A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to addressing the accumulation of litter along State Road 524, particularly from Cox Road to Industry Road. Local resident Mr. Willie highlighted the issue, describing the visible trash as “a bad look” for the city, especially when compared to cleaner neighboring areas like Vieira. The responsibility for grass cutting falls on a contractor, yet the lack of a litter pickup clause has led to unsightly conditions. The Deputy Mayor echoed these concerns, agreeing that the problem warranted attention. Council members discussed the necessity of holding the contractor accountable and exploring community involvement options, such as “Adopt A Highway” programs.

Another issue was the council’s consideration of a proposal from Matthews Hope Ministries to use dignity buses as mobile shelters. This initiative aims to provide safe, temporary sleeping arrangements for the homeless, in response to a new state statute criminalizing homelessness. The buses would offer a place to sleep overnight, returning individuals to their pickup points the next morning, thereby not functioning as a transport service but as a stationary shelter. A council member voiced concerns about the short notice of the funding opportunity and emphasized the need for a thorough discussion with local merchants about potential impacts. Questions arose regarding the necessity of city approval for parking these buses on private property, equating it to parking a church or charter bus. The urgency of this matter was accentuated by the impending deadline for utilizing the allocated $10 million state funding for shelters by June 30, 2024.

Further deliberations centered on the proposed mobile shelter’s compliance with zoning regulations, particularly the prohibition of parking buses in residential areas. The Bard Homeless Coalition representative clarified that these buses are intended to serve as mobile shelters, not merely parked vehicles. They stressed the importance of collaboration among municipalities to address the homelessness crisis effectively.

The council also examined House Bill 1365, which influences local responses to homelessness. Speakers expressed concerns about the bill’s destabilizing effects on vulnerable populations and highlighted the potential benefits of mobile shelters, drawing parallels to successful implementations in other cities. This legislative context added urgency to the council’s discussions on the homelessness initiative.

Aside from these major topics, the council reviewed zoning amendments and updates to the Upstart Cocoa minority and small business program. The proposed changes to the Upstart program aimed to broaden eligibility and support for businesses less than three years old, acknowledging the challenges new businesses face in their early stages. A resident urged the council to pause the amendments, advocating for a public forum to gather taxpayer input.

The meeting also touched on property maintenance issues and the complexities surrounding eviction-related debris. Council members expressed a desire to implement policy changes requiring landlords to manage waste removal post-eviction, citing persistent problems in areas like Stone Street. The recent addition of two code enforcement officers was noted as a step towards addressing these concerns more proactively.