City Council - Regular Meeting

to see. Okay. Invocation, sir. Yes, sir. So, yes, sir. Let us pray. Father God, Lord, thank you for this opportunity to come together as one. Lord, we pray that your hedge of protection be upon our families. And most importantly, Lord, be on our great city of Coco and our city council. Watch over us, Lord. Thank you for all that you do for our families and protecting us. In your holy name, we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. I was about to say that was I know. uh face the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Okay, ladies and gentlemen, we'd like to say thank you very much. You have endured the storm. You persevered. Um you're just like the mailman. Come rain, sle, or snow, you deliver the mail and you are here. Okay, madame clerk, may we have roll call, please? Ma'am. Yes, mayor. Um, Mayor Blake, present, ma'am. Deputy Mayor Weekes here. Council member Goins here. Council member Hearn here. Council member CS here. City Attorney Ike here. And city manager Whitten here. Thank you.

Thank you, madame clerk. Arsenal. Proceeding on to item number two-1 agenda regular meeting of September the 9th 2025. Motion.

I would like to make an amendance a motion. Pretty please ma'am. And and and if you uh you can make that motion if you wouldn't mind include to approve the agenda with an amendment to add on to consent item number 5-11. approve a resolution amending the fiscal year budget 25 for the purchase of credit mitigation for the Bright Line Station project. We talked about it at our previous meeting, but we just want to get um small details completed and I need a motion. Go ahead. Okay, I'll move that.

And I'm looking for second by um motion by Councilwoman Calls, second by Deputy Mayor Weeks. Chair's gonna call the question. All in favor of saying I. I. Any naysay? Eyes have it unanimously. Men is special meeting July 15, 2025. Also men's regular meeting of July 22nd, 2025. What are the wishes of council? Move to approve. We have a motion on the floor by Deputy Mayor Week. Second. Second by Councilman Hearn. Chair's going to call the question. All in favor by saying I. I.

I have it unanimously. proceeding forward to awards and presentations. How sweet it is. You guys were not born during this time. His name was Jackie Gleon. But no, you're still a baby. What are you talking about? Anyhow, will council please join us down below. Uh as for Ike, Mr. City Manager, sir, uh you can pick up the microphone. Um coun uh deputy mayor weeks. Ma'am, make sure my phone is turned off. Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay.

Good evening. Uh I want to start off uh by uh introducing our special guests and then I'll read the proclamation. Uh tonight we have uh and you can raise your hand. We'll have you guys come up after I read the proclamation. Uh we have Jamie Delane and Knox. And then we have Joe Joanne and C and Kenan. Uh of course Sarah and Chloe and Stephanie and Pachy, right? Um the um Keenan. No, not Kenan. Yeah, Kenan is already a service dog. Knox.

Knox is already a service dog. Keenan and Pachy are in training and Chloe is still being raised. And Kenan and Py both uh were raised in a jail in prison and then now they're getting socialized.

They're free. No, no, it's a win-win because the guys, the people in jail who raised them, it really helps them and then it helps the dogs. The dogs come out really good. So now I'll read the proclamation. If I put my glasses on and read this and then we'll do our photo op. Um, and if there's anything yall want to say, we'll give you a chance to. Uh, whereas we believe in the joyful transformative power of the human canine bond and inclusive inclusivity of all citizens. Whereas in the United States, 70 million adults have a disability and only 16,000 service dogs from accredited training programs exist nationwide and the need is growing. Whereas K9 Companions created the service dog for people with physical disabilities 50 years ago in 1975 and I remember that providing expertly wait a minute. Oh. Uh, creating a new kind of support for disability. Whereas K9 Companions is a nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing expertly trained service dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships free of charge. Whereas K9 Companions and their service dogs empower people with disabilities to lead life with greater independence by providing bestinclass training, ongoing follow-up services, and a deeply committed community of support. Whereas National Service Dog Month aims to educate our community about the benefits of service dogs and the laws protecting their handlers. Whereas the city of Cocoa, Florida, continues to work toward becoming an inclusive community in which all citizens and their trained service dogs

are embraced. Now, therefore, in recognition of service dogs and the adults and children with disabilities in our community, I Mon Blake do hereby proclaim September to be National Service Dog Month. I encourage all citizens to celebrate service dogs and be respectful of the rights to safe access in our community afforded to the adults, children, and veterans who lead more independent lives because of their assistance.

All right, let's give this Nashville cuz we need to whoop it up. So, so deputy mayor, would you please have them come down? Please, mayor. Come on. Come on up, folks. So we can We are family. That's right. That's right. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Um man's best friend, man. They are four-legged children. Yes. Knowing how you all train, but she's, you know,

knowing how you feel about uh public speaking, Sarah, is there anything you would like to say about about the program or any of you other folks? Sarah is running the uh classes now for

um Yeah. So, I am our local puppy razor class leader for our area. Um I am raising Chloe. She is my 10th puppy that I've raised. Um it's just a a program and organization that's very deep and dear in my heart. Um the love of animals and then giving back. Um all of these puppies that are being raised will eventually turn into Knox as a working service dog and they will be placed free of charge to their graduate. So that is one thing that's very very big for our organization. It's free of charge to the recipient. And what does it cost to raise a puppy to that?

So through the organization um with all the volunteers, all the work, beginning to end, we have our own breeding program. So beginning to being placed, it's about $50,000 per dog. So we rely heavily on our volunteers, our puppy razors. We volunteer. We pay for the all the vet bills, all the food, you know, it comes out of our own pocket. Um so yeah. Thank you. K9, do you want to say anything as a graduate team? Come on, man. Like how changed how it's helped your family? Well, Knox is Declan's service dog

and he's definitely become a part of our family and and changed his life for the better. and we just try to volunteer when we when we can as a way to try to give back to K9 Companions. So, thank you to all the puppy razors and and volunteers and um everybody that gives to K9 Companions. All right, let's give K9. [Applause] Well, I was just going to say let's take a picture with our group here. Come on in, man. And I'm blocking view. So Oh, who do I give the proclamation to? To you.

