Hollywood City Commission Regular Meeting – November 6, 2024
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Hollywood City Commission Regular Meeting – November 6, 2024
The Hollywood City Commission held a regular meeting on November 6, 2024, beginning at approximately 1:16 PM (scheduled for 1:00 PM) at City Hall. The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including a unanimous consent agenda, a presentation on the 2024 Excellence in Continuous Improvement Award, second-reading adoption of a zoning ordinance for massage and dry-cleaning uses, the renaming of Anniversary Park as Mayor Peter Bober Centennial Park, appointments to the Emerald Hills Safety Enhancement Board, a detailed discussion on the Taft Street Mobility Project focusing on tree preservation and drainage, emergency utility repairs, and a protracted debate on solid waste disposal and recycling. The meeting concluded with commissioners’ comments, staff announcements, and adjournment.
Consent Calendar
- R-2024-361 (Community Development Block Grant for Boys & Girls Club teen center renovation, up to $250,000) approved.
- R-2024-362 (Ratifying emergency water main repairs along Stirling Road, total up to $300,000) approved.
- R-2024-363 (Change Order No. 2 for sewer extension project, up to $493,896.61 due to unforeseen conditions) approved.
- R-2024-364 (Change Order No. 3 extending contract for RAS Pump Station No. 1 replacement by 363 days) approved.
- R-2024-365 (Authorization to proceed for clarifier rehabilitation design at Southern Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, up to $467,778) approved.
- R-2024-366 (Blanket purchase agreement with Rehrig Pacific for garbage/recycling carts, up to $250,000 annually) approved.
- R-2024-367 (Blanket purchase agreement with The Home Depot for maintenance supplies, up to $185,000 annually) approved. All items passed unanimously (7-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Taft Street Mobility Project: Pam Burgio (Hollywood Hills Civic Association resident) expressed support for the project but stressed the importance of preserving shade trees and avoiding mistakes from past projects. She urged smarter designs and adequate shade along the path.
- Mayor Peter Bober Centennial Park: Several residents spoke in support, including Scott Roberts, Diana Pittanelli, Tom Lander, Ann Ralston, Laurie Schechter, Richard Blattner, Rabbi Ari Plost, Rachel Mazor, and John Passalacqua. Sandra Nunez opposed the renaming, citing Florida Statute 267.062 and city policy that generally prohibits naming facilities after living persons; other speakers noted that the policy allows commission-initiated naming with a 6/7 vote.
- Solid Waste Disposal: Grant Smith (Waste Connections) argued that city staff misled the commission and that the city breached its contract by not bringing the termination to the commission for a vote. He claimed recycling would be burned and commercial rates would jump from ~$61 to $101/ton. Andrew Limos Cruz (Waste Management) highlighted their existing recycling program and a new $80 million facility under construction in Pembroke Pines. Bob Hely (Win Waste / Wheelabrator) stated that waste-to-energy is recognized by the state as recycling, with 89% of electricity sold to the grid, and encouraged keeping recycling separate. Ann Ralston (resident) called for genuine recycling to protect the environment.
Discussion Items
Item 12: Excellence in Continuous Improvement Award
Assistant City Manager Adam Reichbach presented ten nominations from seven city departments. The winner was the Police Department’s Derelict Vessel Removal Initiative, which reduced investigation time from 45 to 21 days, removed seven vessels using a $50,000 grant, and cleared all derelict vessels from city waterways. Sergeant Raul Toledo accepted on behalf of the team. Commissioner Shuham praised the environmental impact.
Item 13: Zoning Ordinance – Permitted Uses in RC-2 and YC Districts
(Second reading) Director Andrea Wingett explained amendments allowing massage establishments as a special exception (up to 2,000 sq ft) and permitting full-service dry cleaners by special exception while allowing drop-off/pickup by right. The public hearing was opened and closed with no comment. The ordinance was adopted unanimously (O-2024-17).
Item 14: Renaming Anniversary Park as Mayor Peter Bober Centennial Park
Mayor Levy presented the resolution, linking the park’s history (the former headquarters of Hollywood Inc., named for the city’s 50th anniversary) with the upcoming 2025 centennial and former Mayor Peter Bober’s 16 years of service. After extensive public comment, the resolution passed unanimously.
Item 15: Appointments to Emerald Hills Safety Enhancement Board
City Clerk Pat Cerny reported three applicants for two vacancies. Incumbents David Rubin (treasurer) and Charles Flaxman (not present) were reapplying, along with new applicant Laszlo Muzamel. David Rubin spoke about the board’s use of Flock Safety cameras and increased police patrols to reduce crime. Commissioner Gruber moved to appoint Laszlo Muzamel and David Rubin; the motion passed unanimously.
Item 16: Taft Street Mobility Project – Multi-Purpose Path Alternatives
Andria Wingett (Development Services) and Carlos Alcantara (BCC Engineering) presented alternatives after community concerns about tree removal. The original plan removed 178 trees; subsequent revisions brought the removal number to 43 trees east of 56th Avenue (107 retained) and 14 trees west of 56th Avenue (14 retained). The city committed to a new landscaping plan along the corridor. Commissioners requested evaluation of drainage improvements, particularly around 46th Avenue, and additional public outreach. The commission gave a general consensus to move forward with the modified plan and those stipulations; no formal vote was necessary.
Item 17: Emergency Repairs to Effluent Pump Station (R-2024-370)
Vincent Morello, Director of Public Utilities, explained that the resolution ratifies a purchase order to Cardinal Contractors (up to $1,500,000) to settle the emergency repair job that began in late 2023. The work included rebuilding 800-hp motors, transformers, controls, and piping. A bypass pipeline was kept in place through hurricane season and is now being dismantled. The resolution passed unanimously.
