not have a mandate um sew a mandate provision. Um and and the reason why I say that is under 22-5 the existing city code there is a mechanism where the utilities director can allow a property owner to continue using a functioning septic system. So that's existing policy. Now some updates were made to 22-5 um for just update purposes. However, the city council directed that there be a mechanism to mandate sewer hookup in those circumstances where the city's going to have a a a public city sewer line expansion. So, a separate section of the code is being proposed 22-5.2 two to address those projectby project cases um which may include like a J&K for example but could include other projects on a case-bycase basis where if the city council initiates those projects the city mandates the connection to the city

sewer system. So there was never any direction from the city council to citywide make mandatory sewer hookups um required for existing septic tanks. So I mean obviously the city could if it city council if it wanted to make the entire city subject to a mandatory sewer hookup. Um but that is that is not that is not what um the council directed and it's not consistent with longstanding existing policy regarding existing um functioning septic systems. So there yeah indeed there are two there are two specific classes for lack of better term using I think your language but um you know in order to pursue um grant funding for example with JNK there needs to be a mechanism to mandate sewer hookup with respect to that project and potent and potentially other city projects in in the future. Sure. So that's that's why the ordinance is written the way it's written. And then there's no out for if you your property is too difficult to hook up or too difficult to remove the sewer or it costs too much if you have to have the pump and it's $50,000. There's no outs. You basically are stuck. Okay. Thank you. Unless we all go to septic advancement. Well, on that on that point, Mayor, I just want I should probably add too that, you know, under the new proposed section 22-5, it it involves a a a new sewer line project, but at the time that

project is is identified, the city council has to um describe the project area. And it's the project area that will be required to hook up as part of the project. And you know I I know this is and manager maybe Jack would probably know more than I but there is a potential downside for identifying a project area in the um tetratech report on the save our Indian River Lagoon for not requiring mandatory hookup. that downside is a redu proportionate reduction of grant funding based on the reduction of nitrogen that will be added um that's supposedly going to be removed on an annual basis from the Indian River Lagoon. So when and if the city council decides to describe a project area um like that's in the tetrate report um in JNK for example um you'll have to wrestle with that decision whether or not you want to allow anyone with advanced septic or other septic system to be excluded from the JK area because it's going to be a proportionate reduction in grant funding. So, you know, that that's not the issue before the council tonight, but I just wanted to raise it. And that's why this framework gives the city council the discretion and leeway at a later date when that project is moving forward to address all of these complex issues. Thank you. One of the questions you did not answer. If there's a framework, is it binding? question. Yeah. Well, the framework is is lays out a a binding process, but it's a process. It's not mandating or

requiring any specific action of the council other than here's a framework by which these decisions can be made and finalized. Okay. Miss Celeste Cor and please identify the person who you're speaking for as well and then after Miss Celeste it will be Bill Riddle. Um Mr. Stinette sir she has six minutes sir. So am I representing myself as well too in the same three and three. Okay. Thank you sir. Um let me start with um my representing myself first because I'm kind of piggy back bank off what some of the others have said. Listen, if if I were to just sum up what's happening here um on a human basis, we're talking about the difference between being forced into a single solution with uncapped risk versus a choice. And I would say most citizens would choose a choice. And you're getting you're you're sort of I think that's why you're getting so much energy from all of us. Nobody wants to be forced into a situation. We all have very different I guess parameters around what's happening on our on our on our property. So we need a choice. Now what's interesting is if you look at the House bill, there is a choice built into that. So, I guess the question I will leave for this council, are you going to let the restrictive language in a grant supersede the right to choose? And that's what's happening here. You're going to get a lot of blowback probably throughout this whole process, not just now on being forced into single solution with prohibited risk. You're you're just going to get trouble all the way through this process. You can vote on this ordinance, but I'm telling you, we're

not going to quit. It's just I don't think you would either if you were boxed into a corner. The second point I want to make a little bit more personal to piggyback on what Mr. Wood said. I do have an advanced septic system. It's four years worth. It's working extremely well. It's doing its job and it's not a big deal. And to respond to Mr. goens on his point on, you know, there's been push back. Every one of the push backs I've heard from residents, it's because they don't own own it and they don't they they're missing some facts. When we sit down with the facts, that sort of viewpoint changes. So, I want to just bring that up. There's, you know, just factbased that needs to be done on these advanced septics. So, like I said, question before you, are you going to let the restricted language of grants force supersede residents right to choose? So, that's all I'm going to say on my own behalf. Mr. Celeste, would you address us as a body as a whole and not call the person's name out? Sure. But I'm just I'm just saying I'm asking. Certainly, sir. Ma'am, not a problem. Go ahead. Finish your time. Okay. I'll let you all elaborate. Okay. Um, I'm done with that and thank you for listening on that point. And this is I'm proxy for Mr. Gary Ainaga. He can't be here and he asked me to read this out. So, it'll be a straight reading out if that's okay. So, with regard to the ordinance voted on last month, um, regarding septic to sewer conversions and in particular the section that allows the city to pass on cost overruns to affected homeowners, a sign a significant point remains unanswered. In the document that the city manager sent to council along with the ordinance, it says that the city attorney has determined that the city can assess affected homeowners if they

have a direct and special benefit from the project. I request that a response be provided as to what exactly is the direct and special benefit to affected homeowners. One, is it not having our properties disrupted, excavated, and otherwise damaged or reconfigured? Two, is it not having the privilege of having to pay additional utility charges going forward? Or three, it is it is it not any perceived increase in value to our homes. There is no evidence of this. Study after study shows that property values for homes with septic are at least equal, if not higher, in value to comparable homes and sewer systems. The above points are clearly not direct and special benefits that affected homeowners will receive, but instead are detriments, and they truly are. The above points, let's see, um the benefit from converting septic to sewer is the same for all rateayers, residents and businesses alike. The benefit is that the city will do will be doing its part to help restore water quality to the IRL which will help to preserve restore the economic, environmental and quality of life attributes that the IRL has historically provided to these rateayers. This is an equal benefit to all and not just to affected homeowners. Therefore, any cost overrun justified justified by the city should be equally distributed among all rate payers in the city. If the city can't explain and demonstrate a quote unquote direct and special benefit to affected homeowners, then the city should modify its position and change the language in the ordinance to read the justified co cost overruns may be passed on to all rateayers who are the true beneficiaries of septic to sewer

conversion projects. Anything less would be unethical. It would not likely stand up to legal challenges. I ask that you respond to my question asking exactly what the direct and special benefit is to affected homeowners. Thank you in advance, Gary Aginaga. Thank you very much. Thank you, sir. I have a question for you directly. So, are you just just a simple simple answer on this one? Are you in support of advanced septic or are you in support of septic to sewer? I like that question because quite frankly if if the if the connect to sewer was reasonable and was equal to what it would what my system cost. I think there is reason to look at that. But the way it's worded right now, I would choose advanced septic any day. It's working extremely well. I'm not having any problems. So, hopefully that answers your question. Yeah, y'all making my day today. Okay. Yeah. Keep going. Thank you. You're um Mr. Mayor, you were pointing at me. I'm not sure what that meant. Ma'am, you're spot on, ma'am. That's what I'm saying. The advanced septic system. And the funding is there for the advanced septic system. Is that correct, Mr. Walsh? Yes, sir. It's a different funding source and it's I think still $18,000 per lot for advancing in the Indian River. The Indian River is being enhanced. How do I know? Because there's a gentleman I we get in his boat and we travel down there and I was born and reared right here in Coco or at Coco. So I live it, see it. I've seen the trout right there in the Indian River. I've seen the seahorses right there as well. Excuse me. The horse crabs, the little brown round ones, the mullets when they used to jump

because it's coming back. It is growing. Yes. I want to take the phosphorus and nitrogen out of the water. If I may, I'mma leave that alone because Okay. I got I might add Well, if I may add two more points to go. May I add two more points to just what you said? Please go. So along this point, what if we just look common sense-wise, if the cost starts superseding 18, say 18 to 20,000, what it would cost to put for homeowners to put an advanced system, it doesn't this connect to sewer doesn't make any sense. It's super risky. So that's the first point. And then I would um from what was said before on the lack of understanding of advanced septic, I say we put together a fact sheet for those owners that have owned it for a long period of time. There's a lot of misconceptions. I'm happy to do that. I bet I bet you Mr. Wood would be happy to do that. Well, and there's a few others of us. And just get the facts there. You know, there are some issues with it, but it's finite. It's identifiable cost. I know exactly what I'm going to pay every year. So, okay. Thank you very much, ma'am, for your valuable important interview. But you know what? I want to say thank you, Mrs. I thank you for having the courage to come forward and say what you are experiencing personally and I applaud that. Uh, Councilman Herman, the light is on, sir. Yes. Uh to your last point that there is already information that's been handed out uh to the community in regards to the facts. Um also I just I would ask everyone to just take a look back in in time of how we got to where we are today. How many no votes, how many times you know moving from septic to sewer was that vote came and failed. Um it was a hard fight to get to where we are now. Um

