Cocoa council declines FDOT request to take on Clear Lake Road landscaping, cites funding shortfall and missing irrigation

The Cocoa City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 23 to decline the Florida Department of Transportation(FDOT) request that the city assume landscaping maintenance for Clear Lake Road medians and rights-of-way from State Road 520 to the south side of Michigan Avenue.

Public Works staff told the council that FDOT did not install irrigation in the medians during the recent Clear Lake Road safety project and that the projectconstruction notes do not provide sufficient soil excavation or irrigation provisions to sustain plantings long term. Abby Morgan, presenting for staff, said the current memorandum of agreement (MOA) reimburses the city $62,530 a year for maintaining 11.364 miles of state roads but that the city's actual maintenance costs for that work total $174,974, creating a net annual deficit of $112,444.

Council members said those figures, plus the lack of irrigation and the severity of the roadway subgrade, made it infeasible to accept additional responsibility without new funding. "No irrigation was installed in medians and rights of way as part of the safety project," Morgan said during her presentation. "Unirrigated shrubs and ground covers are unlikely to survive long term." Councilwoman Koss added that the state's design and soil compaction standards can make plant survival difficult without heavier investment.

Council discussed two options prepared by staff: decline FDOT's request to expand the city's maintenance limits (keeping the current MOA in place), or negotiate with FDOT to revise landscape plans and seek additional reimbursement before assuming responsibility for the additional segments. The council approved the first option by voice vote. The motion to decline the FDOT expansion was placed on the floor by the chair and seconded by Councilman Hearn; the motion passed unanimously.

Staff said the existing MOA expires in March 2026, giving the city time to continue negotiations if it chooses. Morgan told council that FDOT had indicated it will maintain to FDOT standards unless the city agrees to take on higher-level standards at its own cost. Council members asked staff to prepare a more detailed fiscal analysis and an option that would show the cost to the city of building and maintaining medians to an enhanced, city-preferred standard. Councilmember Coles and others asked that staff consult IFAS or similar landscaping experts for best practices if the council later decides to pay for soil replacement and irrigation.

The council's vote preserves the city's current maintenance responsibilities under the existing MOA and rejects the proposal to add the Clear Lake medians and county segments without additional FDOT funding. Staff said it will return to council with further analysis if negotiations with FDOT continue or if council requests a city-funded enhancement plan.