It's Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. It is 4:00 p.m. We are at the Cape Canaveral City Council special meeting. We have agenda before us located at the City Hall Council Chambers, 100 Pulk Avenue in Cape Canaveral, Florida. I call this
meeting to order. And with that, Council Member Davis, would you please lead us in the >> pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under
God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> City clerk, please call the role. Council member Davis >> here. >> Council member Jackson >> here, Mayor Prom Kellum,
Mayor Morrison >> here, >> and council member Willis >> here. Thank you all for being here. City council, city staff, and everyone from our community. We appreciate your time today coming together.
We've got an agenda here uh really with with three main uh areas. We'll have public participation shortly. We'll have a discussion item and then we have one proposed item for action. We are at item number four which is the approval of agenda as written or with amendments.
City council, there's any changes to the agenda. >> Make a motion to approve agenda as written. >> I'll second. Got a motion by council member Willis, a second by council member Davis to approve the agenda as written. Any further discussion?
Seeing none, city clerk, >> council member Davis, >> four. Council member Jackson >> four. >> Mayor Morrison >> four. >> And council member Willis >> four. >> The agenda approved as written passes 40. This time we have public participation up front in our meeting.
For those of you who just might have joined, we encourage you to please fill out a public participation card, which are provided up front. I've got a a few up here now. I'm going to go in the order that I received them. And so, just a little bit of a housekeeping. We have
a threeminut timer. These lights here in front of us, it goes green, the 3 minutes begin. When the light goes yellow, it's got about 30 seconds left. And we ask that you please wrap up once it goes red. And uh the tone rings. So with that the first card I have
reeshancar. Let's try again. >> All right. >> Very good. Thank you. Well, I am a proud resident of Cape Canaveral and proud to say my child goes to uh Cape View Elementary School. I am
only here in this capacity today to speak as a parent and also as a resident. Um well, we all have heard about the potential consolidation of Cape View with another school in Koko Beach area.
Um, I would like um the city council to assess economic impact from this proposed closure. What does that mean to the city of Cape Canaveral? How is it going to impact
businesses and how is it going to you know drive away families with small children because there is no pool to the area if there's no school. The very reason I moved here because I
used to live right behind the school cuz the school was within a walking distance. If that goes away, then I'll have to, you know, probably move. And the second um item that I want to bring to the city
is as I want to see how the residents can work with the city to see how we can increase enrollment because the two main driving factors what we heard was enrollment and
aging population. Unfortunately, we cannot do much about aging population can't make them any younger. But, uh, we can, you know, try and do something to promote enrollment at the school. The potential ideas are to, you know, have
um, private partners come in and run programs such as daycare, such as STEM programs to attract more enrollment at the school. that is a potential opportunity that we can you know um explore upon. And also
the final thing that I wanted to um talk about is when can we expect a resolution to be drawn. When I say when can we expect the timeline of the resolution that the city is going to put out
towards um the board, Florida Department of Education and various other players so that the city makes its stance known known to um the people that are you know in charge that are going to make a
decision whether the school stays alive or you know consolidates. So, those are um my points to the city council and thank you for having this meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you. Melissa Bass.
>> Hi everybody. Um I'm Melissa Bass and I've met most of you and you were here recently. Uh, I just wanted to kind of reiterate some of the things we've already talked about. Um, we love our school. It's an A-rated title one school
and there are so many important parts to it. they're um keeping this school keeps our kids in the neighborhood school that they can walk to that the low-income families don't suffer any
negative effects be not be having a hard time with the commute. They get to be there and be involved. We have wonderful things like uh family breakfast, family lunch and family nights and so many things including summer meals that are
provided through the school, a food bank that's provided to through the school and jackets and things that are just right there for the families that they can get so easy. And we um we
want to be able to make these kids' lives better, not harder, by sending them on a bus, sometimes in the dark, depending on the daylight savings time issue. And uh just keeping the families as engaged as we can. And the city has
the bikable, walkable initiative that this whole school feeds into that we want to promote. And more than just for the kids, it's a larger community issue as far as the community culture, as far as the economics of the situation. I have talked to so many families that if
the school does close, they're going to be looking to move because it's an expensive place to live if they're not getting the benefit of a neighborhood school. And that upsets me because I've been here 16 years and I love this place. And I don't want the school Oh gosh. I don't want the school to go away
because I love it and I think it's a very important part of our town and I don't want us my son to start losing neighbors and friends because they just it just doesn't make sense to be here anymore. So, I really appreciate you guys considering the approach of
supporting us and making a statement hopefully to the school board to try to keep something good going and not lose something that's a really important heart of the actual citizens and growing families here in our town. That's all I have today.
>> Thank you, Melissa >> Bruce Robertson. [Applause] Hello, I'm Bruce Robertson. I'm a longtime resident of Cape Canaveral. I I live on Washington, right up the road from Cape View. I went to Cape View. I fell off the monkey bars there in 1964
and bloody my nose for the first time. My daughter went to Cape View. Currently, my two grandchildrens, Phoenix and Charlotte, go to Cape View. The complex I live in has nearly 40 children who walk to work. I will walk to work, walk to school every morning
from uh my complex to Cape View. For a community, I believe the heart and soul of our community are our churches and our schools. >> They have value to us. And I've heard the arguments that have been given uh from the school board saying that, you
know, we have an aging population and we only have 270 uh students at KPU and 270 at Roosevelt. We need to combine them to save money. What I haven't heard from the school board and what I hope our city council and uh our city manager, Mr. Trusbury, might obtain for them is
how much will the savings be in taxpayers money if we close our community school? Where are the numbers? I haven't seen any numbers. The second thing I would mention, it seems to be the big elephant in the room.
Look at the land that Cape View sits on. When was there an assessment of the value of that beach adjacent park adjacent land? How much is that land worth? How much would developers pay to develop
that land? But I want to thank the city council and mayor Morrison for bringing this uh issue to the four and I'm in of course the support of a resolution to keep our community school open because you can say that do we want our
city to be do we want Cape Canaveral to be a wide spot in the road for daytpping cruise ship passengers and Airbnb people who come in on the weekend? Is that what our community is going to be? Is that what our city's going to be? Is that where the future lies? Because if we start bulldozing and closing our
schools, that's where it's headed. I don't want to see my grandchildren put on a bus in the dark, go seven miles to an almost identical school on A1A, which is going to be piled full of traffic, taking a 30 to 40 minute bus trip each
way when they had a beautiful A-rated school. What's going to happen to the teachers who teach our students there? For Charlotte and um Phoenix, what's going to happen to Miss Pierce? What's going to happen to Miss Monroe? How much money are we going to save in
their salaries? I don't think it's going to be a huge amount because I know what they're paid. I don't think we want to be a city, a record, a city that knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
I value Cape View Elementary School because my grandkids valued it, my kids valued it, and we should all value it. Thank you. Thank you, [Applause]
>> Brad Perll. >> Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Brad Pll. I'm a resident and property owner in the city of Cape Canaveral. Uh to be perfectly clear, I do not have any children at Cape View Elementary. Uh but
I do have some questions and my goal is to keep the school open and in our community. one, what has our city's economic development manager brought to the table to the elected officials to
the city manager? Uh, a gentleman before mentioned that we have an aging population. Well, let me explain what that aging population is in percentages. 65 years old and older is only 34% of
the city's population. So, we have a much younger population than I think we all believe. As our elected officials and appointed officials, you represent our city's best interest.
I'm a little confused why we have lastm minute meeting for a resolution about the closing when a final dec closing of Cape View when there's going to be a final decision in January by the school board. This should not have been a surprise to
our city leadership and we should not have to be not fumbling, that's not the right word, but waiting to the last minute to put a strategic plan together to save our local elementary school.