my thought process is I thought we were all in favor of this project. Um that's why I was so I'm still passionate for it even if you know things were to happen where this this situation reverts to another option um such as advanced septic. But from what I'm getting is it's it's almost like trying to help someone that don't want to be helped at this point. Um and so uh you know if if we were to go back I can almost guarantee we won't get the votes like I said it was it was a hard fight to get to where we are now and it seems like from what I'm hearing from the residents and you all you have to deal with this this is your home this is your community so what you how you guys feel is it matters and uh as as a representative of District 2. Um it's my job to represent you all as well. And so um all I can say if if the the feelings of the community is to revert back to a different option such s such as the advanced septic um if that's that's what the community wants. Um I would go ahead and say I I would respect that. Um uh it just sucks that you know we're trying to move forward. um and it's not getting through that in order to receive the funding to prevent residents from having to foot the bill. It it takes this framework and this mandatory connect U ordinance and for some reason that's not getting through. Um so I'll just leave it at that. Thank you, Council Deputy May Weeks. Um I just want to piggy back off of what uh you said. I know that at our when we voted this um last time, most of the people who were

here were in favor of uh septic to sewer. Uh they just did not want the unknown costs. Tonight we seem to have a lot of the the advanced septic people, but I do think uh it has seemed to be much more of the people who want septic tower and don't want the cost. And I'm hoping that we can address that later. But um and definitely taking out the portion that has been about the uh having to remove the septic and being able to clax. That was one of the two things consistently I've been talked to about. So that is a board of that's a step in the right direction and uh so again we need to obviously keep hearing from everybody but we'll discuss more of this later. Okay. Bill Riddle sir come on down young man. after Bill Riddle will be Tank Sherman. Yeah, man. Thank you, Mayor Blake. I appreciate you're saying young. Today is the 79th anniversary of my birth. Yes, sir. Man, happy birthday there. Thank you. Finally, you qualify for social security. Hold the clock. Hold the clock. Hold the clock, please. Thank you, my brother. I appreciate you. Happy birthday. Thank you, sir. Okay. Um, thank you, Mr. Mr. Hearns and Mr. Blake. I appreciate y'all talking about the river and how it used to be. That's good historical stuff for us to know. Um the the thing I would ask, you know, if this was a science fair project, I don't think we'd get a really good grade on it because we didn't start out by measuring the level of nitrogen in the river. We never did define what we want the level of nitrogen to be. And I live on the river

and I have seen in the last years the river improving. I see dolphin. I see horseshoe crab. I see grass in the river and that's good. So, uh, whatever we're doing is making incremental uh, improvement in the river. Uh, I also want to say that I would were I more skilled in computers, I would have sent each of y'all the email that many of y'all got from Linda Dolphin and from uh Ross Clark. I concur with the points they made. The other questions I would ask are ones that I've asked before and that is what every what is everybody else on the lagoon doing to solve this problem? I mean we you know little Coco is not very a big percentage of what stretches all the way down south and up north past Titusville. Uh the other question that I will have and I I was reading the uh the proposed ordinance on page 7 of 10 paragraph L says existing residential houses, buildings or properties with existing properly functioning septic tanks or other existing properly functioning on-site sewage treatment or disposal system shall not be required to connect to the or use the city's sewer system. What does that's confusing to me. Also, uh I would look to the council to solve the problem by doing things like uh authorizing advanced septic or perhaps requiring people that have

existing septic systems to periodically at their own expense have those tanks pumped. We've been doing that at our house for ever since I've been there. Every couple of years we have our septic tank pumped and uh that that may help. U so thank you very much for your attention. Thank you very much Mr. Re and happy birthday young man. Thank you sir. Um, before I even get started, as you all know, I mean, I got I have mad love and respect for Mother's Day, which was last month, but this up and coming Sunday, we have Father's Day, correct? So, to all the dads out there, happy Father's Day to you. And all my military veterans, both females and males, like I said earlier, one of the individuals in here, it's a she that do a great job, too, as well. Okay. The honorable veteran, yours truly, Mr. Tank Sherman. Would you come forward after Mr. Tank Foreman would be um Jeanie Day? Jeannie Day is here. Raise your hand, please. Thank you, county ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Yes, Mr. Mayor, council members, and uh city manager. My name is Tank Sherman. My wife and I have lived on the Indian River in the affected area for the past five years where we knocked down her mother's house. Her mother lived there since 1950. We have moved there from Carlton Terrace. Yes, sir. Where we also had to due to the water department had to destroy an old septic and build a new one in the front and pump it around to the front. However, moving into her mother's house, we had to destroy three septic systems and now we have one. We had to have it moved because the city's ordinance was not compatible with my wishes. It was above ground. So

things have changed, but that's part of the history of where I I guess I'm coming from. But uh I do want to applaud this council because you are addressing this problem. I first heard about this in 1996, which was 29 years ago. So you're you've been kicking it down the road, tableabling this. Okay. So now I I respect that you're finally going to do something about this problem. And I know it's a very difficult one. Um, as clearly, repetitively, and unarguably stated numerous times in this ordinance, the project is necessary for the safety, health, and benefit the welfare of all public. Okay. However, the current wording of the ordinance is hypocritical because it states that those who benefit from the project contribute their fair share and that is not being done. um the 88 homeowners, if they were to accept an overrun of $1 million, that would be $11,363 a piece. That doesn't include the connecting, which I don't have a problem with. Uh and um I also object to the part about the abandonment versus the removal because that is another big chunk of change that would impact every one of those homeowners. So, um um anyway, if if everybody benefits, then everybody should pay for it. And we're using funds that are generated from everybody in the state. We're doing taxes. We're accepting SOIRL money. These are generated from lots of people. They should all have to pay. And um anyway um I think um I personally accept responsibility for connecting and I think it's a wonderful

idea. It's way beyond time to do that but uh it's uh I just think all who benefit should pay their share. Thank you. Thank you very much Mr. Sherman. Uh next will be Miss Day. Mrs. Day and after Mrs. day. Is it Ian day? Ian, are you here? Um, ladies first. Thank you, counselor. And you will follow, sir. Mr. Mayor and city council. Yes, ma'am. My name is Jeannie Day and I live on Indian River Drive. We're all here tonight to ask you to modify the proposed city ordinance section 22-5 code amendment regarding septic to sewer connection. I would be directly impacted by this ordinance. We love the Indian River Lagoon so much that we live on it. But the Indian River Lagoon did not vote for you. The Indian River Lagoon is not your constituent. I voted for you and I'm your constituent. You have an obligation to me and I to you. And I think we should strive together for a win-win solution. Section F of this amended ordinance stipulates that the city may pass on all or part of the cost overruns. This is like the city saying that I have to buy a car. It's going to give me down payment. It doesn't know how much the car is going to cost, but I got to buy it anyway. It would be ridiculous for any homeowner to agree to that. This section F is not necessary to bid this project or proceed. That is not a win-win situation. I ask that this section F be struck. Secondly, section C requires the homeowner to remove his septic tank. This is unnecessary and punitive, not a win-win solution. We ask that the language be changed to abandon septic tank. And finally, the city of Coco has an official JNK septic to sewer timeline

on its website. The timeline does state that in 2026, the city will have a resolution for a special assessment to make the homeowners pay for any cost overruns of this project. It's it's on the official website. This can only mean that the city knows that they cannot fully fund this project. We have no choice but to oppose this. This is not a win-win solution. The best way, as I see it, is to do the project within the budget that we have. If it's a $10 million, if we have $10 million and do a $10 million project, not a $20 million project and pass on the excess to the homeowners, that is the win-win solution. Thank you very much and my condolences to you. Thank you, Mayor Blake. Thank you. Thank you, Canada. All right, Mr. D. I yield my time as it would be duplicative. Yes, sir. Thank you, Canada, sir. Um Todd Briggs, come forward, please. So, I'm understanding you're reading Linda Dolphin. Is that correct? Uh I have a card for her that I am reading and I'm also here for myself. So, I'll start with her. Sounds like. Okay. I'm trying to give you six minutes, sir. Three plus. I'll do both. Okay. There you go. Mr. Stanette, sir, would you be honorable to do so? Thank you, sir. So, Linda wanted to share the contents of an email that she had sent to council. Uh, she wanted to share some important facts about the Cocoa property tax contributions made by just 87 homeowners along North Indian River Drive in the JNK project area.

