Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hollywood public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
19 issues in water utilities
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.
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.
Five-year capital improvement program for core water and sewer infrastructure
The city adopted a 25-year, five-phase plan to connect septic-neighborhood homes to sewer, plus new water and sewer rates through 2031. Septic homeowners will eventually face connection costs, but the program protects groundwater and reduces flooding risk.
Water Utility Ordinance Updates
Two ordinances updating water billing rules passed 7-0 — but the backdrop is a plan to raise water and sewer rates roughly 25% a year to rebuild 70-year-old treatment plants. A resident on a fixed income pleaded for caution; staff clarified the ordinances actually improve leak credits and billing dispute processes.
57 New Public Utilities Positions
The budget adds 57 utility positions (44 water/sewer, 13 stormwater) to meet a consent order, stand up a construction division, and maintain the system — a roughly $10 million investment.
WATERWORKS 2050 master plans adopted
The city adopted its 25-year, $2.7 billion water and sewer roadmap, covering PFAS removal, consent-order plant repairs, and a $1.3 billion septic-to-sewer program. Residents should expect continued utility rate increases to fund it.
Stormwater Program Management Consulting
Stormwater construction capacity more than doubled and a $2.3 million sewer rehab contract was added — more work on pipes, manholes, and flooding fixes.
Wastewater Plant Disinfection Conversion
The city is spending about $4.9 million to switch the Southern Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant to a sodium hypochlorite system — modernizing how sewage is disinfected.
Sewer Extension for Johnson Street Businesses
Commissioner Biederman won support to study extending the sewer line west to 64th Avenue along Johnson Street, connecting commercial properties to city sewer and spurring economic development on the west side.
Comprehensive plan potable water element update
The commission took the first step to update the city's water supply work plan, keeping development aligned with future water demand.
Lakes Neighborhood exfiltration project funded
A $4.5 million flood-relief project will build exfiltration trenches uphill of the Lakes neighborhood to capture stormwater before it floods streets. The state is picking up $3.25 million of the tab.
Emergency Sewer Repair at Hollywood Park Elementary
The city ratified an emergency $499,029 repair of a collapsed sewer main at Hollywood Park Elementary School.
Lift Station N-07 and N-08 Rehabilitation
The city is spending nearly $4.7 million to rebuild two sewer lift stations and replace a forcemain — the infrastructure that keeps sewage moving and prevents backups in your neighborhood.
A1A flooding, drainage maintenance and resiliency partnership with FDOT
Sunny-day and king-tide flooding on A1A dominated the meeting. FDOT's drainage engineer explained twice-a-year backflow preventer inspections, but board members said the pipe system itself is only inspected reactively — and they want a scheduled, proactive inspection protocol. Two additional pump stations (Jefferson and Foxclove, ~$22.5M) still need funding partners.
Southern Regional Wastewater Plant Investment
Multiple contracts — injection well testing, influent pump station design — total over $1.4 million to keep the city's big wastewater plant in compliance and working for the next 100 years.
Sewer lateral maintenance ordinance change
Current code makes homeowners responsible for sewer laterals even under the street — including unclogging them. Staff proposed shifting right-of-way maintenance to the city to support the inflow-and-infiltration program, with a possible cost-recovery fee to be examined.
Water rate tier relief for underground leaks
Residents hit with huge tiered water bills from underground leaks they didn't cause may get relief. The commission directed staff to study a leak-relief provision, review Fort Lauderdale's broader credit program, and check whether rate changes would violate bond covenants.
Chronic flooding in Shenandoah/Liberty Street neighborhood
Residents testified that their homes and garages flood repeatedly, with more than a foot of water during the June 2024 rains and April 2023 storm. The city's new stormwater master plan won't fix the 'bowl' area for roughly five years. This flooding fear drove opposition to the denied 22-unit project.
Clogged stormwater outfalls near A1A condominiums
Outfalls on the west side of A1A near Trafalgar Tower and Bimini are blocked, raising flooding worries. Staff are meeting with the condo association and city departments, and board members want to know whether FDOT holds an easement — which determines whether the property owner can be forced to fix it.