However, in comparison, if I look back at the history of the city of Cape Canaveral, we jumped all over ourselves to try and save parking spots due to seating, excessive seating in a local drinking establishment. And now we're waiting to the last minute
to save our local elementary school. I don't understand that. The children and young families is the future of the city of Cape Canaveral. Please remember when a community loses
its local school, the community loses its self identity. I encourage the city officials elected and appointed to put all hands on deck to create a
strategic plan to keep Cape View Elementary School open and a major part of what attracts young families to keep the economic growth of our city alive. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. S Prada. >> Hi. I come in peace. >> Um, I have been, my kids been going to school at Cape View since VPK and PreK. been a title one school since my kids
been going to school. Um, my kids are gifted. I have to take them to therapy to Melbourne twice a week. If I take them out of school,
I will be taking them out of school twice a week. They'll be missing school twice for two days. They are in fourth grade. They do not need to be missing school. They need to be going to school five
days a week. So me taking them to school, I I do not have a vehicle. I do not have the means to go to Gogo Beach, pick them up, take them all the
way to Melbourne, bring them back to school, and make sure they finish school. That's why there would be no school for them. They'll be missing a school. My solution, which is not a solution, would be to have to take them out of school
and homeschool them. And homeschooling is not for everybody, not for my kids. Thank you. Thank you. I'm having a hard time reading this one. Blendy Lis
Cindy Wallace. >> Thank you. That's Is there Cindy here >> or Wallace? >> The the topic was school neglect. I was is this >> we can just add you to this, but please
come forward, Chris. Thank you. And if you could state your name into the >> Okay. My name is Chris Pellet. I've been a resident close to 30 years here. Now, I've watched Cape View. I've watched all the parents and the kids grow up and for some reason
um if there's an incident or whatever at the school, they kind of brush it under the rug and oh, we're looking into it. They have videos. We don't have videos. Um My daughter's been neglected since
kindergarten, bullied. She's been beat up. Um, recently they told her that she's not allowed to use the bathroom for some reason. So, I appreciate the
school for what they have done, but what they're doing now is wrong. They brush everything under the carpet. they don't have an answer and they just say take it to the school board. So, I kind of know what I've heard what's going on with the school and how
that's going to happen. So, it just needs a an answer from them and they can never give us one. So, we always have to go to the school board or um however that goes. But whatever you guys got to do, make it right and I'll be okay with
that. But the neglect of the school has to stop. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. And your name is Chris. I believe you filled out a card as well here. >> Yes, >> I understand now. Thank you very much, Chris. >> Thank you.
>> Think that's all the cards I have for now. If anyone intends to speak, please come forward or raise your hand. We want to make sure everyone has a chance. Please come forward. Thank you. And we do ask that you please fill out a card and state your name. I haven't pulled out a card yet. I came
in late. >> Understandable. Thank you. >> I'm Elizabeth Field. I wasn't going to speak, but on behalf of all the young kids and everyone at Cape View, I feel like I have to. I live on Adams, which
is like right around the corner from the school. And I have split custody with my daughter's father. So, he lives on Adams, too. So for us to have to like take a bus because we have 50/50 custody is such an inconvenience because he he
doesn't always bring her to school on time and you know he doesn't have a card to take her. So, I mean, it's just going to be like such an inconvenience to everyone, you know? And they have helped me when I was a single parent, when I needed food,
when all the like I had a lot of problems. They were there for me and I feel like they're going to take this away from us. That's all I have to say. >> Thank you. [Applause]
If anyone else would like to speak, please come forward. Thank you. >> Elizabeth, those cards are when you leave, they're right out front there. Thank you very much. Yes. >> Hello. My name is D. Baker and I don't
normally get up and speak so this is unusual for me but as a former Cape View student parent and a business owner resident and a property owner I feel like we need to bring this up. U Cape View closing would cause a lot of hardships for the kids not only for the
closenit feeling that they have and the family feeling that they have within the school. I remember going from Cape View Elementary to Cocoa Beach just going to the um junior high the junior and the high school. was a big transition for my son because the attitudes in Cocoa Beach
were a lot different towards the Cape Canaveral kids than it was. And at least if we can get our kids through elementary school where they can feel like they're loved and they're cared about when they go down to Cocoa Beach, maybe it won't be so rough on them. Um I think that this is not the first time
that we've been through this with uh closing of Cape Cape View. Back in the 80s, they did the same thing. They wanted to close down the school and everyone rallied behind to keep the school open. So if we can come up with some sort of a plan, all the citizens in Cape Canaveral pretty much are on board
with keeping Cape open. We just need a plan and we need to know what we can do to keep the school open. So if we can come with a good plan, I'm on board with it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yes, please. I'm a resident, Angela Raymond, and I'm
I'm going to speak in a totally a little bit of a different capacity. Uh, as most of you know, I was president of St. Vincent Depal Society at our Savior's Church for six years. And I I want to say because of that relationship, we
have always I wanted to tell you, we've always had a good relationship with Cape View School. we still do today. And many of the things that we do, we think about Cape View School. When we have our meetings, we talk about Cape View
School. Cape View is a very integral part of our entire city. Uh as city council member, I went and we all did. Uh even the mayor, we went and read to the children. it. Even though we don't have children
is what I'm trying to say, Cape View School is very important for all of us in this community. Very, very important. Yes, economically, but also socially. It is very important. When we have a Christmas show, we invite
the children from the coral group every year to sing. We want the children and we want to see the children from Cape View School. We're really not all that interested. I mean, we know that our kids go to Cocoa Beach High, but that's
a different situation. We go to those programs because we want to see those children. We want the children in our community. This is a reality, a place. That's why it's reality. We want the mixed groups. We want to see those
children in church. We want to see those children in school. We want to see those children when we have haunted um mash monster mash and um trunk or treat. Those are important things for us as we're getting older
aging population. But we want that youth. We want to be connected to the youth. This is the future. Not only the future of our city, the future of America. So we all have a stake in this. It's very important. Education.
Education, by the way, and I want to say this to the superintendent, education is not a business. It's not a business. Education is important. It's the key to our society. I worry about our children.
I worry when we can't sign a check because they aren't being taught any longer. They aren't being taught how to uh sign a check. I worry that they aren't being taught how to have financial literacy at a very young age. Yes. And I did bring up three sons and I
have three daughter-in-laws who are teachers and one of my sons is a teacher. That's his career. That and I taught also. That's a fulfillment. And I I can stand and say that I know
that the kids that go to school that get special treatment, I know of cases where children need special attention and they're doing very well at Cape View School and they didn't do very well at some of the other Bvard County schools. That's an important point.
>> They like the smaller classes. So let's keep Cape View School in the city of Cape Canaveral. That's got some more cards. Uh, Elizabeth Field. >> Oh, did Elizabeth speak?
>> I'm sorry. Thank you. And I see D. Baker who spoke as well here. >> Please come forward. Thank you. >> Hi. Um, my name is Katie Lehei and I'm a resident here and also a mom of a small child who's in fourth grade at Kate View
Elementary. Um, I recently moved here about 3 years ago and we moved here specifically so that my son could go to Kate View. We were in Melbourne and we felt like we needed a change and he needed some smaller school and this school was an A-rated school and we looked around until we decided to move
here. So for his school to be in the possibility of being shut down is absolutely devastating. Um as some other moms have said the fact of the school closing, we understand there's there's a budget issue and we understand that they're trying to work out the best, you
know, how to fix this problem. Um and they're running the numbers, but I don't think you can't qualify. There's it's not quantitative data to know that I won't be able to go to my son's events because I work during the day. I have to take time off. I I sneak away on my
lunchtime so that I can go to his, you know, school breakfast, the school lunch. Um, you know, we have our local soccer team and it is ent it's our entire school playing. And that community is what I grew up in. I grew up being able to walk to school. My son and I ride our bikes to school. And to
be able to take that away at such a young age, it's just it's devastating. And I would really like to see um the city please help us and and bring everyone together because we're we're we're behind you 100% and we'll do anything we need to do to keep this school open because as I said the kind
of data that they're collecting isn't data that's going to show how it's going to affect my child and how it's going to affect the community. And a number of us have moved here I know out of my friend group specifically to go to this school. And so for it to close down would be devastating. And so anything that you
need us to do, we're we're back. We'll back you 100%. So thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Clifford Smith. >> Hi, city council. Um I had not originally planned on speaking but um because of her I decided to um because I
think our experience is ex exceptionally unique in how important this school is. She started at our savior and they were absolutely wonderful but at one point her medical necessities they couldn't provide for it and they helped us get to
Kate View and Kate View has been absolutely wonderful in working with not only our savior but the community in general to provide her the resources she needed while she healed from epilepsy and so not and then I was also a military in military I've been all over
the world and I've never seen a community and a school that is this well done, tight-knit, and just good. The school is wonderful. The community is wonderful. The teachers and the staff, everyone genuinely cares, and
that feels so rare these days. So, I I implore you guys to put something together to help keep the school open. It's so important to this this community and really just what's going on in the world. So, thank you guys.
>> Thank you. Please come forward, Mary. Thank you. >> Hello. My name is Mary Fish. I'm a longtime resident of Cape Canaveral. My all my kids went to Cape Canaveral. I worked at Cape Canaveral um at Cape View
and I loved it. I the kids, the the family, the the whole unity of that school. It was just a joy to walk around through the rooms. Now I am the president of the
American Legion Auxiliary here in Cape Canaveral. I'm also the district president for the entire um 12th district. And as an auxiliary member,
our mission is to support veterans, their families, the community, and children and youth. That's a school. They we have worked with them in the last couple years. They are now a Purple
Heart school. We wouldn't they wouldn't be that if our group couldn't come in, teach them flag etiquette, teach them how to raise the flag. Um uh I put up a museum every year
for these kids to go through. I just can't imagine a city without a school. It's just the most ridiculous thing. I live around the corner. It is. It's the most it's you're not a city.