Hey. Hey, gentlemen. Y'all want to come join us party? Come on. D and everything. I have Are you part of this group? I think you need to come on up. Come on. You're part of it, too. We don't let anybody just No. Come on. Come on. Got love, too, man. Who we missing? Come on, John. Come on. Yeah, Big John. Big bad John, come on over here. Stand by your lovely, beautiful wife, young man. Not only you, hey, you not only did you do the right thing, but the correct thing to marry this beautiful, charming young lady. Come on. Smart man, John, you're a smart man. Your name is in the Bible, John.

Ready? One, two, three. Okay. WM, you hear him over there? WM actually looking at the camera. I know. Oh, look at her. She's behaving so well. Hello. Hey, Ken. Kenan. Hey, Kenan. I know he's busy looking at you. What a great dog. You had him how long? We had him since May. He goes in in November.

Welld deserved. No problem. That just popped up. Hey, no English. [Music] Strawberry.

All right, proceeding on to the next item. Put my glasses on. Okay, we have um delegate. No, that concludes the awards and presentations. Correct. Yes, sir.

Thank you very much, ma'ams and sir. Proceeding on to delegation. Please be mindful you have three minutes to expound, have us a good, strong, robust conversation all the way from a Coca High graduate, uh, Miss Tiffany Smith. Miss Tiffany, would you come forward, please? And after Tiffany will be Lieutenant Paul Can. Okay, I got you. Where's Chris? I see you, Chris. Hello. Hello, Miss Tiff. Would you state your name for us, please, ma'am? My name is Tiffany Smith. Yes, ma'am.

Um, as a lifelong Cocoa resident and um worker of early childhood education centers for 26 years, um, this past year, I've decided to branch out to try to open my own facility here in Coco. Um, upon

Sorry, Mitch. Upon um my journey, I was told that I had to receive a BTR, which led me here to the city of Coco to get a fire inspection done for my facility. Um, eight months later, thousands of dollars later, um, as I got I'm sorry, I recently found out that now I've been stopped by the fire inspection because I need um a fire sprinkler system and as a upcoming starting business, I do not have those funds to to start up the the um sprinkler system. So for me and other providers, I would like to know um this is supposed to be a new code. Facilities that already are present um do not require to have a SPR regular system. And I feel like if this is an issue of safety, why is it only for children who are upcoming facilities? And how can we know before we journey out to spend money getting the facility ready that this is something that is a new code? Um, and is there anything else that I can find for direction? I was suggested by realtors to come check with my city council, which is why I'm here tonight and just trying to find out different ways that I can make this dream possible without having to find a whole new location or if that does happen, I need to how can I make sure that people who are coming behind me are aware of this before um they start their journey.

Okay, I have a light on, ma'am. Councilman Hearn has the floor. The floor is yours, sir. How you doing, ma'am? Hi. If if you don't mind, uh could you share the location of your daycare?

My location is um part of Celebration Tabernacle Church. It is part of the building that is not where the sanctuary is, but to the left of the building. I'm sorry, maybe to the right, but is on 10 Dixon. And like I said, I've had the fire inspector there, and when she came, she then first notified me. Okay, look. And I didn't even see any documents to show what I was specifically looking for. I did have a list that I received from the city of Coco of what things I'm supposed to look for and what they would be looking for when they came. Um, but like I said, I didn't want to impose putting different things in that weren't needed until I knew exactly what it was. And as of now, the only thing I would need to do is a fire alarm system, which is much more affordable than a sprinkler system. And I understand the safety and that's not the problem. But like I said, how can we find out beforehand before we put in all this money cuz this is something I started last year. I started my BTR in January and here in August as I'm getting ready to start my next step would be DCF and being licensed and here I am. Well, boom, a sprinkler system. So, um, my thing is is that and then all I've been told is find another location with a sprinkler system. But we all know that that facility might not um be suitable for children. So that's my

that's my question. Did did we already uh award both of the uh Upstart grants? Have those both been awarded already? I know we had the uh Coco I mean the Diamond Square CRA. Yeah, I have I'd have to look at my records. I think we only have a diamond square available. Oh, okay. Gotcha. Okay, we do. I was just trying to see if we could have assisted with the grant. Also, I've looked for companies that um do install water sprinkler systems, but most of them only service them in our area. So, it's been hard finding a company who can even give me a quote as to

if I have to take out another loan or a small loan, do it finance. Um, so yeah, so far only one person reached back out to me for as a company. So that's my issue. Excuse me. Agency member deputy mayor weeks and then council.

So you're you're saying that this is a new a new code. Is that true, Chief Lamb? Is this a new thing that they're required? No ma'am, this was a change of occupancy and anytime you have a change of occupancy that bolsters it to a different code within the code standard.

So, you know, that's what caused the what we call trip effect to say now because of the change of occupancy, even though it may have been uh not required to have a sprinkler system before, because of what's going in now, it will require that. And that's a life safety code. We don't have any control over the building code NFPA standard. You know, those are state federal statutes. I see. Okay. So, there's nothing. No, and I'll just Give me one second.