These residents represent just over half a percent of all Coco homes. Yet, they pay over 2% of the city's total property tax revenue. So, that's an average of $3,348 for for J and K uh compared to $853 for all other Coco households. Meanwhile, more than 3,100 Coco properties pay less than $300 per year in property taxes. This all raises serious questions of fairness, especially as this small group is now being asked to absorb 100% of unknown infrastructure cost overruns for a public sewer project that benefits the broader community and provides an asset to the city. I hope you'll take this into consideration as you review the city's policies around assessments and funding responsibility and resend the vote at this at this meeting particularly section F. That's Linda's piece. So I was I hadn't thought about common sense and and Thomas Payne in a while. you you mentioned that at the beginning. So I I did some quick thinking and research on what what that was about. Uh so Thomas Payne wrote that in 1775 1776 for the military men of George Washington. Yes, that's right. Advocating independence from Great Britain to people in the 13 colonies. Marked by clear and persuasive pros, Payne collected various moral and political arguments to encourage common people in the colonies to fight for ealitarian government. Okay, so what's egalitarian government? A school of thought within political philosophy that builds on the concept of

social equity and the idea that all humans are equal in fundamental worth or moral status. H I thought we're not doing that. That's not common sense. We're we're targeting a subset of homeowners in Coco that are already, to Linda's point, already paying four times the average property tax. We are already paying our fair share and more. It's it's not common sense to target us. A framework that allows it is not common sense. It's not egalitarian. The benefits are enjoyed by all of Koko. So all of Koko should pay for any cost overruns. That's why I say strike section F. That's common sense. Thank you. What do you do with an overrun, Mr. uh Mr. Riggs, and we have an overrun of we cannot financially support it and that cost is passed onto the system. What about individuals on a structured income um that cannot afford an increase in there's plenty of those individuals in J and K. Hey sir, I'm asking a question. What do you do about an 80year-old lady or 75y old lady or man? Well, it's a lot easier. It's a lot easier if it's spread amongst everyone instead of focused on 87 homes. Yeah. But if they live on a structured income, how do you accommodate them? And when we have the system, an advanced septic system that addresses the concerns of it and that is proper tonight. I'm not on We have the adequate funding to cover that, sir. We have the adequate funding to cover that and we have growth in the Indian River. We have mother nature returning to its natural form. It is happening in our very very very own eyes, sir. And I've been here for 65 years from day one. January the 8th, 1960. Elvis Presley and I, we hung out together. So that's my

thing, Mr. uh Rig. Sir, I want to paint you the entire picture. So, how do I talk to someone over there living in the housing authority? Come and ask me, Michael Blake, Mr. Blake. So, we move forward. We get we get the real numbers on the project as opposed to Oops. Try not to lean on this. We need to move forward on the project. We need to get the real numbers. We need to understand what that is. We We don't know that today, but we don't need to target 87 homeowners to move forward. Sir, we need set that aside. Move forward. We have the funding. Jack Walsh, Mr. Jack Walsh stated that we have the funding for the advancement of a septic system that is state-of-the-art, sir, that reduces the nitrogen and phosphorus ingredients in our water system, sir. Um, there's also, like you said, return of mammal life, the dolphins. So, so you're advocating advanced septic. Oh, okay. Okay. Well, then I'll grant that it's better than what we have. I'll grant that I have a septic system that is Thank you. woefully out of date and needs to be replaced there along waiting for some path forward. The funding is there for you. I thank you, sir. I thank you. Well, fundamentally, we need to do something. How long have we been dithering and dickering about this? Thank you, Mr. Herd. Uh, Mrs. Astred Herd. Thank you very much. All right. Hi, my name is Astred Herd. Um, I live at 861 Indian River Drive and as we are all here uh tonight to ask you to modify this proposed city ordinance. Um, first I want to point out that the

exemptions clause is way too vague. Uh, it does not stipulate even large charact categories of exemption types. Um, and I would want to amend this clause to be a little more specific. Uh, secondly, section C requires the homeowner to remove his septic tank. This is unnecessary. We ask that the language be changed to abandon the septic tank. not remove. Um so please make this change to section C. Uh and then finally section F of the amended ordinance stipulates that the city may pass on all or part of the cost overruns for a septic to sewer project to the homeowners. This includes the placement of the actual sewer pipe. It would be ridiculous for any homeowner to agree to that. Uh, this new section F is not necessary to bid the project or proceed. Please delete it. Finally, the city of Coco has an official JNK subject to sewer timeline on its website. The timeline states that in 2026, the city will have a resolution for a special assessment to make the homeowners pay for any cost overruns of the project. It is on the official website. This can only mean the city knows they cannot totally fund this project. We have no choice but to oppose this suggestion. Do the project within the budgets that we have. Just do pieces at a time. Um and lastly is my big question. If this is a city-wide ordinance, why is notification by a letter from I believe it was Joe Walsh only to the residents of the name sections JK? Why why wasn't the letter sent to everybody in the city? Um,

so that's about all I have. The main thing is that section F really needs to be removed. Um, I have no problem with going to a sewer system, but my problem is with being stuck with the risk and um overruns of the project. Thank you. Thank you very much, ma'am. Um, next is Michael Biggs. And after Michael Biggs will be Jeffrey Brown. Good evening. My name is Michael Biggs. I live at 859 North Indian River Road. This is my first uh meeting at the city council, and it's a pleasure to be here. Um, when my neighbors explained to me uh about section F and the cost overruns, I really thought that they were mistaken in the way they understood it cuz with the benefit to all constituents within Coco and then being assessed for cost overruns to a small group of individuals, I found it unconscionable and I never thought that it would be true. As I'm hearing it tonight for the first time, uh I'm baffled and amazed that it is. The one good thing I heard tonight, uh which I was also concerned about, we have a good functioning uh septic tank. Uh but if we were required to uh move to the sewer system, uh that we'd have to remove that functioning tank when it would be much more coste effective um and ecologically sound to fill that tank. So if there is some movement on the council tonight, I appreciate that. My wife and I are both

retired. I'm 67 years old. Um, our number one cost, single cost per year is my property tax. And very concerning even from the comments I heard from you, mayor, about uh not willing to spread those costs among the city. Um, I'm very concerned about that because the city benefits from the Indian River Lagoon and I think any cost overruns should be absorbed by all of the citizens of this city. That's all I have to say. Thank you very much, Mr. Biggs. That's we own the utility system. Jeffrey Brown as you know sir and then after Jeffrey uh Brown will be um Sarah Bradley Sprdlin excuse me. Do we have a Jeffrey Brown? No Jeffrey Brown. Um Sarah Bradley please come forward. And then then after that will be Xavier Rivera. Sarah Spreadlin. I live at 925 North Indian River Drive. And I want to thank you, uh, Mayor Blake, for voting against this monstrosity of this ous ruling against all of us. You have a great attorney, Anthony. Uh, but it's all um against us. It's for however you all wanted him to write it. So I think without telling us how much it's going to cost when all this is going to happen. I'm very stressed out about it. I rarely get very stressed. Condolences on your father and I've talked with Leander over the phone. He

knows how I feel. And I've lived here over 30 years in the area over 50 years. I taught at Fairland Elementary. We own Sarah's westernware and I was in real estate 22 years. My husband worked at the space center pre-app. So we think we earned a little more courtesy, a little more notice and I read through this. I'm not an attorney and Anthony, you did a good job for them, not for us the people. I just We haven't even had time to talk to our attorney. Please address us as a whole. Thank you, Miss Bradley. You're beautiful, ma'am. Thank you. All right. Where's Mr. Rivera? Come forward, young man. Last card unless before we start. Hold on, Mr. Rivera. Before you elaborate, do we have any other additional cards pertaining to this particular item? Okay, floor is yours, sir, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Good evening, council. Good evening to mayor. Good evening to everybody. Thank you. Um, everything has been kind of covered. Not everything. I just like to say what I already wrote. There's a couple different things I like to suggest. Um, obviously my name is Xavier. I'm part of the JNK project. I want to empa emphasize that many homeowners, including myself, were not fully aware of the specific financial impacts and details of this ordinance before it was adopted. We all use the Indian River Lagoon, which everyone said we believe the whole community should split the cost. We will discuss that later. I understand that we need to pass this ordinance to secure grants, but we definitely need to be clearer in more protective language for JNK. Given these

concerns, I respectfully request that the council reconsider amend ordinance 032025, including the following section B and C. These sections require homeowners to connect at their own expense. Please add language to ensure that homeowners costs will be offset by available grant city funds or external resources secured by the city. Number two on F, you guys already discussed this section allows the city to access all over a portion of project cost to homeowners. I ask that it will be amended to ensure homeowner costs are capped at a fair share after all secure grant funding and city contributions are applied. And number E, this section imposes monthly readiness to serve fees and homeowners who cannot afford to connect on time. Please amend this section to prevent these changes until the city can secure enough funding to reduce the homeowner costs. Number four, hardship exemptions. This current this current hardship exemption does not include financial hardship. I request that this be expanded to include financial hardship as a valid reason for exemption, especially the older people that are on a fixed income. Number five, regular public updates. This ordinance did not require consistent updates to homeowners or grant funding to pro to for project status. Please add a requirement for the quarterly or monthly public updates so homeowners are fully informed of what is going on. So, I do have a question, mayor. Uh, you kept mentioning actually I didn't know, Jack Walsh, I actually have a I had another property that was I did got $15,000 to replace my septic and at that time I checked on Indian River and it didn't qualify. This was about a year and a half ago. So, my question to you, mayor, and to council and to everybody. So, are you suggesting that if we do have funding that if we do change it, what would what would happen to this ordinance? That's where I'm a little confused on everybody. Well, that's where I stand anyways. Still the ordinance written. We still have the And

