The City Commission on July 23 added and approved an emergency resolution authorizing the interim city manager to piggyback a Miami-Dade County contract with Cocoa Tree Service Corp. to perform downtown tree maintenance funded by a Florida Department of Agriculture grant.

Why it matters: Staff said the $49,500 award must be used by Aug. 31, 2025, or the city would lose the grant. The resolution allows the city to use an existing Miami-Dade contract to accelerate work without a separate procurement.

Key points
- The resolution authorizes the interim city manager to piggyback Miami-Dade RTQ number 02029 with Cocoa Tree Service Corp. for no more than $49,500. The item was added to the agenda as an emergency and passed 5–0.
- City staff said the contractor will draft a tree-maintenance plan and complete the work before the grant deadline of Aug. 31, 2025.
- The funds come from a Department of Agriculture grant previously accepted by the commission; staff emphasized the time-sensitive nature when asking for the add-on item.

Quotes and attribution
- The interim city manager said: "This add-on item...is a financial emergency. If we don't use the funds by August 31, then we'll lose those funds." (interim city manager Shamika Lawson)

Next steps
- Upon approval, the contractor will prepare a maintenance plan and staff will supervise work in downtown public-rights-of-way and city-owned spaces. Staff expects work to be completed before the grant expiration date.

Ending
- The commission approved the emergency add-on and the piggyback authorization 5–0; staff will return with details and schedule for the downtown maintenance work.