Regular City Commission Meeting - Regular Meeting

All right. Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the city of Hollywood. Welcome to City Hall for our city commission meeting. Today is, of course, Wednesday, 03/04/2026.

It is great to see all of you, especially members of our public safety and Hollywood Police Department here. At the start of each meeting, we always begin with a moment of silence, of course, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. And sometimes we take a moment of privilege to remember people who we either personally lost or the community lost. And today, we have, unfortunately, both to really take a minute to recognize. If I could, Vice Mayor Coleri had lost her mom, Bonnie, a few, now a couple of weeks ago, ten days ago.

And many of us were at the heartfelt service at Nativity, where she was remembered. And for those of us, of course, who've known Commissioner Coleri like we have for many, many years, we got to know Bonnie personally. It was always a great spirit, always a smile, always enjoying community events, joining us in our passion and enjoyment of the city of Hollywood. And during the service, her life was recognized. But mostly, what touches me and, of course, touches all of us is a reminder, again, that Bonnie's love for her family and how her family loved her back and and her grandchildren is, in the end, what was recognized as most important to her.

And and that love, in the end, reminds us what in the end is should be most important and, of course, ought to be most most important in in our own lives. And so we remember Bonnie with love, commissioner Kaleri, and we're we're sorry for your your loss, your family. We also lost this past week, former city commissioner and county commissioner in our city, Suzanne Gunsberger, who was the longest serving county commissioner in Broward County's history, served as mayor three times, also served for many years here in the Hollywood City Commission. She was remembered again, most importantly, by her own family as a grandmother and mother herself and what that meant to her. And through her public life, she was, of course, recognized for her work in furthering the arts in Broward County when it wasn't as big as it is today.

Environmental protection, children's services, ethics in government really stood for a lot of things that, in the end, we have today codified Hollywood North Beach Park. I understand she was a champion for preserving and creating, and so a lot of notable accomplishments during her tenure as an elected official. But we also remember her as a person and as a friend as well to many of us along the years that we had a chance to know her. If there's anyone else who'd like to have a moment of privilege to follow-up, let's go to Commissioner Schuham.

I just want to reiterate our condolences to the Clary family. We're all going to miss Bonnie. With respect to Sue Gunsberger, in addition to what you said, she was just an integral member of District 1 in the Hollywood Lakes community. She's remembered by so many for her public service, but we'll remember her for her private service as well, to her neighbors. And I know so many people that will walk around that lake in the morning and not get used to not seeing her. So two amazing women lost in a short KAUFFMAN: time. It's a tough one.

And as I understand, I must say, during both services, both of them really enjoyed a nice glass of wine. And so next time you say cheers, think of both Bonnie and Suzanne. With that, please rise for the moment of silence followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. I failed to mention the service members of the US Armed Forces that we also lost this week, so

let's honor them as well.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all. Along those same lines, we always make a point at the start of our meetings to recognize our US veterans, active service personnel, and their families. So if you are a member of the, armed forces, active, retired, veteran, a family member thereof, please rise. We'd like to recognize you. Thank you. Clerk, roll call, please.

Commissioner Schuham. Here. Commissioner Hernandez.

Here.

Vice Mayor Caleri. Here. Commissioner Gruber.

Here.

Commissioner Biederman. Here. Commissioner Quintana. Here. GREGORY Here.

GREGORY Thank you all. All right. Today's consent agenda includes items five through 40. I do have a couple of notes to make before we accept a motion. Item 40 has been withdrawn by the city manager. So consent are items five through 39. Items five, twenty eight, and 35 have speaker cards. So we'll be happy to take them individually later in the meeting. I also want to make note for the record that there are a number of items with some corrected information that has been provided on the dais. Those include items eight, nine, thirteen, twenty, 25, 54, and 55.

And so with that, are there any additional items that would likely be removed for individual discussion? If not, I hear Vice Mayor Caleri moving to approve the balance of the consent agenda together with Commissioner Gruber. So this is a motion to move items five through 39, putting aside items five, twenty eight, and 35 for individual consideration. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, the consent items pass unanimously. Alright. On to our 1PM presentations, proclamations, and awards. We do have a great group of Ohio Police Department members here.

Chief Devlin, welcome. He'd like to recognize the recipients of the twenty twenty five November and December Department Awards. Chief.

Yes, sir. Good afternoon, mayor, vice mayor, commissioner, city manager. Thank you once again for giving us a few minutes to recognize the great work done by the men and women of the police department and understanding how important it is not only to the men and women, but to the community as well to hear this. So thank you. These awards take on a little extra special meaning to me because, as you'll see, they were done November, December, right in the middle of the holidays. So when we're at home with our family shopping, taking the work they're doing for granted, knowing that they're out there doing this kind of work, it means a lot to us. Also, I'd like to, as Commissioner Hernandez did earlier, congratulate the flag football team for their victory over the fire department. And as you'll hear in a couple of these stories, not only did we beat them on the field, but we beat them to a few of these calls. So Commissioner Hander, we're working on getting you a new hat as well, too, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Chief, fire chief, you'll be up at some point as well on the mic, so you'll have a chance. Yeah.

Good afternoon, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, city manager, assistant city managers, and staff. I'm Deanna Bettanesh, public information manager for the Hollywood Police Department. We're going to start off with our November officer of the month. Will Cody Anderson please come forward? In October, the US Postal Service recognized Officer Cody Anderson for his performance assisting their agency with criminal investigations.

At the beginning of 2025, Officer Anderson was on patrol when he observed a suspect stealing mail from multiple homes. He conducted a traffic stop and discovered large amounts of stolen mail, credit cards, IRS documents, and passports. The suspect was charged in a four count federal indictment for obstruction and possession of stolen mail. Congratulations. Next, we have the November Life Saving Awards.

Will Officer Kaiser Lorena, Officer Carlos Ituraga, Officer Stephanie Roach, and Officer Devin Clark please come forward. On October 21, just before 05:30PM, these officers were dispatched to North Surf Road for a residential high rise fire. As soon as officers got to the scene, they saw flames coming from the penthouse. They immediately began to do a check of apartments that were near the fire. Through coordinated efforts and clear communication, they located and evacuated four residents who were being threatened by smoke and flames.

The residents were immediately transferred to awaiting fire rescue personnel. These officers should be recognized for their decisive actions, which prevented further loss of life. Congratulations. We have another lifesaving award in November. Will officer Orlando Corasco please come forward?

HPD received a letter from the community highlighting Officer Carrasco, who was working a missing persons case involving a 75 year old woman. He demonstrated compassion while working to locate the woman. When she returned home, she was disoriented. And Officer Carrasco made sure she was transported to Memorial Regional, where it was discovered she had a brain bleed and needed emergency surgery. He should be commended for his dedication to duty.

Congratulations. For our December officer of the month, will Officer Luis Sanchez and Officer Priamo Lozada Gonzalez please come forward. At the November, officers Sanchez and Lozada Gonzalez were conducting a business check at a local racetrack when a call of a kidnapping that originated in Pompano Beach was dispatched. The call stated the suspects and victims were at the same racetrack. Officers Sanchez and Lozada Gonzalez quickly detained all parties and located a handgun and rifle in the suspect's possession.

Their quick actions helped deter a potentially volatile situation. Congratulations. Our employee of the month for December is CSO Christian Robles. And he's also receiving a lifesaving award for December as well. If you'll please come forward.

At the December, CSO Robles was on 72nd Avenue when he was flagged down for a traffic crash. Robles observed a person on the ground bleeding from his leg. He immediately rendered aid and applied a tourniquet. He was able to stop the bleeding and was able to move the patient to the sidewalk. He should be commended for his quick response and first aid that saved the man's life.

Congratulations. We have another lifesaving award for December. Will CSO Jessica Vizcarondo please come forward? If you follow HPD on social media, which I hope all of you do, you may already know a little bit about this December lifesaving award recipient. At the December, CSO Jessica Vizcarondo was at home off duty when she realized there was a fire at her complex.

The fire completely engulfed one of the first floor apartments, and there was heavy smoke and fire. CSO Bizcarondo, along with another Good Samaritan, located an older man who had lost consciousness and couldn't make it out of the door of his home. The two dragged him to safety, away from the smoke and flames. Her efforts and quick thinking should be recognized for saving this man's life. Congratulations.

And if we can have all of the awardees come up for a group photo, please. Thank you.

Thank you. Just while you come up, on behalf of all the residents of Hollywood and the city commission, thank you so much. Public safety, just saving lives. You guys do it every day. And I hope you realize how special that is. We do. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you all. You know, following up Chief Devlin's introduction, it would have been great if Fire Chief Levy would be able to immediately recognize Fire Rescue and Beach Safety's Fire Cadet Program, but we'll take that up around 5PM, Chief, when I know the cadets will be here. So thank you so you can think about your comeback there. And so now let's take an important moment to present a proclamation recognizing Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, March 2026. I like to invite Commissioner Gruber to present the proclamation.

I think we have Kasia Orzejewska here. She is with Fight Colorectal Cancer Ambassador. She's an ambassador and advocate in this cause. So welcome, Kaseya. Go ahead, Commissioner Gruber.

Thank you. Proclamation, City Of Hollywood, Florida, in recognition of colorectal cancer Cancer Awareness Month. Whereas colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths for men 50 and the second leading cause for women 50. It is one of the most significant causes of cancer related mortality in The United States And whereas colorectal cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented with timely screening, yet one in three eligible Americans are not up to date on recommended screening. And whereas American Indians, Alaska Natives, as well as African Americans experience higher rates of colorectal cancer than other populations.

And colorectal cancer is expected to account for approximately twelve percent of cancer related deaths among Hispanic men and nine percent among Hispanic women and whereas Americans living in rural areas are more likely to be diagnosed and die from colorectal cancer than those living in urban areas highlighting ongoing geographic and health care access disparities and whereas in 2025 there were approximately one hundred and fifty four thousand two hundred and seventy new cases and fifty nine thousand deaths attributed to the disease in The United States and whereas the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable has established a national goal to increase timely colorectal cancer screening rates to eighty percent in every community for all Americans eligible for screening. Observing Colorectal Awareness Month in March provides an important opportunity to provide education, early detection and prevention. Now therefore, Josh Levy, Mayor of the City Of Hollywood, Florida and the Hollywood City Commission hereby proclaim March 2026 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in the city of Hollywood.

Thank you, mayor and commissioners. My name is Kasia Ojerhofska, and I want to sincerely thank you for this proclamation and for officially proclaiming March as colorectal cancer awareness month. I am deeply grateful for your compassion and your willingness to stand with patients, survivors, caregivers and families like mine. Your leadership sends a powerful message of hope, awareness and action throughout the community. At 40 years old, I was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer, meaning that the cancer has already metastasized to other parts of my body.

At that time, my children were eight and two. Because of my age, I was initially misdiagnosed with gall bladder stones. Later, I learned that I did not have any stones. I had colon cancer that spread to my liver. Only about sixteen percent of individuals with similar diagnosis survived past the five years.