like I said, I understand we have to pass the ordinance to get grants to get grants for the city of Coco at the end of the day because anything o surplus we could spend to the city and I understand how grants work. I applied for grants in the past. So, we always want to spend it because if not, they're going to cut us in the future. But that is my time. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Rivera. Yes, sir. Um, Council Goen, sir. M Mr. River, what's your uh what's your cap number? Excuse me. What's your cap number? What? Oh, I haven't That depends on everybody. I didn't write the cap number. That's That's If it was my cap number, it would be $100. That's That's a Come on. That's a That's a So, I'm sure I won't ask you for the cap. Yeah, exactly. I pay I We all pay our fair share of property taxes on Indian River. Trust me on that. Now that I know there's $300 in property taxes, I got to purchase another property in Coco. That's for sure. Okay. Um, is that it, Council Goins? Yes, sir. Okay. Um, I would like to hear from Deputy Mayor Weeks and then I would like to hear from the city manager. Well, hear from the city attorney first and then the city uh manager. No, no, no. I want to hear from you first. Um um I appreciate everybody who who has we'll call if we need we'll call you back. Okay. Thank you. Um I appreciate I appreciate what everybody has uh said here tonight. I've been contacted by many of you, talked with many of you, gotten lots and lots of emails and wrestled with this extremely. Um, and again, I do uh applaud the change into um not having to remove, but you can abandon the the tank current tanks there. Um, I would like to remove the

section F from the ordinance, and this is my rationale on this. Um, it's causing many many unintended side effects, some of which have not been brought up here today. Um, I've heard from many homeowners uh that they want to see the project move forward. I know some of you today are are not in favor, but many of you want to see it move forward. Um, and I will say with this hanging over, it's going to make homes harder to sell. And as a realtor, I realize that because as in the condos, they're not moving right now because people are terrified of assessments. With this assessment hanging over these homes, people are not going to want to buy them because they don't know what they're going to have to pay down the line. So, I feel it just makes sense at this point in time to remove this. It can be revisited later, but let's give the people their um some sense of assurance that we the council are not going to hit them with these humongous things. I don't believe that will happen because every project that has been done and all up and down the river, even Merit Island, they're making everybody convert from septic to sewer and it has not cost one homeowner one dime. And I believe that will happen here. Uh however, um I think at this point and uh with where we're at, we have to have the mandatory hookup in order to get the grants, but we do not have to have that particular section in the language to move this forward. And I understand Thank you. I thank you. I understand those of you who have ada advanced septic but that does not totally take out the nitrogen as uh as I understand

it only does uh 40% or 60% so nitrogen is still going in and uh sewer it's one and done. Um the advanced septic can fail down the road. You lose power. All kinds of things can go wrong with the advanced septic. You still have yearly costs with that. So to me, sewer just makes the most sense. It is the modern-day thing. Let's let's bring cocoa up to 2025, and by this time it'll be 2027 or 2028 and do sewer as it needs to be. I'm not saying it's an easy project, but they've done projects all up and down, dealt with cocaine, dealt with everything else under the sun, and amazingly, they can get sewer in. So let's do that. And I do move that we remove section F from the ordinance. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Is that a form of a motion? That is a form of a motion. We have a motion on the floor by Deputy Mayor Weeks to remove section F. Can I add his as well? He said uh the attorney he he was okay. And I also want to um add what uh the uh attorney uh Gargani did with the uh adding the word abandoned to the septic. Okay. Do we have to have a separate motion, sir, or needs to be? Okay. Ultimately, there needs to be a motion regarding the adoption of the ordinance. Okay. Okay. So, if the council wants to propose changes to the ordinance, it would be included as part of the um the motion. Okay. I would regarding the ordinance with I mean with that said I mean you can discuss the individual proposed changes um to see whether or not there's a consensus before a motion is made. Okay.

Okay. There seems to be a consensus regarding the adding the the language about abandoned. Mhm. Um I don't I didn't hear any council members object, but with respect to any other changes, you know, you would all have to uh debate that issue before uh making a motion, I would think. Okay. So, you would you like to hear from others? I would like to hear from others on that. Yes, sir. Thank you very much, ma'am. Would you turn your light off? Oh, yes, sir. Councilman Goins. Yeah. I had a um So, right now we just focusing on F or Well, I I had a question for you about F. Yeah. All right. So, I I want to read just one just one email that I received, which I receive a couple of them that that is inside of J&K that do not want to hook up to sewer, right? And and so, you know, by by that happening, then they're going to be clawing back some of those dollars. So, how what is your what is your what is your thought process on when they claw back those dollars? I don't know what that dollar amount may be. We we all don't know. Yeah. So, if we get multiple people, multiple homes that do not want to connect to those sewer lines, what what is what is your thought process on that part? I've got um I still think we need to make it mandatory for them to have to hook up, but I think the big objection was that they were going to have to pay or have their yards dug up to have the old tanks come out. And I think that that will help mitigate that. Will everybody be happy? But I think majority will um if somebody doesn't want to uh to hook up, I don't know why they wouldn't because uh in the long run it's um better for for everybody. But um I mean septic just or sewer just makes the most sense. And uh so we have to make it mandatory that they have to hook up and that's what

they've had to do all over Bard County. everybody mandatory has had to hook up when the sewer line was put in and I I just think that is what we have to do. I know people that there are probably one or two who are not going to be happy and hopefully that uh we don't deal with that but if we do we'll have to do it on a case-byase basis as far as the the clawback on those particular homes. Okay. Thank you. Okay, Mr. City Manager, uh do you have any comments? Um, no sir. Are you you you all are on the topic of I guess the motion on the table and I guess you're waiting on a second is is the removal of section subsection F on page 809. And then obviously the language that we proposed uh applies to two sections there on page eight and then on um on page on page seven. Make sure you're talking to Mike because I don't want them saying they cannot hear. Yeah. Sorry. the the the language that we propose to to rephrase it to uh to discontinue and abandon or remove is applicable to M on page seven and um C on page eight. Okay. And then after you guys get through that, I'll I'll provide some clarification with regards to what's on the website. Okay. You said C on page eight shall make the connection to the suicide system. Okay. All right. What are the wishes of council? I move to approve the ordinance with the

changes of changing uh section um C and uh where it we add in the word abandon the um in those two sections that the uh city manager just said um that we uh change those to add abandon in there and then section F I would like that section removed altogether. together. Yes, sir. Okay. So, um do you have a motion, Madame Clerk? Could you clarify for me? Let me let me read let me read the language on page seven under subsection M. That language uh would be notwithstanding any provision in this section to the contrary. The city council shall be authorized to require an existing residential house, building or property to discontinue and abandon or remove. Yes. And then on on page eight of nine under section C, uh the effect it says the affected property owners shall make the connection to the city sewer system and discontinue and abandon or remove any on-site septic tank. And so leaving the the the word remove in there because some of the grant sources may may fund a removal. Um and so just want to be as broad as possible if there are funding sources that would uh fund a removal. I that's good. Yes sir. Okay. And then the removal of F. Okay. Do you have it, Madam Cler? Uh, yes sir. Thank you. Okay. Are we together on that? Um, Deputy Mayor

Weeks. Yes, sir. Thank you. Okay. And we're looking for a second. We have a second because of a second. Um chair would like to make a motion to approve the recommendation stated as the framework u of this road to connection from septic to sewer. And can you uh second with discussion? Of course, sir. Can you um the items that deps brought up about the abandonment from C and That was M on seven. M on page seven and C on page eight, which is the adding abandonment to M on page seven and C on page eight. $100 fine for Coco Police Department. Charges, mayor. Yes, sir. No harm, no foul, sir. And again the term would be discontinue and abandon or remove right in both both places. If you add those two I will amend my motion to reflect that. Um, Councilman Hearn, sir. Um, heard a lot from the citizens tonight. Um, as many know, I've at many times been the lone vote on the support for the accepted the sewer project. After hearing tonight, what I've been hearing

over the past few weeks, emails, I've been, you know, paying attention. Um my request would be to uh resend your vote and uh to amend this whole ordinance to uh reflect the option for advanced septic. Oh, okay. I I I will amend my vote to that. I would love to have the advanced septic system. Yes, indeed. So, um, let me let me make sure I do this correctly with Robert rules of law as Gargani as we navigate through these challenging charters of unclaimed waters that we're aware of. Um, I would like uh, well, first of all, Councilman um, Goins, would you amend your Sir, you mentioned Robert's rules. Yes, I I don't think I heard a second to your motion. As I understood, your motion was to approve um the ordinance as written with the recommended changes presented by the city manager to include the word uh abandoned. Um and on page seven, sub paragraph M and page 8, sub paragraph C, I did not hear a second to that motion, so that's not technically on the table. Now council second I didn't well the timing was off there so I didn't quite hear it now okay if you second it I mean you certainly it's your prerogative if you want to second it well yeah I'll second it just for those okay so now now you're in discussion regarding um the motion that's on the floor approve uh with the amendments recommended by the city manager Councilman Hearns has as part of the debate has raised a total different issue um that may affect ffect uh whether or not this ordinance passes. I'll let you debate that. Yes, sir. Cuz

