Diamond Square Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting

   
MINUTES   
CITY OF COCOA  
DIAMOND SQUARE CRA  
REGULAR MEETING  
August 18, 2025 
 
The Regular Meeting of the Diamond Square Community Redevelopment Agency was held on 
August 18, 2025, at the City of Cocoa, City Hall, 65 Stone Street, Cocoa, FL, as publicly 
noticed.  
 
I. Call to Order  
Chairperson Moore called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. 
Invocation: Agency Member Moore provided the invocation.  
 
Pledge of Allegiance:  Agency Member Moore led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of 
the United States of America. 
 
ROLL CALL:  
Tracy A. Moore  Chairperson  
Crystal McQueen  Vice Chairperson 
Larry Brown    Agency Member 
Brenda Fox   Agency Member 
Jackie Isom    Agency Member 
Angelia Smith   Agency Member 
Marilyn Smith   Agency Member 
Joseph Colombo  Agency Attorney 
Peyton Fink   Recording Secretary  
 
PRESENT: 
Tracy A. Moore  Chairperson  
Crystal McQueen  Vice Chairperson -via phone  
Brenda Fox   Agency Member 
Jackie Isom   Agency Member 
Angelia Smith   Agency Member 
Joseph Colombo  Agency Attorney 
Peyton Fink   Recording Secretary  
 
 
ABSENT: Agency Members Larry Brown and Marilyn Smith 
 
STAFF PRESENT: Community Services Director Charlene Neuterman as well as 
Communications & Economic Development Director Samantha Senger.  


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AGENDA:  
Agenda - Regular Meeting of August 18, 2025. 
*MOTION by Agency Member  Fox; SECONDED by Agency Member Isom; to approve 
the Agenda for the Regular Meeting of August 18, 2025, either as written or with 
amendments.  
AYES: MOORE, MCQUEEN, FOX, ISOM, A. SMITH, M. SMITH. 
MOTION PASSED (5-0) 
 
 MINUTES: 
Regular Meeting of July 21, 2025 
*MOTION by Agency Member Isom ; SECONDED by Agency Member Fox ; to approve 
the Minutes for the above minutes as written or with amendments.   
AYES: MOORE, MCQUEEN, FOX, ISOM, A. SMITH, 
MOTION PASSED (5-0) 
II. Delegations:    
 
III. Presentations:   
 
IV. Action Items:  
 
(Before beginning, the Chairperson recommended that we switch action items one and three 
so Samantha Senger can discuss her item first.) 
 
1. UpStart Cocoa Forgivable Loan Application Award – T&K Kreative Kreations. 
Consideration of a $12,500 Cocoa forgivable loan with T&K Kreative Kreations according to 
the Procedures, Policies, and Conditions of the Upstart Cocoa Minority Small Business 
Program and approval to reimburse any business-related expenses from the last 6 months 
while the applicant was completing the Ignite 360 program. 
Director Senger began by discussing changes made to the program on August 12. It is due to 
these changes to federal law that this can no longer be a minority program, it now has to be 
open to all. Regardless of this change in law, this program will still be a small business 
incentive. She went on to state that any accepted applicant in Cocoa will receive $10,000 
with $2500 going towards the curriculum and the remainder going towards reimbursed 
expenses. $15,000 for Diamond Square businesses. 
 There have also been changes made to how they review applicants as they will now review 
additional criteria such as do they think it will be successful long-term, do they have potential 


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to succeed, etc. Director Senger added that more points will be added to residents who apply 
for the program. This is a new benefit as it was not previously on the program. Upon being 
asked by Agency Member Fox, Samantha clarified on the meaning of new businesses as it 
pertains to this program. She stated that with this program a new business pertains not just to 
ones that are opening their doors for the first time but also to ones that are being relocated to 
the area. The size of businesses that qualify is also discussed, and it must be under 10 
employees. There are two applications, one is offered in Diamond Square and one is for 
Cocoa. 
This current application is from Tawana Hawkins from T&K Kreations, she applied outside 
of Diamond Square but since applying has moved her business into the Diamond Square 
area. She completed the Ignite 360 course which cost $2500, and she is now applying for the 
remaining $12,500 for the loan from the UpStart program. Samantha states that community 
give back is required of all applicants, and Tawana Hawkins is going to donate to a school as 
part of her give back to the community. She will report once it happens. 
Kathy Webster was then called to the stand to talk about Ignite 360 and Tawana’s proposal. 
She shared about how much Tawana has benefited from the program and how she is a great 
candidate for the funds. Upon being asked by Chairperson Moore, Kathy went into detail 
regarding how Tawana benefited from the mentoring. Kathy then elaborated on this and went 
into more detail regarding the employees at the organization and stated that individuals 
benefit differently from this program depending on what they are looking for. Director 
Senger also contributed to the conversation by saying that it really has benefited Tawana and 
that we want to see businesses thriving and this program gave her the tools to do so. Director 
Neuterman also took time to share that she has been a mentor for such programs, and she 
helped navigate through the government aspects of work which can be a lot for businesses, 
and it has been a great experience for them and her. This is the first Diamond Square business 
to go through the whole process. There will be a second in 8 weeks, possibly. A motion is 
made by Agency Member Fox to approve this loan, and it is seconded by Agency Member 
Smith.   
*MOTION to approve the $12,500 Forgivable Loan with T&K Kreative Kreations by 
Agency Member Fox; Seconded by Agency Member A Smith. 
AYES: Moore, McQueen, Fox, A. Smith, Isom. Motion Passed (5-0) 
NAYS: None 
 
2. Staff are requesting Agency approval for an application for the agency’s Paint Grant 
Program in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for the property located at 611 
Washington Avenue, Cocoa, FL 32922 and authorize the City Manager to execute a 
Paint Program Agreement.  
Myila Young has submitted a Residential Paint Grant application for an amount not to exceed 
$1,000 for her property located at 611 Washington Avenue, Cocoa, FL 32922. This grant 
would allow Mrs. Young to make renovations to her house to keep the exterior up to date. 


