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Record of Proceedings

CRA Board Meeting – October 7, 2026: Charnow Park Redesign, ADA Ramps Approval, and King Tide Response

Hollywood Public Meetings — Wednesday, October 7, 2026
BodyHollywood, Florida
SessionHollywood Public Meetings
DateWednesday, October 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:42:20

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

24:00

Everyone.

Unassigned speaker

24:07

Good

Speaker 1

24:07

morning, everyone.

24:08

Today is October seventh, twenty twenty six.

24:10

We're here for a regular community redevelopment agency meeting here in the city of Hollywood.

24:14

Please rise for the pledge of allegiance.

Speaker 2

25:00

Board Member Hernandez.

25:01

Here.

25:01

Board Member Gruber.

Speaker 1

25:03

Here.

Speaker 2

25:03

Board Member Biedaman.

25:05

Here.

25:05

Board Member Kintana.

25:07

Here.

25:07

Vice Chair Callary.

25:09

Here.

25:09

Chair Levy.

Speaker 1

25:11

Here.

25:11

All right.

25:11

Thank you.

25:12

Are any conflict disclosures today?

25:14

Hearing none, let's go ahead to 9 a.m.

25:16

citizen comments.

25:17

If you're here to speak on any subject uh related to the beach or downtown, please fill out a card and we'll call your name.

25:25

Andre Brown, come on up, followed by Erica Ms.

25:28

Rani, Helen Chervin, and Leanne Graham.

25:32

Andre, good morning.

Speaker 3

25:33

Good morning, Mayor,

Speaker 1

25:34

Commissioners,

Speaker 3

25:35

City Manager, and to all my brothers and sisters.

25:39

Listen, uh, I want to get a shout out to my commissioner, Peter Hernandez.

25:43

You're doing a great job in the community, uh Commissioner.

25:46

Uh back in the 90s.

25:49

Uh I'll go back where I couldn't go out and put my hands on what's been done in my community.

25:57

Uh now today that you're in office, I can go out and put my hands on what's been done in my community.

26:04

And I really appreciate that as someone as a leader stepping up like you did.

26:09

And that goes for you two commissioner, uh Gruger, Collarie, and Beatham, and also you.

26:18

I'll be checking your communities and you uh I'll be checking your communities.

26:23

So I'm just letting you know.

26:24

Everybody get an A plus on that.

26:26

Size that I want to go into a Brava County a little bit.

26:31

I see they they got a mayor up there who keep on jumping on one of my brothers, and that's uh sheriff up there.

26:39

I think that the sheriff uh was elected

Unassigned speaker

26:45

up

Speaker 3

26:45

there in Brabo County, and the mayor that's sitting up in that chair, it's not like the mayor sitting here that uh been elected by the people and the voters, so they need to change the operation up there, and I hope they do to get a real mayor up that's then hey, I'll pick you this month and you get the next month.

27:05

That's garbage.

27:07

Um I want to know do the buildings on the beach get inspected by the county or the city for corrosion and everything.

27:19

Since they talking about buildings being put over there, I want to know if that been inspected over there on the beach.

27:27

The other thing too is Commissioner Shoeham, you're gonna be Rob County Commissioner pretty soon.

27:32

And guess what?

27:34

I'm gonna be up there, and I'm gonna make sure that you keep your word on what you said and you told the residents ain't gonna be no favoritism because I'm gonna let you know.

27:43

I'm gonna keep it real with you, and I like to see money coming back here to this city to help my community, not no favoritism.

27:53

Thank you on

Unassigned speaker

27:54

that.

Speaker 3

27:54

Uh the other thing too is

Unassigned speaker

27:57

the

Speaker 3

27:57

new governor when he gets in office.

28:00

I'm going after uh the churches that's running businesses.