Item 18: FP&L Duct Bank for Deep Injection Wells (R-2024-371)
Vincent Morello presented the contract with Cardinal Contractors ($2,615,010) to construct a duct bank connecting the city’s injection well pump station to an FPL substation. The 135-day project is a critical element of the $120 million deep injection well program. The resolution passed unanimously.
Item 19: Solid Waste Disposal Interlocal Agreement (R-2024-359)
This item generated the most debate. Joseph Kroll (Public Works) explained that Waste Connections terminated the city’s recycling contract, prompting the city to pivot. The proposed agreement with Broward County’s waste-to-energy facility (Wheelabrator) would lower residential disposal costs by about $0.66/ton (saving ~$50,000/month) but increase commercial rates by about $40/ton. Waste Connections challenged the city’s authority to terminate, while the city attorney defended the action. Commissioners questioned the environmental and financial implications; Commissioner Callari moved to continue the item to the December 4 meeting and to authorize the city manager to make necessary expenditures in the interim. The motion passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved 7-0.
- Zoning ordinance O-2024-17 adopted unanimously on second reading.
- Anniversary Park renamed Mayor Peter Bober Centennial Park (7-0).
- Laszlo Muzamel and David Rubin appointed to Emerald Hills Safety Enhancement Board (7-0).
- Taft Street Mobility Project: consensus to proceed with the modified design that retains 107 trees east of 56th Avenue, with direction to add drainage mitigation at 46th Avenue and develop a city-funded replacement landscaping plan; additional public outreach to be conducted.
- Emergency pump station repairs ratified (7-0).
- FP&L duct bank contract awarded (7-0).
- Solid Waste Interlocal Agreement continued to December 4, 2024; City Manager authorized to spend as needed on waste disposal until then.
- Two executive sessions announced for November 12, 2024, regarding litigation cases.
- Commissioners directed staff to: provide a list of sidewalk art projects, explore dual naming of 46th Avenue for the Gottlieb family, consider a city education liaison for public schools, assess a dais timing system, and improve public information on fire extinguisher disposal.
Meeting Transcript
All right. All right, good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to uh City Hall here in the city of Hollywood. Today is November sixth, twenty twenty-four. We are here for a regular city commission meeting. However, as I like to start saying, every uh meeting is never regular, it's always special because we always have good business and uh a good work to do here in the city, and today is no different. Um, we are going to uh rise for a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, so please do so. At the start of each meeting, we also take time to uh recognize our veterans, active service personnel and their families here. Um, and today we'd like to uh make a special presentation because we are honoring uh, of course, our city's veterans at our annual Veterans Day Barbecue at TY Park on Veterans Day. And in contribution to that, uh, our CMED uh team has uh produced a video featuring one of our city employees. He is uh Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Dana Nelson. Uh, he's the construction management support uh services manager with uh the Department of Design and Construction Management, and the deputy group commander for the four hundred and eighty second maintenance group at the Homestead Air Force Base. Uh Dana served overseas and he's deployed uh deployed in 2013 to uh Kandahar Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and that's just a fraction of his service. So uh let's watch this uh brief video, all right. We're gonna thank everyone who serves. We often think of our veterans as heroes of the past. However, here in Hollywood, their dedication still continues. Join us as we explore the lives and stories of our homestrum heroes. Veterans bring a unique blend of skills and values like leadership, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to community. Let's meet one of the incredible individuals whose commitment goes beyond the military and reaches the heartbeat of our city. Dana Nelson with the Department of Design and Construction Management. As long as I've known Dana, he's been in the military serving throughout the ranks, now up to lieutenant colonel, and he's also currently a commander. Dana and I worked together in the private sector before we both ended up coming over to the city of Hollywood. He has a really strong work ethic. He's a really big family guy, and his next love is definitely the military. All the time that I have known Dana, he's always not only working construction, but sir. He's also being deployed two times. Also find ways to serve his country by you know being a member of the military and even defending uh our country overseas. I think it's so important that we acknowledge our employers because to leave at a moment's notice, and typically we have an advanced notice when we're gonna leave, whether it's um to go on a combat tour or a TDY, whether it's halfway across the world or into just another state. And since I've been with the city of Hollywood, the support that I have received to be able to do our mission um to make a difference, go halfway across the world at any time and keep the peace like we do. It's so important to the city, and therefore it's it's it's been such a great fit for me. The city of Hollywood currently employs more than 40 veterans. We thank you for your service. All right, Dana, you represent uh you know all the veterans here in the city of Hollywood. We're fortunate to have, I think, over five thousand veterans who uh live in Hollywood, and of course, all of you who live in Hollywood. We've got a lot of veterans who serve in our uh police department as well as uh fire and other other departments of the city. So uh thank you all for your service. Uh to recognize you all, active service uh veterans and active duty personnel on uh again November 11th, Monday, uh, which will be Veterans Day. We'll be having another barbecue at TY Park Pavilion 12 at noon. Everyone's invited with their families. There's a limit to 400 uh veterans, and I think hopefully we'll we'll get to reach that capacity, if not uh exceed it willingly and happily. So uh we invite everyone um to get in touch with um Joanne is uh with regards to the veterans and how they can um register or do they parks uh you call the parks department and and parks. Uh you've been contacting the veterans and getting all that squared away with American Legion and VFW and all that. All right, well, looking forward to seeing everybody. That's always a special time in our city. So thank you all. Uh while we are recognizing contributions to uh our country, uh we had a national election last night. We had an election in the state of Florida, so congratulations to uh everyone who was a candidate, everyone who uh uh was victorious in their uh quest to uh serve our country, everybody from uh the president on down. Uh we have a new president elect, uh Mr. Donald Trump and uh J D Vance is Vice President.
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