I can vote against my own amendment. Uh my and then bring this back based on Councilman Hearns cuz I will stand with that. All right. Chair's going You have the motion. There's been a second by Councilman Gorn. Chair's going to call the question. All in favor saying I. I. I'm sorry. We have Let's Okay. Any nays? I will say nay. Nay. Nay. So this dies. Now chair would like to make a motion to approve the advancement of septic tank. And I'm looking for a second. Second. Okay. Chair's going to call. Do we have any discussion? I'm going to be fair, decent, and in order. The floor is yours, ma'am. I cannot I cannot believe you guys are doing that. Most of them want sewer. S. No, most of them want sewer. Tonight there's a few more that want septic, but most want sewer. And over the last few weeks, most of them want sewer. Why in the world would you go back in time to septic that down the road is going to fail and have we're going to It just makes no sense to me. The common sense thing to me is just I'm I'm absolutely floored. Absolutely floored. So I I cannot believe Let me let me finish. Cannot believe it. Yes, ma'am. Um Mr. Walsh. Sir, when we had the 88 homes, did we do a survey based on the 88 homes on how they felt about um this u advancement of septic disorder? Uh we did and that was a number of you. Uh Mrs. Mrs. Smith, would you please ma'am? Okay. Sorry. Thank you. My Yes, ma'am. I thank you. I'm here. I'm trying to hear. We when we had gotten far enough along in the u in the engineering design, we did a presentation at the uh library and invited all the homeowners. I think we had 50 or so 55 or so homeowners come to

look at the plans and ask questions. And during that, we did a survey and asked the question that if there were costs associated with the project, were people supportive? And a good majority, 42 or so of those 50 that were there said no. And that's kind of sort of what we're hearing overall. People are supportive and want to do the lagoon but don't feel they should be responsible for for the costs. So, and that's I what year was that? 2021. 2021. Okay. Okay. Thank you very much. Um, Councilman Hearn, sir. So, as as stated, I'm all for, you know, the septic to sewer project. However, what I've been hearing my emails uh is is there's a big um worry among citizens for the unknown. However, as it was stated for the event septic, that's something that we know that would be completely covered. Um I've heard from multiple people tonight that were in favor of it. Um I have to be a representative for my constituents and what I'm hearing and and we've been at this since I've been on council. I've gone through what three district three council members now. Yes, sir. And I've had to fight through that for this project. And I mean, at this point, why fight against what the citizens are are conveying to us? Um, so is that Excuse me. And excuse me. Go ahead, sir. This breaks my heart to have to do this. Um, I I've been very passionate about this. Um here we are 2025 still debating this issue um instead of moving forward. And if those have been paying attention to the history of where we at today um they would know why the languages the languages in the ordinance presented as it is um and what it takes to get votes to approve this project and it is what it is at this point. Okay. So

is that a form of a motion? because if not, I I will make a motion to approve the advancement of a septic system stated. And I'm looking for a second. Um I need a second, but I have a second by Councilman Hearn. Um I will hear from Deputy Mayor Weeks and then I will hear from Councilman Goins and then I'mma call the question. My my last statement on this is we can solve the issue that they're concerned about their cost by taking out section F out of this for now. That's what they want. They want section F t. They want section F taken out of out of this ordinance because for now it's they're not saying that they aren't willing to if they had to pay a few dollars, but at this point they don't want an unwritten check out there. Uh that they have no idea what it's going to be. And again, we do not think it's going to cost them anything. And even the city should have money in the game in this because it should not just be on the citizens. we should have put in here that it's either split between us and the citizens at the at the worst that I mean at the least we should have done that but to take this out now the citizens are in favor of the sewer. They are and uh they want they want the sewer they just don't want this unknown cost hanging over their head and I don't blame them. Would any of us want that? No. So to me to go backwards to advance septic it's we're going to regret it later. This is not forward thinking. Okay. Mr. Walls sir. Mr. Walls sir help me

understand about a a uh septic system about electricity. Is there something that help me understand that one for me please? Yeah. So the the advanced septic systems that um get the 65% or higher nitrogen removal uh they do require um aerobic digestion which means it needs air and so those systems have to have you know a small pump that pumps you know quarter inch type tube down into the septic system to allow the anorobic bacteria to do the work and take out all the phosphorus and reduce those uh nutrients so that it meets that criteria. So yeah, there is um there is an additional electrical cost that would be associated with that you wouldn't necessarily have with a normal septic system. Okay. And so that's something uh feasible to do. Um my next question to you sir um because like I stated earlier and I'm going hear from you Councilman Gins. Um I know for a fact because I travel up and down the Indian River, been in the Indian River. I'm seeing seaggrass return. I am seeing um horsecraft return. I'm seeing mullets returning. I'm seeing the mammals, the dolphins return. So there is improvement in our water system and the equality of our water system as well. And I'm going just stop right there. So we are moving in the right direction. Councilman Goens, sir. I I think um so we have a lot of two two votes, right? We've been going around and around and round and round. So it it's really all about votes and sometimes um negotiations have to be made in some uh portion of the

discussion. But now you say now that um well we should have did a 50-50 split or 40 60 split whatever it is. But that that discussion has to be made instead of like like sometimes you got to be able to read the room and when we don't have certain votes making that making that argument would have been a perfect opportunity just in my opinion when when the motion was on the table. What happens sometimes that ship sails and then now you get Councilman Hearn, he makes a motion and now you get the motions in play and then you know we want to bring the negotiations out. So we could be 22 right now. We can on this we could be 31, right? So is is or 40. So we could go all the way closer. That's right, sir. what what what whatever we choose to do sir we have to live with the decision that that we make either way that we go out out of out of 88 homes 20 people may not like our decision we may have you're going to be somebody going you going to piss off just part of what we do we can't please everybody and and so I would love for this to go but when you remove F you seen the shift the shift Mo majority of the voters did not think that was a good move in in in my opinion. Just in my opinion. No, no, I got you. I got you. Okay. I just have one question to say. One quick thing. Go ahead, ma'am. The floor is yours. When it comes when it comes to the advanced septic system and it loses power, what happens? I've looked into it. They overflow. They only last so long and then they overflow. So, we have a hurricane and all those lovely advanced septic systems

along Indian River Drive are overflowing. Now, how are we going to look? Do we have a generator? Can I ask that question? I don't I don't think it necessarily overflows because you lose power. It doesn't treat it aerobically. The flow has to do with the volume of whatever you flush. So, if you're flushing and flushing during hurricane and you'd have to exceed the capacity of your tank during a hurricane, which I don't think would really normally happen, ever happen, uh, but you wouldn't be getting the full treatment because you're not introducing new oxygen down into the tank. I looked it up and that's what they said. It would only last just not very long and then it does overflow. Something has to be done with it. So that's why I bring that up because that's something you may not have realized. Thank you very much, Deputy May Weeks. Okay, we have a motion on the floor in a second. Chair's going to call the Let me be fair and equitable. Madame clerk, reiterate the motion that's been made, please. I have a motion on the floor to approve the advancement of the septic system for discussion. Yes. Okay. Excuse me. Okay. Monica, would you please speaking the microphone? I Let me I got you. I'll come to you next. The motion I have is to approve the advancement of the advanced septic system for discussion. Okay. Esquire Gargani. Sir, I'm I'm looking looking to the manager here because I want to make sure I end the consequences of not adopting the ordinance, right, and the mandate, right, essentially is a decision to go to advance septic because there's not a majority of the council that supports mandating on a

project by project basis um sewer connection. And I I'm the con I think that's the consequence, but I'm looking to the manager because Yeah. And I and I think that they would would there would be a second motion, a second direction to staff to to apply for the advanced septic grants that are available out there. And and again, the funding construct construct for advanced septic is through through Seion River Lagoon. There's $18,000 per parcel that's available within within the J&K. And then there are water quality grants that are available for advanced septic that we would apply for. We think those I think those are 5050 match. And so so potentially that would be uh $36,000 for advanced septic through through the grant sources sorro and the water quality grants there. So you would be directing us to apply for those grants. We would then um negotiate with Sorrel for not for uh uh septic to sewer but for advanced septic and then uh you would be directing us to resend the grant application that we have in for the 319 uh grant for uh a septic to sewer conversion. That's no ma'am. Got a question. She got one more. Okay. Hold on. You absolutely. You absolutely can do it that way. Councilman Goins has his light on. Esquire. That's all I'm saying to you. Councilman Goins has his light on. Let me let me let me whether whether whether the the the city