But by grace of God and through the extraordinary skill of surgeons and oncologists at the Cleveland Clinic in Florida, I was given a fighting chance. After multiple rounds of intense chemotherapy where I lost all my hair, the tumors on my liver shrank enough for surgeons to remove the affected portions of my liver and part of my colon. I then continued chemotherapy to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. A year later, the cancer returned, this time on the other side of my liver. And once again, I entered chemotherapy followed by a surgery.

Today, because of my medical team, I have been cancer free for six years. Thank you. And this is the reason for my advocacy, to bring awareness to communities to help save lives. Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable diseases, yet it is one of the top cancer killers in The United States and around the world. Today, actually last month, the American Cancer Society released data that unfortunately it is now the number one killer for people 50.

And the rate is going up tremendously. We just actually came back this morning from DC with Fight Colorectal Cancer, what we call Colon Congress, where we go and meet with our elected officials and ask for funding. Colorectal cancer is the only five top cancer killers that does not have its own federal research funding. And the rates are going up. So just to give you a little example, people that were born in 1990 are four times more likely to get colorectal cancer than people that were born in 1950.

And we don't know why this is happening, and that's why we go every year to ask for funding from the senators in Congress. So I'm doing it for better access and to save lives in communities. And I urge everybody who is 45 years or older to get screened. Or if you have any GI issues, talk to your doctor. I know we don't like to talk about poop and butts and all of that, but I think it's very important that we all do that. Get your colonoscopies. It's the best ten minutes of sleep that you ever get. I'd like

Don't feel a thing.

Thank you.

Thank you. Well, please come on up. We'd love to take a photo and help spread the word about this. It's you've taught us something today, so thank you. All right.

Next, if you might have noticed, we've got an Irish looking fellow here wearing green. Eamon Toner is here. So is vice consul of Ireland, miss Cleona Lachlan and Maria Osorio. Please come on up with the Consulate of Ireland and Miami, as well as directors of the New Hibernians of Hollywood. I see Mark Rowe here, Mike Safran.

Let's hear all about recognizing Irish American Heritage Month, everybody. Yeah. And let's go ahead and invite Commissioner Hernandez to present the proclamation. And we'll hear from the group and talk all about our St. Patrick's Day festival, too. Commissioner Hernandez, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mayor. On a lighter note, Irish American Heritage Month, March 2026. Whereas by 1776, nearly 300,000 Irish national had immigrated to the American colonies and played a crucial role in America's war for independence. Irish Americans in Florida have provided leadership and service to their state, counties, and local communities. And whereas Irish immigrants fought a new beginning in The United States as they arrived on our shores full of hope and dreams of the future.

With grit and determination, they work hard at building their lives, never forgetting where they came from and always remembering the courage and pride they brought with them from the old country. And passing this trait down to each new generation and whereas that pride lives on today in the heart of Irish Americans across our nation, it lives on business owners, scientists, and labor leaders who hold dear the Irish belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. And it runs deep in so many first responders, public servants, and brave service members who defend our lives and liberties, the liberties that so many Irish immigrants help preserve and protect. And whereas, Irish Americans since American's inception have provided and continue to provide leadership and service to the nation's political, business, and religious establishment. It is fitting and proper to celebrate the rich cultured heritage and the many valuable contribution of Irish Americans and whereas the New Hiberians of Hollywood was established in 1998.

Arabian organizations have been in existence in Ireland and throughout the world for many centuries. However, unlike the majority of those, the New Hiberians of Hollywood are non denominational. The goal of the new Hiberians, Armenians of Hollywood has always been the promotion of Irish culture and the celebration of the Irish Dyspora placed in the history of America. In order to achieve this goal, the new Iberian Harbinians of Hollywood have produced the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Downtown Hollywood, an accompanying festival since 1998.

And whereas on Sunday, 03/15/2026, Downtown Hollywood will be transformed into a sea of green for the St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival, this beloved annual celebration features a traditional float parade beginning at 1PM, showcasing a vibrant array of floats, pipe and drum corps, marching bands and business entries. The parade also proudly includes the renowned New York Police Department Emerald Society Pipe and Drum Corps, adding a spirited and authentic touch to the festivities. Now, therefore, Josh Levy, Mayor of the City Of Hollywood, Florida, and the Hollywood City Commission hereby proclaims March 2026 as Irish American Heritage Month.

All right.

Mark, welcome.

Thank you very much.

Hear from the consulate. We'll hear from all of you. Yeah.

Just want to say on behalf of the new Hibernians of Hollywood, thank you so much for the proclamation again this year. I'd like to introduce you to Cleena from the Irish Consulate in Miami and our Grand Marshal Issuer, Eamon, who will both say a few words.

Mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, the wonderful teams here today, thank you so much on behalf of the Consulate General of Ireland and Miami. It's nothing short of a privilege to be here with the honored members of your community today who are doing such important work across Hollywood. As we would say in Irish. To say briefly, there's over 30,000,000 people in The US who claim Irish ancestry. I think that number probably increases around St. Patrick's Day.

Oh, yeah.

No doubt. But thousands of them are here in Hollywood, and we don't take that diaspora lightly. We cherish every member of that diaspora. Our government is actually currently working quite intensively in bringing forward a new diaspora strategy later this year. But those links, those people to people links, they're long and they're storied. And as The US is celebrating two fifty years and commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Ireland is very proud to officially join The US in doing that. And let us remember, at that time, that three of the signatories of that very important document were born on the island of Ireland. We certainly don't forget that and are very proud of that fact. And we'll never let you forget it either, probably. But actually, our people to people links are even older than that.

The consulate is very proud to join partners in launching an exhibition in St. Augustine later this week on the Irish presence in Spanish colonial Florida. And actually, the first ever St. Patrick's Day parade recorded, which took place in St. Augustine in around 1600. So the first one there, the second one in Hollywood, I believe. And none of us will tell Chicago, New York, or Boston any different than that. No, but in all seriousness to say, it's an honor to be here. Thank you so much for the recognition that you're showing to the Irish diaspora, to the Irish citizens in your community this month. And thank you also, of course, to Mike, Mark, and Eamon for their leadership in that regard as well.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone in advance. And looking forward to meeting some of you, hopefully, at the parade.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, by the way. Speaking of people, the people who would love to be able to have a sister city with Ireland.

Well, you've come to the right place. I know a few cities that might be interested. So, yeah, that would be great. Thank you.

We'll take Dublin. Yeah.

As a proud dub, very happy with that.

Yeah, yeah. They've got a lot of great folks who sing in their main promenade. There are lot of buskers. See them on YouTube. Eamon. Good afternoon.

Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, city commission, and the city manager, and all the great staff that back you guys to make Hollywood what it is. And this year, of course, I have the privilege of being the grand marshal. They have me on the front line again. So that should be a lot of fun. I will clear the way for everybody. But I think about this, you know, a couple of years ago, I went back to Ireland, actually. And I decided to go back as a tourist. And this comes back to Hollywood actually.

And so I booked four air b n b's. As incompetent as I am, I missed one of the nights in my air b n b so I know where to stay. So I ran outside, didn't tell my wife about it and I booked a night in a beautiful place in Wicklow. And I told my wife it was to break up the journey, which was a 40 mile trip. But we drove real slow and she didn't know any different. But anyway, we drive into this little town. As I'm driving in this little town, I said to my wife, I said, have I been drinking? Did we transverse the world? Because the sign going into the town was Hollywood. Same fonts, same look.

So I was like, boy, but what an experience that was to stay in that town. And I think a lot of the fact that I had such a great time in that town was because I felt at home, because Hollywood is so much of my home. And so I think I hope that the Irish have brought some, you know, goodness to the country. You know, we're hard workers. We open businesses. We serve in our community through rotary. Of course, I have to give it the rotary plug all the time. Yep. But I just wanna thank you. But this proclamation is more than just for the Irish. This proclamation is for everybody in the city and the great inclusive spirit that you guys create in our city that makes room for us to be able to thrive in this community. And I thank you for that. Thank you. And come out on St. Patrick's Day.

Be Irish for a day. I don't care where you're from. You won't forget the next day, but it don't matter. So if you've had a good time, come out and have a great time. Be Irish for a day. Thank you very much.

Wear green. The parade is a festival, St. Patrick's Day Parade Festival begins at 12PM on Sunday, March 15, all the way through 6PM. The parade starts at one A lot of good music. We'll have, what, U2 o and Ode to the Cranberries.

So it's gonna be a lot of great music, a lot of great food, everybody, and of course, the parade and lots of fun. Wear green. We're all gonna be Irish. Come on up for the photo. Let's recognize commissioner Biederman.

For those of you that haven't been to a parade and you're watching, it's

a great

parade. Mentioning 1998 brings me back to the point that my daughter was four months old at her first Saint Patrick's Day parade on a float in 1998. Mean, and we found that picture the other day. It was really cool.

Oh, that's awesome.

She's getting married this year,

She's getting married on April 4.

Well, Commissioner Biederman, let's leave that microphone on, sir, because the next proclamation recognizing Eid al Faraday, which is, of course, one of the most important Muslim holidays, is being recognized today through a proclamation. Accepting the proclamation will be Rahim Sichiran, the director of our IT, who is a proud Muslim American. And if there are other city employees or other Muslim folks here who want to join Rahim for the proclamation, please feel free to do so. Commissioner Biederman.

Thank you, mayor. Proclamation of the city of Hollywood in recognition of Ed Al Fadr. I say that right?

Eid Al Fadr. Right? Rahim, he'll correct us when he speaks.

SPEAKER All right.

03/20/2026, whereas the city of Hollywood Islamic community is a vibrant and important part of the diverse and multiethnic society that comprises the City Of Hollywood residents. And whereas Ramadan is the holiest month of the Islamic calendar, marking the first revelation of the Koran to the prophet Muhammad, and it lasts for twenty nine to thirty days based on the timing of the astronomical new moon. And whereas, is that good? Is on the first day of the month on Shawwal Islamic calendar and marks the end of Ramadan. Id al Fatihir for the year 2026 is observed at sundown on Thursday, March 19, ending sundown on Friday, March 20.

And whereas one of the five pillars of Islamic faith, fasting in Ramadan is a time for reflection, contemplation, and celebration, and includes fasting each day from sunrise to sunset. At the end of the day, at sunset, the fast is broken, often celebrated with family, friends and the community, and is followed by the evening prayer. And our Muslim neighbors, where we have a mosque next door, bring food out to all the neighbors in our neighborhood. And whereas Ramadan ends with Eid al Fatihir, a festival of breaking the fast, a very happy, joyous celebration with family and friends, and includes eating my favorite part gifts to children, the sharing of sweets and dressing in fine clothing. Now therefore, Josh Levy, mayor of the city of Hollywood, Florida, and the Hollywood City Commission hereby proclaim 03/20/2026 as Id Alphatir Day in the city of Hollywood and encourage all residents to acknowledge that.

Mayor, vice mayor, city manager, future city manager, assistant city manager, staff, residents, my name is Rahim Seetran. Not really wearing my hat as the IT director, but on behalf of the Muslim community, myself, as well as employees within the city, thank you very much. Muslims have been to this continent since the 1500s. The first recorded example was in the early 1500s with the Spanish exposition, specifically a Moroccan navigator. Muslims have continued to be brought, willingly and unwillingly, to this continent for hundreds of years.