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The house is 1,200 square feet while the color selection is blue for the walls and white for the 
trim. Staff request approval of the grant application for an amount not to exceed $1,000. 
Director Neuterman began by giving information regarding the applicant and what she wants 
done. The homeowner is eligible for the fund. Director Neuterman reminds the agency that a 
portion of the money from this grant will go towards pressure washing of the house up to an 
amount not to exceed $1,000 it is up to them to do the work. A motion is made by Agency 
Member Fox to approve the grant, and it is seconded by Agency Member Isom.  
*MOTION to approve the $1000 Paint Grant funding to Myila Young  by Agency 
Member FOX; seconded by Agency Member Isom.  
AYES: Moore, McQueen, Smith, , Isom, Fox. Motion Passed (5-0) 
NAYS: None 
3. Analysis of the My Community Cares Program Summer 2025 Program Roster and 
Budget, as directed by the Agency. Agency direction on how to proceed with funding    
for the program that was completed in June.  
At the July 21, 2025 meeting, the board was unable to come up with a definitive amount to 
give to the program, so the motion to award an amount to the My Community Cares Program 
-A Special Place for Our Teens (SPOT) was tabled until the next meeting (August 18, 
2025). Staff prepared an analysis for the Agency to determine how to proceed with funding 
for the program. Should the Agency approve funding, Staff will need to return to the Agency 
at the next available meeting to make an amendment to the FY2025 Budget to cover the 
expenses approved. Staff requests direction from the Agency on funding this project. 
Director Neuterman began by reminding agency members of the last meeting where staff 
were asked to provide an analysis regarding what information had been received at past 
meetings. She noted that there were various discrepancies found in the analysis and that the 
Staff is now requestion direction from the agency on what to reward if anything to the My 
Community Cares Program. She notes that this program did accommodate youth during the 
closure of the Dr. Joe Lee Smith Community Center. She also stated that if the agency does 
decide to award this program, then staff will need to return to the next Diamand Square 
meeting to go over the budget.  
The Agency members began to discuss the numbers from the analysis to try and determine a 
total. Director Neuterman then shared an email from Agency Member Brown, in this email 
he shared his own calculation where he got over $2,400 so he is in favor of the amount that 
was discussed at the previous Diamond Square CRA meeting, and that amount was $2,500. 
The Chairperson is in favor of giving the program somethings but wants to further discuss 
how much it would be. The Chairperson and Director Neuterman then started to discuss the 
amounts that the group were being charged. We do not know specific details regarding field 
trips, so we don’t know an exact number if the group did go on them. 
$2,017.60 is the number Agency Member A. Smith got when calculating the information 
provided including field trips. Agency Member Fox suggests accepting this number since this 


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is an unprecedented circumstance. A motion is made by Agency Member A. Smith, and it is 
seconded by Agency Member Isom.  
*MOTION to award $2,017.60 grant funding to My Community Cares Program -A 
Special Place for Our Teens (SPOT) for reimbursement by Agency Member A. Smith ; 
seconded by Agency Member Isom.  
AYES: Moore, McQueen,  Fox, A. Smith, Isom 
NAYS: None  
V. Attorney’s Report: None.  
 
VI. Updates and Staff Report:   
 
1. Director Neuterman shares that details will be given to the individuals who are 
interested in attending the FRA Conference. 
2. She then discussed the new Redevelopment Coordinator with the Agency Members 
3. Updated the agency on the Michael C. Blake subdivision. Moving forward on two 
homes. Contributing money to build a playground and park to make it more of a 
community area.  
4. Reminds agency member that the next meeting is at Dr. Jolie Smith Center 
5. She will be bringing back numbers from the Parks and Rec department hopefully at the 
next meeting 
6. Moving forward with final budget hearing, it should be approved near the end of 
September, and the new budget will take place on October 1.  
7. Discussed the Diamond Square CRA plans with the Agency members.   
8. Director Neuterman then requested making time at a future meeting to discuss RFP and 
what ideas would work there 
 
VII. Next Meeting Date:    
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Diamond Square Community Redevelopment 
Agency will be on Monday, September 15th, at 6:00 pm at the Dr. Joe Lee Smith 
Community Center, 415 Stone Street, Cocoa, FL, unless a business need arises earlier. 
 
VIII. Adjournment  
*MOTION to adjourn by Agency Member Moore; SECONDED by Agency Member                                         
Smith. 
AYES: Moore, McQueen, Fox, Isom, A. Smith.  
NAYS: NONE 
MOTION PASSED (5-0) 


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THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED at  7:06 pm. 
 
 
__________________________ 
       Tracy Moore, Chairperson   
 
Respectfully Submitted by: 
________________________________   
Peyton Fink, Recording Secretary