The Regular City Commission Meeting of Hollywood, Florida, was called to order by Mayor Josh Levy at 1:09 PM in City Commission Chambers, Room 219, at 2600 Hollywood Blvd. All seven commissioners were present. The meeting adjourned at 5:20 PM after a recess from 4:23 PM to 5:02 PM for Citizens' Comments. Key actions included approval of the Consent Agenda, adoption of ordinances on first and second readings, authorization of several contracts and grants, and extensive discussion on the Sunset Park Master Plan and the Orangebrook Golf Course development. City Manager George R. Keller, Jr. announced his resignation effective March 31, 2026.
Several citizens addressed the Commission during the 5:00 PM public comment period:
All right. Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to City Hall here in the city of Hollywood. It's great to see so many members of Hollywood Police Department here, along with everyone, residents and staff that are here for our first meeting of twenty twenty-six. Um and she's made a definite impact not only on myself but several of us sitting up here as well as our community. So if you could please just bear with me as I was asked to put some words into paper. Uh Karen Caputo. Some people passed through a place, and Karen Caputo natured it. She lived with a simple, beautiful intention. Leave the place better than you found it. And she did so with care, grace, and an open heart. Her legacy across the city of Hollywood, especially within North Central Community, is not only one of advocacy and achievement, but of love. Love for her neighbors, love for the land, and love for the city. She fiercely protected. Karen believed that community is built through connections. Her passion for preserving green space was never rooted in ownership or recognition, but in stewardship. Through the founding of Friends of Hollywood Inc., she sparked a grassroot grassroots effort to educate residents about the delicate balance of our ecosystem and the responsibility we all share to protect it. Because of her vision and perseverance, was once Sunset Golf Course became Sunset Park. A living reminder that when we care deeply enough, we can shape spaces that belong to everyone. Her leadership was gently was gentle yet resolute. Karen carried herself with a softness that disarmed and a knowledge that commanded respect. She spoke with intention, listened with patience, and led with compassion. Her words never needed repetition. They landed where they were meant to be. She blended perspectives, built bridges, and moved forward always with class, always with heart. Karen's relationship across the city, the county, and the state were rooted in mutual respect and trust, earned over years of consistency and integrity. But beyond titles and partnerships, she gave something far more lasting. She gave her time, her wisdom, and her genuine care for others. Friends and colleagues will forever remember the long conversations, the thoughtful guidance, and the moments of laughter, sometimes paired with her well-known lovely delivered SAS to her daughter. May you find peace in knowing that your mother's love lives in the places she protected and the people that she inspired. To her friends, she will always be deeply missed. And to the residents of Hollywood, Karen Caputo stands as an example of what it means to show up, speak with a purpose, and love a community enough to fight for it. Karen may long no longer walk among us, but her presence remains rooted in green spaces, woven into our neighborhoods and carried forward by those who believe, as she did, that caring deeply is the most powerful form of leadership. Because of her love, Hollywood is a better place, and because of her love, it always will be. Thank you. Please rise for a moment of silence and think of Karen and her family, followed by the pledge. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Vice Mayor Kalary, for that. And uh I see Patty here and Karen Albertson and Elaine and Lynn Smith. I know you all were very close, of course, with uh with Karen as we all came to be, but you all especially with forming the Friends of Hollywood group. And so uh just our condolences to you as as close friends, and uh we'll definitely find a way to honor her on Sunset as she ought to be. Thank you so much. All right, at this moment in time, uh we also take uh an important moment to recognize our veterans, active service personnel, and their families. So if you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or a family member thereof or active service, please rise. We'd love to recognize you. Roll call, please. Commissioner Gruber. Here. Commissioner Biederman.