A good example is Thomas Jefferson in 1776, where he wrote that freedom of religion, not just for Christians, but for Jews and Muslims, was part of the dynamic and the intent for this country. So when we talk about Muslims in this country as compared to the previous proclamation, 30,000,000, we're only 3,000,000. But throughout the world, one in four humans are Muslim. And within The USA, 82% of Muslims are citizens of this country. Roughly $5,000,000,000 of charity is given by Muslims in this month, the month of Ramadan.

And the end of it is the culmination of Eid al Fitr. And specifically, 75% of that money stays within this country to benefit those who are needy. The message I would like to give regarding Eid al Fitr and Ramadan is this month was given to us as it was given to the generations before us, with the intention of us becoming better, of us having consciousness, of us becoming more peaceful, more generous. If you think about it, it's kind of contradictory. We spend a day without food or water being hungry, being upset, and then testing ourselves with this consciousness not to get angry.

There have been studies if I go on too long, please stop me.

We're learning.

Go ahead. There have been studies that have highlighted the fact that teenagers in their late teens going through this process months later are more resilient, are more patient as a result of this exercise in faith and in self restraint. Thank you, and thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Please come on up for a photo, everybody. Well, now we know that on March 20, we're all expecting sweets and lots of things that you guys are bringing to the workplace. So thank you all.

Thank you all. Alright. On to our to our time certain items, ladies and gentlemen. It is almost 2PM. We do have a 01:15 time certain item. This is an ordinance on second reading by the police department advertising conformance to state statutes and city codes on ordinance of the city of Hollywood amending the code of ordinances as regards to the traffic code, regulating the operation of motorized scooters and micromobility devices with some prohibitions and clarifications therein. I'm gonna go ahead and open the public hearing. Are there any speaker cards on, the ordinance for item 46?

No cards.

Public hearing is now closed. I will, either accept the request for discussion or a motion from Adeis. Motion from commissioner Vice Mayor Coleri, second from commissioner Shuham, city attorney. Why don't you go ahead and read the ordinance, we'll call the roll call vote.

An ordinance of the city of Hollywood, Florida, amending title seven of the code of ordinances entitled Traffic Code, regulating the operation of motorized scooters and micromobility devices, prohibiting the rental of motorized scooters and micromobility devices, and clarifying motorcycle operation permit requirements, providing for a severability clause and a repeal or provision.

DANIELLE Commissioner Schuham? Yes. I'm sorry?

Yes.

DANIELLE Commissioner Hernandez?

Yes.

DANIELLE Vice Mayor Herclery? Yes. Commissioner Gruber?

Yes.

Madam, city attorney. Thank you. Alright. Show the ordinance passes unanimously on second reading. Item 47 is an ordinance on first reading as well by the Department of Development Services.

It's an ordinance of the city of Hollywood changing its zoning designation of 1.11 or so acres, generally located on 19th Avenue between Jackson And Van Buren Streets, as identified further in the packet with regards to its folio numbers and addresses from PS 3 to FH 2, and, of course, amends the city's official zoning map to reflect that change and providing for an effective date. So city attorney, is this item quasi judicial? So you'll have to present the quasi judicial proceedings. We'll ask if there's waiver, share any ex parte communications, and then we'll move on with the item.

Yes, mayor.

All right. So go ahead, please, and read the rules.

Florida courts have determined that there are certain types of matters, including items such as number 47 on today's agenda, which are to be treated differently from other issues considered by the commission or board. Most decisions of the commission are legislative in nature, meaning that the commission is acting as a policy making body. However, in quasi judicial matters, the commission is applying existing rules and policies to a particular factual situation and is therefore acting like a judge or jury in the courtroom. In such cases, courts have determined that due process and fundamental fairness require that more formal procedures be followed. Therefore, in quasi judicial matters, all witnesses are sworn in and subject to cross examination by the parties.

In addition, the decision of the commission must be supported by competent and substantial evidence presented at the hearing. However, in Hollywood, we have adopted a rule that allows for the waiver of the quasi judicial formalities. Waiver can only occur if agreed to by staff, the applicant, and any member of the public who is present. Therefore, at this time, I ask that the chair inquire as to whether there is anyone who objects to waiving the quasi judicial formalities.

JOSHUA All right. Any objection? I imagine the applicant waves the formal proceedings.

JOSHUA I've been informed that there is only one speaker on the subject. Assuming that's the case, we waive. If it turns out that I was misinformed and there's 10 or 15, then I would want quasi judicial to the opportunity cross examine. But if there's only one, which is what staff has said, we waive.

The staff waive.

WILLIAM Good afternoon. Andrea Winget, director of development services. Staff waives.

WILLIAM All right, city attorney. I don't see any objection for proceeding informally. So go ahead, Andrea, and we'll proceed as usual. Ex I'm parte sorry. Okay. Good call, Commissioner Hernandez. So I'll start. So ex parte communications requirements require us to share if we had spoken to anyone about this particular application. I had only had an opportunity to speak with the representative counsel for the project, Mr. Steve Geller, who asked if I had any questions. And I really didn't because it's pretty straightforward. So I'll go ahead down the line. Let me just go ahead for the order. Commissioner Xuyang, go ahead.

Yes, same. Mayor, I spoke briefly with Senator Geller.

Commissioner Hernandez? Thank you, Mayor. I, as

well, spoke briefly with Senator Geller.

Commissioner Gruber.

Same experience.

Okay. Commissioner Vice Mayor Coleri?

None.

Commissioner Biederman?

I also spoke to Senator Geller. And I watched the Zoom call with the community.

So did I. But that's it was one-sided, wasn't it?

Okay. How about commissioner Quintana?

I had no ex parte communication.

Alright. Great. Thank you all so much. Let's go ahead then to Andrea's presentation. Andrea Andrea, it's from high intensity to medium high intensity, sounds like one and the same to me. Go ahead.

Okay. So as you said, mayor, the request before you is for rezoning of property just south of our downtown. And before we get into the specific request, I wanted to provide a little bit of background for you and some additional context for the area. Out today, if you were to drive by, you'll see the building that's on the screen. This is phase one of a mixed use project that is out there under construction out there today.

The applicant is proposing to build a phase two project on the property that is now highlighted. That phase two project was considered by the Planning and Development Board when they considered the rezoning request. They unanimously approved that project, of course, with the effective date or the effective condition that it's subject to a future rezoning. The rezoning that's before you today includes the parcels that are highlighted here. It includes the sister project that I just mentioned, as well as a property to the north, which is known as the Kindred Property.

It is one of the properties held by the Kindred Hospital. And again, here's just the image that shows the rezoning that is before you today. Here's still some additional background of what the context of the area would look like and what the Planning and Development Board had previously considered as well. So let's jump into today's request. The information that I showed you is not information that you should be basing your decision on today.

You are here solely to consider a rezoning of property. The site plan, future plans for this parcel are not slated to come before you because it is being rezoned to one of our standard zoning districts And you have delegated that authority to your local planning agency, planning and development board, to handle those items for you. So the item before you is a request for a rezoning from Parkside High Intensity to Federal Highway Medium High Intensity FH2 for the parcels that are highlighted on your screen. Here are some of the surrounding properties. We have Regent Park to the West, 9 Hollywood Phase 1 to the East, place of worship, and some multifamily residential within the area as well.

The criteria that you will base your decision on are the five criteria that are on the screen. Staff, as well as the local planning agency, have found those criteria to be consistent and therefore recommend approval of the project that is before you today to rezone the property.

All right.

Thank you so much. Let's go ahead to Mr. Geller, if you'd like to share the inspiration of the development team. And I'm excited that you all are pursuing this. Of course, we love it when a project doesn't stop at phase one but sees through to the phase two vision of the ownership. This is welcome. Is

there a way of getting it up on the screen?

Okay. If

you want to start, I can see.

Okay. We're just trying to figure out one map which is part of your zoning package. I'll have I get it up on the screen. Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, Madam, Vice Mayor, members of the commission.

I think that this is a fairly easy one. We're applying for a rezoning because twothree of the block is in one zoning district and onethree of the block is in a different zoning district. Among the properties that my client owns and I'm hoping we're going to get the map up on the screen among the properties that my client owns when he assembled seven, three of them are in one zoning category. Four is the other. Candidly, the city probably should never have split a block into two zoning categories.

It just doesn't really make sense. We've had several public hearings. 100 of the people that attended and we have two commissioners who said that they watched this. I know it's in Commissioner Hernandez's district. 100% of the people that spoke spoke in favor of it.

There has not been a single person that raised any objection at either of the two town meetings. I will proffer that we have our planner here, Leslie Del Monte, who will testify that we have satisfied every single criteria for zoning. Our architect is here who will testify the same thing. Your city staff is also their report is also considered competent, substantial evidence in the record. So I am proffering that every single piece of competent substantial evidence in the record shows that the rezoning is appropriate for anybody that may have any concern.

Ah, that's good. We now have what I was looking for. Just to explain a little better let's see. Okay, it sort of fades out. Can I try yours? Maybe yours is stronger. Which is laser?

I it.

I do I

don't don't all right.

I've got a all right. It starts and then seems to disappear. Okay. If you look at the box in purple, that's Hollywood 9 Phase 1. That building is already completed.

If you look to the left of that in the red box, you'll see that part of that is in the yellow background, which is the FH2. And just about a third of the block, maybe a little less, is in the orange, which is PS3. The area to the north of the purple box and about a third of the red box, that area is already FH2. If you look to the north of that in the Salmon, that's the Young Circle zoning. Young Circle zoning is the densest in the city.

It is taller than we're asking for. It is denser than we're asking for. If you look to the property to the left, the purple right across the street, that's PD zoning. PD zoning is actually technically even denser than the YC, because that's write your own zoning. So we're surrounded by density that's either the same height or the same density or denser.

In terms of any concern about the height, we will be amending it from 140 feet to 140 feet. There is no change in the height. There is a change in the FAR ratio. And that's the only reason we're here. But the height of the PS3 and the FH2 are both one hundred and And forty

as I said,

we've only heard compliments about the Hollywood 9 phase one. It's the exact same design team, same architect, same GC, same developer. And everybody liked Hollywood 9. We have, by the way, excess parking. Not a lot, but people say, oh, you don't have enough parking. We've exceeded the parking requirement here. And I have, as I said, unless you have questions for them, I'm not going to call the architect or planner. But I am proffering their testimony. And they are available to answer any questions. And I'm available to answer any questions now if you have any.

Thank you, counsel. Now we'll just hear the public comment. And Commissioner Hernandez is queued to speak and make a motion. So go have ahead

the right to respond.

You got it. You got it. Anne Ralston?

Afternoon. I don't have a problem with the project. What I have a problem with is why why have zoning laws? We change them to accommodate whatever high rise wants to go in there. So why not just make it a zoning map that you can put anything, anywhere, at any time? Because, excuse me, we seem to change the zoning laws to accommodate whatever seems to go. Now, don't have a problem with the project. I think it'd be a complement in that particular block. I know what it looked like before. So that's not the issue. The issue is constantly changing zoning maps or qualifications for what can and cannot go in there. That's my problem with this.

