Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hollywood public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues
Hollywood Beach Overlay District
The city is proposing new zoning rules and design guidelines for the beach area stretching from the Intracoastal Waterway to the ocean. This could shape building heights, rooftop amenities, and the look of future development on the beach. The hearing itself never happened because of a posting error — it resumes September 8.
Rotary Park Ballfield Drainage and Funding
The ballfields flood after almost any rain — 38 hours of soggy conditions after just one inch. The fix starts with a drainage pipe to the C-10 canal, phased field by field so 1,100 youth league kids don't lose playing seasons.
Stan Goldman Park parking fees
The Vice Mayor wants the always-free street parking by the skate park and pickleball courts restored to free, with fees only in the new fenced Knights of Columbus overflow lot. Staff got the direction.
Beach CRA sunset and transition
With the Beach CRA winding down in six months, Chair Levy flagged recent king tide flooding and the need to press private property owners west of A1A to raise seawalls — possibly through code enforcement. He also raised a future discussion about $1.75 million a year for ten years coming from the county interlocal agreement.
Hollywood Hills High School traffic and flooding
A resident described daily chaos outside her home near the high school — parents U-turning mid-street, kids crossing dangerously, and chronic flooding on Sarazen Drive that the city promised three years ago to fix.
Amendment 3 Property Tax Reform Impact
Commissioners spent a lot of time on the state's property tax overhaul — about $28 million a year hit to Hollywood by year two. Ideas floated: commissioners rolling back their own raises, set budgets for downtown events, and tightening spending everywhere.
Orangebrook Golf Course Funding Gap
The city just locked in the rewritten deal for rebuilding both golf courses — a lighted 18-hole par-3 plus the championship course — after county water-table rules forced a redesign. Residents who've waited since the 2019 bond mostly supported it but want a firm timeline and protection for wildlife on the site.
Carolina Street signal modifications and A1A undergrounding
The big A1A undergrounding and streetscape project got a $59,208 change order and a 240-day extension to finish FPL pole removal and restoration work. The new Carolina Street pedestrian crossing signal should be up in about 45 days.
Downtown walkability and food trucks
A restaurateur got a code violation for hosting food trucks in his own parking lot because of the 200-foot rule. The commission directed staff to review the aging ordinance, possibly letting restaurants opt in if parking works out.
School Zone Warning Lights
The commission took the first step toward bringing back red-light cameras, limited to serious violations like running red lights and illegal U-turns, with officers reviewing each citation. Most commissioners had concerns; a broader roadway-safety workshop is planned for the new commission before second reading.
Downtown streetscape and wayfinding wrap-up
Downtown improvements are nearly done: crosswalk repairs on Hollywood Boulevard are complete, crash-rated bollards are almost all in, Harrison Street landscaping is planted, and new directional signage is going up. The vacant La Piazza building will get window wrapping to brighten the block.
Property Improvement Program Grants
A new downtown restaurant owner got stuck paying out of pocket for awnings and paint tied to a building code violation his landlord never disclosed, then found the CRA grant fund already committed. The board stepped in to direct staff to process his roughly $7,500 application, raising questions about how the CPIP program handles after-the-fact work and wait lists.
Parking Fee Waiver
Hollywood is hooking locals up with free beach garage parking whenever king tides flood the streets. If you live near the coast, you finally have a dry, no-cost spot to leave your car.
Voter Guide
Confused about Hollywood's upcoming local elections and ballot questions? This quick two-minute guide gets you up to speed so you know what's really at stake before you vote.
Downtown parking and tenant recruitment
The city got a data-backed playbook for reviving downtown: 813 residents surveyed, visitors only come 1.7 times a year, and rents and build-out costs are squeezing out the everyday shops residents want. Six recommendations are on the table, including a self-funded downtown organization (a BID or DDA) and a dedicated downtown manager — a deep dive on funding options comes December 9.
Gracewood Sidewalk Network Project
The city locked in a $200,000 federal Vision Zero safety grant (with $50,000 match) and picked Kimley-Horn to design new Gracewood neighborhood sidewalks.
