On first reading the Cocoa City Council approved Ordinance 13-2025, which would grant a nonexclusive 30-year natural‑gas franchise to Pivotal Utility Holdings, Inc., doing business as Florida City Gas.

City staff and the city attorney explained the previous franchise (entered in April 1993) had expired and corporate restructurings at the utility had delayed renewal. The proposed franchise keeps the city’s franchise fee at 6% of gross revenues as calculated under the agreement; staff estimated the current fee yields roughly $100,000 a year to the city’s general fund. Council opened a public hearing on first reading, had brief questions about future gas-line expansion in new developments, and voted unanimously to approve the ordinance on first reading.

What’s next: The item was adopted on first reading; further procedural steps may follow for final adoption per local ordinance rules.