You know, when long ago, my husband said this to me today in the car, you know, long before there there was a city, you had to have you had to have so many roads. You had to have uh a city hall. You had to have this building. You had to have this and you had to have a
school. That was original in the original plans of making a city is you have to have a school. Do not take Cave View away. [Applause]
>> Yes, sir. >> My name is Bill Pearlman. This is my first attendance at a city of Cape Cadaavver meeting and I want to commend you, Mr. Mayor and council members. You are a welcoming group. You are
encouraging people to come up and speak. And this is very different from what we see in other communities. And it is very different from the Bvard public school board. They don't let people speak unless they show up and sign up before public comments begin. If someone were
to show up and public comments has already started, they're not allowed to speak. And they've divided public comments into two sections. You can only speak on camera to the board during the meeting if you're speaking about an item that they're voting on on the agenda
that evening. Everyone else is relegated to the end of the meeting. So, thank you for the way you conduct your meetings. I've been an observer of the Bvard Public School Board for 40 years. I was employed by them from 1983 to 2023. I'm retired educator. I've seen these
discussions happen before. I can tell you what works and what doesn't work. What works is when a community shows up, when they go to schoolboard meetings and make themselves heard. And if this council were to draft a resolution and
work hard to support your your neighborhood school, your community school, it may have an impact. And the community will watch you to see how hard you work on their behalf. and they'll decide at the next election if you've worked hard enough. And everyone in this
room will get to decide in November how they feel about the current school board because three seats are up for election in November 2026, one year from today. Three of the current school board members, their seats will become uh
eligible for reelection or for new candidates. So, just to recap, what works is you showing up, not just here, at the school board meeting. Who knows when the next schoolboard meeting is? Shout it out. >> 18th. >> Thank you. The 18th. They're usually at
5:30 in the evening. They publish their agendas online. You have to show up early. 5:00 you can sign up for public speaking. And if it's not related to something on their agenda, and it likely will not be, you have to wait till the end of the meeting. I encourage you to
do that. Support your community. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Would anyone else like to speak this time? >> Yes, please come forward. Thank you. Hello. Um, I feel like I'm preaching to
the choir. Everyone has kind of already said this point many times, but you know, I've got nothing but love for all the the city council members. Um, but a quote came to mind as I was hearing people talk and I for I'm forgetting who said it, but something along the lines
of a society the society's greatness is measured by how well it treats its children. And so if we're robbing our kids from listen and we were supposed to go to VPK this year, my daughter was supposed to be enrolled and that got slashed. I think it was this year or
last year. So already I feel as parents, as community, we've already made cuts in terms of our education and what as city of Cape Canaveral are we actually proud of here? That's just a question I have because if we're talking
about cutting an elementary school, robbing our children of an education where now we have to go transport them to some other school where that will become overpop populated and who knows the class ratio size there. I wonder how those parents are feeling. Anybody check
how uh they're feeling about our kids now coming and joining their class? I just um I never thought we'd be having this conversation in my lifetime, but here we are. And so, like everyone is saying, I echo, you know, organize it. I'll stand
behind it. If you need us to get programs and volunteer or whatever, I mean, there are resources in this community. And sometimes I thank God for Facebook. I would not know what's going on if it wasn't for Facebook. So,
continue to do this and you know, we we can rally for you. We can help find other ways for you. It doesn't have to be all the work on your shoulders. And I think you've heard that a lot before. And again, I love you. You know, I love the city of Cape Canaveral. I've I've worked with you all a lot in the past
and um I think your community has nothing but love as well. But um we're here for you and we're hope I'm hoping this can get resolved. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You got a card. Yep.
>> Good. You're Morgan Dixon. Make sure you have your card. Morgan Dixon. Would anyone else like to speak this time? Yes. Please come forward.
Afternoon. Um I'll be I'll be brief. I um >> if you don't mind, please state your name. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. No, that's okay. My name is Paul Rob. Um Paul Bard School uh parent, my actually my two of my kids went to Roosevelt actually, as it happens, which is a fine school, but
it's a you know, it's a these aren't the same neighborhood. It's not a neighborhood school by any stretch. you know, just having driven over here from Satellite Beach as the crow flies, is there a huge distance between these schools? Not necessarily. Driving through A1A through that distance, you
know, it's a trek. Um, and it's just one of those the the the the travel costs, the time costs, the the loss of a neighbor, the costs, um, apart from the actual financial ramifications of all this that uh the school board has a
history of not planning ahead. uh you know, you know, had the school board not spent half a million dollars playing musical chairs with superintendent, had they not spent, you know, forever looking for new First Amendment lawsuits
to lose, uh we might not be in this. And they've been warned about the effects of the budget cuts that were coming and the likely loss of funding that was coming. And as ever since a good chunk of the board is allergic to data, um they're being reactive and playing catchup and
it's the citizens and the kids that pay the price. And so I would just echo what my friend Bill said more eloquently. Uh please do show up to the school board, make your feelings known. Uh email them, write the
school board, call the school board, write letters. um you know at some point as as Bill said uh these you know we we're talking about politicians we're talking about people who are up for election next year and um you know putting it putting in the nicest light if they're looking to serve
the community they need to hear from the community and what the community wants and what is very important in the community and um me saying that conceptually is whatever but you the affected parents and all the affected parents that you know and the affected teachers that you now make your voices
heard, those that are really affected. Um, you know, remind them that they are here to represent you. Remind them that they are uh there there's a slo there there's a motto on the back of the schoolboard classroom uh the school board room that says, you know, the mission is to serve
every student with excellence, not just the ones in any particular district. They're all there to represent you. And they can't do that if you don't let them know what you want, if you don't let them know how important this is. and for uh Cape View to sort of take the fall
for to a large degree poor planning uh and unwillingness to fight back against some of the policies that have cut their funding. Um I urge you to try and urge them to make it their problem, not yours. Thank
you very much. Thank you. If anyone else like to speak, please come forward. And uh if you would like, obviously when when finished, you can just come forward or form a line if you choose,
but stay comfortable until then. Thank you. >> Hi. >> Your name, please. >> Amy Rob. >> Thank you, Amy. >> That was my husband. >> Hello. So, this is really great. I love the push back. Um, I don't have anything prepared, but this is when you do this,
you know. Um, it would have been great 10 years ago, but here we are now. We've got your guys' attention on how bad things are getting. Um, and have gotten, you know, um, and here is Randelle
kicking the can to your students. He's taking his bonuses and shutting down schools. Um and also um charter schools are predatory. They are here to take down public schools and
privatize. So just keep that in the back of your mind as you fight. You know, knowledge is power. Find out who these people are, what they want, what the goal is. Um because it's not to educate your kids. So thank you again. I I I
agree with Bill. This is really cool. You know, keep it up. Don't. This is when we fight. We We have to. Otherwise, it's just going to get worse and worse and worse. So, have a good one. >> Thank you. [Applause]
>> Anyone else like to speak? Please come forward. >> Take your time, Miss Roberts. Shannon Roberts, 703 Salonic Shores Drive, Cape Canaveral. And I just wanted to uh mention what I'm sure has been said before that uh Cape View is such an
important historical element of our community uh an important branding of um American small towns. We're just so proud of Cape View having been such a major part of the history of
our city. And I would like to bring up the resource element of this too. As we know, our residents do pay, you know, into the school system. And I just would like to acknowledge that the return on that investment obviously in Cape Canaveral is represented by Cape View.
And we're so proud of the young people that have come from this community and have been made us so proud. So, I just wanted to bring up the economic element of the return on the investment of our tax dollars to preserve this very
special element of our community. And thank you so much for bringing this opportunity to the community to speak our thoughts. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone like to speak? Please come forward.
Okay, seeing no more, we'll go ahead and close public participation. I just want to say thank you all. Thank you for for taking the time out of your days. I know that the time of this meeting is maybe not as convenient and
many of you work and have plans and I want to thank this council and city staff too on on our last council meeting. uh council member Willis and added or made a proposal to add this on as a discussion item in 50 city council
support for that. And so today we are here. We did not know what today would look like, but I do know that this community loves Cape View Elementary. And so thank you [Applause] and and Cape View Elementary loves this
community. I think Cape Canaveral uh Cape View Elementary is is intertwined in the fabric of our city. It's six decades it's been a part of this when we celebrate our 60 years. Uh you know it's a couple years later Kate View is a part
of that story. And so um I look forward to to learning more. I've got a lot of great information up here and working together. But today we've got a a discussion item um where the council now has had a opportunity to listen to our
community and just want to point out some things that it sounded like um everyone certainly knew that the city of Cape Canaveral does not own the property the building or make any have any authority over that school but the city
of Cape Canaveral does have its own properties our own mission vision and goals. And so we are here today to look at what the impacts would be for our community and and what Cape View means
to the city of Cape Canaveral and what we're trying to do as a city. And that was really the the message that intertwined through everyone's public comments today. So again, thank you so much and uh I appreciate everything that
has been brought forward. And our next item will be after we finish discussing is an item for action to adopt a resolution. And that resolution um is is an instrument that really your elected representatives at the city of
Cape Canaveral will be able to bring forward and any resident here can bring forward. And I also want to compliment while there's emotion and there will always be emotion especially when we're talking about children, families, our schools and the impact the positive
impact that K Elementary's given to us is that I appreciate that the approach is that I do not believe um anger, personal attacks and those types
of of ways to communicate is going to um get through and resonate with the the board, the governing body that does make the decision on this. And so at our last meeting, we talked about, you know, speaking the language of the board.