Actually, I I'll just give you an example. We've and you know to kind of lead you down that path, we've had several businesses do that um that have changed their occupancy from what they submitted their BTR for and when we got there to do the fire inspection and found out it went from a restaurant to a nightclub, it tripped a different code and in the NFPA standard, causing them to have to have a sprinkler system. As a matter of fact, they operated illegally within the city limits as a nightclub and we personally I personally shut them down several times because of the life safety issue. That is a non-negotiable issue. So, we're enforcing the code according to the standard,

okay,

across the board. And and I get it. That is a it's a very expensive venture, but those are part of that research that you have to do when you get ready to buy a building is to ask your realtor, to ask the fire marshall, ask the fire inspectors, you know, this is what it was originally zoned for. This is what we're getting ready to do. And part of that goes through Charlene's office when they submit their blueprints and their building plans. We give them that information right up front before they get too far down that rabbit hole to say, "Here's what the code's going to require. If you're going to have this type of occupancy in there, these are the things that you're going to have to spend money on. A sprinkler system, a fire alarm." Uh if you look at the building where uh lobster roll is right now, when it becames Bros Burgers, that was a change of occupancy and it was a mixed occupancy. We required that entire building to be sprinkled.

Entire building. And they wound up having to run a fire line from across the street from the bank all the way across the street to the lobster roll all that over there and be sprinkled. Okay. Thank you. We could I mean, and I support having that sprinkle system, sprinkler or suppression, whatever it's called, because if something goes arai, absolutely,

we're going to look at the city of Coco and and and I would like to I rather stand on the side of safety first and foremost because I've seen other municipalities experience something of that magnitude where they did not have the proper um equipment or services to render. Um, you're looking for funding. That's what you're looking for.

Well, I was Yeah. And finding out what how can we, like he said, I'm not buying the building. I was leasing a portion of the building like many of the churches do. They provide that portion for other centers. I'm not the first center that is inside of a church, but inside. Um, but my whole point is is like I said, I went all the way down that line before somebody told me that no ma'am, you need a sprinkler system and my BTR was all already in and it's just now getting approved August. I send submitted it in January. So, um, like I said, I don't I can't call to my colleagues and say, "What are you and who are you using?" because it's not even required for them. So, I was trying to find a way for people who are becoming behind me um for them to make sure they make sure they're aware that this is a new requirement or or a requirement that has since changed. Um so, they will find another avenue to go in. I do respect the fact that the children have to be safe. That's not my issue, but um like I said, that was my concern.

Yes, ma'am. Councilman Goins. Well, I'm I guess if I ask you this question, I'll be getting all in your business. That's very um But when you say down that road, are you you so have you put money down on the on the unit? You've went you've done all of that process, too. My process is getting it ready for um DCF inspection and making sure that we are um

Yeah. So, I did everything except for playground because I know they have certain requirements and I wanted to make sure that I was able to do that. But like I said, we do not get to do anything DCF unless we're approved for the fire inspection. So the fire inspection was my last step before I went for licensing. Um, so just kind of fill me in on this. So the the the person that occupied that particular unit was not a daycare service. Correct. That is correct.

That that is correct. So if you look at the church, its overall fire code uh volume that it falls in is under what's called an assembly. That's why if you look at a majority of your churches because of the the hours of operation, the unfrequency of not being like a Walmart or something where people in it all the time, it trips a different code saying that it does not need a fire sprinkler system.

When you go to a mixeduse building, which is basically what they did, they went from we're going to be a church plus a daycare. Well, then you fall under the most stringent code for where you're going to have the most occupancy and how much at that time. So, that's what tripped the fire code for her side of the building.

Because before it was probably used for Sunday school rooms or classrooms, things of that nature. So, it still fell under assembly. When you say we're going to occupy that area for daycare, this and that, that trip's a different part of the fire code. So, it has to fall within the fire code. And that's why, you know, mixed occupancies are very hard. That's why I gave the example of across the street over here. You know, they're very tough. And what happens is is people don't understand they may have a haircut in place on the bottom floor, but on the top floor, they have a place that does candles. Well, that's going to trip a different site of the fire code because of the flammability things that they're using, which is going to require the entire building to be sprinkled.

So now the people at the haircut cutting place are going, all we're doing is cutting hair. Why do we have to have sprinklers? Yeah.

So it's a it's a very fine line, but it's very defined within within the NFPA code. And and there's no doubt in my mind she wants to be safe for the children. And I think that that's one thing that people don't understand is when you buy a building or you subleasase a building that is attached to another building, it depends on what that was originally occupied for and what it falls under under the fire code. And then the NFPA standard and the building code are going to require us to follow the most stringent code on whether it needs sprinklers or if it doesn't need sprinklers and it just needs a fire alarm system. So, you know, it's really and I hate that. My heart goes out to anybody on that. But that's where that, you know, the due diligence comes in trying to do some of that homework because it can wind up being very expensive to move into an older building and then have it go from an assembly

to an overall occupancy. Thank you. I appreciate you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Smith. Thank you. Uh, Lieutenant Cas, are there any other additional cards for delegation? Your reflect is falling. Prop it up on the little stand. Prop it up on a little rope area right there. There you go. LT. There you go. Paul Cos 116 Olive Street Coco Pride.