Thank you, Anne. Let's go ahead to Commissioner Hernandez.

JAMES Thank you, Mayor. I've actually talked to the people that live on the block and nearby, and they're extremely happy with the construction that took place and how the construction took place as well. So motion to approve.

Second. All

right. We have a motion from Commissioner Hernandez, second from Commissioners Vice Mayor Coleri, and even a third from Commissioner Biederman. Let's go ahead and read the ordinance and call the roll call vote.

ANNETTE An ordinance of the city of Hollywood, Florida changing the zoning designation of 1.11 acres generally located on 19th Avenue between Jackson And Van Buren Streets, municipally known as 1841 To 1857 Jackson Street, 1856 Van Buren Street, and folio numbers 5,140 two-fifteen-one -seven thousand five hundred and fifty and five thousand one hundred forty two-fifteen-one-seven 540 from PS3, Parkside High Intensity Mixed Use District, to FH2 Federal Highway Medium High Intensity Mixed Use District, amending the city's official zoning map to reflect the change in zoning designation and providing for an effective date.

Commissioner Schuham.

Yes.

BERNSTEIN: BERNSTEIN: Yes.

Commissioner

Hernandez?

Hernandez?

CHRISTIAN Yes. Yes.

CHRISTIAN

CHRISTIAN Alright. Thank you so much. Thank Yes. You for bringing

the admiration. Members vice mayor and members of the commission.

Yep. You. And, Anne, just to respond to you, you know, our our zoning code and zoning codes all over the country are living and breathing documents. And when there is a proposal through a rezoning application that is consistent with the furtherance of the city's goals, reflects the conditions in a particular neighborhood, then when it's found consistent with criteria, we are are fluid just like every other city in the country to help further the city's goals and the goals of our property owners. And that's the answer to your question.

So all right, let's go ahead to item 48, ladies and gentlemen. Item 48 is an ordinance of the City Commission and City of Hollywood amending chapter 98 of the code of ordinances entitled Marine and Waterway Regulations, Boats and Other Vessels, to Create a Vessel Exclusion Zone Providing for Severability and Repeal Provision. This is an ordinance on first reading, of course, by the Department of Fire Rescue and Beach Safety. Welcome to Chief Levy.

Good afternoon, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, the manager of staff, Jeff Levy, fire department. This ordinance revision represents the first step in the permitting process at your direction for the exclusionary buoys. If you remember back in August, the Fire Rescue Beach Safety Department was tasked with providing a recommendation for exclusionary buoys. And the recommendation for the yardage was 218 yards offshore. Knowing that recommendation was made, we researched, found out that our existing city ordinance is at 300 yards.

As part of the permitting process with the state of Florida, we contacted the state of Florida. They did not have a record of our existing city ordinance on file that dates back to the mid seventies. So at the direction of the commission, we're tasked with revising the current city ordinance, which is it's on your agenda for today.

Thank you, chief. Pat, are there any speaker cards? I suspect there may be. All right. All right. Thank you so much. We're going to go ahead and call our speaker cards. You have up to three minutes to speak, if you like. And I'll go ahead and call them as I have them. Let's go ahead with Phyllis Levy, followed by Alan Koenigsberg, followed by Todd Graham. So after Phyllis will be Alan. If you can get yourself ready, Alan, and you'll be up next. Ms. Levy, go ahead.

Good afternoon, commissioners. I've lived in South Florida for forty six years. And like many residents, I care deeply about the safety of everyone who uses our coastline swimmers, divers, and boaters alike. I understand the desire for consistency with neighboring cities. Boaters don't necessarily recognize municipal lines in the water.

From their perspective, the shoreline is one continuous path between inlets. But true consistency for safety should reflect reef geography and scale. Hallandale has only point eight miles of shoreline and four non permitted markers placed to 218 yards. Their written ordinance does not establish 218 yards as a safety standard. Hollywood, by contrast, has over seven miles of reef lined shoreline.

We are the largest stretch of beach by far between Port Everglades and Hollover Inlets. Hallandale is the only neighboring city using 218 yards, and it has one of the shortest shorelines. If we are talking about regional consistency, it should be based on the most expansive and reef dense shoreline, not on the smallest one. Hollywood has a responsibility to lead by example. The largest shoreline in this region should set the standard for safety and not lower it. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you. Alan Koenigsberg, followed by Todd Graham, then Rick Goldman.

Good afternoon. I've been a resident off and on of Hollywood since 1957. Resident of South Florida almost all that time, except for some years in college and law school. Florida Statute Section 327.46 enables the establishment of boating restricted areas adjacent to public bathing beaches or swim areas. The intent is to promote water safety.

The proposed city ordinance being considered is also intended to promote public safety. Whether the proposed ordinance is defective for a failure to actually designate the public bathing beach or swimming area pursuant to section 347.46 sub 13 is not clear. Arguably, section ninety nine point zero one and ninety nine point zero two of the City Of Hollywood's code of ordinances attempts to but fails to make that designation. Hollywood's reefs, natural and artificial, are attractive to swimmers, divers, and boaters. Presently, we have a 300 yard vessel exclusion zone to give boaters and swimmers space to enjoy the ocean.

That zone approaches the natural reef line while fully encompassing our artificial reefs. Both constitute our near shore reefs. Our neighboring cities also have vessel exclusion zones. Most relevant is the zone associated with the city of Dania. It is most meaningful since the majority of Hollywood's boat traffic comes from the North.

Boaters exit Port Everglades, travel south across Dania, where their 300 yard exception zone, must then cross beyond the end of the pier, which further extends, and they enter Hollywood beyond our 300 meter, 300 yard exclusion zone. Approaching Hollywood boats are already at or beyond our current 300 yard zone, An argument that suggests our standard should be the limit in use by Hallandale fails to recognize both the minimal boat traffic coming from that direction and the minimum section of beach that town controls. The proposed ordinance would reduce our vessel exclusion zone by more than 25%, with the publicity associated, especially with the new reefs, the new man made artificial reefs, probably increasing both the boat traffic and the use by the public as swimmers and divers. In other words, we have reduced the area of activity while increasing the level of activity that is inconsistent with public safety. I thank you for your time and attention.

Thank you. Todd Graham, followed by Rick Goldman, then Heather Schiller.

Thank you, mayor, commissioners. How are doing? My name is Todd Graham. I own a small business. I'm a dive instructor in a dive shop, relatively close. I dive in Hollywood every day. So myself, my staff, somebody's out there. We're taking out divers, snorkelers. I've been diving here for thirty five years or something like that. So I'm pretty familiar with the area. I'm pretty familiar with Dania as well and the boulders and the rocks and the pier and the whole nine yards. I'm out there every day, like I said, and with dive flags and taking out snorkelers and divers. So I just wanted to put my 2¢ in just to make it easier for you guys, hopefully make a decision. Kind of the expert on public safety. I teach public safety for fire departments, police departments.

I've been doing this for the last twenty five years. So my only worry is as we pull the buoys in, so it's just a little more dangerous for all the divers and snorkelers going out there. Right now, since we just created the new artificial reef, they're awesome. They're great. And I think they're going to help promote businesses and some tourism that goes into it. But right now, I see them going out there and I've the boats park on the buoys as it goes into it. And I've seen the divers and the snorkels who have to carry a flag with them everywhere they go, any time we go out whatsoever. They have to have a flag. And I've just seen them get kind of tangled up near the boats. So from my perspective, to make it safer, I think we should push the buoys out a little bit further.

So that encompasses even the Dania area, kind of the boulders, that kind of stuff, some of the reef. Most of the snorkelers don't really go past 300 feet, to be honest with you. Some of the divers definitely do. We might go out to 400. So that would be better, but I don't know if that's really applicable to what we're trying to pull off here. So I think that the 300 is probably a more middle of the road kind of circumstance. Yes, ma'am? Yards. I apologize. Yards. Yards. The dive flag also is typically they're going to be 300 feet, which is about 100 yards per se away from them. Boaters don't necessarily follow that. Unfortunately, this is just South Florida. So the rules are kind of ambiguous, even though we're supposed to do it.

But I've personally almost been hit by a few boats. But I've been doing this a long time. So I'm pretty quick on my fin as far as it goes into it. But I'm just trying to make it safe for the people out there. So we do take out tours. And I make sure I have instructors and people with them all the time to keep an eye on them just to keep them all under control. I'm here for more information. I've talked to the chief as well if anyone needs any information or clarity because I'm on the water every day.

Thank you, Mr. Graham.

My pleasure.

Rick Goldman followed by Heather Schiller. Then will be Marci Camarco. Rick, welcome.

I'm Rick Goldman. I live in South Lake, and I've been diving Hollywood Beach since 1995. Depending on the weather, I'm in the water anywhere from twice a month to twice a week or even more. I'm here to voice my concern about the proposal to move the exclusion zone from 300 yards to two eighteen yards. Logic dictates that bringing motorized boats closer to swimmers and divers does not make people safer.

Hollywood has a very unique underwater ecosystem. Just to compare, Howlandale allows the boats to be at two eighteen yards because there's nothing there but sand. For that reason, nobody's diving or snorkeling there. We have the Yellow Brick Road, the Perry Street Rocks, both starting at 200 to two fifty yards. And then the Mermaid Artificial Reef starting at 165 yards. And our Natural 1st Reef at 200 to 300 yards. When I'm on a boat, I don't go anywhere near that. We head out to the 3rd Reef, a mile offshore. Experienced divers and boaters don't want to be anywhere near shore. The further from shore you go, the better the visibility.

And the bigger fish aren't in the shallower waters. But the tourists and families swimming to the mermaids is the main attraction. These artificial reefs are visited by beginners, tourists who just bought their first mask and snorkel. Most of the time, I'm diving from the beach. And I do a thirty or forty minute swim to the second reef, which is what a lot of the more experienced divers and snorkelers do.

But here's the safety issues. The mermaids are at 165 to 185 yards. And it takes one minute, or two if you go slowly, to get from the mermaids to the natural ledges of the first reef at 200 to two fifty yards. This means our most inexperienced snorkelers are moving between these two points. And if you approve a two eighteen yard boat line, you're placing a high speed lane for boats directly in the middle of the first reef and the artificial reef.

The people on the mermaids are usually beginners who may not even know that they need a dive flag. Similarly, anyone with a boat that close to shore is probably a beginner or a visitor who just rented a boat. And they don't realize they've got to stay 100 yards away from a dive flag. By moving the line to two eighteen yards, you're guaranteeing inexperienced boaters will be flying by inexperienced snorkelers. Putting these two groups in each other's path doesn't increase safety. It's an accident waiting to happen. If this change is approved and a tragedy occurs, the warnings we're giving you today will be a matter of public record. Let's keep the exclusion zone at 300 yards and protect our visitors and the beginning snorkelers.

Thank you, Rick. Heather Schuller, followed by Marcy Camarco, then Isabel Barney.

