The debate over the cost of the dune crossovers proposal was a central topic of discussion. The proposal, submitted by the company 8 Koy, was met with critique from multiple commissioners who questioned the necessity of the high price, especially as it equated to an entry-level engineer’s annual salary. One commissioner emphasized the seemingly excessive nature of the cost. Another commissioner concurred, describing the price as “a little ridiculous” and encouraged efforts to negotiate a more favorable deal. The city’s manager explained that the structural complexities and necessary inspections justified the proposal’s cost, noting that the specific design, including switchbacks, contributed to the price. Despite these explanations, skepticism persisted, and the commission opted to withdraw the motion to approve the proposal, allowing the city manager to explore cost negotiation avenues without officially rejecting the proposal.

Public safety also emerged as a key theme, with community members voicing concerns about the safety of electric bikes (ebikes) and bicycles, particularly their speed and the potential for accidents. One resident recounted an incident wherein two children crashed into his car on speeding ebikes, highlighting the risks posed by narrow pathways and questioning possible preventive measures. Another resident addressed the speed of bicycles used by students, expressing concern about their safety as they navigate through traffic to access relocated bike racks on school campuses. A call was made for the City Attorney to explore potential restrictions or regulations to enhance safety. Despite these concerns, another resident downplayed the danger, pointing out that no significant accidents had been reported by the police.

The meeting also covered the management of vacation rentals, focusing on the city’s challenges in enforcing regulations. The commission discussed a resolution to amend the master resolution for fees by removing vacation rental fees and placing them into a separate matrix. A typographical error in the proposed resolution was identified, and the ongoing difficulty in regulating unregistered vacation rentals was highlighted. The city had struggled to generate revenue from these fees without maintaining a strict balance sheet, prompting a proposal to increase fees to cover necessary compliance and enforcement expenses. However, concerns were raised about the timing and availability of the documentation for these proposed changes, leading to a decision to table the matter until February 20 for further discussion.

Another agenda item was the approval of the Cocoa Beach Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency’s renewal of the Cocoa Beach Main Street lease agreement. The proposal, described as a “no-brainer,” was approved unanimously with minimal discussion, reflecting broad support for the project.

The commission also addressed the establishment of an annual fee for renting community garden beds, set at $60. The fee, intended to cover materials, supplies, and repairs, was reportedly agreed upon by current users, who had previously engaged with city representatives about the fee structure. The community garden beds, located near Ramp Road, would be maintained by the city, which would provide soil annually.

In addition to these primary topics, the meeting included a discussion on pedestrian safety measures along A1A, particularly the proposed installation of speed humps. Concerns were raised about the safety implications of such measures, with one individual recounting a negative experience in another location where speed humps caused safety issues. A commissioner shared insights from the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization, noting that advocacy led to a reduction in the number of proposed speed humps, with the final plan including only one near the police station, designed to minimize hazards for vehicles. The commitment to monitor the situation closely and advocate for removal if accidents occur was reiterated.

Community involvement in upcoming workshops was encouraged.