I want to address council today. Um, a couple weeks ago I was helping a friend with a yard sale over at uh 4,800 block of uh Friday Road and what I was tasked to do was to stand now it's it's the not yet incorporated part of Coco. Uh my part was to stand there at Friday Road and the entrance to the residence because it's just one way in, one way out. So it was to keep the traffic not bottled up. So anyway, um I happen to look across the street on the east side of Friday Road and in the weeds was a fire hydrant and I'm thinking, man, if firet truck had to go to that residence and usually it's dark time when you get a call for a structure fire, uh they wouldn't know the hydrant was there. There was no blue marker in the center of the roadway which indicates the location of a hydrant one side or the other. So, um I have on my card here the very first thing I was going to talk about. There's a poem called Do It Anyway. And I happened to have my stream in the Catholic radio at the time and the deacon was talking about this poem. It's uh Do It Anyway by Ken M. Keith and I'm that's why I'm here tonight. I'm I'm going to do it anyway. I'm coming in here to tell you what I saw. So, um, the resident, she came out to the road to go south, but I stopped her and I said, "You see your hydrant over there?" And she said, "No, I don't see." And then she finally saw and said, "Oh, I didn't even know there was a hydrant there." So, what I'm getting at that is um the yard sale was the next day as well. So, I said, "Well, need to get something there." So, I was thinking a bike flag. And so on the way Saturday

morning, stopped at Walmart, Coco, and they don't sell bike flags in Walmart. So the next thing was this reflector right here. So what I did is I placed it between Friday Road and the hydrant, but right up at the hydrant. So you could see this. And uh just so happened an elderly gentleman parked right there at that hydrant, you know, to go to the yard sale across the street. So, I didn't want to stop him, but on his way out, he got to chatting with me and I said, "You see that hydrant over there?" He said, "No." And I pointed this out to him. So, um, I went back out today to retrieve this because I left it out there. And since then, it's all been trimmed up real nice. I mean, you can see the hydrant real nice. But what I was getting at is maybe the city could get with some folks and come up with something like this that would could be the color of the top of the hydrant. That's a green top that tells you how many GPM gallons per minute. And that would help the firefighters as they arrive, they see a flag reflective, preferably say, "Hey, there's our hydrant." So they could catch it on the way into the fire or whatever. And it just so happened they had that warehouse fire the other morning, Saturday. I was on my way to Alamont Springs for the uh tunnel to towers 5K and our firefighters were there on North Coco for a a warehouse fire. So it was just to me something like this. I know when I was working in the fire department, anything to help locate a hydrant would help. So, water department, fire department, maybe the folks at Endeavor, the young kids there could come up with some kind of design. I mean, we lost their crosswalk, so this could make up for it is the way I was looking at it. So, that's all I'm here for. And thank you, Lieutenant.

And if anyone was curious, we have to be 15 feet away from a hydrant in parking. Yes, sir. Don't forget your reflector. Thank you. So, yes, sir. All right. This concludes this portion of delegations. Uh seeing that we do not have any more cards. Sir, where are you? Yes. 61. Okay. Yeah. Okay. You have a 61. We we we're going to get to you, Miss Chris. Oh, okay. Yeah. We're just on item number four. Oh, okay.

Yes, you you you're okay, ma'am. No harm, no foul. Okay, this concludes this portion of delegations. Next will be consent agenda item. What are the wishes of council? Move to approve with the addition or do we need to add that in? No. Okay. Move to approve. Yes. Got a motion on the floor by deputy mayor weeks. Second by Councilman Goins. Chair's going to call the question. All in favor saying I. I. I. Any nays? Eyes have it unanimously. Now, Miss Chris, this is where you're going to come up. Okay. Okay. I

I'll call you up, ma'am. I promise you. I promise. Okay. Item number six, public hearing approve on first reading of Ortness 09205, adopting the proposed revision to the solid waste contract franchise with Waste Management, Inc. of Florida to approve residential and commercial solid waste services within the incorporated city limits of the great city of Cocoa. Authorize the mayor, the city manager, and city attorney to execute all documentation needed to implement the proposed contract revision 2025-887 Equire Ike. Ma'am, would you read this ordinance into the minutes? Yes,

please.

Ordinance number 09-2025, an ordinance of the city council of the city of Coco, Florida, approving an amended and restated solid waste franchise agreement between the city of Cocoa and Waste Management of Florida, Inc. attached here too. Establishing solid waste service charges charges as provided by section 9-37 of the city of Cocoa code of ordinances providing for annual increases in service charges equal to the consumer price index for garbage and trash extending the original term to September 30th 2030. Providing for repeal of prior inconsistent ordinances and resolutions incorporation into the code severability and an effective date. Okay. Thank you.

Okay, Miss Sanger.

Thank you, sir. Um, this is all the information that was included in the uh last council meeting agenda item that you guys um approved to go forward with that option four. Um, so this is just putting that into an ordinance to amend the solid waste agreement. I do want to make one clarification because as you can imagine we are in the process of trying to create the collateral materials and the educational materials that'll go out to customers um which is not an easy thing to communicate. So um during this process um while we were working on our materials um we have come across one thing that I just want to clarify and make sure that you guys understand. Um and I can have um waste management can come up and and talk a little bit about it as well. Um so there when we say bulk trash we talked about that including appliances and furniture and those bigger items that do not fit into your cart. Um however there is an um large household appliances they categorize as um white goods and the reason they're called that is because they are recyclable materials. So those are handled differently. So large appliances, your refrigerators, washing machines, those types of things are considered white goods. Um and they are handled by a different truck. So, they are they will not be able to be picked up by the bulk trash, but um Waste Management has promised us that they will be picked up. Um so, what they're going to do is they will be flagging any that they cannot pick up with their bulk trash collection, their normal bulk trash collection. They're going to notate it and then send a truck over um to collect those items hopefully the next day, but they have promised no later than 48 hours after. Um so customers may see if they have a couch

and a refrigerator out on the side, the couch gets picked up and the refrigerator may take a day to two days to get picked up after that. So I just wanted to make that clarification. we will make sure again that's it's very hard to communicate all of this in and the different nuances um that exist. So we're going to be sending out postcards but we will also include um more details on the website. We'll have a website that'll have a lot of information and FAQs. Um and we will also be um proving doing like an info sheet that will give our customer service representatives who may get phone calls and also for the waste management uh customer service as well. and I'm happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Okay. I have a few questions and I'm sure just some from what we've talked about previously. Um, while we have the WM in the audience, Mr. Chandler, um, my one of my greatest criteria, I just want to be able to talk to a human being. I don't want to talk to BA, Texas. I want to talk to someone right here in Cocoa, Florida, affectionately known as hot chocolate. That's what I'm drinking right now. So, uh, Mr. WM sir, could you address that for me, please, sir?

