Regular City Commission Meeting - January 21, 2026
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Regular City Commission Meeting - January 21, 2026
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.
Consent Calendar
- R-2026-001 through R-2026-024 were approved unanimously (7-0). Items R-2026-012 (FPL easement for Beach Clubhouse) and PO-2026-002 (Commercial Vehicle Parking Ordinance) were withdrawn by the City Manager. Notable consent items included a budget amendment, calling the November 3, 2026 general election, an interlocal agreement with the CRA for $750,000 for Keating Park, a workers' compensation settlement of $329,612, a $300,000 grant consulting contract with Civitas LLC, office furniture for City Hall ($239,238.38), renewal of blanket purchase agreements with GovForce ($300,000) and OnPointe ($410,000), a $500,000 planning consulting piggyback with Calvin, Giordano & Associates, FRDAP grants for Carlton Montayne Park and Oak Lake Park ($200,000 each), a $75,000 ArtsPark Concert Series grant, a $360,000 lease buyout for golf carts, police gym equipment ($200,000), a change order for the new police headquarters ($200,000), a blanket purchase agreement with Razorback LLC ($300,000), and on-call engineering with CDM Smith ($225,000 over two years).
Proclamations & Presentations
- P-2026-001: Vice Mayor Traci Callari read a proclamation recognizing National Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Week (January 18-24, 2026). Dr. Tony Umadhay and Stephanie Taylor from Barry University accepted.
- P-2026-002: Police Chief Jeffrey Devlin and Public Information Manager Deanna Bettineschi recognized officers and employees of the month for August, September, and October 2025, including lifesaving awards.
Public Comments & Testimony
Several citizens addressed the Commission during the 5:00 PM public comment period:
- Michael Seltzer commented on the Sunset Park design and suggested a blue lagoon and affordable housing.
- Elaine Kooser raised parking concerns and requested the return of the John B. Kooser Park exercise trail. A subsequent motion to waive windstorm insurance for driveway grants was made and passed 5-2 (Commissioners Shuham and Quintana opposed).
- Chris Albertelli discussed a 5G pole installation near his home and alleged expired permits and lack of documentation.
- Ann Ralston questioned the appointment process for the MPO citizen committee (Alex Riccio was appointed earlier in the meeting) and raised issues about Hollywood Beach Golf Course opening delays, dirt bikers, and a missing cat. She also criticized luxury apartments being labeled affordable housing.
- Cat Uden praised the centennial celebration but called for better ADA accommodations at ArtsPark events, noting the lack of accessible seating and obstructed views.
Discussion Items
- PO-2024-19 (Item 31): Ordinance amending the Comprehensive Plan to create a Commercial Recreation Land Use Category (second reading). Adopted unanimously after re-advertising due to a state deadline issue. Enactment No. O-2025-11.
- PO-2026-001 (Item 32): Ordinance regulating motorized scooters and micromobility devices, prohibiting rentals, and clarifying motorcycle permits (first reading). Chief Devlin explained it mirrors state statute. Commissioners debated sidewalk use vs. street riding. Commissioner Shuham requested staff to study congested downtown areas. Adopted unanimously on first reading. Enactment No. O-2026-01.
- R-2026-025 to R-2026-027 (Items 34-36): Three resolutions related to railroad crossings: a supplemental agreement with Brightline for the Garfield Street crossing, a $4 million blanket purchase order with FEC for crossing maintenance, and a letter agreement modifying crossing agreements for Garfield, Johnson, and Washington streets as part of the Broward County Sealed Corridor project. All passed unanimously.
- R-2026-028 (Item 37): Amendment to the Waste Pro contract for solid waste collection, raising the monthly rate from $25.18 to $26.06 per single-family residence. Director Joseph Kroll presented the changes. Commissioners discussed a $20,000 monthly cap on cost recovery fees. A motion by Commissioner Shuham to remove the cap failed for lack of a second. A subsequent motion by Commissioner Hernandez to adopt the resolution passed unanimously. Waste Pro representative Ken Rivera thanked the Commission.
- R-2026-029 (Item 38): Resolution to apply for and accept the Children's Services Council MAX grant (approx. $1,000,000) for youth after-school and summer programs. Passed unanimously.
- R-2026-030 (Item 39): Contract with Miller Legg & Associates for architectural and engineering services for the Sunset Park Master Plan Implementation, up to $2,493,230. Extensive discussion covered funding sources (including $7.5 million grant, use of Orangebrook GOB funds), environmental remediation (arsenic and lime sludge), stormwater drainage potential, and concerns about Orangebrook Golf Course development. Commissioner Quintana and Vice Mayor Callari expressed concerns about diverting funds from Orangebrook. Staff and Miller Legg clarified that environmental testing would occur first, and the P3 partner for Orangebrook is on track. Mayor Levy and City Manager Keller reaffirmed commitment to completing both projects. Passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Votes: All consent agenda items and all regular agenda items passed unanimously (7-0) except the motion on Waste Pro cap (failed) and the windstorm insurance waiver (5-2). The ordinance on second reading (Item 31) passed unanimously on roll call.
- Appointments: Alex Riccio was appointed as the citizen representative on the Broward MPO citizen committee, replacing Tom Lander (unanimous voice vote).
- City Manager Resignation: George R. Keller, Jr. announced his resignation effective March 31, 2026.
- Staff Directives: Several items were referred to staff for study and future reports:
- Commissioner Shuham: incentives for living seawalls (info only), regional bike share program (info only). Support was given for informational reports.
- Commissioner Hernandez: requirement for civic association board members to reside within association boundaries for PEN grant eligibility; support from majority of Commission.
- Commissioner Quintana: community forum on property tax bills (timing deferred until legislative outcome).
- Mayor Levy: skateboard park amenities in city parks; update on Johnson Street lighting project.
- Commissioner Gruber: repaint curbing on 46th Avenue.
- Commissioner Biederman: term limits for civic association presidents discussed but not formally supported.
- Other: The meeting recessed at 4:23 PM and reconvened at 5:02 PM for Citizens' Comments. Commissioner Callari left the meeting briefly (2:10-2:12 PM) and Commissioner Gruber left briefly (2:17-2:19 PM and 3:28-3:30 PM).
Meeting Transcript
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.
openpublica.com