28:05

I'm going after

Unassigned speaker

28:06

them.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation██████████████████████22%
Beach Management██████████████████████22%
Public Works████████████12%
Stormwater Management█████████9%
Community Engagement███████7%
Procedural██████6%
Environmental Protection█████5%
Emergency Management████4%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Summary of Proceedings

CRA Board Meeting – October 7, 2026: Charnow Park Redesign, ADA Ramps Approval, and King Tide Response

The Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board met on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 9:00 AM (starting time changed to 11:00 AM beginning November) to consider consent agenda items, approve a construction contract for ADA ramps, review Charnow Park improvement designs, discuss recent king tide flooding, and hear public testimony. The meeting lasted until approximately 11:30 AM.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 5 (R-CRA-2026-41): Resolution correcting scrivener's errors in the duration of initial terms of agreements and contract types. Approved 6-1. Board Member Hernandez voted no, citing concern over a seven-year contract period.
  • Item 6 (R-CRA-2026-42): Resolution changing the start time of regular CRA Board meetings from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Approved 6-1. Hernandez opposed, arguing 11:00 AM leaves insufficient time for meetings.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Andre Brown, resident: Praised Commissioner Hernandez and other board members for community work. Questioned whether beach buildings are inspected for corrosion. Announced intentions to hold Commissioner Shuham to promises and to pursue churches running businesses over tax status.
  • Erica Ms. Rani, Sound Connection Distributors: Asked about remaining CRA funds for downtown area and whether warehouses along I-95 are included in CRA. Staff deferred to economic development.
  • Helen Chervin, 2470 Adams Street: Expressed frustration with neighborhood neglect, code enforcement responsiveness, and lack of education for drivers on new traffic patterns. Requested attention from Commissioner Hernandez.
  • Leanne Graham, 513 South Ocean: New resident praised beach safety, progress (Burkhardt Construction), and city's response to king tides. Expressed support for low-rise development and appreciation for law enforcement.

Discussion Items

  • Item 7 (R-CRA-2026-43): Resolution approving a Construction Management At Risk Phase II agreement with Burkhardt Construction, Inc. for the ADA Ramps and Stairs Project east of the seawall from Crocus Terrace to Magnolia Terrace. Amount up to $946,597.81. Unanimously approved. The project is funded by the CRA, with pursuit of federal grants noted.
  • Item 8 (P-CRA-2026-09): Presentation by Marc Gambrill (Director of Design and Construction Management) and Zami Meyer (Project Manager) on Charnow Park improvements. Two design options were presented:
    • Option A: Relocated splash pad to north side as part of a fenced kids' play area with water misters, expanded fitness area, shaded seating, meandering paths.
    • Option B: Larger splash pad, larger fitness area, similar layout but with more extensive water play and fitness zones.
    • Budget: $2 million currently allocated, with possibility of $2 million in matching federal grant (decision expected early 2027).
    • Board feedback:
      • Hernandez: Supported center splash pad, shade for fitness equipment, gravel/rock groundcover to reduce dirt runoff, and separate bathroom project. Opposed misters.
      • Callari: Prefers central splash pad placement, opposed moving it north near residential area. Wants improvements to existing layout with sand buffer system.
      • Levy: Emphasized preserving straight sightline from parking garage to ocean to avoid meandering paths; protect open space for 5K events; bathrooms should be pulled from this project and funded through parking enterprise.
      • Gruber: Agreed with straight view, liked splash pad over misters, requested urgent bathroom repairs separated out.
      • Quintana: Favored central splash pad, concerned about exclusivity, asked for shade trees, water retention features.
      • Biederman: Supported greenery, suggested using parking fund for bathrooms, requested splash pad be designated as children's play area to prevent adult loitering.
      • Shuham: Preferred Option B, called for shade for playground and fitness, open space for events, and continued use of greenery.
    • Outcome: Board directed staff to refine design based on feedback, consider integrating bathrooms as separate project, and return for further discussion after grant determination.

