Hollywood CRA Board Meeting - July 2, 2025: Tree Replacement, Harrison Street, and Budget Amendments
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Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency Board Meeting - July 2, 2025
The Hollywood CRA Board met on July 2, 2025, to discuss and act on several items including tree replacement along A1A, the Harrison Street streetscape project, budget amendments, and various operational resolutions. Public comments focused on beach improvements, coral reef restoration, and naming rights. The board approved most items, with one resolution passing 6-1.
Consent Calendar
- R-CRA-2025-22: Approved a resolution amending the FY 2025 budget for the Beach District CRA.
- R-CRA-2025-23: Approved a resolution amending the FY 2025 budget for the Downtown District CRA.
- R-CRA-2025-24: Approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Hollywood for up to $500,000 reimbursement for the Coastal Resiliency Phase IV East-West Streets project.
- R-CRA-2025-25: Approved a purchase order to REP Services, Inc. for up to $210,849.98 for playground equipment at Mayor Peter Bober Park.
- R-CRA-2025-26: Approved a no-cost change order with Burkhardt Construction, Inc. extending the contract time from 1,153 to 1,811 days for undergrounding utilities and streetscape beautification along A1A from Hollywood Boulevard to Sheridan Street.
All consent items were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bob Glickman (Hollywood Beach resident): Expressed support for pursuing naming rights for Margaritaville, suggested using a realtor and marketing via beach cameras. Praised removal of dead trees along A1A and median work. Also discussed cleaning art pieces and requested better mooring for reef buoys for safety.
- Shelby Thomas (artificial reef project volunteer): Reported on reef dive progress, buoy maintenance, and ongoing research. Announced plans for a hydrodynamics study, benthic study, and fish recruitment study. Stated coral outplanting will wait until after September due to water temperatures. Requested continued community engagement and help with signage. Expressed gratitude for city support.
Discussion Items
- Tree Replacement Along A1A (P-CRA-2025-06): Jonathan from Kimley-Horn presented an update on tree mortality and replanting. Of 178 palms planted, 127 survived; 31 will be replaced with improved drainage methods (gravel layer, surface planting strips); 20 palms died, 7 permanently removed (north end), and 13 pits are being evaluated for potential replanting based on groundwater monitoring. The arborist recommended a geotechnical monitoring well ($8,000–$12,000) or a simpler PVC pipe option (under $5,000). Staff recommended installing one well to gather salinity data. Commissioner Shuham questioned cost responsibility if trees die again and suggested contractor warranty. Commissioner Hernandez raised concerns about root ball size and tree pit dimensions (30 inches square). The board generally supported the monitoring approach.
- Harrison Street Streetscape Update (P-CRA-2025-07): Kirk Olney (Bermello Ajamil) presented the selected street tree—Bridal Veil—noting its slow growth rate, suitability for confined spaces (6x6 ft pits), and ability to be trimmed for visibility. He explained it would require annual pruning and supplemental irrigation. Commissioner Gruber suggested adding flowering plants at intersections for visual appeal; staff agreed to explore options. The board expressed consensus on the tree selection.
- Harrison Street Change Order (R-CRA-2025-27): Resolution to amend the contract with Burkhardt Construction, Inc. for $834,902.98 (including $389,260.52 for direct material purchase), increasing total cost from $5,555,813.38 to $6,390,716.36. George Keller noted this covers additional bollards and work consistent with earlier discussions. Passed 6-1 (Commissioner Hernandez opposed).
- Bollard Purchases (R-CRA-2025-28): Approved purchase of bollards from Landscape Forms, Inc. ($45,933.19) and Barrier1 Systems, LLC ($126,474.00) under best-interest procurement. Approved unanimously.
- Property Improvement Program Grant Amendment (R-CRA-2025-29): Extended completion date for Hollywood 26, LLC grant (2024 & 2026 Hollywood Blvd) pending historic preservation approval. Approved unanimously.
- Informational Report (IR-CRA-2025-06): George Keller reported on FPL discussions—apology for Father's Day outage, new manager, and planned meeting. Susan added: East-West streetscape and Keating Park work on schedule; bathrooms and pavilion roofs completed; dog park fencing next.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda: All five items approved unanimously.
- Tree replacement plan: Staff authorized to proceed with replacement of 31 trees using improved planting details; one groundwater monitoring well (geotechnical option) approved to assess 13 uncertain pits; costs to be covered from contract contingencies.
- Harrison Street change order: Approved 6-1 (Hernandez dissenting).
- Bollard purchases: Approved unanimously.
- PIP grant extension: Approved unanimously.
- Future actions: Staff will coordinate with FPL for a meeting; arrange community celebration for the end of the downtown CRA TIF district (fall 2025); explore cellular signal boosters for downtown; and present the Margaritaville canvas replacement image at the next city commission meeting.
Meeting Transcript
All right, top of the morning, everyone. It is July. All right, we're deep into the summer here. Uh, welcome to Hollywood City Wall for a regular community redevelopment agency. Meeting today is July second, twenty twenty-five. Um, let's rise for a pledge of allegiance. Uh let us know when he's on and we'll acknowledge his uh attendance uh via WebEx. Board member Kalari. Here. Vice Chair Kintanner. Here. Board Member Biedemann. Here. Forward member Guru Bar. Here. Chair Levy. Here. All right. Thank you. Uh any conflict disclosures today. If not, let's go ahead with 10 a.m. citizens' comments. I'm assuming we have at least one. And we have two. Bob, you're not alone. Bob Glickman, go ahead, and then Shelby Thomas. Dr. Shelby Thomas. Bob, welcome. Mayor, sorry, Commissioner Hernandez has just joined. All right. So Clerk, please acknowledge the participation of Commissioner Hernandez in attendance via WebEx. Thank you. Bob, go ahead. Good morning. Good morning, Bob Glickman, Hollywood Beach. So I'd like to start off by wishing everybody a happy Fourth of July. Great country. I'd like to at the last meeting, it was actually Commissioner Handers Hernandez that brought up uh again the naming rights of Margaritaville. I've been bringing this up for more than five years. You know, a suggestion that I have for you is give it to a realtor. Let them market it for you. Let them put it on the MLS. You know, when we market on the beach, we put a drone up. We show the beach. We so show the ocean. We can show the band show. We can show the crowds there. You have cameras there, let the this company that's gonna pay for the naming rights have their name on the camera. That's always showing the beach.
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