Cocoa Beach reviews 2024 accomplishments and outlines sewer, stormwater and dredging projects

City officials reviewed department accomplishments for 2024 and discussed ongoing capital projects, saying the city expects work on sewer crossings, stormwater improvements and canal dredging to continue into the next budget cycle.

The city manager and department directors summarized accomplishments across departments, from finance awards to public-safety certifications. Development services director Dave Dickey and public works director Brad Calso described multiple infrastructure projects now in design or construction, and stormwater planner Morgan Zolke promoted a public vulnerability-assessment workshop on sea-level rise and flooding.

Key water and sewer items: staff reported completion of 11.5 miles of gravity sewer slip-lining and the start of a reclaimed-water inspection program with 629 inspections in fiscal year 2024. Design work is underway for lift-station upgrades on lift stations 3, 6 and 15 and for multiple sewer crossover replacements. Brad Calso explained four gravity crossover pipes cannot be rehabbed by slip-lining and must be dug up and replaced with plastic pipe; he said Florida Department of Transportation permit review requires a full traffic control plan because work will cut the roadway.

Stormwater work included slip-lining and slip-rehab efforts on Saint Lucie Lane, Sunflower, Southport Street and York Drive; design initiation for Ramp Road Park Southwest stormwater improvements; and a reported vegetation harvest at the golf course that removed 1,994 pounds of total nitrogen. Zolke invited the public to a vulnerability-assessment workshop the following evening with mapping activities to identify local flooding concerns.

Environmental and navigation grants carried forward include Florida Inland Navigation District grants for channel dredging and state appropriations for muck-capping projects in Bicentennial Park and the golf area. Staff said the city intends to continue the dredge program to remove re-accumulated muck from canals and improve water quality.

Public safety and utilities updates: the fire department reported maintaining an ISO Class 2 rating, adding a full-time inspector, obtaining an open-water lifeguard-agency certification from the USLA and becoming an American Heart Association certified training center for CPR. The city’s water-reclamation work included purchase of a new CCTV inspection truck and continued design for sewer crossover replacements and lift-station improvements.

Staff previewed community amenities: the new city hall was expected to open in about a month or two, and the commission discussed Centennial Park plans tied to the city’s 100th anniversary and a centennial celebration scheduled for the July 4 weekend with a main celebration on July 5. Bicentennial Park work on State Road 520 was reported to begin the coming week, and staff said the park renovation was grant-funded.

Ending

Officials asked residents to attend the vulnerability-assessment workshop, watch for project notices and contact staff for plant tours or questions about specific infrastructure work.