Yes, sir. Uh, good a uh good evening uh mayor, deputy mayor, city council. Uh Jordan Chandler, government affairs manager for uh WM um to we we we've had that conversation with staff a little bit. Um as it outlines in the franchise agreement, there is a requirement of specification for a local number. Um we are meeting that particular requirement as outlined in the franchise agreement. Um there is a local number um that we have now unfortunately uh it is routed at this particular point in time to a uh regional customer service center. Um now the way that regional customer service center works is when you call in they obviously get your address and they route that call to somewhere here in Florida. Okay. So there is a Florida individual who is more than likely speaking to a Coco resident. Uh we are continuing to have conversations internally uh because this is not only a request of the city of Coco. Uh it is a request of a lot of municipalities. Um um uh I am continue to have that qu that uh those those conversations with my boss in addition to uh some of the corporate folks. Uh we'll have a few of them here tomorrow. So I will continue to relay that message uh Mr. Mayor. But uh as of right now we are meeting the contractual obligations as per the franchise agreement. Okay. Um, any other questions? I have another question.

Yes, sir. Because I I I have a customer here, Miss Chris. She's going to come forward and I'm sure you if you haven't met her, you will tonight. And, uh, my concern is, you know, um, I know we all make mistakes and we try to work through our mistakes. There's no perfect person, but how can we be assured or how can you reassure us that we're eliminating a lot of these mishaps if someone new misses the route or whatever the case may be? You understand what I'm saying, sir?

Yeah. So, it's it's I'll answer that uh mayor in twofold. Um um number one, I I'll hit on it. I think you mentioned it. Uh unfortunately, this is a perfect institution inhabited by imperfect people and imperfect equipment. Um but that doesn't negate the fact that we're still to meet our contractual obligations. Um I I've had numerous conversations with the district manager here. Uh they are continuing to educate the drivers uh for these particular routes. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, um you may have a new driver on a route who may not be familiar with it. Uh and so there's a lot of training that's going on behind the scenes. I can definitely assure you that. Um uh because as as we stated before, we don't want trash sitting out. Uh it's not right for the resident. I don't call them customers cuz they're they're residents. Uh it's not right for the resident to endure that. Uh and once again, we just have to do what we need to do. But it is an education component um that we are taking care of. Secondarily, um to Samantha's point in terms of the uh going to the routed clam yard waste and the routed bulky waste collection, uh we do believe that that will remedy a lot of these piles that are sitting out there once again because the residents do not have to call those in. Uh and and we see that once again in a lot of municipalities where uh residents don't call them in or if they do call them in um it's on our end where a ticket might be missed and uh we we just ultimately have to get better of that. So going the routed service and I just want to piggyback a little bit off of u uh some of the information that Samantha laid out. Um per the franchise agreement you have a definition there. I think it's page nine uh that talks about bulky trash. It includes those household appliances. Um, but they're per the county outlined really as white goods to Samantha's point because those are recyclable items. So the as even with on call you cannot co-mingle piles. It's the same with yard waste, right? And so as of right now being that we're on

call, the process is the same. We're to go out, we're to assess the pile, that bulky trash, which might be a mattress, a couch, recliner, etc. If that is co-mingled with a refrigerator, a dishwasher, we are to tag that pile and we're to come back into service one or the other, right? Um, so what we've talked to staff about in terms of the white goods because the the county will not allow us to bring that to the to the landfill, right? uh and more especially the county recycles those white goods and so it is their benefit to them. So on the back end we've talked to staff about that and uh residents will not have to call for those white goods. We're going to make sure that we notate those addresses that have white goods and we'll be back next day or no later than 48 hours to make sure that pile is serviced in totality.

Okay. Any questions for Mr. Chandler? Okay, Mr. Chandler, you may have a seat right there in the front row, sir. Thank you, Mayor. Yes, sir. Um, chair would like to close this portion to council and open to the public. Miss Chris, would you come forward, please, ma'am? I didn't want realize what a good day it was to come. Perfect timing, ma'am. You're right on time. Chrisorio, 109 Riverside Drive. Would you tell us your name, please? I'm sorry. I Chris Aorio, 109 Riverside Drive.

Thank you, ma'am.

Okay. I've had issues with my should this here. I've had issues with my yard waste not getting picked up for about 10 to 15 years. Originally, I called the local office in Coco. After years of no lasting solution, I called the main phone number 7135126200 where they would again fix the immediate problem, but still no permanent solution. I average a missed pickup roughly about every 2 to 4 months, but recently things are getting out of control. I did not get a yard west pickup on August 8th, August 15th, and September 5th. The house trash was not picked up again on August 25th or September 8th. Plus, on August 29th, they broke my yard waste trash can again. Usually, if I can find the pieces, I can fix it myself. If I can't fix it, I'll call for a replacement. The broken can from August 29th has not been replaced. I was told they are out of the largesiz trash cans, but I could get a small one until they got the bigger ones back in stock. I have not gotten the smaller one either. To summarize, in less than six weeks, I've had five missed pickups and a broken can. Monday, our house trash is our house trash pickup day. They usually pick up our yard waste if it was not picked up on Friday. Yesterday, nope, they picked up the yard waste and left the house trash. As of 9:30 this morning, it was still there when I left for work. The incompetence has got to stop. As I see it, there are a couple of options. A, fire all personnel involved, route manager, driver, etc. B, refund my cost for all the miss pickups throughout all the years, plus compensate me for all the time I've spent on the phone trying

to get service for which I have paid. C. I will be given written permission to place overflowing yard waste or house trash on the sidewalk and street when I do not have any trash cans because they're full or broken. D. Instruct any passing trash truck, household or yard waste to pick up any type of waste that is out on the sidewalk. E. Give me two extra yard waste trash cans large size. I do not want to waste the entire weekend waiting for the other cans to be delivered on Monday. pick up my or this is my other option. Pick up my trash on the scheduled dates. I'm a 70-year-old little old lady. If I can get the cans to the curb, please send someone to pick it up. I don't want to spend my remaining time on Earth on the phone trying to get my trash picked up.