While some of the statements might be true, I think it's important, and this is just me as one uh person on on this council, mayor, is that that we understand the reasoning and
it is my position that that Cape View Elementary makes Cape Canaveral better and Cape Canaveral has a role to play to make Cape View better. And so whatever the obstacles and the struggles are today, we have played a role in the past
with our budget, with our community events. And I'm looking at in watching the schoolboard be meetings as they are in a factf finding position. What can the city of Cape Canaveral do to help and what would this mean to us? I've got a
few uh thoughts, but I want to hear from the the city council today and just emphasize that the resolution is a is a professional way to bring forth uh under behind every word will be a motion, but to communicate that if
there's a goal for the school board, who I respect the school board, I respect our superintendent and the decisions they're trying to make, the proposed solution um there there's more than one way to accomplish that goal. And so if the city
can play a part in helping that, um I'm very interested to learn what we can do beyond what we're doing today. And I want to again thank you all for being a part of this. This is what makes communities stronger. And I am going to
remain optimistic that Cape Canaveral will find a way to make this right. And we cannot stop believing and keep the faith and and through that I think the school board a majority uh will hear it
and I and I do have faith in the school board that they will hear what we believe the citizens and the city our students our teachers and our future uh want for the city of Cape Canaveral. So with that again thank you no particular
order. Thank you, council. This is a discussion item and I should briefly state that our vice mayor, Mayor Pro Tim Mickey Kellum can could not be here today. She provided an email with a very short statement. I'm going to go ahead and read that here. It
says, "I am unable to attend the meeting tonight about Cape View Elementary. I stand firmly behind the fight to keep the school open for our children here in Cape Canaveral. Kate View has a long history of being the heart of our city and it's very important for us as a
council to make sure we do everything we can to keep the school open for our kids. Just a few points to please read into the record. 80% of the children walk to school, parents don't drive, and have no way to help at the school in
Cocoa Beach, has two schools already with Freedom 7 and Roosevelt. A question is that why can't Roosevelt School be busted to Cape View, and was the land donated to the school board to be used only for a school, and will it revert
back to the grantor? So maybe we can unpack some of those questions today. But that is again from Mickey Kellum who is our mayor prom here in this city tonight. So with that, Council Member Willis. >> Um yes. Well,
when I first ran for office, what I wanted to do was make Cape Canaveral a place my grandchildren were going to come to. And that needs a school. What I would like to see is
this council take a stand for our citizens. I would like to see because Cape Canaveral serves as an essential educational, social, and community anchor for our city.
The presence of a neighborhood elementary school provides measurable economic, civil, civic, and developmental benefits to the city and its families. And any closure or consolidation of Cape
View would diminish access to quality public education for our local students and may negatively impact the city's long-term residential stability and community development goals. The city should recognize that Bvard
public schools has some difficulties. They're facing utilization. They're uh facing enrollment planning challenges and may require a long-term strategic solution. But I think the city of Cape
Canaveral desires the Bvard public schools to partner in identifying creative and viable uses for Cape View Elementary's campus that can strengthen student enrollment, integrate community programming, expand early learning,
vocational STEMbased initiatives, and support afterchool and adult education needs as well. It can be so much more than just an elementary school. I'd also like to challenge and this
council and Bvard public schools to keep Cape Elementary operational and improve the utilization of the school so that it aligns with our city's vision. So, I would like to see a resolution by
this council supporting continued utilization of Cape View Elementary and oppose any consolidation or closure. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Member Jackson. >> Okay. So, I'm in support of saving our
school as well. I mean, really, we don't have a community without that. And I'm seeing changes within our real estate market. One thing I'm seeing that absolutely thrills me is young couples walking on North Ridgewood, where I'm
closest every day with baby carriages. What What are we going to do? Those kids have a right to go to a school close by in their own community. And it thrills me to see that because that is the heart
of our community and our future are those children. Now, having said that, um along a little bit along the lines of what Mayor Prom had said, um the school board did send us some information on
this and if they moved our children to Roosevelt, they would have about it's right around 50 kids and the school would be at capacity. So, as far as long-term planning,
the fact that we have short-term rentals flipping to long-term rentals because those investors need to pay their mortgages, their insurance, and all of the costs along uh with that property. The fact that you can go out um and I'm
sorry, I don't know your name, but you had said Facebook. Facebook, it's clear that our rental prices are dropping in our city, which to me means we've got a market correction going on that will be an encouraging factor to getting young
families in our city. So to me, this is not the time to do this at all. We are going through a transition within our city and out here on the barrier island. And we need to accommodate for that
growth because where we've been stagnant since the um short-term rentals just exploded during the pandemic, now I'm seeing reversing of that. And if we send our children to Roosevelt with a 50
child margin, give or take to that school being full, then we have an issue. And that issue is not planned out very well. Also, as someone and I'm I'm going to say it to several people have
said it. I don't have children here, but I pay taxes for your children to go to school. I shouldn't have to pay taxes for children to go to school all over Bard County, but but not in our community. And when we have these
changes that are occurring to our city and within our city and our real estate market. So, I'm I'm in total favor of um having our resolution to present to the school board. Now, one thing I want to
say also is I want to thank every one of you that took the time to come in here today because it is important for you to be part of a participative government. If you don't come in and speak up, no
one knows what to to to do or what direction to take other than what feedback we can get from you one onone when we see you in the community. So, I want to thank you all for taking the time to come in and and help us. We needed to understand where our community
stands on this. I felt like I knew, but I always like knowing really, you know, 100%. And um I encourage you to do that with other meetings as well so that we can make our community what you all want
as our citizens residents. But I'm I'm in full favor of us and the resolution. Now I like the way that some of the speakers have mentioned how do we what kind of strate strategy do we use to do
this? Um, unfortunately we we discussed in our last meeting for some of you that may not have seen it. That's the meeting that we have our city council meeting. So that makes it a struggle for us to go there and be there for you because
that's where we're changing council and things of that nature. So literally you and I'm I'm not it's my opinion. You're going to have to run with the strategy. I've heard several people say go to that
school board and be there. You need to do that as well because you can't save your school if you don't go. And um we we truly it's not in our jurisdiction to make a decision not to close it. We have
to support you in what you want and support making our community stronger by keeping our school. And when you hear about the um you know someone had mentioned that it's a an you had
mentioned a A+ title one school. Um that's important. I was looking at some information about a charter school situation and that information mentioned that that school uh and it's all over Florida. this individual charter school,
they're like, their rankings are like, you know, 51 out of however many schools or whatever. That's not that's not what we need. We need our kids to be educated. We are on the Space Coast. They need to be smart, right, >> Council Member Davis.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you for coming. My son went to first grade at Kville. Sorry, I had a stroke so I don't speak all that good, but I I I listen to you. I understand everything that you're saying. I think
that council and I like to see the school clo I mean, not close, open. Sorry. And uh we need to do everything that we can do to get it open and stay open. That's it. That's all I want to say. >> Thank you.