Resilient Florida Resiliency Projects
Three resiliency projects get a shot at state grant funding, with the city on the hook for matching dollars if awarded.
Senior, Cultural, and Recreation Grants
The city's $1,000 PEN grants will now require that 75% of a civic association's board and officers live in, work in, or own a business in the neighborhood — or have a relative there. Supporters say it protects neighborhood representation; opponents called it heavy-handed interference that punishes struggling associations.
City Attorney Performance and Compensation
Commissioner Hernandez publicly questioned whether the city attorney's office has the experience and staffing Hollywood needs, pointing to outside counsel spending and delayed certification. The full commission weighed in, and a detailed performance review with department feedback is set for later this month.
Sidewalk Cafés at US-1/Young Circle
An agreement with FDOT would let restaurants operate sidewalk cafés in the state right of way on the western edge of US-1/Young Circle, supporting downtown dining.
Affordability and assistance for low-income and vulnerable residents
Up to $250,000 in general fund grants to nonprofits providing social services to Hollywood residents, with a budget amendment to FY 2027.
Central Beach tidal flooding and backflow preventers
The September king tide plus Nor'easter pushed a record 2.77-foot tide over parts of the Broadwalk, flooding streets and businesses near Michigan Street. Board members asked staff to develop a pilot using knee-wall closures or removable gates at the lowest-elevation stretch, and debated dunes versus hardscape. An expert confirmed today's king tide levels become the normal sea level by 2050.
Citywide Professional Answering Service
City will hire 22nd Century Technologies to replace the notorious phone tree with a 24/7 AI and live-agent service. Contract must come back to commissioners with the price before final approval.
FEC Railway Quiet Zone Retention
Three items locked in the city's plan for the FEC rail corridor: keeping Garfield Street open with quad gates — now at 100 percent city cost — and a $4 million five-year maintenance agreement with FEC Railway.
Harry Berry Park Improvements
The beach-side park at 301 Azalea Terrace gets a full redo — new restrooms, playground shade, more green space — funded by condo-development proceeds rather than tax dollars. Parking drops from 55 on-site spaces to 44 total, which drew questions from Commissioner Shuham about the net parking picture.
Employees' Retirement Fund Correction
A drafting error in last summer's pension ordinance accidentally cut off seven longtime employees' ability to purchase credited service. The fix passed first reading.
Evaluation Process Reform
Two commissioners said the city needs a structured, written evaluation process with goals set jointly for future reviews of the city manager and city attorney — Commissioner Shuham suggested looking at best practices from other cities.
Fire Station 74 HVAC Replacement Cost Increase
Up to $1.9 million contract with Lebolo Construction to replace the fire station's failing HVAC system.
27-unit apartment proposal at 1118-1126 North 17th Avenue
A four-story, 27-unit apartment building is proposed in the FH-1 district within the Regional Activity Center. It would add residential density to the 17th Avenue neighborhood.
Rezoning of 2326 Thomas Street to Government Use
The county wants to formally rezone its 53-year-old bus shelter storage yard to Government Use so it can eventually modernize the facility. Neighbors worry about the site's neglected condition and what could be built there someday.
Joint board meeting membership dispute
Board member Glickman raised that the full planning board was excluded from a June 29 joint hearing and asked whether the matter can be reheard; the city attorney and chair pushed to move on, creating a tense exchange.
Permitting delays and process reform
Board member Bob Glickman pressed staff on why new developments on Lincoln Street get no traffic studies, with a school across the street and two more projects already approved. The city engineer explained studies are only required when a single project generates about 1,000 trips, and cumulative impacts are tracked through trip generation statements and right-of-way dedications.
33-unit apartment proposal at 1504-1510 North Dixie Highway
A four-story, 33-unit apartment building is proposed on North Dixie Highway and Roosevelt Street in the Regional Activity Center. It would add housing density along the Dixie Highway corridor.