I'mma clap for you, Miss Chris. Who ma'am? Uh Mr. Chandler, do you have a business card on you, sir? Yeah, I do. Uh, Miss Yes, Miss Chris, make sure you get that young man's card, ma'am. Become well acquainted with I really don't want to become well acquainted with him. Fix the problem. Well, ma'am, you know, sometimes we like to hear good things, too, as well. You know what I'm saying? Thank you goes a long way. Okay. Any other cards, Mrs. Singer, in the audience or from the public pertaining to this particular item? Yes, sir.

Thank you, Miss Chris, for having the courage, young lady. You're a lady of your word, ma'am, and I thank you. Okay. Uh, council, let me close this portion to the public and return it to council. Councilman Gins, you have your light on, sir? Yeah, I'm I'm good. I cleared it up. I was I was going to ask her a question about like this what kind of yard waste does she put out? Like, is it limbs? Is it like what is it? That's why bulky. Yeah. Okay. Question. Okay. Fits in the trash can. Be it vine, leaves, grass clippings. It's in the can. In the can. Okay. Okay. All right. Seeing none, chair like to make a motion to approve staff recommendation. Second.

Okay. Have a motion on the floor by the chair and a second by Deputy Mayor Weeks. Just going to call the question. All in favor saying I. I. Nays. Eyes have it unanimously. Thank you, Mr. Jordan. Sir, we look forward in having a harmonious rapport with you, sir. Absolutely.

WM, sir. Yes, sir. Our final item for tonight, sir and ma'ams. Council consideration of a 3% increase rent for the tenants at the Porsche House 2025-886. I think Councilman Hearn once upon a time maybe several years ago we talked about this issue and I think we're within our rights to do so. I do support this but I will hear from you uh Mrs. Singer and see what the wishes of council.

Yes sir. this we have um two uh tenants in the Porsche house um other than our main street organization and um each year we bring before you a um proposal to increase the rent by 3%. Um we've done that over the last three years and in 2021 we raised it 15% just because we had not raised it for many years prior to that. Um so we are asking um for we are recommending to increase it the 3% again this year but you will notice um if you've reviewed that um it actually is a decrease for them in rent because the taxes um Florida has removed taxes for rentals um beginning October 1st. So based on that they're actually going to see a very slight decrease in their rent by a couple like a dollar and change. Um, so because they won't be paying taxes.

Okay. And I'm happy to answer any questions that you might have. We have any questions for Mrs. Singer. Councilwoman calls. Yeah, I was just going to ask what the market rates are. Do you know? So I have included that in here. We I did I took Cocoa Village area. Um, and I looked at some comparable rent prices. Um, many of the spaces in the village area are larger, so it's a little bit harder to to um compare. Um, but you can see that they are right about a$183 was probably the closest in size, 435 square feet, which is still about double than what we have. Um, but that is right at the same price as what we are. Okay.

Motion approve. Second. Okay, you got it. Okay. Okay. We got a motion on the floor by Councilman Goins and a second by Deputy Mayor Weeks. Uh you have well I I I was just going to say that um for currently this is in uh definitely market rate. Yes ma'am. Okay. Just going to call the question. All in favor saying I I eyes have it unanimously. Okay. Proceeding on the reports. I thought we did it under consent. Yes, sir.

Are you you trying to unsell the car, man? I I know it's your birthday month and everything, but I won't I won't I won't mess with you like that. I believe it. So, yes, sir. Sir. Yes, sir. Okay. Uh, Mr. City Manager. Sir, Okay. Esquire Ike. No report, sir. Okay. What do we have today? Uh, Councilman um Evens. Which one of my evens would like to go first? Two or four? I'll go. Mine will be quick. Do you need a clip? I mean, the the

No, no, I don't have any. Um, I don't have any photos, but um wanted to thank public works for responding to the Dade Court. um Abby the the um flooding situation there. I was I had gotten several calls and I was going to go look at it. As soon as I got there, I could see you had a bunch of trucks there and so I think it's pretty much resolved. Yes. I'll let staff I'll relay the message. Okay. Okay. So, we had some panicked. If you've ever been a flood, it Oh, yeah.

It's pretty awful. Um, and then the Boys and Girls uh club breakfast fundraiser was good this morning. I'm sure Chief Kier was there kind of pinching people for the dollars. And uh don't forget the town hall on October 21st. That's the end of my report. Yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am. District number dose.

Uh so I recently attended one of the uh community partnership uh meetings with Endeavor and I just wanted to share some news that uh they are welcoming uh any mentors, any uh personnel from the city uh or any branch of government to come by and visit with the kids at any time. Um I'm planning a trip over there very soon. So if any of you would like to stop by Endeavor Elementary, um just reach out to the principal. um and they'll get it set up. Uh so, uh also with 911 coming up, you know, my special connection to the fire service and all first responders, I just want to uh uh state that we should never forget and uh remember 911. And when you see a first responder, thank them.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. One and three, which who would like to go first? You want to go first, Alex? Okay. Um, well, first I would like to um thank Miss Morgan and the uh public works I it was it streets as well today that went out um and streets department was actually the beautifification division.

