Council OKs $150,000 for Cocoa High athletic upgrades, adds nonprofit-use ask to interlocal

Staff presented an interlocal agreement that would commit $150,000 from the city to Cocoa High athletic improvements, primarily toward a video scoreboard and associated electrical and site work. City Manager Whitney noted the package is similar to prior interlocals used for other school projects.

Council members discussed scope and cost estimates; staff read an itemized estimate that included scoreboard equipment and installation and ancillary costs that together approached the low hundreds of thousands of dollars. Several council members raised public-access and safety questions about allowing community use of the stadium, especially given recent school safety incidents elsewhere; others noted comparable Brevard schools allow after-hours track or field access and suggested negotiated public-access terms could return community benefit for the city's investment.

Councilmember Goins proposed adding language that the school board consider allowing up to four nonprofit events per year to use the stadium venue at no charge (waiving only the venue fee; security, janitorial and police costs would remain the event organizer's responsibility). After debate about whether the city can impose such conditions on a school-owned facility, and whether the principal and school board should be consulted, the council approved the interlocal with the request about nonprofit access. The council recorded a dissenting vote(s) on the amendment in the minutes.

The agreement passed and staff said the school board will plan and manage the project; the council asked staff to pursue follow-up negotiations on access and security protocols with the school.

A public commentator asked practical questions about parking, parking management, and community benefit; council asked that staff coordinate with the school principal and provide language options that protect safety while enabling community use where feasible.