Well, thank you all for and we we can talk through this some more. Um, I want to just look over at our city manager. Is there anything at this time that we've obviously uh looked at some of the information that the school board
provided. Uh, if there's anything you'd like to add maybe that's relevant. No, I don't have anything more to add than what the community has brought forward to the council and it's it's a decision that you have to make on a
resolution or not. I know that Anthony u has um drawn is drawing one up for you >> and can potentially have you review it today if you're interested in seeing that. >> That's great. Thank you. Thank you to our city attorney for for being here. And I think we're we're living out the
plan where they say u it is uh building the airplane while you're flying it. But I I think it it might feel like that. But I I
you know this is was this moved quickly and I think is uh we heard tonight in comments this is not the first time we've heard this and uh any any I think uh delay or any success that that we would
view as a success to to keep Cape View it's going to be continuing. I it'll be the next year and I think the following year until uh from what I understand an enrollment issue uh 270 a thriving school maybe 500 I think go back 10
years we saw 400s at Cape View Elementary but some of the things that I just wanted to share that as I've heard and listened is Cape Canaveral uh at large supports Cape View my constituents our constituent supports Cape View and
uh We certainly uh have a responsibility to to know our role, stay in the lane and speak to that. And I think that Cocoa Beach, I haven't went deep into the Facebook. I kind of hang out on the Cape Canaveral
groups and stay in my lane. But Cocoa Beach, uh, I'm sensing is not thrilled, right, about a lot of this. But the positive thing that that I've heard is that when you when you merge, you have a
higher quality of education. And I I think there's a lot of truth in that. Once you get to a certain size, uh you've got clubs, organizations, things that can roll, but it does not change the livelihoods of what Cape View means
to our family. There's no getting around busing. The convenience of Cape View and the fact that we have teachers here in our community with with our kids and family who are a part of it. They say if you want to learn about a community, talk to the teachers. And so that's
important part of what we do every single day. And wi with this challenge that Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral, the one thing that we have in common and we've seen it absolutely uh thrive and and grow to the point of proliferation
is the increase in tourism and and our visitors are a very important part of the city of Cape Canaveral. It's part of big part of the county, Space Coast, and even the state of Florida. And one of
the things that I think I've had the chance to to realize is that we have the port and the port's vision and mission is not necessarily aligned with the city of Cape Canaveral's vision.
And with that economic engine of the port, we've seen a large demand in hotels and we've seen the construction of hotels. We've seen a large increase in
short-term rentals. I don't don't hold me to this, but I would think it's pretty close. 80% of the short-term rentals in the entire county are in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach alone. And we are two small
two square mile cities each about 10,000 11,000 residents. We're a big county. And so where are they coming here? Why here? Well, Cocoa Beach is obviously a worldrenowned famous, but Cape Canaveral has always been a small beach town,
local uh and and the port has transformed away from some of the the things that made the the port special into a major worldass cruise line. And so I think we all
applaud the the pros and the to that. But it has reached I'm just speaking from the heart. It's reached a breaking point that I'm sensing in the community from traffic from safety from the transient population and it's caused a
lot of stress on this community. And so with that, you know, I'm a free market guy. I believe that the free market's best, but that's really not what we're dealing with here. Millions and millions of dollars at the state level in visit
Florida at the county level with the tourist development dollars is injected into tourism from the billboards you go by to the public transportation and it is put a major strain on our little city
and I've got two more years left and I and I've spoke about this openly at the council meetings at this point I'm in a factf finding stage myself. But when we complain about traffic uh and and you know the the all the uh the
the demands on our wastewater our sewer plants um the when a 150 room hotel is constructed that's a lot of strain on our on our sewer plant and when our residents if our residents have sewer
issues I have an issue with that but I think the biggest issue is we complain about wastewater demands and we can complain about traffic, but I believe that the the efforts and the mission of
tourism in the port is now a major factor in what is being considered with Cape View Elementary. And I I don't like that because we are a city with the school.
And so I wanted to share that beyond this city council, even beyond the school board is that their state forces, school choice has an impact on this. Uh the the funding for tourism has an
impact on it, but also we have our hands tied due to state decisions with our ability to regulate short-term rentals. We've been preempted. We are very fortunate to have a 7-day minimum in the city. So, we while it might happen, our
city team staff was working very hard to enforce that. But the people are coming here and I think if Cape View was to go, our little city and Cocoa Beach defending them and we're pushing back. That would be a
major tipping point to where we become a basically a a resort city. We don't need to make we know we live in a place where people love to come visit. But at that point, um, I wanted to share that with
you is that the the forces at the port, at the state, even our local tourist development dollars, we and and what short-term rentals and and the advertising efforts of the major hotels,
the big names like Hilton and and putting million-doll campaigns out in Well, guess what they're doing? They're telling people to come to Cocoa Beach, come to Cape Canaveral, and that puts pressure on our schools.
And so that's not a hopeless statement. That's just a reality that I'm willing as a as a representative of one of our city is to push back and make that known because with if the school board is looking at enrollment and improving the
quality of education or exercising fiscal conservatism, whatever they're doing, we can't put all the emphasis on them. There's other forces here and so there's more that we can do. And I want to recognize that. I don't got it all
figured out yet, but I I hopefully that makes sense to everyone is that the city is limited in our decisions on short-term rentals, and we do a lot, but when we see millions of dollars being put in to come visit, yes, we benefit,
but the port does not build hotels. And a lot of cities want one hotel. We've got 10. And I'm thinking you can have one of ours at this point. And and maybe that's shortsighted, but when when our school is talking about closing due to
enrollment, a home that that housed a family that that that went to school there can now be sold not at the land and the the assets, the brickandmortar value, but at the market income value of what that rental would achieve in a
monthly and an annual basis. And you I'm not a real estate professional, but we can all get on Zillow and you see some really high price single family homes. And so for a small family that's you see people selling for good reasons.
But to me, if it's 270 kids and we've got 200, if 200 more came on, I mean, that'd be a thriving 470 kids. I was This math's probably not perfect,
but what would that mean in our city's role? Okay. To increase 200 kids, just say it was one child, it's easy math, it would be 200 homes. I think we have roughly 5,000 residential or parcels in the city. So
200 of 5,000 and what council member Jackson was talking about with the real estate trends that goal, why would people not want to come to Cape Canaveral due to the school being there, work in the space force or or
whatever their lifestyle is and and be a part of this community. It seems very attainable that that if every one of the houses was, you know, short-term rentals, we really only need what we have today plus 200 more homes out of
5,000. That's roughly, I don't know, a few percentage points. And so that's where we are. And I think this is um this is obviously very important, this entire council. And I think the
resolution in far as the strategic plan is one step. Well, this was step one. Let's come together. Let's meet. Let's talk. Let's get credibility validation. I do think that that November 18th meeting where the school board is there. We can do a lot of work as a council by
adopting a resolution, transmitting that and sending that to those people, giving it to our community to use as a template. But nothing is going to be more powerful than each one of your personal stories from Mr. Robertson sharing that he went to Cape Elementary
and he heard himself on the monkey bars. That's Cape Canaveral. And then his daughter went on a legacy and and we all have different stories. It's a part of our history. It's a part of our community. It is a major stakeholder in all of our community events. And there
is certainly no doubt that that is uh high value real estate, but that doesn't tell me that it's an opportunity to to sell it. It's an opportunity to make that a high value school beyond what it is. And so if we can put millions into
tourism and and and send people here, we're at that tipping point. The city can play a role. And we don't, by the way, make those decisions. We try to fight to get those dollars here. We could redirect funds and consider funds in ways that
even if it's tourism, you know, if it benefits our tourists, great. But but let's talk about lifeguards as an example. Lifeguards is good for families, right? And they were talking about tourist development dollars for that. That's an example of how tourist
development dollars over the next few years could contribute to making our beaches safer, which would attract families. And the city can play, I think, a significant role in helping to provide the data that our PTO president
rees brought forward with the economic impacts. Um and and I I really wanted to emphasize that that yes, there's it's not just the school board who certainly has exclusive authority over this
decision. I'm not sure Cocoa Beach loves it. I'm not sure if it was good if it was bad for us but good for them, right? But if it's bad for both, that's not get and but I do want to emphasize that the quality of education if it needs to
increase that closing Cape View does not necessarily mean that Roosevelt is going every child will go to Roosevelt. I think we heard today and I think that's an assumption that we need to look into
because if if it's to assume a 100% of the kids go there and we know that we live in an environment where that's we've heard maybe not the case and I think that the school board would would be much more fit to explore whether or
not that's a possibility. I know I've talked at length um and and I think that's really a big part of what I wanted to say. And so we can't do too much. We haven't laid down and let short-term rentals uh take over. We have been pushing and fighting and trying to
to regulate. We we certainly appreciate them, but we have uh a piece of property that's special to our city. The city has resources. We have a community center. Um we are strategically located. we've
met today. If we can get this resolution and equip everyone and spread the word about personal stories and go to that board and speak from the heart, I do feel optimistic about this and I think that's the only way to be is and believe
but it will come with work and a fight uh a positive fight that we can do this. So, thank you. Um, we've heard now from the community, uh, and I there's so much more out there. I know beyond to echo
this. I've got a desire, I think, to do a resolution as well. I think I wrote down some of the key points that I think the resolution should have. Um, and council, if we're ready, do you want to talk about some of the the the things um
in this discussion or do we want to move to the item for action? Um, I think that's where we would adopt the resolution. Is that how this agenda is structured? City attorney, we've got a >> He's council wants to consider a resolution. I I put together a quick
draft >> on the screen. >> Our screen. We need to power those on. >> They're not powered up. >> But it would be great to read this when the community and I don't know if the monitor's out there. >> Yeah, they for fun.
