Hollywood CRA Regular Meeting - January 21, 2026
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Hollywood CRA Regular Meeting - January 21, 2026
The Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency Board held its regular meeting on January 21, 2026, at 9:00 AM in City Hall. The board approved consent agenda items, appointed a vice chair, considered two property improvement grants, extended a contract, and discussed several informational reports including beach and downtown activities, parking issues, the band shell mural, and the American Legion mural. Key decisions included approval of a $75,000 grant for Hollywood Towers (with conditions) and a $75,000 grant for 322 Missouri Street, and a 180-day extension for the Ocean Rescue Alliance contract.
Consent Calendar
- R-CRA-2026-01: Resolution changing CRA board meeting dates in 2026 and 2027.
- R-CRA-2026-02: Resolution approving an interlocal agreement with the City of Hollywood for up to $750,000 for the Keating Park Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant. Both items were approved unanimously on a single motion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Lynn Smith (Parkside resident) expressed concerns about new parking regulations on Fillmore and Pierce streets, stating that post office workers are parking in the neighborhood. She requested the CRA consider a monthly fee for her association’s advertising efforts and asked the board to be prepared for resident complaints.
- Elaine Coozer (Pierce Street resident) opposed the 24-hour parking limit and asked for grant money to help homeowners create alley parking. She noted developers are pressuring her to sell and that she would lose her veteran tax exemption if she moved.
- Bob Glickman (Hollywood Beach) raised several issues: need for residential parking permits on the beach, potholes on the Hollywood Beach Bridge, empty storefronts downtown (suggesting a bookstore), flooding from dips in the street near A1A, and non-working flap gate check valves on the Intracoastal. He asked for CRA funding to replace Waypro valves.
Discussion Items
- Appointment of Vice Chair (Item 7): Board Member Caryl Shuham moved to appoint Traci Callari as Vice Chair for a one-year term. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
- Hollywood Towers PIP Grant (Item 8): The item sought approval of a $75,000 grant for exterior improvements at 3111 N. Ocean Drive. Staff noted the application did not fully meet program guidelines (only one quote for lighting, work had started). Board Member Peter Hernandez moved to approve only $15,000 for paint, but the motion failed for lack of a second. After discussion with the applicant (Bob Glickman, representing the association), Hernandez amended his motion to approve up to $75,000, subject to the applicant providing three bids for qualifying items (exterior paint and turtle-friendly lighting) and staff verification. The motion passed unanimously.
- 322 Missouri Street PIP Grant (Item 9): Staff presented a request for a $75,000 grant for a full exterior facade renovation. The application was in full compliance. The property owners (Kofsky family) spoke, noting a total private investment of nearly $400,000. The board approved the grant unanimously.
- Ocean Rescue Alliance Contract Extension (Item 10): The board approved a 180-day extension (to March 2, 2026) of the contract with no additional funding. The extension is needed to allow time to resolve issues with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding underwater modules. Approved unanimously.
- Informational Reports:
- Downtown/Beach Activities: Executive Director George Keller reported that the Harrison Street streetscape work has begun and security bollards are being installed.
- Ocean Rescue DEP Issue: Susan (staff) reported receiving a warning letter from FDEP; a meeting is scheduled for the next day to discuss potential relocation or removal of modules.
- Band Shell Mosaic: Susan reported that the mosaic artist has placed full-size drawings on the back of the band shell and will select glass tiles soon. The board discussed the front elevation, with consensus to pursue both an artist proposal and internal options, using durable materials. Board members supported high-quality finishes.
- FDOT Meeting: Mayor Levy noted that the FDOT district secretary may attend the March or April CRA meeting. Staff is working on an executive team to discuss improvements.
- Trafalgar Seawall Issue: Staff reported that Trafalgar condominium’s new seawall blocked an FDOT outfall pipe, causing flooding. Code enforcement and building department are working with Trafalgar to rectify. Board Member Hernandez requested investigation of easements and plan review.
- American Legion Mural: Lisa Leota presented a design concept for a new mural on the American Legion Post 92 building. The board discussed multiple iterations, with concerns about the design being too dark and busy. The commander (Mary Omholtz) preferred a simpler design with poppies and a battle cross. The board directed staff to work with the artist and consultant Jill Weisberg to refine the design, with no vote taken.
Key Outcomes
- Vote 1 (Consent Agenda): Approved unanimously.
- Vote 2 (Vice Chair Appointment): Traci Callari appointed Vice Chair for 2026, approved unanimously.
- Vote 3 (Hollywood Towers PIP Grant): Approved with conditions: up to $75,000 for qualifying items, applicant must provide three bids for lighting and staff to verify work. Passed unanimously.
- Vote 4 (322 Missouri Street PIP Grant): Approved $75,000 grant unanimously.
- Vote 5 (Ocean Rescue Alliance Extension): Approved 180-day extension unanimously.
- No vote on American Legion mural: Board directed staff to work with artist and Jill Weisberg to refine the design.
- Next steps:
- Staff to meet with FDEP on Ocean Rescue modules.
- Staff to provide updates on band shell front design and the Trafalgar seawall issue.
- Mayor Levy to contact FDOT to accelerate executive team meeting.
- Board supports exploring a downtown farmer's market and retail recruitment.
- Executive Director George Keller announced his resignation effective March 31, 2026; transition planning will begin.
Meeting Transcript
All right, top of the morning, everyone. Welcome to City Hall here in the city of Hollywood. Today is January 21st, 2026. Today is a regular community redevelopment agency meeting. And thank you all for being here. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Roll call, please. Board member Shoeham? Here. Board Member Hernandez. Here. Board Member Kalari. Here. Board member Gruber. Here. Board Member Biedemann. Here. Here. Chair Levy. Here. All right. Uh any conflict disclosures today. Board member Biederman. Yes. Sorry. Um for item eight. Hollywood Towers, I would have to abstain from. Just uh just state the reason real quick. Reason why? Oh. They're a client. All right. Thank you. And uh board member Biederman will complete the required form and uh have it on file here with the city. Let's go ahead to nine AM citizen comments. For anybody who's new, if you're here to speak generally on a beach or downtown issue, but not on a specific item on the agenda. We do have an opportunity now for you to speak. So if you are here for that, please see the clerk and she will give you a speaker card. Let's open it up with Lynn Smith. Followed by Elaine Coozer, then Bob Wickman. It's upside down. When Elaine comes and uh we're not real happy about it. Too many surprises. Um too many confusions. We've got to work on uh resolving the program that we're offering to the citizens. Um what my concern is is that even though we we have taken away the parking from the post office, there are post office people that are parking all the way down to Pierce Street. And they walk. So a lot of these spaces which you guys may or may not be aware of, they're using because they don't have enough parking for themselves. So I think with all that and the new parking regulations into the neighborhood, because it's going from Jeff from Johnson and I guess now to Washington.
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