Good afternoon, mayor and commissioners. My name is Heather. I've lived on Hollywood Beach for nearly thirty years. I love Hollywood. Today, I'm deeply invested in protecting our beach for future generations to enjoy safely. I'm either in, on, or near the water almost every day. I'm a boater, a diver, a paddle boarder, and I've been shore snorkeling our reefs since 1997. First, I wanna say that I support chief Levy's original safety recommendation to place boundaries past the near shore reefs. That principle makes sense. What we are respectfully asking is that the same principle be applied to the full near shore reef system, not just the Mermaid Reefs.

In Hollywood, our near shore reefs include the Mermaid Reefs, Perry Rocks, and our first reef located roughly 300 yards and beyond. These are among the most heavily used and accessible reef areas for shore snorkelers and divers. A boundary at two eighteen yards would unintentionally create a boat traffic lane that shore snorkelers would need to cross to reach these popular reefs. That reduces safe access for shore snorkelers. It does not make us safer.

The commission's urgency to create clear separation between boats and swimmers is understandable, especially with the addition of the new mermaid reefs. But proper distance from shore is the most reliable way to create that separation. Broward County reports that 9,400,000 residents and visitors use our natural and artificial reefs annually not ours, but Broward County. Our reefs are heavily used, though. As the largest shoreline between Port Everglades and Hollow River Inlets, Hollywood carries an even greater responsibility to set the strongest safety standard for this region.

If a boundary is placed just past the inner reef ledge, it would protect the highest concentration of shore snorkelers while still maintaining equal access for boaters. For example, to reach Perry Rocks, a boater typically swims only a few minutes from their vessel while a shore snorkeler swims roughly twice that distance. This is the simplest and most responsible time to make any necessary adjustments before amending the ordinance and before permits are filed. Our request is straightforward. Please follow Chief Levy's sound advice to place boundaries past near shore reefs and to include peri rocks and the inner reef ledge within that protection.

We have the opportunity to make things safer for more people, not only for Hollywood, but for our entire region. This

is

the moment for Hollywood to lead by example and to set the standard for safety. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Thank you, Heather. Let's go to Marcy Camarco, followed by Isabel Barney, then Avi Blick.

Hello. I live at 304 Oak Street, right off the Perry Street Rocks. I'm a diver and a boater. I own four paddleboards. I often encourage neighbors and friends to come paddleboarding on the Perry Street Rocks. I would encourage any of you, if you're invited, to come and see why we are so passionate about this ecosystem. Okay. Even with the boundaries currently at 300 yards, we occasionally encounter boats coming too close. Lifeguards try to wave them off, but it's nearly impossible to control a moving vessel. Reducing the boundary to two eighteen yards will make the area more dangerous and more confusing.

As a boater, I already know I have to stay approximately 300 yards off of the shore. It's the law. Lowering it sends the wrong message. If anything neighboring Hallandale should go to 300 yards and not two eighteen and stay consistent with us. Nova Southeastern University has recently installed thousands of small fragments on Perry Street rocks to promote new growth.

Our reefs are shrinking. On weekends, holidays, and during lobster season, our shorelines are already filled with anchored boats and dive flags. Moving the boundaries will bring them even closer to the shoreline. Many of these vessels depart from Fort Lauderdale and Port Of Miami. The boaters are not dining in our restaurants or staying in our hotels.

It is swimmers and beachgoers who support our local businesses. The Florida Reef Track is the fifth largest coral reef ecosystem in the world. And Hollywood has one of the only near shore reef systems in The United States. As shown on the map, changing the boundary would place the line in front of the near shore rocks, encouraging boaters to come closer to swimmers, snorkelers, divers, creating a safety issue. This ecosystem and our swimmers need to be protected. Our beach is a treasure to both residents and visitors. Thank you.

Thank you. Isabel Barney, followed by Avi Blick, then Julie Greenfield.

Good afternoon, commissioners and mayor. I have a map, and I was wondering if it could be put on the screen so you know the maps that we look at. Is that possible? You can do it?

Can give it to the clerk if you like. But

Yeah.

The first reef of Hollywood North Beach is a high use near shore reef running roughly two eighteen to 300 plus yards from shore. A lot of people are mentioning this and it's very important. Divers and snorkellers regularly swim out from shore, enjoy marine life. Some harvest lobsters during the season. The first reef is a natural reef area, but it also includes the Perry Rocks Artificial Reef.

The 1st Reef does not include the newer mermaid monuments closer 60 to 185 yards, although I visit those regularly on my swim back to shore. The 1st Reef has long functioned as predictable shared recreational space. I've enjoyed swimming there from shore with a dive flag since 1989. This is my concern. Today, are voting on a proposal to move the vessel exclusion line from 300 to two eighteen yards.

On paper, those numbers seem close. Operationally, the safety difference is quite significant. First, the 300 yard line currently acts as a protected buffer. Boaters are used to operating outside the snorkeling band. Moving the vessel exclusion line from 300 to two eighteen converts the first reef snorkeling zone into a shared boat traffic space, eliminating the cushion that absorbs normal human error.

Second, Florida 100 yard dive flag is reactive. It depends on voters seeing a low profile flag like this. This is, by the way, the normal flag that is 12 by 12, and this is very difficult to see by a boater. Judging distance correctly and reacting time despite layered chop and congestion, a fixed 300 yard racial exclusion line is preventative. It separates incompatible uses rather than relying on split second compliance.

Third, reaction time matters. At 300 miles per hour, a vessel travels about 44 feet per second. Sandler weighs multiple flags or drifting snorkelers can reduce visibility. Logic tells me that moving the boat exclusion zone into the snorkel area reduces avoidance time and greatly increases the risk of boat collision with humans on the water. Fourth, this is not remote offshore water. The 200 to 300 yard band is consistent, family friendly, tourist, heaviest, clean area, predictable, recurring use, argues for predictable separation. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Avi Blick, followed by Julie Greenfield, then Patty Hanley.

Good evening, and thank you for everyone for being here city leaders, staff, community members, for your work in improving water safety. We truly appreciate the intention behind this ordinance and the effort to make our coastline safer for everyone. I am here with a simple and respectful request. Please set the boundary at 300 yards. Our message is straightforward. Two eighteen yards is not safer than 300 yards. Shrinking as safety buffer does not increase safety. When we are talking about people in the water, divers, snorkeling families, children I take my four year old there. She's starting to snorkel there. Distance equals protection.

Distance equals reaction time. Distance equals margin of error. This is not about opposing boating. It's not about limiting access. It's about separation clear, predictable separation between vessels and people in the water. We know this ordinance is intended to improve safety. We're simply asking for a refinement that strengthen that goal. Setting the boundary at 300 yards provides a more meaningful buffer between boats and swimmers. It allows for currents, drifts, visibility changes, and human error, all real factors in open water. We also recommend that the boundary expands past the near shore reef system.

That reef is where snorkellers, divers, gather. It is a living ecosystem and a natural draw for residents and visitors alike. Protecting that area is protecting our people. Hollywood is increasingly becoming a reef sanctuary, not only for one group of people, for all communities across Florida. Families here introduce their children to snorkeling. Dive groups travel here. Environmental educators bring students. This reef system is a shared natural asset. And the city has an opportunity to model what thoughtful coast stewardship looks like. Now is the simplest and more responsible time to take this adjustment before the ordinance language is finalized and the permitting process begins.

Small refinements are much easier now than later. Making this change today prevents complications tomorrow. Again, we're aligned in the goal, safety first. This is about protecting people in the water. It's about ensuring that boat traffic and swimmers have a clear, adequate separation. And it's about choosing the safer buffer when given the option. 300 yards is a reasonable measured safety focused refinement. Thank you for your time and consideration and your commitment to keeping our water safe for everyone. Thank you.

Thank you. Let's go to Julie Greenfield, followed by Patty Henley, then Heather Schuller. I think Heather already spoke, right? All right. So Julie followed by Patty, and then will be Marcy Leturnau.

All right. Okay.

Go ahead, Julie. We'll figure it all out afterwards.

Okay. Mayor, vice mayor, commissioner, city staff, Chief Levy, thank you. I truly believe that we all have the same goal in mind, and that is safety. Safety for all those that enjoy our waterways. You heard me speak before. Right now, I am really concerned that we had an ordinance. And I recognize that FWC didn't recognize it, but we had it for nearly fifty years or about fifty years. I know it was in the 70s for 300 yards. I don't understand how making it 82 yards closer increases safety. That's the opposite, as all my other residents have talked about.

What is even more concerning, when I read through the ordinance and I have highlighted here our previous ordinance talks about prohibiting within 300 yards of the low water mark. The new ordinance has it at the high water mark. So now we're even limiting it even further. So if you're not familiar, that high water mark would be closer to the dunes versus the low water mark is at low tide. Low tide is going to push that zone even farther out.

So why we would continue to change it, where we're continuing to bring that zone closer, closer to shore absolutely increases the danger. I want to tell you a personal story that happened since I spoke to you last. I hope that you all will trust me when I tell you my husband and I are sober skippers. We do not bring alcohol on our boat, which is legal, by the way. You can drink and operate a vessel. We were diving on November 15. We finished our dive. There was a dive charter. We were up in Fort Lauderdale, Okay, because of the mooring buoys that we've talked about. We pulled up.

We watched. We always keep an eye on the divers that are with these groups. They're usually in pairs. They have the dive flag that Isabel showed you. It's very small. We decided to leave. So we're probably going my guess is about 25 miles an hour on our way back into the inlet. My husband throwed back the throttle and put us in neutral. Scared me to death. We are watching. I'm not on my phone. He's watching. We're paying attention. There were two divers that got separated from that big group. We almost missed them. We are experienced. We are divers. We know. Because why? When that flag if you're coming onto that flag and that flag is this direction, you're not going to see it.

It was only when we were next to them that we saw them. I still have goosebumps. We radioed. We watched them trying to search for them. I had to call the office to get them to get these divers help. Making this zone closer to shore, you're going to see more incidents and accidents like this. And we're the experienced ones.

Thank you, Patty Hanley. And Marcy Laturno, not here. Okay.

JAMES Good afternoon, members of the commission. I'm Patty Hanley. I'm a Southeast Florida native and a full time Hollywood resident. My husband and I have lived in North Beach for thirty five years. I have enjoyed all of these thirty five years swimming, snorkeling, and free diving off of our Hollywood Beach.

I'm also a certified scuba rescue diver. And I do love the new Guardian Reef sites. Thank you for those. I'm here to respectfully ask the commission to consider amending the proposed two eighteen yard boundary before changing the ordinance and applying for permits. And although I am in general support of the proposed ordinance, I have issue with the language specifically changing the vessel exclusion zone distance from the existing 300 yards to a reduced safety margin of two eighteen yards from our beach.

It is difficult for me to understand why a reduced allowable distance from shore would contribute to safety, protect city liability, and practical use of our beaches for us swimmers and snorkelers. Reducing the safety zone from 300 to two eighteen yards exposes us to an expanded risk that could be prevented by leaving the current 300 yard limitation in place. The city also recently placed an artificial reef system at approximately 185 yard distance from shore. And the current vessel exclusion zone of 300 yards is in compliance with the standing Florida statute that requires vessels to avoid dive flags by at least 100 yards. And the current 300 yard limitation accommodates this for snorkelers visiting the reef system, while the proposed change would clearly be in conflict with the state mandated vessel safety operating requirement.