Informational Report: King Tide and Flooding Response

  • IR-CRA-2026-09: Monthly update on beach and downtown activities. Executive Director highlighted recent king tide event on September 27–28, 2026, exacerbated by a nor'easter. Public Utilities Director Vin Morello and Public Works staff presented details on tidal conditions (peak 2.77 feet NAVD at Port Everglades, historically high), operation of tidal gates (39 of 86 gates installed for Lakes area seawall project), and deployment of tiger dams on the boardwalk.
  • Board discussion:
    • Gruber pointed out flooding on A1A exit ramp where construction barrels forced traffic into deep water; asked for temporary removal during king tides. Morello confirmed redeploying a pump at that location.
    • Callari questioned effectiveness of county-planted dunes; staff confirmed dunes deflected water but low areas (Michigan Street) had no dunes and flooded most.
    • Levy advocated for a pilot project to close openings in the knee wall (or install removable gates) at the lowest elevation area (Michigan Street vicinity) to prevent future broadwalk flooding.
    • Shuham highlighted sea level rise projections: current king tide levels will be normal by 2050. Supported dunes as part of long-term resilience.
    • Quintana requested improved communication with county resilience department regarding dune performance.
  • Outcome: Board directed staff to bring forward a pilot project for knee wall/gates at Michigan Street area and to continue coordination with Broward County on dune performance.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Resolution R-CRA-2026-41 (scrivener's errors) and R-CRA-2026-42 (meeting time change) on consent, 6-1.
  • Unanimously approved Resolution R-CRA-2026-43 for Burkhardt Construction ADA ramps contract.
  • Directed refinement of Charnow Park design options, with emphasis on central splash pad, shade, straight sightline, and separate bathroom funding.
  • Directed staff to develop a pilot project for knee wall/gates to mitigate king tide flooding at the lowest beach elevation area.
  • Board requested enhanced communication with county on dune resilience.
  • Public comments and HBBA letter requesting delay of beach overlay/master plan and formation of a community-business committee were noted.

Meeting Transcript

Everyone. Good morning, everyone. Today is October seventh, twenty twenty six. We're here for a regular community redevelopment agency meeting here in the city of Hollywood. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. Board Member Hernandez. Here. Board Member Gruber. Here. Board Member Biedaman. Here. Board Member Kintana. Here. Vice Chair Callary. Here. Chair Levy. Here. All right. Thank you. Are any conflict disclosures today? Hearing none, let's go ahead to 9 a.m. citizen comments. If you're here to speak on any subject uh related to the beach or downtown, please fill out a card and we'll call your name. Andre Brown, come on up, followed by Erica Ms. Rani, Helen Chervin, and Leanne Graham. Andre, good morning. Good morning, Mayor, Commissioners, City Manager, and to all my brothers and sisters. Listen, uh, I want to get a shout out to my commissioner, Peter Hernandez. You're doing a great job in the community, uh Commissioner. Uh back in the 90s. Uh I'll go back where I couldn't go out and put my hands on what's been done in my community. Uh now today that you're in office, I can go out and put my hands on what's been done in my community. And I really appreciate that as someone as a leader stepping up like you did. And that goes for you two commissioner, uh Gruger, Collarie, and Beatham, and also you. I'll be checking your communities and you uh I'll be checking your communities. So I'm just letting you know. Everybody get an A plus on that. Size that I want to go into a Brava County a little bit. I see they they got a mayor up there who keep on jumping on one of my brothers, and that's uh sheriff up there. I think that the sheriff uh was elected up there in Brabo County, and the mayor that's sitting up in that chair, it's not like the mayor sitting here that uh been elected by the people and the voters, so they need to change the operation up there, and I hope they do to get a real mayor up that's then hey, I'll pick you this month and you get the next month. That's garbage. Um I want to know do the buildings on the beach get inspected by the county or the city for corrosion and everything. Since they talking about buildings being put over there, I want to know if that been inspected over there on the beach. The other thing too is Commissioner Shoeham, you're gonna be Rob County Commissioner pretty soon. And guess what?

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