Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hollywood public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues with high priority
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Beach capital improvement program
Chair Levy wants staff to keep pushing — with 'more carrot, less stick' — the paint and facade improvement programs on Broadwalk buildings that weather quickly from salt and wind.
Tidal flooding mitigation and shoreline protection Phase II
The city accepted a $2.97 million state grant, matched by GO Bond funds, to build tidal flooding and shoreline protection improvements, plus an FDOT agreement for Site 21.
Broward Schools Next Generation Referendum
Broward Schools leaders pitched the Nov. 3 ballot renewal of an existing property tax that funds teacher supplements, school safety and mental health staff — about $358 million district-wide. Average homeowners pay roughly $418 a year.
Mosaic Hollywood affordable housing loan
Three advisory boards reported. Highlights: the Housing Authority's new Hollywood Vista tower will add 118 affordable units (89 more than the old building), and half of Broward households are cost-burdened. A citywide housing needs study comes in September.
Police Radio System Funding
The Motorola radio contract jumped from $500,000 to $1.5 million over three years — the gear officers use to communicate depends on it.
Fire Rescue and Inspection Assessments
The maximum property tax rate for next year was set, along with fire rescue and fire inspection assessment rates — all with public hearings still to come before final adoption.
Public Safety Technology and Cybersecurity
The budget funds a real-time intelligence center, LPR cameras and cybersecurity improvements. Police say LPRs recently caught a murder suspect; a few cameras must be relocated under a new state ruling.
FY 2027 Budget and Property Tax Rate
The city set its maximum millage rate and estimated fire rescue and fire inspection assessment rates, with public hearings ahead on the tentative budget.
Local Housing Assistance Plan Amendment
The city committed $640,000 toward a 9% housing tax credit application (selecting Pinnacle Communities), approved ~$6 million for the Dixie Highway workforce housing project, and sold five vacant parcels to a community land trust for affordable housing.
A1A Phase IV streetscape landscaping
The CRA was scheduled to consider adding security bollards to the Phase IV project, increasing the project cost by about $352,150 to roughly $76.46 million.
A1A mid-block pedestrian crossings
A new traffic study found four feasible spots for mid-block crosswalks with flashing beacons on A1A between Johnson and Sheridan Streets — something beach residents have sought for 20+ years. Nothing is funded yet, and the board wants money set aside before the CRA sunsets.
1301 South Ocean Drive legal costs and Live Local dispute
The city approved up to $275,000 in outside legal fees to appeal the county's handling of the beach parcel redevelopment, on a 4-3 vote. Residents object to paying to fight over public land the developer reportedly promised to defend at its own cost.
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.
Washington Park industrial area revitalization
The commission adopted a 160-acre redevelopment vision balancing a working industrial district with the residents who live around it. Parking, flooding, truck traffic and code enforcement dominate complaints. Commissioners directed staff to prioritize outer-edge improvements, street assessments and drainage first.
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.
Property Purchase at 1101 Diplomat Parkway
The city is buying a vacant waterfront lot for up to $2.575 million to build a stormwater outfall that will ease chronic flooding for roughly 100 homes in the Moffat Street basin — one of the city's worst flood hotspots.
Zoning and Development
Hollywood is thinking about letting developers build taller towers right by the beach, and locals are seriously pushing back. If you live around there, get ready for big fights over blocked ocean views, worse traffic, and too many people packed into the neighborhood.
Ocean Rescue Alliance contract extension
The state environmental agency sent the CRA a warning letter about the underwater reef module work off the beach. Staff have responded, offered an independent reef expert (a former DEP specialist), and are negotiating with DEP. Vice Chair Callari urged the board to stand firm, saying the reefs were done preventatively and have flourished.
3250 Hollywood Boulevard Police Headquarters Redevelopment (P3)
The city has an unsolicited P3 proposal for the 8.75-acre former police headquarters site. Commissioners chose to accept it and invite competing proposals, with heavy interest in keeping or relocating the YMCA — but not exclusively.
Hollywood Beach Resort Vested Rights
The long-deteriorating historic beach resort just got its vested right to 398 residential units confirmed, opening the door to redevelopment. Critics worry about beach density, historic preservation, and whether that many units can legally be counted given the timeshare history.
2910 Polk Street Office Tower Rezoning
City studies show Hollywood lacks high-quality office space, and this six-story building near I-95 and the TriRail station is pitched as a landmark to change that. The board signed off, but with roughly 40 conditions deferred to permitting.
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.
Adaptive reuse parking policy in light-industrial areas
The coffee roastery case exposed a bigger problem: older warehouse districts have no real parking, no sidewalks, and no enforcement. Members said the city needs a deliberate strategy so startups can open without gutting parking rules downtown.
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.
Charter referendum on city property transactions
Charter changes on selling, leasing and buying city property go to voters November 3, 2026, after the 2024 ballot language was pulled.
Surf Road land sale referendum to Broward County
Voters decide in November whether the city can hand 1.41 acres of beachfront land north of the Dania pier to Broward County for Port Everglades mitigation. If the port project dies, a reverter clause sends the land back to the city.
Jazz Festival funding trimmed to $150,000
The city was set to pay the Rhythm Foundation up to $250,000 to produce a revived jazz festival at ArtsPark, but Commissioners Hernandez and Biederman argued it would pull money and customers away from downtown restaurants. The vote was delayed to June 3 while the Foundation secures downtown business participation.
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.
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.
Executive committee representation for large cities
Big cities including Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale lack guaranteed seats on the SWA's day-to-day executive committee, which is split into five large-city, three medium-city, and two small-city seats filled by election. Mayor Levy and Commissioner Hernandez pressed for proportional representation given Hollywood's tonnage and population.
Recycling rate and diversion goals
Broward recycles just 39% of its waste against a 75% state goal, and landfill and waste-to-energy capacity is nearly exhausted. The authority's plan centers on standardized education, composting, and construction-debris diversion rather than building new facilities.
Homelessness in Hollywood
A new street survey found 198 unsheltered people in Hollywood, with an aging population, high mental health needs, and 40% newly homeless. The Task Force recommended a co-response police model like Davie's and eviction prevention programs.