Subject:
Title
Board Direction, Re: City of Cocoa Parks Operations and Maintenance Interlocal Agreement
End
Fiscal Impact:
In Fiscal Year 2022-2023, total revenue in Cocoa was $568,957, and total expenses were $1,683,713.
Dept/Office:
Parks & Recreation Department
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board provide direction to staff regarding the proposed Interlocal Agreement with the City of Cocoa for the operation and maintenance of Cocoa parks with the following options:
1. Present the proposed Interlocal Agreement to the City of Cocoa as is for their approval by October 1, 2024.
2. If the City does not approve the Interlocal Agreement by July 31, 2024, the County will notify the City that it will cease to maintain the City of Cocoa Parks on October 1, 2024, at the beginning of the fiscal year.
3. Any other direction as provided by the Board.
If the City of Cocoa agrees to the proposed Interlocal Agreement, it is further requested that the Board authorize the Chair to execute the Interlocal Agreement upon the County Attorneys and Risk Management's approval.
It is also requested that the Board authorize the County Manager to execute necessary budget change requests.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
Brevard County Recreation District 4 is a taxing district that levies property taxes on the Cities of Cocoa, Rockledge, and a portion of the unincorporated County. The Legislature created the Recreation District in 1963 and, in FY 2023-2024, levied a millage of 0.5277 mills that generated $3,268,977 in property tax revenue. The district's governing board comprises the Cities of Cocoa, Rockledge, and Brevard County members.
Brevard County has operated and maintained all the parks in Recreation District 4, including all Cocoa and Rockledge Parks, through Interlocal Agreements for over 40 years. The current Interlocal Agreement with the City of Cocoa expired in 2011, and the Interlocal Agreement with Rockledge expires in 2031.
Under the expired Interlocal Agreement, the County assumed the costs of operations and maintenance as well as some capital improvements to the Parks within the City of Cocoa except for: Bracco Pond Park, Cocoa Conservation Area, Cocoa Riverfront Park, Johnnie Johnson Nature Trails, Lee Wenner Park and Taylor Park. The City of Cocoa has also provided for some investments into their Parks.
In Fiscal Year 2022-2023, Recreation District 4 generated $568,957 within the City of Cocoa. The expenses for the Cocoa Parks operations, maintenance, and capital projects totaled $1,683,713, leaving the County to fund the remaining deficit.
County staff has attempted to negotiate a new Interlocal Agreement with the City of Cocoa for years without success. The Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department has continued to operate and maintain the City Parks and make capital investments in cooperation with the City of Cocoa.
The proposed Interlocal Agreement includes several updates, language clauses, and notifications. It also addresses responsibility for utility payment and termination language. The current Interlocal Agreement differs significantly from the expired Interlocal Agreement in the County’s responsibilities in utilizing District 4 taxes. The current Interlocal Agreement presented to Cocoa would require the City to maintain or replace any equipment or fixture over $5,000. In addition, once the City of Cocoa's expenditures exceed the Recreation District 4 tax revenues, the County will only be responsible for 50% of the operating and maintenance of the parks and no amount above $2,500 for any other costs outside of staffing.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Please return a copy of the Boards action to the Parks and Recreation Department.