Beautification division. Yes, I better say it cuz they get on me bad. Um they went out and um our I'm assum I think our contract does not call for the county to do a lot of the landscaping at Jolie Smith Center and been kind of left behind a little bit and it's it was pretty bad. Um called Miss Morgan this morning and uh they jumped on it um and took care of that. So I show some appreciation for for them for getting out there and getting it done this today. I'm say they probably was there most of the day today. Thank you. Uh this was the uh employee um appreciation day um put on by um Mr. Stinett and his department. Um

what is his what is his first name? Jerome Jerome from Bard Alabama 40 40 years 40 years of service. Yes sir. And um I mean that that's most people nowadays not staying at jobs for 40 minutes let alone 40 years. Uh so so but it was good. Um retiring is he sir? No. Oh okay. Oh no. Yeah. He said he had like three or four more years. That what he said. I don't More power to him. Um but but much appreciate to all the employees. Other council members was there as well. Councilwoman Cos and Deputy Mayor Weeks was there as well. Um but it was it was a good time. I didn't get invited to the food. It was good food too. And it was uh you did

IHOP. You sure got it. Yeah. Yeah. I must had a conflict that day. No, you didn't see food. Okay, baby. Mama. Uh uh. So, so we had a um uh uh death in our community. Uh Dr. Jolie Smith. Uh send our condolences to Dr. Jolie Smith and his family.

Uh this was a photo of my son. I believe he was maybe like maybe four months old or five months old at this time. Um but but he was in the hands of of a legend and so um want to show our appreciation to him and his family. Um you know there's another photo of us at the uh Cocoa Rocklet parade as well him and uh Councilwoman Sammy Martin Brown Martin. Yeah. Say that right. Go get you.

I know. I know. Um, so this was just some of the things that uh this was before and I'm gonna get the after soon. I think Miss Morgan gonna send them to me, but it was just some of the hedges is not being taken care of. And I the city manager is looking into our contract with the county to see what that looks like. Um, you can Oh, yeah. So, as you can see, this doesn't look good. And with a funeral coming to Dr. the Jolie Smith Center with a repass with all the different people that's going to be coming in. It wouldn't have looked well for us that we allowed this to happen. So, um but city manager going to take care of it and and then we'll move forward on that.

Uh this was the islands as you can see. Anytime you see pepper trees growing out of an island, Yeah. you know, we we got a problem. So, I I I told Miss Miss Morgan today, and I think I told uh um city manager as well, maybe maybe those islands don't need to be landscape. Maybe it needs to be just grass. I don't know. I really don't know. I don't know the answer to it. Um it doesn't need to be this. Is that a old tree, man? You Yeah. Well, Mr. Greenwood gone, so but but I'll just, you know, it just don't need to look like this. I just say that. So, okay, I got you.

Yep. So, um that that's all I had. Um good, sir. Oh, yeah. That's that's that's um You got it. All right. City magic. Got it. What you talking about? The flood. Are you done, sir? Yes, ma'am. M. Well, before I get my slides up, I want to know when you became a Rocklage City Council person. as it said on the front page of the paper. I sent the editor a message. Now it's talking about Coco and Endeavor. And then it says Alex going district one of Rocklage. I had to get that. You're not sure.

I had two kids in a public school. Yes, it did. I want a child. Baby mama drama. So you killing me. I was like, you can laugh Charlene. You miss took a lot out of that one. So, I just had to give you a little Yes, ma'am.

a little bit about that. Anyway, because I wasn't here last meeting, I went back to the uh to the League of Cities Conference, which was my very first one. I did the mayors and then the uh and it was uh really really good. And uh here's some of some of the pictures I took. Of course, mayor and the new uh President Smith and this lovely lady that I met. We hung out and uh just met some of the nicest people and I talked with the city uh the mayor of Orange City, Florida. And as y'all know, I was born in Orange City, Iowa. And he actually went to Orange City, Iowa. They have a thing with Orange City, Florida, Orange City, Iowa as sister cities. And so I I told my mom that. She goes, "Well, now isn't that cool?" So anyway, and and I love this picture with Sean Ferguson. He what a delightful man. And of course, there we have the uh mentalist on the right side. And I wound up in the show on that one. Uh thanks to Curtis throwing me the thing. I keep giving Curtis grief over that. He says, "Well, you were the only one I saw because of the white I was wearing." So anyway, uh but I still don't know how he does what he does. Um so then this was a big event in uh station 33 and uh I tell you it was an incredible event. Um, excuse me just a minute. My nose has decided to start running. Um, anyway, uh, two lieutenants on the right were getting, um, uh,

promotion. Yes. And Chief Lamb did a wonderful job. I mean, just wonderful. And everybody I talked to all around, not just in Coco, but other places talk about what an outstanding man. Nobody says anything bad about Chief Lamb. So, kudos to you. He he just does a fabulous job. And then this was the um uh gentleman who is now a driver operator.

And then this is their new logo which the people at station 33 came up with. It's the industry standard industry because of industry road right there. There's an eagle's nest back behind in the preservation area. So they use that. So, this is the first time that they have let a station come up with their own logo. And that is on the side of the firetruck. And then here's all the guys who got promoted with their spouses. Me next to the firet truck. Our new $1.2 million. So then we did a thing called a pushing. And I'm hoping that this video plays. Will that play? Sir, take one more spot. Hit one more.

There it goes. We literally pushed that thing and it is heavy into the station. Good thing you were there. I'm telling you. I'm telling you. You see the mayor was on the back. He wasn't doing a whole lot of pushing there. Anyway, no bay doors were damaged by the way. Anyway, but that was awesome to be part of that hard.