Countywide climate resilience plan
Commissioner Shuham pitched the Regional Resilience Plan — a $28 billion, 50-year roadmap for adapting to flooding, heat, and sea level rise — and asked the board to factor it into development recommendations.
Self-storage facility proposed at 1109 North 21st Avenue
A developer proposes a four-story, 50,472-square-foot self-storage building with one residential unit, and wants the required 10-foot setback reduced to zero. Neighbors on 21st Avenue would see a taller building closer to the property line than the code normally allows.
Election Candidate Questionnaire
Trying to figure out who to vote for in Hollywood? Check out the Sun Sentinel's Q&A with District 5 candidate Adam Roberti to see where he stands on the issues that matter to you.
Development Approval
Hollywood just approved new beachfront towers even though locals pushed back hard against the overcrowding. If you live by the coast, get ready for more high-rises and ongoing neighborhood debates.
CRA Meeting Time Change
The board moved its regular meetings from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on first Wednesdays, which Biederman objected to as unrealistic. The change takes effect going forward and can be revisited.
Employee Health and Insurance Contracts
Three consent items would lock in medical/pharmacy, stop-loss, and vision insurance for city employees from 2027 onward — worth roughly $2.3 million a year combined in administrative and coverage costs.
1301 South Ocean Drive and Hollywood Beach Hotel redevelopment concerns
The Commission narrowly approved changes to the development agreement for the property at 1301 S. Ocean Drive after hours of public comment, with Commissioners Shuham and Quintana opposed.
Neighborhood Code Enforcement and Traffic Safety Concerns
Longtime resident Helen Chervin described illegal truck parking, suspected criminal activity, and dangerous cut-through traffic near her neighborhood, saying code enforcement can't keep up. Hernandez gave out his cell number and asked residents to report issues directly.
Charnow Park Improvements Design
The park's splash pad has been a maintenance headache, and staff proposed two redesign options: a fenced kids' zone with splash pad up north plus a bigger fitness area south, demolishing 12,000+ square feet of unused berms. Board members pushed back on moving the splash pad off-center, wanted shade for exercise equipment and the playground, and demanded the Garfield bathrooms be fixed immediately. The project has $2 million committed and awaits a federal grant decision in early 2026.
Hollywood Beach comprehensive plan amendments (File 26-L-18)
Three first-reading ordinances create a hotel density bonus, transfer of development rights, and flexibility-unit framework for the barrier island — the skeleton for a future beach overlay zoning package. Residents warned the framework is rushed and could permanently change the low-profile character of the beach.
Regional biosolids facility participation
The city was set to consider a ten-year deal, up to roughly $7.5 million a year, to haul, treat, and dispose of wastewater biosolids — with PFAS destruction or sequestration included. It's a major operational cost for the sewer system that touches utility rates and environmental compliance.
Workforce housing at 400 South Dixie Highway
The city formally designated vacant, city-owned parcels as appropriate for affordable housing and committed to publishing the inventory publicly.
Barrier Island Infrastructure and Evacuation
Recent king tides flooded A1A and left residents unable to get home; speakers and Shuham tied today's king-tide levels to projected 2050 sea levels. Evacuation routes and emergency access on the island remain unresolved.
The Club at Emerald Hills Redevelopment
166 acres of the golf course will shift from Country Club to Planned Development zoning, setting up a master-planned redevelopment eight years in the making. First reading passed unanimously with no public opposition; a second reading still ahead.
ADA Ramps and Stairs East of the Seawall
The CRA approved nearly $947,000 for Burkhardt Construction to build ADA ramps and stairs from Crocus Terrace to Magnolia Terrace east of the seawall, improving beach accessibility. CRA-funded for now, though staff are pursuing grants.
Transportation Surtax Funding Application
The city was scheduled to apply for Broward County transportation surtax funds for city-wide road rehabilitation and maintenance, and possibly on-demand microtransit service if money remains.
Wastewater Plant Resilience Grant
A FEMA BRIC grant application for $1.1 million toward Southern Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant bar screen improvements, with the city covering a $371,753 match, was scheduled. Resilience funding helps protect a critical sewer facility.