I ask for your consideration for the language in this PO to remain at 300 yard distance from our shore for these reasons. And I thank you very much for your time and your consideration on this matter. Thank you.

All right. Well, you to all of you who came out to speak. This is an item that, as some of you know, we've already discussed here on the city commission. I just do want to point out, besides Hallandale Beach, there's also Miami Dade County and Hollow River Park. There's also the city of Miami Beach. All of them are well more narrow than the two eighteen yards. And when we talk about two eighteen yards, we're talking over six fifty feet. I believe it's six fifty four feet. That's a pretty significant distance from the shore. And some of you mentioned that the reef system is pretty wide and it's we know we know what the reefs are out there.

I'm a scuba diver as well since I was 15. Also a boater and the reef system is very wide. So even if you were to put the buoys at 300 or two eighteen, you're still gonna be within the mix of the reef system. And I think there's a lot to go a lot to say for safety when in fact for the past many years that all of you have been beach diving and we've all been snorkeling and scuba diving off the shore of Hollywood, we haven't had any any buoys at all. This is a safety measure to put in buoys so that boats know what line not to cross.

And so even if you're farther out in open water beyond the 218 yards, which is a significant distance from shore, you would be in no different change than you would be with the buoys that we would be putting in at two eighteen. You're still in open water today. There haven't been buoys. So this in no way makes anything less safe. If anything, it makes it way more safe, actually providing a line for where the boats know they can't cross to protect the swimmers. Oftentimes, there's vessel exclusion zones are meant to protect swimmers. We can't protect everybody in open water. That's why there is a law that requires dive flags everywhere, no matter what the depth. And so I know you as divers know that. Boaters, I agree that sometimes it's hard to see a dive flag.

I won't deny that. I always have my eyes peeled as I'm going. But boaters who are out here need to know that. They need to know what the law is. And then we could never place buoys farther out enough to protect, everyone. The dive flag is the known thing to look out for in the water. And the vessel exclusion buoys are what is meant to protect the shoreline. And so again, there's two different two steps of protection here. One is the buoys. The other one is dye flags. Chief, you came up. I don't know if you wanted to say anything else.

I was just here to answer questions.

Alright. Commissioner Gruber.

Thank you, Mayor. So what I'm gathering from all the speakers is that you're okay with a vessel exclusionary buoy but you'd prefer it at 300 yards. Right. So if my mom is tuning into this, it seems like I think we need to back is to where this all started. Okay? So if you're tuning into this for the first time, people are led to believe that we are getting rid of existing useful vessel exclusionary buoys that have been there and been working and moving them in. The reason this came about and I started on this five years ago. Before we even talked about the reefs, I said we don't have vessel exclusionary buoys. I'm in the water all the time. I surf.

I snorkel. I swim. And I've come close to getting hit by boats. And I'm boating not as often as I'd like, but I go boating. And the boaters don't know in Hollywood how close they can get. So I brought it up. Commissioner Schuham, you said nobody wants them. I was told that people said aesthetically they don't want to look at them. People don't believe that they're even effective to for safety. But so I'm just wondering, like like, yes, if we were if those were there at 300 yards, we wouldn't even be having this conversation.

But so we didn't even know, correct me if I'm wrong, staff, that we had this 300 yard thing. We had no vessel exclusionary buoys. So we tasked, especially after the close shore reefs were put in, then we realized, wow, this is even more dangerous now. So we tasked staff to come up with, okay, how do we do this? What's the process? What should we do? So it's it's not you're the speakers are making it as if we are changing something that was there and working. There was nothing there. So I mean, honestly, I ask all of you because you from what you guys have said, I really do consider you experts in the field as far as what you do. Why wouldn't anybody have said, Hey, you know, don't have any vessel exclusionary buoys out there?

Like, so, you know, to the dive instructor, the same thing. I mean, if you're teaching safety, you know, was it okay that we didn't have those? And and did anyone know it was 300 yards up until a few months ago? Because we didn't even know that and the state had no record of it. So we're looking to put them in for safety. Staff came up with two eighteen, which is similar to our neighboring city and similar to others. There's some cities in Florida I did the research that don't even have it. You can dock your boat on the beach. So it's different per city and that's how we do it. So I I mean, I'm okay with staff's recommendation of 218.

We are putting in the 218 with buoys there is better than the 300 with nothing there. And that that's what was there. So it's not as if we're changing something that was there and existing. We're it wasn't there. It didn't exist. And not one person said to us, hey, we should have buoys. And I brought it up many times here and I was told, no, we don't need them. We shouldn't have them. Nobody wants to look at them. So I'm okay with the two eighteen that staff recommended. There's nothing there now and that's something. That gives boaters an opportunity. And and there are people on boats that that are happy just snorkeling those little reefs. They can come within wait. So a 185 yards is the farthest reef, right?

Artificial reef, yes.

Farthest right, the ones that we put in. So that the closest would be 30 yards, so 9,100 feet that a boat could get and they could swim and snorkel those reefs if they wanted to. Not everybody wants to do advanced stuff. I'm perfectly fine snorkeling those reefs. I love those reefs. I do them all the time. And then the snorkelers and the swimmers with their dive flag could go out there and the boats know they can't get that close. I'm okay, chief, unless you've listened to something and think it should be a different distance. I think staffs put a lot of time in it. The fact that we don't even have those out there is sickening to me. And I think it's time to do it. Yeah. Motion to approve.

Alright. We have a motion from commissioner Gruber and second from which Hernandez to approve the ordinance. And chief, just for clarification, this is an ordinance draft that you've already submitted to the state and they've approved and formed. Correct?

So the state has tentatively approved it. It has to go once we do ratify the ordinance, then it officially gets filed with the state. But the language has been approved with the state. I will say that there's some clerical issues with it that we have to adjust before the second reading. But that will be that was identified.

And just before I go to Commissioner Schum, I just want to point out something that Commissioner Gruber said. And that's fairness for the access of boaters to be able to access the reefs that the beach divers say they want to access. We don't want to push boaters beyond 300 yards and have them not be able to access the same reefs that you all talked about at, you know, in the 200 or so yard access issue. So this would penal having it 300 yards would really remove boaters from being able to access, snorkel, or dive all the reefs that you all mentioned are closer than 300 yards. And let's also keep in mind I did a little measuring the pier at Sunny Isles Beach, I think it's called Newport, is way shorter than two eighteen.

The hull over Jetty is way shorter than two eighteen. And so two eighteen is is quite a distance and there a line needs to be drawn somewhere. As far as Hallandale Beach goes, I know there's been a lobbying effort to try to get Hallandale to change their 300 yards, which apparently is not something that's recorded with the state either. Or to to record theirs, to change theirs from two eighteen to 300, I understand there's a lobbying effort there that you all are trying to, you know, sort of poke at the rationale that the chief said was part of this consideration. But we already made our decision. We think there's good sense in the two eighteen, actually, in the line that we all discussed. Commissioner Schuham.

Thanks, Mayor. Well, first, I just want to comment on what you were just saying about the math. The furthest out artificial reefs at 01/1985 so if voters were at 300, even at 300, you're closer to that artificial reef than people coming from shore. So I didn't follow that penalty. Yeah, because 300, you're only I don't know, what is that? 115 yards away, whereas the swimmers are 185 yards away.

It's not a pleasure or safe to force someone to swim over 300 feet in current to get to a little snorkel reef. It's way safer to have the boat closer to the destination because the boat is the refuge. So if we push to 300, not only will we be pushing the boaters farther away from the artificial, which I think are too far away, we'd also be creating an inability for boaters to actually snorkel or dive the Yellow Brick Road and the Perry Rocks and the different areas that are way, way closer. That would

be saying dangerous. Mathematically, what you were saying really didn't make DELL: sense because

Walk halfway from the street.

GREGORY Okay. Anyway, I want to first kind of divide my comments in two, the first part being the most pressing, which is the 300 yards. And then secondly, as the chief mentioned, there's a bunch of smaller concerns I have in there. And I first wanted to go back in time to August. And you're right.

We had asked beach safety to give us a presentation. As you'll remember, there were some errors back in August 27. And we came back based on the presence of some buoys in Hallandale. And based on the drone a drone going over Hallandale and measuring, that's where this two eighteen comes from. So Arlene, if we could put up on the screen, it's a document that's entitled Hallandale, I think.

Hallandale or Dania. I just want to share with you the current status of the ordinances of the three cities. And whoever said that we don't know about 300, obviously, wasn't here during the time where we were trying to allow paddleboards because everybody knew about the 300 yard exclusion zone. It's been on the Hollywood books for years. So on your screen now, this is the current Hollywood ordinance.

And it simply says, 300 yards from the low water mark along the entire beach. That is the area under our current law for fifty years, you couldn't bring a boat closer. All right, Arlene, the next one should be Dania, if you scroll down. Dania, 300 yards from the low waterline along their entire beach. So basically, the two cities have the same language.

And then you scroll down to Hallandale, which is the basis of where we are today. And this is Hallandale. It doesn't say anything about two eighteen yards. It is a sketch. And in that sketch, it says swim area limits. And that swim area is where these buoys were placed, not permitted, not permitted by Hallandale. They're just there. And so, we've kind of, I think, gotten ourselves in a little bit of a twist here. A lot of the boat traffic is coming from the port and it's coming south. So, the first city you're going to hit is Dania, then Hallandale I mean, then Hollywood, Hallandale.

So, I think that we're a little bit letting the tail wag the dog with Hallandale. Hallandale it's not a lobbying effort. I think Hallandale heard what was happening here in September, August and September, and said, wait, we don't have anything on our books. So if Dania's at 300, Hollywood's at 300 yards, let's make it consistent. And so I think that that would happen, that Hallandale would be happy to go to 300.

And then we would have that consistency along the shoreline. But I wanted to let you all really see this. Because if you remember in August, we didn't have this in front of us. We got to a number, which is an unusual number, of two eighteen based on a drone view of a town that has oneseven or less of the beach length that we have. And then, Arlene, there's a photograph that the chief had of the shoreline.

It looks like this. And I think this there's tons of information. But to just keep it simple, I think that the chief did a great job here. And what he did, or his staff did, is they put in an aerial picture of our beach. They, by yellow triangle, identified our mermaid reefs. Green triangle identified natural reefs. The blue line is the line that came out of our conversations in 08/02/2018. The orange line is the existing line at three hundred. That's also in Dania. And the red was 400, which I don't hear even the residents asking for this.

So when you look at this map and you see where the green natural reef, the first reef is, you really get a sense of why Dania and Hollywood originally fifty years ago or more probably use the 300 line as their exclusion area. Now, I hear what you're saying, Commissioner Gruber, that FWC hadn't approved this. That's true. But when these laws went into place, that FWC requirement didn't exist. It does exist today.

And I think that Hollywood is correct to follow that process. We're going to have to if we want to put in the buoys. But it's not that it was ignored back then. It just didn't exist. So I would really ask the commission to take a look at this particular document because the orange line is what keeps our snorkelers able to go to the natural inner reef safely.