whether the individual homeowner is then eligible to apply to Sorro directly for the 18 and for the water quality. I think I think that the jurisdiction has to apply for the water quality. So the basic my basic point is is that there's $18,000 uh 6 $36,000 available in grant funding through sorrel through water quality regardless of who has to or who's eligible or who can apply for those grant sources. Councilman Goins, I know your light is on sir. Thank you very much, Mr. City Manager. Anything else, sir? Okay. Thank you very much, Councilman Goins. And then I'mma come back to you, um, Esquire Garganis, because I believe in doing things decent and in order. Of course you do, mayor. Thank you. Thank you, sir. All right. So, Councilman Goins, Mr. Garganis, I have a question for you. So, the fact that um just on just process um reading uh first reading was one direction, second reading is another direction. What what take president over another? Is it a second reading? Well, that's the second reading of the ordinance was up for final adoption. It failed three to one. So, that has consequences. That's what I was trying to get the city manager to explain because he's best in the position to explain those consequences. And the consequences appear to be that, you know, that essentially means the city's going in a different direction on grant applications on the whole JNK project. Rather than a sewer line expansion project, it's going to become an advanced septic project, right? I mean, those are the

consequences. So, um, if that's the direction, I mean, that that's that's a different course of action. Okay. And and I I think that answers your question. I mean, that would take precedent and and I think the manager can correct me or Jack can correct me if that's the direction the city potentially foregoes the sewer line expansion grant funds which may go in another direction under Sorrel rules. And I I can't speak to their rules, but that may be a potential qu uh consequence, which get the Yeah. Right. Councilwoman C is in the audience that funding. Yeah. You don't It's just a different It's for different funding there. So So again, there there's $6.7 million available for the septic to sewer conversion. If you switch, there is $18,000 per lot lot for a conversion to advanced septic. The state has water quality grants for advanced septic and I think that's a 50/50 match. And so 18 + 18 is 36. Again, I'm not sure whether it's the homeowners applying directly to Sorrel or it is the city. Doesn't matter at this point. It's it's the dollars involved to get you to an advanced septic there. So, homeowners apply to Sorrel for their 18. The city applies to the state for uh the match. I'm looking at the state website and it says that for all water quality improvement grants discussed below,

eligible project proposals must be submitted by non-state entities. Typically, this means local governments, universities, or nonprofit organizations. So, so I'm clear on that. Again, on the Sorrel side, whether it's the city or the homeowners applying, again, the bottom line is is that it's 18 from Sorrel and it would be a 5050 match from the water quality grants through the state. But does that result in a re effectively a release of the sewer line expansion grant funds that are sitting at Sorl? Yeah, remember we haven't actually executed that agreement and so I I I think that they would ultimately go very quickly because those are in demand to releasing those and and actually uh multiplying the 88 times the 18. So we would have to um notify them. we have to notify them to release it so that we could qualify cuz homeowners have come and inquired about hey I want to go to advanced septic and we they've had been turned away because they can't qualify for the 18,000 they can't even get that because they're already in the JNK area so if we withdraw the the septic to sewer allocation because it's a separate dollars they have dollars for septic to sewer and they have dollars for advanced septic so we'd have to release the dollars for septic pro or the septic to sewer and let let the county know so that we're opening it up for advanced septic and that would be part of your direction. So, thank you uh Mr. Gargani and Mr. W. Therefore, therefore, and you may not want to hear this this evening, but um I think the public has an opportunity uh to speak on this other motion that's pending because, you know, the consequences of that second motion that's on the

floor is an official action that's really going to undo previous actions of the council and go in a different direction. So, you need to take public input on it. Thank you. Yes, sir. So, so, so Councilman Goins, let me make sure I understand that was your question. So, to eliminate, we'll hear from the public as well. And then also depending on Yep. Um, we would need to release ourself from the septic to sewer. Is that correct as gargan after we Yeah. Well, I think the motion is to pursue the other option, which is advanced septic, which that that the consequence of that is the mayor the manager is going to have to work out all the forms with sorrel and stuff. It's it's going to it's going to result in in a in a release of the sewer line expansion funds. Okay, that's my understanding. So, it's just a consequence of this this motion that's on the floor. Okay. Just want to make sure was trying to draw it out a little bit because I needed to understand whether this motion is an official action requiring separate public input. You know, in addition to the ordinance that was already rejected. Okay. Thank you, M. Mr. Mayor. Sir, let me let me just read from the uh sorrel site there because I know I got to parse my words here. So the funding is included uh funding is included in the save river lagoon project plan to upgrade septic systems that are not feasible to connect to central sewer. Homeowner grants of up to 20,000. So I guess they changed that number are available for eligible homeowners to upgrade their conventional septic system to an advanced septic system.

Eligibility amounts are based on a property's estimated pollution to the groundwater through its septic drain field. So that's directly from the Bvard County site. Thank you very much. Um Mr. City Manager, Mrs. Deputy Mayor Weekes. Ma'am, um I I wanted to ask uh Councilman um Hearn and um both of you gentlemen down there, we know how the the mayor feels. Back on the original motion for the septic uh to sewer. Um you said if I had brought up sooner about adding in the um the city also being responsible uh because when I took asked to take out F the vote did change but then it was motioned without that and then it got changed again. Um, if that was in there, is that something that you two would then be able to would would go along with? I mean, I know Leander uh says he's for it. I would love to see us figure out some way to make this go forward with the septic to sewer versus the advanced septic. And I'm just asking is one last shot. What can we do with this to make it go forward? Is there anything that we can do? I mean, I I think that there was there was two things. I I do believe the percentage. Um I think the other project that we referenced, the last meeting, um I think that was Coco Hills or somewhere else, it had a 60/40 split on that one. Yeah. And I think it was a lot of talk about setting precedent on um charging residents and how much and and so that to me that could be a discussion. Um but also the other discussion was keeping F

as it is. That was a I know that's a dealbreaker for you for sure, but but that I think that we all voted on that the last um meeting and I believe it was 4 Z on the at the last meeting and so so again a lot have changed uh since then but we was 40 based on F being inside of the ordinance all of us and so it's two things keep F as it is for me or adding in uh the 6040 making it similar to what uh Coco Hills or I'm assuming I think that's the name of the subdivision but well I I would go with that if we could get it to go forward I Oh, we were talking about uh doing it as a uh putting in there instead of all the homeowners being responsible that it be in there as a 6040 split with the city. uh as a potential as a 60/40 split with the city. So the city has skin in the game in it as well, which has always been one of my things is that, you know, we should have had skin in the game and not just said, "Oh, let's dump it on the homeowners." So, so um but I want I want to reiterate it was 40. Yes, I got you. Two weeks ago. Yep. I got you. And I was going to vote with F in there until I realized what it was doing to the homeowners out there in the uncertainty. So, makes sense. That's what I'm asking. And so, I'm asking if Councilman Hearn would consider that as well. No, I know. I just I'm just asking because the motion's on the thing now for the subject to sour, but as one last shot, I wanted to see if there was any

way to bring you back to the original ordinance, Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir. And and then I'm going hear from the public. Yes, sir. Yeah. And I and I feel compelled to I mean when we talk about a a 6040 split and and again the 6040 split this is a project that there's $6.7 million soro dollars dedicated to a septic to sewer. And so if you if you say that it's a 6040 split with with the residents paying 40% of the project costs overrun. Yeah. Okay. So what you're saying is 40% of the of the you're saying 40% of the cost overrun whatever that is the cost and then the Cocoa Hills was a different setup. So I don't I don't need to make my my comments. I'm sorry sir. Sorry sir. Did not mean to interrupt. Sorry. Grant fun involved in a different situation. I'm sorry. Well again she clarified that it would be her proposal is 40% of the cost overrun. Still an unknown number. Um but again she she did clarify that it's 40% of the cost overrun overruns not of the total cost of the project because I think the citizens would would certainly not be in favor of that. True true. Thank you for clarifying that Councilman. And then I would like to go to the public please. Again this if we were to go back to the original ordinance that's at hand and at the language that was listed, this is still a citywide ordinance. So that would mean any project that comes forth,

again, not just in the city of Cocoa. My understanding, even if we're talking about a subdivision in Vieiraa, we would be putting the city well the citizens on the hook for a 6040 split with every project that comes. And I I I don't think that's good precedence. Okay. I mean, no, I I don't know if that's correct or not. No, that's I mean, that's if you're going to hardcode that into the ordinance, the language in the ordinance would have to be modified, right? But I will remind everyone that the ordinance does not require that there be an assessment. It requires if they're going if the city council is going to pursue an assessment, then a methodology is going to have to be deta determined at a later date. at a later date. And one speaker I think mentioned the phrase real numbers. I mean you would need to know real numbers to kind of prepare the methodology to determine whether or not you want to assess in the first place. Third, just to remind everyone that even under the mandatory hookup section of the Florida statutes, it requires property owners to pay at their option, right? I mean that requires them to pay the connection fees um and they have the option to do it with up to two years after the initial notice is given regarding the mandatory connection. So you know um okay that's kind of what was done on some of those other uh projects. Um and anyway so there there's the skin in the game either way you look at it. I I I will say this. If you all go back to this and include F, I will vote for it just so we can get sewer instead of advanced septic. Okay.