>> It's It's right here. Thank you. >> Is there a button? >> It's on the right side on the back. >> Oh, fancy. Thank you. >> Copy. >> No, I don't have a copy of that. I have one of my own. >> Thank you. >> Okay.
>> Um, and before doing this, Council Member Jackson, sorry. >> Yes. And I I just wanted to say this because we're talking about these. Um, so, city attorney, is there anything in there about nonprofit chart charter
schools not >> being an option for future use of that school and and I know that's a strange question. Okay. >> No, there's nothing in there about charter schools.
>> Um, may >> try to keep it general related to keeping Cape View Elementary open. >> Okay. So, Mr. Mayor, I am I need to verify some documents that I've received. Um but they are um it's a
letter um from a nonprofit charter school um that was mailed to the state and Dr. Rendell supposedly October 8th where they want
to use Cape View for a charter school. that is not you know it's it's private school. Um they requested they gave the statutes. They requested um access uh
what a floor plan request and facility access request. And I know that as we look at this resolution, you know, we want to keep the school part of Brevard Public Schools
>> instead of it going to a private entity potentially. So, city attorney, should we include that in this type of document or or no? >> That that's that's like picking over a carcass, frankly. Um,
>> you know, the you know, I think the focus should be on keeping, you know, Cape View Elementary School open. >> Okay. >> Right. I suspect the that document that you're referring to is probably an existing charter school that's looking for space. >> That's exactly it. And uh that's what I
mean by picking over a caucus assuming that Cape View Elementary School would close and that space would be available. So I I would kind of keep that issue out and keeping the school open. >> Another city on the Gulf Coast, we need to be aware of it because another city
on the on a G on the Gulf Coast has uh rejected this proposal from the school. So, I just wanted to make sure that we keep that on our radar if anything occurs. So, >> thank you. And I know I if there
anything else at this time, Council Member Jackson, Council Member Willis, >> I think uh the letter that Council Member Jackson was referring to was a a trunch of letters that were sent to uh the Bvard Public Schools
inquiring about a number of different schools. So, they're just they're looking for whatever. Um, I don't uh I don't think that's something we need to be getting into at this point with uh what
we want to do at this at this juncture, but uh I'm sure parents and teachers and everyone concerned will always keep an eye on it. So, >> Council Member Davis, any comments at this time?
>> Thank you. So, I think it'd make a lot of sense to our city attorney may let's let's review this resolution together and then we're at 520. Uh when we're done, I think taking a brief break uh for recess and then come back and and
and I think make any changes if that sounds okay. City attorney, uh anything you want to highlight or go through this? Um, obvious >> I mean I was just trying to listen to some of the comments on the fly here, but um, you know, I mean, I have I'd be
happy to go over it. I think I'm trying to capture the sense of um the importance of keeping Cape View Elementary School open on multiple fronts and reasons why. >> So, >> well, thank you. I think u, let's read
it. So, resolution 20250191, a resolution to keep Cape View Elementary open, a cornerstone of our community, expressing the city council's full support for keeping Cape View Elementary School open, providing an effective date. Whereas, Cape View
Elementary School has long served as an important educational, social, and community center for generations of children and families within the city of Cape Canaveral for many years. And whereas the school provides neighborhood-based access to quality
public education for the city's children, fostering a sense of community and safety. And whereas the presence of Cape View Elementary School is a key factor in attracting and retaining young families, sustaining property values, and supporting neighborhood stability.
And whereas Cape View Elementary supports working families by providing local access to early childhood and elementary education, afterchool programs and family engagement opportunities. And whereas Cape View Elementary employs teachers,
administrators, and support staff whose work contributes to the local economy and its students and families, patronize nearby small businesses, creating ongoing economic benefit to the community. And whereas the closure of the school would likely have a negative
economic consequence, including a loss of jobs, reduced demand for local housing, diminished small town activities, and a potential decline in neighborhood investment. And whereas the continued operation of Cape View Elementary aligns with the city's vision
and long-term economic development goals by fostering a strong local education system that supports livable and walkable neighborhoods and sustainable growth. And whereas the closure of Cape Elementary would also impose significant burdens on students and families,
including longer travel times, reduced neighborhood engagement, and potential overcrowding at our local schools. And whereas the city council recognizes that maintaining a local ele elementary school contributes to the vitality, property values, and attractiveness of
the community as a place to live and raise families. And whereas while the city council acknowledges the authority of the school district to make final decisions regarding school operations, the city council wishes to express its strong desire that Kiew Elementary
remain open to continue serving local families and our community. Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Cape Canaveral, Bvard County, Florida as follows. Second one, recital. The foregoing recital are hereby fully incorporated by this
reference as legislative findings of the city council of the city of Cape Canaveral. Section two, keep Cape View Elementary open. The city of Cape Canaveral hereby expresses its strong support for keeping Cape View Elementary School open and operating within the
community. The city council urges that the school district to explore all available alternatives to closure, including intergovernmental cooperation, partnerships, shared use of facilities, and enrollment initiatives, and community engagement efforts. Section 3,
distribution. The city council hereby instructs the city clerk to transmit a copy of this resolution to the superintendent, the school board, and other appropriate officials to convey the city's position. effective date. The resolution will become effective immediately upon adoption by the city
council of the city of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Adopted in a regular meeting of the city council of the city of Cape Canaveral, Florida, this 4th day of November, 2025. Thank you very much, city attorney. Yep. I'm glad I didn't start to to blab what
I wanted to see in it because I read a few of them. Uh so I think let's um if we would like we've got a chance let that sink in. You want to take a five minute break we can chat come back and uh make any amendments to that and maybe
we can be on our way with with a with a resolution. So um and if if this council continues I I can just step out for five and come back but 5 minute break. >> Does that sound good? >> Okay. It's 5:25 on that clock. Coach, we'll be back in here by 5:30.
Thank you. We'll get started here in a couple of minutes. Oh, you like that? Yes. >> Oh, thank you, Melissa. Okay, I think what I'll do is um briefly get a show of hands and do an
opportunity. >> We'll get started here in about one minute when everyone's ready. >> You were late. Just taste. We're ready to go. Okay, it's 5:40 p.m. I call the meeting
back to order. We just took a recess here after uh reading through the first draft of the the resolution. And uh this time I you know, we've heard from the public. We've had a chance. Our city attorney was literally building the airplane as we were flying it. I didn't realize. That's why you chuckled over
there when you said so. Thank you for your your swift effort and and and getting us something immediately to work on. What I'd like to do is uh maybe half the time, a minute and a half, give the public an opportunity if you'd like to
from what you've heard, what we read, say anything. Uh that would that's always helpful to to me, I think, in this council as a whole. Um because a lot of times we'll hear from you, you'll hear from us, and then you you want to add in. And so just to show a hands,
would anyone like to to speak? We obviously a lot of folks have contributed and left but got one, two, three, four, five, six. Okay, I think uh if we do that that would be a good use of time. So let's do this. Um
let's work left to right. Mr. Robertson, if you're ready now, please come forward. And if our city clerk, >> as Mayor Morrison has said, how to work the levers of government and how to work the levers of the Bvard County School Board and I'm confident that the mayor
and our city council know how to do that. Uh I tend to get emotional and people have kids and grandkids at KPU tend to get emotional about it because we love the school so much, but that's not how government works. And uh you have to be there. You have to
be there and let them know what's out there. So I would encourage anybody, everyone to show up on November 18th. And uh I don't know how it works with the city council members showing up in front of the school board if it's possible, if it's allowed. I don't know.
But it might help uh because they often they respond to fellow government uh members uh more than they respond to uh citizens. So, I would encourage any of the city council members or the mayor to appear before the uh school board if
they think it would be helpful in uh uh saving Cape View. But again, I just want to thank everyone for showing up. I want to thank Mayor Morrison. I thank all the city council members for their hard work on this. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Reesh. I think
and whoever's next if if you want to kind of start moving towards that would help me and no particular order get in line here. Thank you. >> Thank you again. Thanks for everyone who showed up and showed out today and um especially to the council. Thank you.