It certainly allows boaters to get close to both the natural and the mermaid reefs. And it's consistent with the beaches to our north. And I am confident that if we held that line, we would be consistent with the neighbors to the south. And really, that's the essence of what I wanted to share with you. It's just like sometimes you get to a place based on not there's no reason.

And I think today is the day to really make sure we get this right. And in addition to the safety, which is the number one thing for all of us up here, is the safety of people that are snorkeling and swimming and boating, for that matter, we should also consider our reefs. As somebody mentioned, 9,000,000 residents and somewhere here, I think it was $2,000,000,000 of revenue generated by tourists snorkeling our reefs annually in Broward County. It warrants a little bit of protection. So it's a secondary issue to safety.

But nevertheless, it's an issue that we should not have that blue line directly on top of the natural reefs. And if you see where that blue line is in comparison to where our natural reefs are, it's worrisome. But the greater worry and I know a lot of these divers. These are Hollywood residents coming here and asking us to not make their recreation less safe. And, you know, that's I think today is the day.

And I remember back in August, Mayor, I know there's a desire for all of us to be on the same page. And back in August, I knew in my gut that we had a 300 yard exclusionary area. But we relied on staff. We came back in September. We had the correct information. And it was represented, don't worry. We will have other opportunities to come and look at this. When all the facts come before us, we'll have the opportunity to look at it again. Well, now we have all the facts. We have the fact that from Dania all the way to Hallandale, we're at 300.

I personally know that Hallandale will I don't think there will be any issue. They haven't applied for permits. They don't have permits. I think that they would be willing to go to 300 if that's an issue. And in addition to the safety provided at the 300 yard line no pun intended, yard line, 300 yard line is the environmental concern. So I would be happy to support the motion with the adjustment to 300 yards. And again, I'll hold off and reserve some time to talk about some of the other details that the chief mentioned, because I want to make sure we get those correct too. So counsel, what is the process? Do I simply make a motion to amend?

You may make a motion to amend at So And this

then it would I would like to make a motion to amend the motion to accept the resolution, initially with the change to 300 yards instead of two eighteen, but reserve the right to clean up some of the Scribner's problems that we're aware of.

So the motion to amend is for two zero eight three hundred yards. Is there a second?

Second

discussion is actually the same discussion. So we'll take a vote on that amendment. And then we'll take the main motion. Commissioner Ocalari?

So just for purposes of discussion, so I've always been a proponent of having the buoys for safety purposes. Being in my family adamant divers, snorkelers, I've always asked why we don't have them out there. And yes, it's true. The discussion started off with the paddle boarding. It also started off with visual pollution, I guess you would say. So that puts you in a direction. I mean, let's call an ace an ace and a spade a spade, right? We're all sitting up here. We hear that we don't want this for the visual pollution aspect. That's how this all started in the beginning.

It was. So don't say no, this is how it started back in the day. If weren't in the commission chambers, you don't know that. But this is how it started. So here we are now discussing, ultimately it's about safety. Safety, safety, safety. So I think we as a commission want what's safe. But this is why the state gets involved. Is because everybody has their own idea of what they wanna do. And I just did research. Hallandale's 02/18. I received a message from Michelle Lazaro, public record. Somebody's lobbying Hallandale I don't know who it is telling them change your ordinance because Hollywood's about to do theirs. So we don't pit each other against each other. We're one Broward.

We're all together in this. And we all want safety. I don't like the fact that I'm getting a message the day of a commission meeting saying, hey, table your item because we're going look at ours first. And let us make our decision and I'll see if I can get people to change their mind. Whatever it is, it's all about safety. And we need to all be together on the same page. Just for example, Sunny Isles vessel limitation is 300. Miami yes, is. I just looked it up.

Feet.

300 feet. Miami Beach

No, I

just looked I'm just looking up. I don't know where you're getting your I'm getting mine. If it's wrong, you could correct it. But don't interrupt me, please. Miami Beach, the same 300. Dania Beach, 300 plus because you have to go out and as the mayor, as Chief Levy discussed, If you're going out, that's how you get your boats out into the ocean. You go further out and then you go along. By the time, especially North Beach, it's too soon for them to come in. We're worried more about the South coming up because they have to go out to get back in. Does everybody follow that?

So if you're down in Miami and you're coming home and you put your boat in at the inlet, you have to go out from the furthest The Inn is 218, which is Hallandale. So you can hang out, there's no markers as we all talked about this. And then am I saying this wrong chief? And you go in, you have to go back out to the pier to come in. When you're coming out into the ocean, you go out past the 300.

And then as you troll down the water, down to wherever your destination is, North Beach is too soon for them to get all the way into the two eighteen exclusionary buoy zone. You get it? So you're going out, then you got to come in. Unless you're focusing on just being a non rule follower, you're going to do that. It's the boats coming from the South. And Hallandale happens to be the issue. Golden Beach doesn't have a vessel ruling. They have none. So the closest you have is Miami Beach. Then you have Sunny Isles. Well, Sunny Isles is the closest. Then Golden Beach, there's really no rules. Then Hallandale's two eighteen. Then Hollywood's 300. I

don't want to interrupt you, but I want to make it clear. There is no ordinance in Hallandale at 218. The buoys are there, but they're not permitted. And that's why I think Hallandale took an interest in what was happening here, because they now want to permit their buoys. So I just wanted to point that out. They don't have anything.

JULIET So Okay, so obviously, that is how we brought them to be aware. I'm sure they weren't paying attention to our meetings like we're not paying attention to theirs. But regardless of the fact, 300 seems to be the rule. I agree with what the mayor said, being a boater. And anyone could shake their head. I watch the audience. We watch everything that goes on. When you have a boat and you're docked up against a mooring buoy, the waves are stronger the further out you go. Can we all agree on that? It's harder to swim in than it is from the shoreline.

You have your waves. But when you get out to the areas of water, it's a little easier for snorkelers. When you're coming in off a buoy, it's a little rougher and it's harder for them to swim in. And it's an enjoyment for everybody because we put this not just for snorkelers, but we put this for all to enjoy. What's most concerning to me is not even the vessel exclusionary portion.

To be a boater, 14 is the youngest age. You can't drive a car unless you're 16 and you have so many hours under your belt. If you're a first time boater, you have a ninety minute video, you do a 30 questions and you can get in a boat and drive it. I would be terrified as a first time boat driver to get in a boat and not have the training, But this is allowed. That is what we should all be worried about is the boaters in the water who do not have the experience that is needed to navigate through the waters, whether you have a buoy or not, period.

Trying to find the fairness is the biggest issue that I have and making sure that it's safety for all. And our lifeguards having to go out and save a life, you have to save a life, whether it's at 300 or two eighteen or 400. And right now there's nothing there. And that's what started us here today. Is that there's this visionary that, oh, am I at the 300 mark? Am I not? There was nothing allowing you to know where you're at. Now, you know where you're at. And now you know what you're allowed to come into, how far you can come in, or how far you shouldn't be in. And to be honest, I think that everyone should be able to enjoy what we have implemented into our waterways.

Which is something really amazing. And I think that it should be fair across the board. Swimmers and boaters. As long as they're doing it the right way. And this implementation of these buoys will actually help set the stage for safety. So I think I'm going back to the 300 mark. And the reason why I am kind of leaning towards that, in a weird way, is that we should be uniformed. We always talk about one Broward. And we should all be one Broward. We should all do what's right. And when I look at the numbers that are on the pack, in case somebody tells me that I'm wrong, really, the majority are at 300.

300 feet. Miami Beach and I also did some research. Miami Beach and Miami Dade County are 300 feet for the swim zone, chief. 100 yards for swim zone, which is where they put 100 yards, which is where they put their vessel exclusion. They they exclude vessels only from where people are allowed to swim. In this case, chief, correct me if I'm wrong, with vessel exclusion at 220 yards, 218 yards, the lifeguards aren't necessarily allowing a swimmer to go out 200 yards, right, 600 feet, right? They're going whistle them in when? What is the protocol?

So our city ordinance oof, sorry. Chapter 99 of our city ordinance states that any swimmer or snorkeler, diver that is more than 50 yards offshore in the city of Hollywood has to have a diver down flag at 50 yards today.

Well, there you go.

So 50 yards is that's 150 feet.

One and

fifty feet. And that's consistent with you know, my experience with our lifeguards that when I want to swim out even what I think is pretty shallow, they still whistle me in and it's I a little have down for you. A little aggravating. But the ordinance is 50 yards.

Correct.

So this would be another 168 yards beyond that is where that vessel exclusion would be, which is equivalent to like, I don't know, over 400 feet farther.

Okay.

So there's a great distance between beach swimmers and where they're legally allowed to be right now without a flag and the 218 mark.

And mayor, if I may, just for point of clarification, where the diver down flag boaters must stay an additional 100 yards away from that diver down flag.

Okay. That's a 100 yards. Right. So and look, remember, I I think a big a big aspect of this is also access to the reefs that everyone enjoys

Right.

For boaters as well. And so if access is for everyone, then you can access it by boat and access it from a swim from shore with a dive flag, both required. And then it's accessible to everyone. If we were to push the lines farther out, then boaters and dive companies can't take dive groups to these reefs. Commissioner Biederman?

Thank you, mayor. I could say it's clear as mud right now. First of all, chief, thank you for bringing this for an ordinance change as opposed to just doing a scrivener's error and changing the amount of feet without commission approval. The research that I did it's amazing how we could all do research and come up with different numbers.

Numbers, yeah.

But the research I did was that Dade County is four thirty five feet, which is 145 yards.

And

then one other place you see it, I mean, says 400 feet. So I mean, it's just hard to really come up with the accurate number. I think we're all here for to make sure that we're doing the right thing for all the residents and not these residents or those residents, but the majority of residents. And I don't dive. I don't snorkel.

So I got to rely on those on the board that have that experience. And that's something that we all have different experiences on a lot of different things. So we got to rely on each other's information. Being that I know that the three people to my left are snorkelers, divers, boaters, whatever it is, we've to trust their experience. What did I say? Left? Oh, three to my right. And I'm not taking anything away from the public speakers today. But we were elected to represent everybody. So

I'm going

to stick with the two eighteen based on staff and based on what I heard from my colleagues that have the experience that we're looking forward to my right. Unless we get other compelling information that's going to change my mind, I'm leaning towards the ordinance as submitted from staff.

DANIEL Commissioner Kaleri wanted to clarify something. Go ahead.

MARY I

just want to clarify after I misspoke. It's 300 feet, not yards. And we're talking about two eighteen yards, correct?

It's 700 feet. Right.

In Fort Lauderdale? And also in I'll pull up the next one. But

for a

lot generally.

Time again in general. But I'll double check on that one right now.

I have those measurements.

Okay.

So just for a point of DAY:

clarification, Dania Beach, as Commissioner Schuhem has mentioned, is 300 yards. They do With also no buoys.

JAMES But they also have a caveat in their ordinance that states, if there were markers, it is a 100 yards from the shoreline. But they don't have markers for point of clarification. Hallanda Beach is very vague, as we know. But their buoys are at 218 yards today. Sunny Isles Beach has buoys, and they're between a 100 and a 166 yards, Sunny Isles Beach. Golden Beach mirrors Sunny Isles Beach. Miami Beach has buoys at 100 yards, approximately. Fort Lauderdale Beach has buoys at 100 yards, as well. And Deerfield Beach has an exclusionary zone at 400 feet, which is about 133 yards. So just

So we're even

We're way beyond that. We It would be the farthest, most protected shoreline in all of Broward and Miami Dade County.

