The City of Hollywood Commission met on April 16, 2025, at 1:00 PM in City Hall. The meeting began with a moment of silence, Pledge of Allegiance, recognition of veterans, and roll call. The consent agenda (items #5–29) was approved with a 6–1 vote (Item #11 pulled and approved separately). Presentations, proclamations, and regular agenda items covered topics including cardiac arrest survival, community development, affordable housing, a jazz festival proposal, transit services, and multiple capital improvement projects. Public comments were heard at 5:00 PM. The meeting adjourned after commission and city manager comments.
All right, welcome everybody. Welcome to City Hall here in the city of Hollywood. Today is April sixteenth, twenty twenty five. We are here for a regular but always uh important city commission meeting. We begin each meeting with a moment of silence, followed by a Pledge of Allegiance. Please rise. So if you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or a family member thereof, please rise. We'd like to recognize you. Roll call, please. Commissioner Kallery. Commissioner Gruber. Commissioner Biederman. Vice Mayor Quintana. Here. Commissioner Shoeham. Commissioner Hernandez. Mayor Levy. Here. Commissioner Clary will be coming in a little bit later. Today's consent agenda includes items five through twenty-nine. These are items that don't usually require individual discussion. However, if we do have a speaker card on any of them, or if a member of the body requires individual discussion of an item, we are happy to remove it for later in the agenda. Pat, are there any speaker cards on five through twenty-nine? No. Are there any requests to pull? Hearing not ten and eleven. Second. We have a motion from Vice Mayor Cantana, second from Commissioner Hernandez to approve items five through ten and twelve through twenty-nine. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none of those items carry unanimously, we'll take up item eleven after uh before item 34. All right. On to our uh 1 p.m. presentations, proclamations, and awards, ladies and gentlemen. Each year we take uh a moment to uh recognize Jewish American Heritage Month, which is May of 2025, together this year with the 77th anniversary of Israel's Independence Day, which is May 1st, 2025. I do see uh Lori Fink here on behalf of Congresswoman W. Oswald Schultz's office is here to accept uh the proclamation. Um I don't believe any of the rabbis, because of Passover uh that I invited to accept the proclamation that were able to make it today. Uh so Commissioner Gruber, please go ahead and present go ahead. Waiting for Thank you, Mayor. Uh proclamation, City of Hollywood, Florida in recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month, May 2025, and the 77th anniversary of the State of Israel's Independence Day. Whereas each May, we proudly recognize Jewish American Heritage Month, honoring the profound contributions of Jewish Americans to our country in the arts, sciences, business, public service, and the ongoing pursuit of justice. Their resilience and dedication to community continue to shape the soul of our nation. And whereas this year's celebration comes at a deeply emotional time, as we also mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the modern state of Israel, whose strength and democratic values have remained steadfast, even in the face of unspeakable tragedy since the October 7th terrorist attacks. The courage and resolve shown by the people of Israel during this time is of historical magnitude and carries with it existential implications. And whereas we stand in solidarity with the people of Israel and the global Jewish community, and we continue to yearn and pray for the safe return of the hostages still held in captivity as we uplift their families and loved ones with hope and strength. And whereas the bond between the United States and Israel is rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and an enduring commitment to peace, freedom, and human dignity, these values must guide us now more than ever as we confront rising anti-Semitism and all forms of hate with our own unity and resolve.