Community Redevelopment Agency Board Meeting - February 10, 2025

The Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board met to discuss capital project updates, beach and downtown activities, and various operational matters. (Note: While the timestamp provided for this summary is February 10, 2025, the agenda and transcript identify the meeting as held on February 5, 2025). The meeting included public comments, a consent agenda, detailed project presentations, and board member initiatives.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved the minutes of the regular CRA meetings of November 6, 2024, and December 4, 2024 (Resolutions R-CRA-2025-05 and R-CRA-2025-06).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Andre Brown (Resident): Expressed concern over a home visit by individuals claiming to be sheriff's deputies inquiring about his health, calling it an invasion of privacy.
• Bob Glickman (Hollywood Beach): Raised multiple issues, including the downtown cell phone dead zone, the need for mid-block crosswalks on A1A, malfunctioning tidal flap gates causing flooding, a call for a solar shading ordinance, dead/dying palm trees along A1A, and unsightly mold/mildew on CRA barriers at street ends.

Discussion Items

Capital Projects Update (Item 7)

• A presentation was given by Adam Rosmell (Burkhart Construction) and Deputy Director Susan Goldberg (standing in for Executive Director Jorge Camejo).
• Hollywood Boulevard Streetscape: Project achieved substantial completion on October 3, 2024, with a ribbon cutting on October 19, 2024. Curtain lighting updates are now fully finished.
• A1A Undergrounding & Streetscape: Substantial completion of underground conduits was achieved. AT&T has completed work except at one property. Comcast conversions are significantly delayed, with the board instructing staff to escalate the issue with Comcast's executive management. The removal of overhead power lines is targeted for early summer 2025.
• A1A Tree Mortality: 30 of the 100 newly planted trees (30%) are dead or dying, suspected of saltwater intrusion into the high water table. An arborist has been hired and took soil/water samples; a report is pending.
• Phase 4 Coastal Resiliency (Beach): Active construction on Harrison, Van Buren, Virginia, Jackson, and Bougainville streets for storm drainage and utility conduit installation. Resident coordination by the CRA's community liaison was praised.
• Other Projects: Broadwalk seat wall LED lighting installed (colors adjustable); Keating Park demo started; downtown Harrison Street streetscape in design phase.

Tyler Street Right-of-Way & Sidewalk Repairs (Item 8)

• Celeste Development: Lighting and streetscape improvements on Tyler Street between 21st and 20th Avenues are nearly complete.
• Parking Striping Concerns: Board Member Hernandez stated the parallel parking spaces on the north side of Tyler Street appear too narrow (estimated 6.5–7 feet vs. the code-required 8.5 feet), posing a safety issue. Staff was directed to measure the median island and restripe the segment to meet code.
• Sidewalk Repairs: A proposal for $57,000–$65,000 from Concrete Works was presented to repair tripping hazards, broken sidewalk sections, and tree root damage along Tyler Street. Board Members Hernandez and Biederman urged staff to explore saving two large oak trees by redesigning tree wells or creating bulb-outs, while considering the future redevelopment of the adjacent hotel parcel. The contract is within the Executive Director's spending threshold.

Artificial Reef Buoys & Safety (Item 8)

• A project to deploy 48 artificial reef modules off the Hollywood Broadwalk is scheduled for late March 2025, approximately 600 feet offshore in 8–10 feet of water.
• Chief Joyce Furman (Beach Safety) advised against marking the reefs with buoys, arguing they would create a false sense of security, attract inexperienced swimmers to dangerous conditions, bring boats closer to shore, and require constant maintenance.
• Several Board Members (Gruber, Hernandez, Callari, Biederman, Levy) expressed support for some form of marking, citing safety needs for swimmers, preventing boat strikes on the new reef modules, and marketing purposes. Board Member Shuham sided with the beach safety chief, warning that buoys invite danger.
• Outcome: The board directed staff and beach safety to research different buoy options (markers, tie-ups, vessel exclusion) and return with a report on their pros, cons, and costs.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved (unanimous).
• Capital Projects: Received updates; staff directed to escalate Comcast coordination and present the arborist report on A1A trees at the next meeting.
• Tyler Street Sidewalk: Staff directed to negotiate a contract considering tree preservation and parking configuration, reporting back on striping and median widths.
• Valet Parking: Board directed staff to pursue adding valet parking services for the growing restaurant scene on Harrison Street.
• Parking Grace Period: Board supported a policy direction to apply the 15-minute grace period to the beginning of a metered parking session in addition to the end.
• Reef Buoys: Staff to research and present options for reef markers and vessel exclusion buoys at a future meeting.
• CRA Transition: Chair Levy announced that the transition plan for the CRA's operations post-September 30, 2025 (end of its TIF term) will be a major component of the upcoming city fiscal kickoff.
• Centennial Celebration: Board Member Hernandez requested a presentation highlighting the CRA's historical accomplishments and failures as part of the city's centennial events.
• Beach Barriers: Noted that police barriers at the Broadwalk are being reviewed for improved aesthetics.
• Street Lighting: Chair Levy shared that Public Works is rebuilding its streetlight electrician team to address persistent maintenance delays.
• Executive Session: Board Member Biederman reminded members of a scheduled executive session.