So, I want to bring one item to um the council's attention, especially um when the uh resolution is drafted um because we were, you know, talking about the charter school stuff. So, like um I just wanted to bring to everyone's notice the
feds are investigating uh Florida's largest school charter charter school management firm. Um they're called Academica. um the the conflict of interest is investigated between academica corporation and mater's notice and see what how that could um be
factored into the resolution what kind of weight that has that information as Amy mentioned knowledge is power so we want to know what their vested interests are and and also wanted to bring another item that uh the charter schools. They
um can operate in a uh public school. The the only um overhead that they have is um their teachers salaries. So my question is like why would the taxpayers foot the bill for some private corporation forprofit corporation operating? So again, thank you for this
meeting and thank you for um everything that you're doing to support us. Thank you. >> Thank you. Who's next? Thank you again. Um Paul Rab, I would also urge to reconsider including the language uh about the
charter schools uh simply because um as people are looking at the closure of a neighborhood school and uh you know lest anyone feel like uh a charter school taking over that property would somehow be a replacement and and serve the community just as well. Uh, one of the
reasons that charter schools can maintain any kind of standards, even the well-run ones, which are rare, uh, they can pick and choose which students they take. Students who need more help, students with special needs, the students that, uh, you know, schools
like Cape View really serve and go above and beyond to serve, they can simply choose not to. And so the students most in need of services from their neighborhood school wouldn't get them there. It's not a substitute at all. And thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Hi Amy Rob again. Um I'm going to reiterate um what these guys just said. Uh they um they tend to be a scam. And I'm not saying every charter school. I'm not. But this one is a bad one. But
like, you know, inner city sometimes a charter school is really great and it is the community school and they serve everybody, you know, but uh we can't uh rely on luck. Um really look into these guys and and listen up over here cuz Raj
really knows what he's talking about. Um they um this is funneling money from public schools to private. This is fun funneling money away from our public schools who are meant to serve everyone. And charter schools do not serve
everyone like like Paul just said. Um and when they're done, they're done. They pick up and leave and they take everything in the school be becomes theirs once they become like there's like a weird law around that and look into that. I I should have brought the
language with me, but um they uh it's a scam. they they can pick up and go and take the money and we've lost it all and we have nothing and uh they just don't have the same regulations that public schools do. So, um keep that in mind and any power you have to put in this resolution or if you can as a city
council forbid any charter schools from coming into your city or you know there's where your power is because then what are they going to do? They have to leave it open. I mean, you know, so um yeah, use your power. I And again, thank you so much. This is like so like
refreshing and I feel like I'm in a dream because you guys are all like listening and asking for feedback and I haven't been to a board meeting like that but I go to a lot of school board meeting so okay thanks >> thank you [Applause] else Brad
to the elected officials appointed officials guys gals you did not move at the speed of government. Thank you very much, Mr. Attorney. Outstanding. Putting, as
you say, Mr. Mayor, building the airplane while it's flying. That's making things happen. That's making our community strong. And that's putting emphasis on our people and our future. I just want to say thank you very much to
everyone on that. Lastly, and I'm sorry there's not many people left, November 10th at 6:00 p.m. at Cape View Elementary School in the cafeteria. I believe the superintendent of Bvard
County Schools will be in attendance at this meeting. I encourage everyone to tell their neighbors to attend. I believe there may be a conflict with the city council meeting on the 18th and that other meeting. Maybe this is an
opportunity as citizens of the city of Cape Canaveral, our council members can pop up and and say something. But again, impressive. Not the speed of government. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. two things, Shannon Roberts. Um, the in the reading of the resolution, uh, Mr. Mayor, I was wondering if you all would consider moving the part of the vision up in the order of things. I think that from my perspective anyway several of
you have mentioned the significance of the vision to what's happening with KU and I think if that were more of a leadin that that would be impactful and secondly you mentioned >> very appreciatively the significance of the port
>> to the city and one of the things in the earlier days the port used to consider the city the residential community you know next to the port and they really emphasized the importance of the residential nature of Cape Canaveral and I was wondering if there might be a
possibility to enlist them to also support maintaining Cape View. Um because it seems to me that given the role of the city to them in that regard, the residential part, this would be significant to them um if this were
appealed to by somebody like you on behalf of the city. So thank you for mentioning it because you led that. So thank you. Thank you. [Applause] >> Hello. Good evening. This is going to be
the first time that you guys have heard from from me this evening. Everyone else has spoken already. Uh my name is Jennifer. I actually live in Rocklage. Um, but I am here to help support another school that is in um, the community that I live in, even if I don't live in Cape Canaveral. But, um,
I'll start off by saying, as other people have said, um, I have attended several schoolboard meetings. This has been lovely. Um, so thank you to all of you for, um, making this a collaborative effort with your constituents and and yourselves. It's, um, it's it's really
impressive to see and everyone really appreciates it. Um, I just also want to encourage the uh notion that there should be some language in your resolution to um to address the charter school situation um because as um Miss
Jackson brought up there have been um requests put in to utilize that space um for charter school and as other people have also mentioned they you know they don't have to take all of the lo the people that are in the area. So they, you know, your students may lose being
able to go to school there if the charter expands um in the space of where the school is. So uh you know, wanting to keep the school open is um clearly very important to this community and it's clearly very important to you guys as well. Um so I would again I would
encourage the use of language to make sure that the charter schools don't come in so that you can keep it as your community school. Um and I think the way to do that or you know a good idea to explore is certainly um you know creating more programs um and doing things that will attract more students
to the school, more people to the area versus um you know just trying to get bodies into the building. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I didn't raise my hand before but >> that's okay. >> First of all, thank you all so very
much. This has been a very fastm moving thing and I've talked to all of you various times and I really sincerely appreciate you guys jumping behind this and making it a priority and creating this meeting out of nothing and doing this with us and uh I just I don't know
what the answer is with the potential of things like charter schools. I hope that we can maybe we can put something in there that just says every student every student in the city somehow include that every child is covered. I don't know
what the answer is. I'm not an attorney. But if there's a way we can just try to leave some kind of space for every kid, that'd be awesome. But I don't know what's next with the port, with all that stuff. But I want to do everything I can to support our town and you guys, and we
owe you. So, thank you for all you're trying to do. >> Thank you. Would anyone else like to speak in this second goound here? Okay, thank you. That was a little outside the agenda, but we're sort of
wrapping up the I think the discussion item. Let's if appropriate council, do we want to move for the item for action now that we have the we'll go ahead and conclude uh item six discussion we had with our community. Again, thank you
all. Um and let's move on to agenda item seven, which is item for action to adopt the resolution supporting keeping Kate View Elementary School open. We heard some suggestions today about amendments. I'm going to try to go in the order that
they came in. Dr. Roberts mentioned moving the vision up. We also heard a few comments about um incorporating language around charter schools all the way up to the last one where Miss Bass had spoke. I think you
know there's state laws even school board may not like some of the state laws that that binds our school board with what we what state statute allows charter schools to do. in the comment I think from Miss Ralph talking about not all charter schools are
bad for a lack of better words. Um I I I know some good charter schools but I've heard some concerning things as well. And so I think my my gut is leaning towards uh incorporating language similar to what Miss Bassid spoke about is that whatever the outcome is that we
want to see that today our students are able to to have access and to participate. I think that ultimately a resolution is a request. We are not the governing authority. But I would be in support of uh you know some language that states not necessarily specifying a
charter school cuz I think there might be some state law issues there that we really can't but we you know we can request I think that that the opportunity uh for for every kid and child and family is is still there. just
some initial thoughts and I think that was really two major themes moving the the vision up and then really it was all around the charter school. Did I miss one council? Did y'all hear anything? Okay,
council. I I think that uh if the city attorney can word Smith in any fashion with charter schools, that would be acceptable. If if it's possible that we don't get into a legal
quagmire with that. Um >> I generally understand the comment, but charter schools are public schools. and they are governed by, as the mayor indicated, state law provisions. I mean, there even provisions for conversion of
public schools to charter schools. Um, so I mean, I just don't know enough to be really precise on the issue based on what the comments received tonight, but I don't know I don't I guess I just don't know how to
advise you to address that. um >> on the vision on the vision. That's an easy one. I just moved it up to the second recital >> and so that that that change has been made >> to focus on that. But >> well, I think we need to defer to
council on on that issue. >> And if not one word was mentioned, I think that the the the opportunity to speak publicly to the school board, I mean, that can be known, right? that that that we desire these
things and I think can often be even more impactful. So, thank you city attorney. >> Council member Willis, was there anything else at this time? >> Council member Jackson. >> Okay. So section 102.3301
of the state code on charter schools says that the statute establishes the charter school review commission which is responsible for reviewing and approving charter school applications submitted to school district boards. So, knowing that that's the process,
um, that it is at a state level that process, could we put something in, and I know you'd probably have to check this out, in regards to private charter schools
versus public charter school that Bvard County is supporting. If you if you're charter in my mind, charter schools is a term of art under especially under Florida statutes. Charter schools are public schools.
