Commission adopts towing regulations and authorizes Rebuild Florida grant application; all measures pass unanimously

At its meeting, the Cocoa Beach City Commission approved multiple regulatory and grant actions related to towing operations and stormwater recovery.

Towing measures: Commissioners adopted emergency ordinance 17-01, an emergency ordinance “regulating tow truck operations within the city” that establishes operational and signage requirements, enforcement and penalties. The commission also adopted Resolution 2025-27, which adopts a fine schedule applicable to the emergency towing ordinance for non-consent towing and requires the city to post fine amounts on its website. Finally, the commission approved Ordinance 17-02 on first reading, an ordinance creating a new article in chapter 13 to regulate towing of vehicles from private property, requiring permits, insurance, signage and specifying permit revocation and enforcement provisions. The published agenda included a typo in the ordinance title that staff advised did not appear in the ordinance text.

Grant authorization: The commission adopted Resolution 2025-25 authorizing the city to apply to the Florida Commerce Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program grant to fund repairs to stormwater infrastructure damaged during 2024’s Hurricane Milton. The staff representative for this item was the public works and water reclamation director and stormwater utility manager.

Votes and motion details: All of the above measures passed by a 5–0 vote. The meeting record shows motions and seconds for each item, and a roll-call for the emergency towing ordinance was recorded. Individual mover and seconder names were not specified in the public-recorded motion statements; roll call and the meeting’s opening attendance indicate Mayor Keith Capizzi, Vice Mayor Williams, Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Hutcherson and Commissioner Tumulty were present and voted in favor.

What passed (at a glance): • Resolution 2025-25 — Authorize application to Florida Commerce Rebuild Florida infrastructure repair program (stormwater repairs from 2024 hurricane damage). Outcome: adopted, 5–0. • Emergency Ordinance 17-01 — Regulate tow truck operations within the city (signage, operational requirements, enforcement). Outcome: adopted (emergency adoption), roll-call recorded, 5–0. • Resolution 2025-27 — Fine schedule for non-consent towing tied to emergency ordinance 17-01; requires posting on city website. Outcome: adopted, 5–0. • Ordinance 17-02 — New article regulating towing from private property (permits, insurance, revocation, enforcement). Outcome: adopted on first reading, 5–0.

Next steps and implementation: Staff (Development Services and Police/Code Enforcement) will implement the new towing rules, post the fine schedule on the city website, and follow the ordinance’s permit and signage requirements. The public works/stormwater team will proceed with the application for the Rebuild Florida grant; any grant award and associated matching requirements will return to the commission for additional action if required.