Cocoa council renews Main Street agreement, approves parks grant and authorizes reapplying for railroad partnership grant

The Cocoa City Council on Sept. 23 unanimously approved a renewal of the municipal services agreement with the Historic Cocoa Village Main Street Association, approved a parks/National Recreation and Park Association grant submission, and authorized staff to reapply for the reissued National Railroad Partnership Program (railroad administration) grant.

Miss Singer presented the Main Street agreement renewal, explaining the association provides municipal services in exchange for office space at the Porsche House at a nominal rent of $1 per year (plus minimal common-area maintenance). The renewal covers up to three years with one‑year renewals that require mutual agreement; the city manager will have authority to approve renewals going forward.

Council also approved a parks grant (filed as 2025‑914) and received briefings that the grant application was routine. On the sidewalk cafe issue, planner Lucy told council that Ordinance 11‑2025 would move annual sidewalk cafe permit fees out of the code and instead allow the council to set them by resolution; the current fee is $25. Council approved first reading and directed staff to bring a resolution for fee setting as part of the next meeting’s agenda.

Councilmembers then discussed a reissued National Railroad Partnership Program grant. Miss Singer said the federal reissue removed certain DEI requirements present in earlier notices. The application deadline is in January and staff has begun coordinating Q&A meetings with partners such as BrightLine and the Transportation Planning Organization (TPO). Council authorized staff to reapply and to pursue partnership coordination; the motion passed unanimously.

The council approved the Main Street agreement and grant actions without roll-call dissent; staff will follow up with the required applications, resolutions and partner meetings.