They're not private schools. They are they are deemed public schools um and under the law. And there is a process for charter schools to obtain charters from the school district. There
are also, my general understanding, ways to um, you know, appeal charter school decisions. >> School districts can deny charter school applications. They can approve charter school applications. >> So, >> so there's a there's a there's a
statutory process or charter schools. So rather than being specific on the legal term, city attorney, could we make a generalized statement that says if any school comes in in the future, we want all of our
children to have access to attend. >> We could put some general statement in there that all all you know >> because that addresses some >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That that's fine. Um
>> because this is high as you're saying and I looked uh it's highly governed at the state level. >> Very highly governed. I mean my former partner before she retired was like one of the school expert school experts in the state of Florida. So I mean I got it a little education by osmosis through
her. So it is a complicated process. But I think if we uh put something in the resolution of of wanting our children to have equal access to be able to attend this school >> if they decide to to keep it um in
whatever if the form changed or anything like that. But I think that'd be import an important caveat and maybe we wouldn't have to use the term charter school since it is pretty indepth with all of those statutes.
>> We want to if we just want to try not to do that. So we our city clerk needs that stuff on the record. So you had mentioned a choice school. Okay, >> we we close public comment. If I do that, it'll end up if you don't mind.
Yes. Let me think. Council member Jackson, were you finished with that? >> I'm finished. >> Council member Davis. >> I I I think what he says I I I think the attorney will say what's the best way.
>> Yeah. I mean, we are the city and I think we have uh this would be a schoolboard decision from my understanding, you know, if that became a reality to where um an organization was was pursuing that that that our
community would be able to inform that school board uh of of their desires and the school board ultimately is the best and most equipped to make that decision. Um, and I I sense that we would be in
front of that. Um, and if the city can incorporate any language as I think we've all shared and council member Jackson um, had referenced. Council member Davis, I think if it sounds like you're okay if the city
attorney can come up with something that would respect the roles and respect state law, but also know that um Miss Bass is a good example. Her and Tim or their son is approaching kindergarten. you know,
if your child's in fifth or sixth grade, they're about to go over anyways, but you're entering that K through 12 world. And so, a good example of, you know, any decision that the school board would make would not negatively impact
your child or any other child. >> I think city attorney, you had said that the vision is no problem. You can move that one forward. whether or not you're able to accomplish I think something around so I think it's about informing the school board of some of the concerns
we heard today about >> and I agree as I talked about charter schools earlier and we tal started talking about that and bringing that up our goal with this meeting and correct me if I'm wrong anyone was to come
together with a resolution to stop to support the school so that it may not potentially close. Charter schools or anything would be as a result of a change once that decision is made. So, we're kind of rolling two
separate issues in my mind together into this one. and whether that would be effective. I think once a decision's made, if that decision was made to be a charter school, it would need to come together to talk about it being a
charter school. That's great. Okay, the resolution I know our city attorney is uh making some changes. Do we have the ability to pull that back up on the screen? It's maybe not the latest version, but just to get some of that.
Um I have a couple of small changes that I think will help clarify. One of them is I think up the front mentioned um decades basically uh where was that? It was um
talked about how long Cape View has been opening. Uh it would I think be helpful to specify was it 1964 Cape View? So 60 it's been 60 years I
think. I think that might be a little bit more specific and um I mean h half c over a half century right is is uh another way to say it but
maybe specifying 60 year legacy or wherever it was think of the >> first recital talks about generations of children I thought I saw the word decade.
>> I didn't use decade. >> Okay, I pull. Yeah, >> I was going to put a time period in there, but I couldn't remember when it was created. I mean, I think it was shortly after the city was incorporated. And that's it is to to maybe put it council what do you think about putting
the actual number of years is that because decades could be you know 30 years but >> um >> do we not have the exact date of internet references to say 1964?
uh you know our schools since 1964 >> that way it >> is a year after we became a city right >> 63 yeah so >> what did you say council member Willis I'm sorry >> well I mean just making a reference that
uh the school has been here since 1964 >> and you know that way the the document becomes somewhat living so no matter how far down the future. This is when it was.
>> So I revised the first >> That's fine. >> First recital. Cape Cape View Elementary School has served as an important educational, social, and community center since 1964 and has served generations of children and families within the city of Cape Canaveral for many years.
>> That's great. And then further I added another recital some I think somewhere like four or five about um whereas elementary school age children residing within the city of Cape Canaveral should continue to have the ability to be educated and attend a
local school within the city of Cape Canaveral. And when you talked about we can go down to the recital um or yeah section here we go. Thank you.
um that in section two it says the second sentence of section two the city council urges that the school district to explore all available alternatives to closure
including intergovernmental cooperation partnership shared use of facilities enrollment initiatives and community engagement efforts. And if it's said in there, I think this council, I mean, we are willing to
work with the school board and collaborate, the city is, and be a part of one of those intergovernmental relations. If that's already said in here, that's fine. But I think um that that we're willing to to to work with
them directly uh beyond what we have I think that's what I was trying to get at with the intergovernmental cooperation. I could put intergovernmental, you know, collaboration and cooperation. >> It's like we invite them or we're willing to meet them where they are u as
a city and you know, we're not going to hand this resolution and say, you know, goodbye. Uh it's we're here. intergovernmental collaboration and cooperation with the city. >> Create a partnership >> with Yes. It was more about with the
city u without >> with the city. >> Yes. >> And other >> There you go. >> local. >> Yes. Didn't want to limit it to the city because I think the obviously the county and um >> Yeah. So, okay. So that'll be including
interlocal intergovernmental collaboration and cooperation with the city and other local agencies, partnerships, etc. >> Council, does that >> that sound okay? >> Yep. >> And you've authorized to transmit it to
the school board and that's all I had at this time. Are there any other amendments or changes that that we'd like to to make to this resolution?
The date of it would be it said regular meeting. I think this is technically a special meeting. >> Says that it's adopted at a regular meeting. if that might be quibbling a bit but uh just >> well our regular meeting will be the night that they are going to have their
meeting so I think we need to >> well that last sentence adopted in a regular meeting of the city council of the city of Cape Canaveral Florida this fourth day of November >> special meeting >> that would yeah because >> that would be special >> yeah we need to have that to them before
November 18th >> yes well it's today's date it's tonight which is a special meeting, >> right? So, that needs to be changed. >> Just change the special meeting >> if that's okay. City attorney changed the last uh senates adopted in a special
meeting of the city council. And um that November 18th meeting, I think council member Jackson had briefly stated. I just want to emphasize I think if that was just a normal regular city council meeting which is typically the third Tuesday of every month um I since we
would we'd be moving stuff around and try to make that work but that is the swearing in meeting with the new council. It's uh it's a lot of big decisions are made in that meeting and um it's probably the most difficult one for us to move. However, between now and
then, obviously this meeting tonight and any other efforts I think we can we can bring forward. So the transmittal account do is it will this be emailed mailed both? What
do we want to do? I guess what would be most appropriate? definitely think emailing would make sense. It had that further up >> and then yes, I think it was a section three >> email and US mail, right?
>> Okay. There's not any other changes, council. I think u and our city attorney once ready. >> We good to go? >> Yeah, you're good to go. Take action on it. >> Make a motion to adopt. >> I'll second.
Got a motion by council member Willis and a second by council member Jackson to adopt the resolution as amended and discussed. There was some chimmering in the community. I'd hate to just with my silencing statement. Was
there any concern in the audience from what we're doing quickly if you won't mind come forward before uh we've got a motion on the floor in a second. Can we uh transmit this to uh Florida um Department of Education as well, please?
>> Okay, I will find that out. Any other comments? Thank you, city attorney. Um Florida de uh Department of Education I don't
>> we could add that if you want to. I says and other appropriate officials to convey the city's position. You want to add the Florida Department of Education? They really don't have a dog in the hunt, but we could do >> Yeah, I don't I want to respect the
board's decision and um don't want to sort of go over them and uh but I think I'm a little outside my comfort zone here now. I just want to make sure that, you know, we're not we're trying to work
with the board, not to go o over the board and and respect their authority. So, um I think there certainly may be some merit and a time, but council, we I'd feel better holding off on that for now. >> I think we should stay at this level for
now. >> Yeah. >> Rees, thank you. Appreciate it. With that, we've got a motion and a second on the floor if any further discussion. Seeing none, city clerk, >> council member Davis, >> four. >> Council member Jackson,
>> four. >> Mayor Morrison, >> four. >> And council member Willis, >> four. >> Okay, the resolution passes 40. Thank you. [Applause]
And with that, uh, I just want to, uh, actually wrote a little closing statement here. I'm going to read. Cape View is more than a building. It is a daily rhythm of children walking to class, the teachers who have served this community for decades, and the promise
that Cape Canaveral is a place where families can put down roots. We recognize the district's duty to be efficient. We are offering a responsible, collaborative path that protects students, respects taxpayers, and preserves capacity for a growing
future. We're asking the school board to partner with us over the next year and to implement any enrollment strategies, program enhancements, and shared use solutions and evaluate the results in full information. To our residents,
thank you for showing up with a calm and purpose. And the Bvard public schools and school board, we stand ready to work with you. Kate View is worth saving and together we can do it. So, thank you. Meeting adjourned.