Esquire Gargani. Right. Um I just want to make sure I'm decent and in order. I need to hear from the public. Correct. And they need to submit a card. Correct. The council needs to hear from the public regarding the motion that's on the floor regarding moving to advance septic. Right. If the council wants to reconsider its prior vote 3 to one to reject the ordinance with the recommended changes of the manager, which means F would stay in, then a motion to reconsider would have to be um made and approved by majority vote of the of the city council at this meeting to bring the ordinance back up as recommended by the manager. Does that make sense? Yes. Yes. Okay. So, right now the ordinance is is dead. The original ordinance is dead. As recommended by the manager is is dead. You can't take up that recommendation absent approval of a motion to reconsider the ordinance as recommended by the manager. My my alternative just want to make sure again is what? give me my options again just to be on the safe side so we're all together. You take up the you take up the main motion unless there's a a motion to reconsider the ordinance as recommended by the manager. Then you can take the ordinance back up. Otherwise you have to you know you need to vote you need to vote down the uh a vote have a vote on on the advanced septic issue. Okay. I tell you what. So, you can take Yes, sir. Chair would like to make a motion to take a a 10-minute recess, please, because I I need to go I'm consuming some water

here, and I can guarantee you I'm not the only one that's going to be beling there. So, I I need a 10-minute recess. We got a second on the floor. All in favor by saying I. See you in 10 minutes. It is now. What time is it, please?

So we we still recording right now. It's on. Okay. too many times. Chair would like to return from our recess to start the meeting. I need a second. Second. All right. Did you get the second? Mrs. um Arsenal ma'am madam city clerk. Yes sir. Okay. Thank you. Can everyone hear each other? Us from their day. Okay. From their days. Okay. Um after deliberation um um with the city manager and city attorney and I want to make sure that we all have uh everyone has skin in the game. I would like to withdraw based on unanimous consent from everyone the recommended motion from to advance septic. based on the recommendation from our city manager that we change that one wording and we include item uh letter number F so that everyone has skin in the game. Yes, ma'am. Which was letter F. And I think we all agreed upon that. Yes, we did. So, okay. So, as Councilman Go stated, it was 40

um last council meeting. Now, um we can sit through another ordeal in reference to the listening to the audience for advanced septic, we can do that. But if I get a unanimous consent to withdraw the current condition of advancement of septic and and approve the recommendation by the city manager to change that wording in reference of u property in reference of the tank it the septic tank itself um and we fundamentally agree upon that and I think that's a fair inequitable all the way across the board. I could be hardcore, but I'm not. So, um I think um homeowners should have some skin in the game as well as everyone else. So, what are the consensus from council that is willing to withdraw the current motion for advanced septic? And I think everyone can save face and be respectable to one another. Yes. Yes. Okay. Uh, just let me get it. I'mma go around there. Deputy Mayor Weekes. Yes. Councilman her. Yes. Councilman Gins. Yes, sir. Okay. Esquire Garganist. Is that acceptable, sir? Per your rules, then that motion is withdrawn. And now the council um is free to consider a motion to reconsider the ordinance as recommended by the manager if that's your desire. Right. Okay. And that was to change the wording and item letter M and also to include letter F. It's to add the word abandon or on page seven sub paragraph M, page 8, sub

paragraph C, and the rest of the ordinance remains as written. And I need a second for discussion. Second. Second on the floor by Councilman Hearns. And that's to reconsider. Yes, sir. to reconsider. All right. So, the only the only issue up for debate now is whether you want to reconsider the ordinance and then and if that passes, then you can actually vote on the ordinance itself. Okay. All right. We got everyone's agreement. So, don't don't uh do not do turn coke because I'm counting you on your word, your word of integrity. Okay, we're good. Okay. Council for discussion. Then I'm going to call the question to resend the sept the advanced septic and then I will ask the recommendation stated. No. Okay. Okay. No, but he had his light on. No, no, no, no. I'm He had his light on because he wanted to say something, but he says now he's good. There was already unanimous consent to withdraw the other other motion. Yes, sir. As I understand it, I think there's been a mo motion and a second on motion to reconsider. Yes. The ordinance as recommended by the manager. So, you need to Yes. Call a vote on the motion to reconsider. Right. Um I made the motion. It was second by Councilman Hearn. Okay. Now we are going to reconsider. Need a vote on the Yes, sir. I'm getting ready to call the question. Thank you. Espanu, super attorney for the Florida League of Cities. Chair is going to call the question. All in favor saying I. I. I have it unanimously. Go in peace. Oh, now you can now now you can take the ordinance up again as recommended by by the manager. You would need a motion to adop. What are the wishes of council on second and final reading? Motion to approve on the second and final reading. I'll second it with the with the bad. Yes, sir. We already

agreed. Yes, sir. Amendment. Yes. Okay. All in favor saying I. I. I have it unanimously. Thank you very much. This concludes this portion of public hearing number 6-1, ordinance number 03- 2025. Council business. Moving on to item number seven. I I make a motion to um table because the individuals who um came to speak on the item council, hold let them depart from the room. Just hold on, council. Just hold on. Uh, excuse me. We still have a meeting to conduct, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you very much for your cooperation. We call tonight Okay. All right. Um, excuse me. Point of order. Council Goins, you have the floor for item number 7-1. Yes, sir. The next item on that we have, I would like to table this item. Um, the a lot of the individuals who came to speak on the item, we kind of I'm not going to say ran them off, but it went a little bit longer than what what was expected and so I think it'll be fair to just bring it to

our next schedule meeting. Okay, we have a motion on for the to table this by Councilman Gowens and a second by Deputy Mayor Weeks. All in favor of saying I. I. Okay. Eyes have unanimously. Item number 8-1. Chair like to approve of the donation application request of $1,000 for Marine Resource Council. Um, each council member would donate $200 to this organization. And I made a motion and I need a second. Second. Okay, we can have a discussion. Do um I know councilwoman Cos um you are a part of this organization. Um would you like to say anything before I call the question? Uh I'm not technically a part of the organization, but I've always supported it. Okay. um as a member. Okay. Um I think that overall they are the uh probably and I would say the zoo is the number one um citizen participation for education on the lagoon, but the marine resources council is is definitely fills that role and um that's important for the health of the lagoon. The more we know about it, the more educated we are, the more we'll care for it, okay? And the better its future will be and ours too. Chair is going to call a question. All in favor saying I. I. I. I have it unanimously. Okay. Proceeding on toformational agenda reports. Uh, Mr. City Manager. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir. Well, we'll we'll send out clarification on the uh on the J andK website cuz you you have to read those bullet points as

though they're happening uh in sequence. And so, you know, if you focus on 2026, a resolution will come back before council that that supposes that everything is falling into place. Um so, but but we'll send that out. Uh the only report we have tonight is uh Mr. Stinette. Good evening everyone. I was just pleased to report that the 2025 summer youth program kicked off yesterday. We have uh 10 students from local high schools working across seven different divisions. They'll be working till July 11th and we plan to recognize them at the July 22nd council meeting. So thank you sir. Thank you, Mr. City Man, city attorney. Thank you, staff. City staff. Okay. Esquire Garganise. No report. Okay. Whose turn is it? Dep uh Councilman Har. Um I'm going I'm going to uh It's odd. So, it's one and three. Who would like to go first? Three or one? I'll go first if you don't mind. Okay. Oh, yeah. Okay. Did you get mine, Mr. I know I was I was late, but thank you very much. To the right. Right. Oh, I got to turn on my screen. I just have a have a few pictures. I've had an extremely busy last two weeks. Um and uh hold on. Let's see if it I do hit the right right the red button. Yes, ma'am. Huh? Either right or left arrow. That's what I was the Let me get you back. Okay. I'm unty so I I You'd think I'd get better, but I don't.