So anyway, it was an amazing event and we learned so many things and so but yeah, you did a great job. Thank you, sir, so much. Um, and then this I saw on uh Mayfield's site and then I went to the site. They are doing uh for Halloween they're doing haunted tours of Cocoa Village and I I said I did not know that. So, I wanted to bring that along as well. Yeah. Yep. And you go to that $25 and they're doing it through Halloween. So, you can go to that site to uh do a haunted uh tour of Cocoa Village. Um, now this was I went to the Florida Realtors Convention, which is where I was last time, and these were some of our speakers. That's Marcus Lammonus,

and he owns he he had a show on uh CNN called The Prophet. Now, he has the Fixer, but he also owns Camping World, hence Camping World Stadium, named after him. Anyway, but he was going around meeting everybody. He was outstanding speaker. And then we had N. Genrich. It's not a great picture of him, but one of the interesting things he was talking about, which I did not know, showing again that the US is the greatest. We have eight trillionaires in eight trillion dollar companies in the US. Europe has none and China has one. And again, you can make you can go as far as you want to in the US. And I found that statistic amazing. So, um, then this is Ashley Moody. She came and spoke with us and that was, um, uh, and I actually got to meet her and, uh, I didn't get a picture with her, but really nice lady and did a great talk to us. So, that was the, um, the end of my pictures. Uh, but, um, anyway, it's been a a busy month and it's going to continue. So anyway, but thank and I know there was something else I was going to bring up and I can't remember at the moment. So I will pass it to you, sir.

Thank you, ma'am. I want to say kudos to all the council members for doing an outstanding job. You go beyond your duty as your district representative. You represent the city as an entirety. So kudos to you. Thank you all 411 plus employees, city managers, city esquire, uh, city attorney, staff members, directors, all the way down to those that take care of the little baby ducks every now and then we get here at the park area at the waterfront park. Teamwork makes the dream work. You like the video first or your whatever you like, sir. Let's do the video first. Video,

sir. Yes, sir. You just tell me what to do, brother Mitch. We got Mitch. He's dressed out. He's a new IT person. Yeah, he's slim and trim. He's back down to his football weight. He's avelt Mustang man. I know what I was going to say. Go ahead, baby. Go ahead. Say it while you wait. You talked about 911. That's my birthday. Is it really? I have birthday of 911. Yep. Yep. People will go, "Oh, oh, every time." It's okay. The first couple years it was tough. Oh, yeah.

We're at the citizenship award. They're acknowledging the scholars at Emma where the kids received their academic achievement awards and the family members were present. Um, that is the recipient there. I want to say Miss Sanders, but let me have to think for a moment. You can see everyone's dress shop, dress for success in their uniforms. [Music] Uh, naughty naughty everybody. All the babies are there as you know. Principal Cole, my minister Robinson there. They were giving out shoes, Emma Jewel shoes, sneakers and slides. Yes. And that's O Jones boy from Rockland many years ago. Have one of my former students right there. He has his family there present as well. And the thing I love about it is the diversity of D and everybody was there. Everyone counts. some serious bacon, man.

And you would know uh by the time I got there, everything was gone. Give up, Mr. Turner. Give him a big hand, everybody. Give him a big hand.

Thank you, Mr. Cole. And I'm glad you received that in a good way cuz I love your school. I love your school. I love being here. I am always so excited when you invite me here. And this time, we're talking about citizenship. [Music] And it's a joyous occasion as you can see kids receiving the academic excellence awards. Very nice to have the support of your family and friends there speaks volume. And it's funny to see some of my former students now parents

and being responsible for their children or child. [Music] Yeah. Justin, man. Is he coaching at your school? [Music] Yeah. He went to Oregon as well. He has to be up there for a minute. Yeah, that's us in that tiger pride orange and black baby doing a little raffle.

I was cutting me up to another day, Father God. Thank you so much for these guests, Father God. Thank you so much for these parents, Father God. Thank you for Mrs. Turner. Thank you so much for our mail. Father God, we ask that you continue to guide us, Father God, and strengthen me as the school leader to keep all these scholars from hurt, harm, and danger in Jesus name. Everybody say so. Kudos to the kid and ma and his staff making a difference that you know from a C school to a B school and the horizon is there. Do I hit the ne the button again? Uh, Big Mitch,

I got to just switch to it. Give me one second. Yeah, certainly sir. Yes, lawyer man. You dress like a lawyer now, man. That's what I told him. Johnny C walk that line, baby.

I think I only have maybe one picture. Okay. Thank you, sir. Um this um we had at the Space Coast League of Cities meeting at our executive director meeting. Um as you know, as I am now a past president and second vice president, Dr. Sarah Stokal will take over the helm representing Bavari County in the Space Coast League of Cities. Our new uh commander Brian from at Pat I'm old school y'all. Patrick Air Force Base. I think they call it what? Some Space Force.

Yeah, Space Force.

Yes. Um and he's coming in from Washington DC as you can see all of our elected officials. Uh to the right our right is um Sister Kennedy uh also an educator principal at one of the adult schools. To her right is the council woman from Bagar West Melbourne Diana um Adams, brother Willis and brother Tim Reed, Steve Osmer and myself and I want to say Jack but that's not his correct name. But anyhow, that's our new base commander um right there, Brian. And he's the newest one on the board uh board there with us. Come aboard with us. And I just want to say thank you all for attending. The meal was much better than the previous meal as you all know. So this concludes my portion. Go in peace. Make proper preparation. Promotes positive productivity pleasingly. So go in peace. I thank you very much and uh happy birthday.

Okay. Happy birthday. Oh, thank you. Happy birthday. Thank you. Yeah. Chair entertains a motion to adjurnn. Move to approve. Okay. And I'll second all