Cocoa Beach staff schedules sea-level workshop; port ambassador reports rising activity and vessel traffic

City staff told the Cocoa Beach City Commission the city has initiated a vulnerability assessment to identify areas under city jurisdiction that are vulnerable to sea-level rise, storm surge and coastal flooding, and invited public input at upcoming events.

Staff announced a vulnerability-assessment workshop scheduled for March 5 at 6 p.m. at the county club and a sea-oats planting event on Feb. 15 at 9 a.m. on South Third Street. Staff also reported progress on a coastal-capping project: “we got our permit from FDEP this week. We're just waiting on the marine fisheries permit, and then we can put that project out on the street,” the staff speaker said.

Janice, identified in public comment as a port ambassador, said January 25 was a highly active day at the port with numerous vessel movements. She said, in public comment, that the port had “25 deep sea vessels in port, 6 cruise ships, 6 cargo ships, 8 space vessels, a casino ship, and 4 fuel bunker barges” and that the port’s revenue was “up 14%.” She also referenced Moody’s bond rating upgrade for the port and noted growing interest in pipeline infrastructure for fuel deliveries.

Why it matters: vulnerability assessment workshops and capping projects relate to coastal resilience planning and capital projects; port activity and rising revenue have economic implications for neighboring communities and traffic on nearby roads.

Staff said the capping project is ready to move to procurement once the remaining marine-fisheries permit is issued. The city invited residents to participate in the vulnerability-assessment workshop and the February sea-oats planting.

No formal commission action was required for the staff report items at this meeting.