Will it pop up and then I start hitting that thing or Yeah. So anyway, um I spent six days in Washington DC uh with the uh National Association of Realtors and wh let me go back here. Yeah. We met with uh Congressman Heridopoulos and uh y'all are familiar with him and he was uh very very nice and he did tell me we're getting the train station. and he looked at me and said, "We're getting that train station." I said, "Yes, sir, we are." So, um, but this was part of our group. And then, um, he was nice enough to give us a nighttime tour of the cap and there was nobody else in the cap. We were in the rotunda all by ourselves. I've been in there before with a sea of people. And to be in there, just us absolutely amazing. So, um, he very nice gentleman and, uh, working hard for us. And then I was up there for the national association. I'm a N director and these the five of us are five. Our local association has five N directors for our size association. That's a lot. So we made some important decisions up on that score, too. And then I went to the two-day elected municipal officials institute uh Friday and Saturday. And what an amazing two days that was. And um I look forward to part two. Um I know it's in October and unfortunately my husband and I are going on a cruise, but so it'll be next April before I can do it. But really good if and every elected official should do this. There were 37 of us in the in the class and I was I kept thinking where's all the rest of the local elected officials? Um and um anyway, oh and this came up Mayor Blake that uh this was his initiative as president of uh Florida League of Cities

and uh it is a wonderful thing. I've been sharing it all over the place. So great job on that. they said that was one of the things you wanted to do. And uh so cities can put out on the web um you know there's one place to search for government jobs and um since everybody has a hard time finding them. So anyway, I I wanted to give you kudos for that. Way to go. Thank you, ma'am. Uh I mean, who would have thought we didn't have something like that? You came up with it. So, and it's for free. You're right. And it's free. So anyway, uh and um I just wanted to say too, I wanted to give a shout out to to Samantha. Um last night at the Florida League of Cities, I was approached by a number of people who were at the mayor's breakfast saying again how good our speech was. So great job. Thank you again so much. So you didn't say on the record who said it was good speech. that well Sheriff Sheriff first it was Mayor Medina and then he said he talked to Sheriff Ivy the day before and he had said um and I'm going to say it he said it was the best speech ever given at the mayor's breakfast. I was like wow. So thank you. I had fun. That's what it's all about. That's what it's all about. Oh, it mysteriously lost. Yeah, mysteriously lost the presentation. Technical difficulties. Yes, sir. All right. This was supposed to be during um at our beginning, but again, condolences to the Blake family, Mayor Blake. Yes, sir. on the loss of your father. Yes sir. Los of legend and so we show appreciation to you and your family. Thank you. This was

a proclamation key to the city. I don't know who left um we had a meeting um several different organizations at the Leon Jewel College Museum last Friday. Maybe about an hour meeting um and it was a great about just a conversation about what's the possibilities. Um and it it it really encouraged I know me for sure that we do have people that that interested. Um I chose again today to table it because a lot of these individual were here but we know it kind of went maybe two and a half hours or so three hours and so um there are is a lot of interest from different organizations to host events um but all of them still feel that we need management. They they can come in to help the management with events, but they're not able um as groups to maintain it constantly um throughout the year. So, but it was a good meeting and and a lot of three or four of these individuals didn't even know um that it was really open. So, hey, Alex, can I offer a suggestion on that which I when it comes up? Uh, what about putting it out to lead Breard as a project for them to look at? Because that would be I mean there I went through the program and as a project that might be something that would really give us some good direction. I appreciate that. Yeah, I think we did uh in Levard we did the um Green Gables and that was something similar. So, yeah, I appreciate that. Thank you. Um, and this was just kind of in caveat to the discussion about the museums. Um, so this in 2019, uh, me, the former mayor, councilwoman

calls, several other employees, Y Collins, um, went to visit Hannibal Square. So, I I really wanted to show this if we had this discussion today that we've been talking about possibilities for a while. And again, if you if you take the time to go online for Hannibal Square, you will see that it's really similar um to what the vision is. So, I just I wanted to show that that photo and that's it. Appreciate you. Yes, sir. Thank you. Oh, I don't have any slides. I've been um really celebrating my birthday the last couple of weeks. I had a number of visitors from out of town and it's always fun to go into the village and just see the village, see Coco overall through the eyes of someone else. And um um I'd say we get an A except going down 520 from Fisk. We have got to do something about the median that quarter. Um it is it is just it it's would not be an expensive proposition to correct it to put in the irrigation to um plant a couple bushes or or just get something green going there because it looks it looks really bad and um um anyway it would help it would help a lot. I know we talk about, you know, doing this road or that road, but if we want to really talk about our image, the public perception of Coco, we have got to focus on our corridors. Because if you drive down a very

blighted street like that, or you drive down 520 and it's very blighted from Fisk going down toward the village, um, that does not give a good impression. We can do better than that. So, I'm really pushing that um we invest some resources there. Um also, I would like to see the utilities advisory board. I'd like that to be on the agenda, the coming agenda. I've been asking for that for many, many months now. And um we'd like to see that put on the agenda. I agree. Yeah. The obviously there are a lot of water issues in Coco. and um citizen input and that kind of um transparency and opportunity for people to learn and to speak will be helpful. Um then let's see last item is I received a call from Wilson Williams. Probably most of you have spoken with with him. Um he's lived in Coco a long time and of course retired and he's not going anywhere and it's very frustrating to him because um I know he sits outside his house on the rocker for a lot of hours every day and you know that the um the you can see where there are piles of debris or where somebody has moved all their stuff is on the corner and he's very frustrated by that. So, I was going to ask because I explained to him the same thing the city manager explained to me, but I was going to ask the city manager if he would if he could just share that with all of us right now. And for and for Wilson Williams, I told him I'd bring it up. I don't remember what I shared, but I'll share the recent meeting that we just had. And we're going to bring back to the council in July the proposal from waste management

to do uh twice monthly regular pickups without the need to call in that. Okay. Don't don't clap. Don't clap yet because that Wilson will be really glad to hear there's a cost associated with that. And so we did have that we did have that conversation. It was uh Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Senior, and myself with the representatives from waste management. So, um, so they put something on the table and we're going to put a counter proposal, but planning on coming back to the council in, uh, July and we also I'm we're in the middle of uh, meetings with the departments on their budget proposals and we have talked about and you will see in my uh, in the city manager's balance budget proposal some uh, funding for the landscaping of 520. So, we just had that conversation. Okay, great. Really glad to hear that. And um just to say that um as I expressed earlier from myself and my husband, our condolences, your father passing and um thank everyone for their patience tonight. Um and um to the robust deliberation. So, as many of you may know, my career field now is in emergency management. So, I've been over in Orlando um at the Florida Division of Emergency Management Conference they have every year where uh they invite professionals, I can't even say from the state. We have professionals all over the US there. I've met so many like heads of departments from different organizations and agencies and um I just wanted to put

out there uh someone that I bumped into at that conference, our very own Chief Lamb. And when I say we really really have some some great employees here in the city of Coco. I sat in a conference with Chief Lamb and as I stated these are heads of like major departments there and we really have a subject matter expert here. Chief Lamb he was throwing out he was throwing out so many things and people were appreciative of what he was throwing out there his advice uh at many times he was probably the only one that could speak to certain issues. He was very knowledgeable on it and I'm sitting back there um from my position just proud to see Chief Lamb there and really represent for the city of Coco. Um so kudos to Chief Chief. Good job. Great job. Yes sir. As he get reder and red. Yes. Hey Chief, you ever saw that movie? I'm telling my age. The the ghost of Mr. Chicken with Don Kn. Not a boy Luther. Yes sir. Not a boy there. Chief L. Thank you. Proud of you, Chief. Yeah, I'm telling my age. So, mine, too. So, also, um I'm I'm just appreciative of of direction that we're going overall in the city of Coco. As you know, I I ride all around this city. I'm looking at uh I was on 524 the other day. I the what used to be dirt patches from the trucks is now green grass. So, I'm happy to see that. Uh just the pool open at Jolie Smith. uh Mike son and Councilman Goen's son they enjoyed it was a hot Sunday too and just to you know see the things that's going on in the city I'm I'm very appreciative of it so um all is well um also condolence to you as well thank you very much sir uh first of all I want to say thank you to everyone for your prayers and condolences and support during these challenging times that

we're facing but more so than anything else I'm very proud of the council how we agreed to disagree but came to an equitable and fair solution and um to get through this and so I want to say thank you all. I appreciate you all and we do what's best for our community and the citizens of Coco. Even though we have single member districts, you still have the vote and you still represent this this city as an entirety. I don't care the independent and I respect that, but I'm just saying we still have to vote as a collective body and I believe in that. So, thank you to uh city manager starting witten. Thank you to you city attorney Anthony Gargani and thank you all 400 plus employees of the great city of Coco and citizens of Coco. But it's okay to agree to disagree, but we do it decent and in order. And I say thank you very much. Happy Father's Day for this upand cominging Sunday and happy birthday TRB. Sounds good to me. Happy birthday everyone. Junth, excuse me, June 10th. I know we have the Junth project coming up. Correct. Yes. Say something to me. Yes. Yes, sir. So that ma'am, that's right around the corner. So have your face in the place with the human race and from the Florida League of Cities. I'm going just leave you with this. Property taxes. property taxes. Um, one way or another, we know and we'll talk about it. We had an atlength conversation about property taxes, but how do we pay pay for our police department, our fire department, fire department, and our public services, may it be utilities, may it be uh be public works. We have to come up with a fair and um and equitable solution. And we must reach out to our state legislators. And you're right. You're right. With the Florida City jobs under our initiative,

so is our Florida City jobs scholarship program where we give $5,000 to um uh five individuals from the Florida League of Cities that represent our great city of Coco. But last but not least, we had the at the Space Coast League of Cities, we had the scholarship program where recipients took place from um from Titusville to Coco to um Eastern Florida State College. So Lada and everyone participated in that and I thank you for attending that event. Space Coast League of Cities. Chair entertains a motion to adjurnn. Move to adjourn. We have a motion on the floor by C Deputy Mayor Weeks, second by Councilman Hearn. Chair is going to call the question. All in favor by saying I. I. Thank you staff. Thank you council. Thank you citizens of Coco.