Yep.

All right. Commissioner Hernandez.

Thank you, mayor. One of the things that concerns me is beach safety. Not necessarily the swimmers, but the people that have to rescue those swimmers if they actually decide to go beyond that point. So the farther we put the markers, the more the challenges are going to be for individuals who think, I'll race you to the markers and back. And then it becomes a problem for our fire safety individuals that actually rescue them.

So I'm comfortable at two eighteen. I thank you for clarifying the different measurements of the different cities because that seems to be where it becomes clear as mud. But whether it's 100 feet or 100 yards, it is actually 100 yards, which is 300 feet. And it becomes because every three feet is one yard. So I'm comfortable at the two eighteen yards. And I'm good with that, because it protects the boaters, gives them a clear line of sight where they can and cannot be. It gives the swimmers where they should or should not be. It gives the ability for anyone who's diving to know that they need to have that flag out there. And it gives our first responders the ability to be able to reach where they need to go in due time. I'm good with the two eighteen yards.

And I know there had been discussion. And I also do remember how it came about. It came because of visual pollution. And that's where the push and shove came regarding the distance. I think the distance is a happy medium from what's there from other cities versus where, you know, 300 yards is almost a thousand feet, 900 feet. And it becomes problematic, at least for me. So I'm supporting the ordinance as it comes, as it came in.

All right. Let's hear from Commissioner Quintana, and then we'll take a vote on the amendment. And then we'll have we'll comment, see where we're at after that. Commissioner Quintana.

Thank you, mayor. Yeah, I have not been on a boat since I was a little girl. And I know Chief Levy, he keeps standing at the microphone thinking we're going to ask him questions, then we're not. So I I'm was feeling really torn because of what Mr. Graham said about his diving business and his experience.

But also, I want to better understand what I've heard the mayor talking about, is that putting it at 300 yards penalizes boaters. And when I was talking with you, chief, you said something about you had a picture where you could show how it's not linear, where the natural reef is, and that that changes. And so for me, like pictures say 1,000 words. Is this the picture you were referring

There is another graphic, if Arlene can bring up that other graphic. Do you mind bringing that graphic up? And this was shared by somebody from North Beach. So whoever's in the audience that shared this graphic, thank you. I don't know if you're in the audience. You did, yes. So this is a good graphic also, just to give you a depiction of now, instead of just looking at the geographical satellite image, this gives you a graphic image of what we're looking at here.

Can you

explain it to me, please?

So you can see that the dotted line is the proposed two eighteen yards. The first solid line past that is the current 300 yards. The brown is the natural reef lines, where our natural reefs are. The gray are the boulders that the artificial reef are the boulders that people keep speaking of. And then you can see the triangles are the mermaid reefs. This is just an area a snapshot of North Beach to give you an idea of where that graphic is.

So chief, this first solid red line is at 300 yards. JAMES Correct. And that's more on top of the reef than the two eighteen is, correct?

JAMES Correct.

Yes, sir. JAMES Thank you. JAMES

Right. That is what you said to me when we were speaking, that 300 yards would actually and that was going to be my next question was when you said that 300 yards would actually put more people in the way of where the boats were because of the natural reef.

The 300 yards currently today is on top at least in North Beach is on top of a lot of the natural reef area today.

Yeah. Cause I mean, for me, like all of us have said, you know, the issue of safety is pivotal. And so, I mean, I'm just looking at where are people gonna be less likely to be in the line of boats. And when I think about what the other thing I had kind of written down was just I don't know what enforcement looks like on the water for boaters because I'm just thinking about how people drive their cars in South Florida and whether it's like that for boaters. Because for drivers, certainly, they don't pay much attention to where pedestrians are or where bicyclists are, regardless of what the law says.

And that's why we need enforcement. So I'm wondering what enforcement looks like on the water. I don't know.

It gives our lifeguards a visual area of where the boaters should and should not be. And it also gives lifeguards the visual of where swimmers should and should not be. Now boaters will see the buoy markers and treat them like traffic cones. So you shouldn't be you'll you'll go down the line of traffic cones. So if you see traffic cones, buoy markers coming up from Hallandale, which they're already at two eighteen yards, then you see ours at two eighteen yards, you'll know to follow that path.

If you're coming up from Hallandale, again, Sunny Isles and those other areas, and you see traffic cones coming up the road or coming up the ocean, and then you don't see traffic cones, you don't know where that exclusionary zone is. So if ours is out at 300 yards and Halland Hills and the ones to the south of us are two eighteen or less, you're now going to take the chance of a boater going up in the middle of our exclusionary zone because there's no signage out in the ocean that says you must go left or right.

All

right. Right. Thank you.

All right. Let's go ahead and take over.

I have

a question from the mayor.

All right.

Do you guys want to take a vote on the amendment? Or do you guys want to keep I'm just trying to move it along.

Well, there's questions still.

Okay. All right. I'm fine with that. So I'll go with the queue. I've got Commissioner Schuha and then Calari.

Well, just as a procedural thing, when we vote, mayor, can we vote on the distance and then come back to some of the small things?

I'm fine with that. Mean, I

don't know what the

small things are. Chief, why don't you go ahead and tell us that.

So the small things that the commissioner's referring to is the high watermark versus the low watermark. It's just something that it was just an oversight when we gave examples to legal to change. It's just we should probably keep it. We should, not should. We should keep it at

the low watermark. I'm fine with that. Yeah, I'm fine with that.

And then I think there was another I don't know what I did with my draft where it was set 150

JOSEPH Yeah, that's referring to yeah, that's just a clerical error. So it's going to match whatever chapter 99 says. So Commissioner Shuhan's referring to chapter 99 says 150 feet or 50 yards for a diver flag with swimmers off 50 yards offshore. There's just a clerical error within this ordinance that refers back to Chapter 99.

So we'd be matching the state statute?

Well, we'd be matching our own current city ordinance of Chapter 99.

Which is what you want to keep? Yes, yes. The yards for swimming?

Correct, yes.

I got you.

And then the only other thing is, in the original ordinance, it said well, first, I'll just point out that there's a numbering error in 98.011. It goes A12 and then it goes to three. And that second number two is not a real it's not a sentence. And I think all of this can be fixed before a second reading.

We'll have to make sure it's

Yeah.

But I just point out on that one, it used to say that you couldn't operate in a reckless way. And again, it's unclear from this red line or within 100 yards of any bather in the Atlantic Ocean. And that phrase was deleted. So I think it's important to keep that in because it also ties to the statute about Diflex. So that would be my other request.

JULIE Understood.

JULIE And I don't want to beat a dead horse. But I just want to say that with respect to other cities, other cities are looking at where their reefs are. And they're making decisions based on the natural resources that they have available. Hollywood is blessed that we have these natural reefs. And we have people that are coming here to swim to those natural reefs out to way past 02:18.

So while I think it's important to compare to your neighboring cities I get that because, like you've said, mayor, boats are people are trying to go in a straight line I'm not really swayed by what's happening in Miami, per se. The other important thing that I think we have so that's number one, is to make sure that we're looking at our reef and our neighbors. The other thing that I want to point out, when we installed the artificial reefs, the first artificial reef we installed was a mile out. And our website, our Hollywood City website, says, the current artificial reef is located about a mile offshore in 35 to 40 feet of water and is accessible to certified skilled divers via vessel. Then

Actually, 55 to 60 feet of water.

I'm just reading from the website. Accessible via vessel. When you go to the offshore reef guide, the same city of Hollywood website, guardians of the reef have been deployed off the coast of Hollywood Beach in a depth of about 10 feet, accessible to divers and those snorkeling from shore. So the artificial reef project as a whole was done in two parts. The four sections that we've just installed were to swim.

I've tried it. You've tried it. It's for people to swim out, basically, or paddle out. We have an artificial reef a mile out for divers on boats. And so I just think that it's important that we remember how we got here, and why the 300 has been there because of our natural resource and the natural reef that we have.

And the people that we should be protecting are the people we are encouraging, by our own words, to come to our shore and swim out to the artificial reef and to the natural reef. And so I cannot wrap my head around the idea that pulling it in from our current ordinance at 300 to two eighteen is helping anyone. I think, to your point, Commissioner Gruber, people are on board. They're not going to want a million buoys up and down, but they've bought into this concept. That's not really what we're talking about today.

We're talking about where that line should be. Based on our natural resources, the people swimming to see what's here, the city encouraging people to come offshore and swim out, to me the 300 is the only safe way to go. Thank you.

Thank you. Commissioner Cleary.

So I guess, chief, I have to ask you another question. So first, does this change our paddle boarding expectation now? Because if we're moving it in for vessel, considered we had this discussion many, many times

I'll defer it to my ocean rescue chief.

Yes. I believe it will lessen that. So that will make a lot of people happy, right? So we've got to find a common ground. But I think it will bring it in to two eighteen yards instead of 300, if I'm not mistaken.

The paddle boards have to stay 100 yards out.

100 yards out. Okay. So it doesn't have any effect? Correct. Period. And in any location?

Correct.

Okay. So that's one. I just want to make sure on that. And second, I mean, I'd like to make an amendment because if all of our neighboring cities, and not that we're comparative, but we've put this reef, and I know the website says for offshore, like to go offshore. But I thought we put the reefs in for everybody to enjoy. Boaters, that's how it was sold by Shelby. You can be a boat, and you can drive up and snorkel them. You could be on the shore and circle them. It's for everyone. It's not just the entitlement of people who are onshore, if I'm not mistaken.

So I'd like to make an amendment to the amendment and make it 150 yards. Because that way, we're still greater than majority of the cities. And this way it's easier for our lifeguards to be able to get to those if they're in distress.

Vice Mayor, with all due respect, our furthest out artificial reef is at 185 yards.

Okay.

Our goal is to have this past the artificial reefs. So if we bring it into 150 yards, most of our artificial reefs will be out of the exclusionary zone.

Okay. Then we'll ignore that then.

All right. So our final speaker on this amendment is going to be Commissioner Hernandez. Then we're going to take a vote on the amendment. And then we'll take a vote on the main motion. Go ahead, Commissioner Hernandez.

JULIET The only reason I buzzed in was so that I could call the question so that we could actually JULIET Thank you.

All right. So all those in favor of the amendment to amend the ordinance to read 300 yards, say aye. Aye. All those against? Against. Alright, motion fails, I think, six to one. All right. So now our main motion is back on the floor, which is for the ordinance as presented by the fire chief chief and beach safety. And at second readings, we'll have the correction of those errors and the formatting issues that were pointed out and the clarification of

I think that the questions were whether we want it to be at the high watermark or the low watermark. And that could be the difference of about maybe 10 yards or so.

Yeah. So my recommendation would be to bring it back to the low watermark. That was an oversight when we were doing the ordinance.

Okay. Because that pushed it a little farther out. That gives a happy medium in between. I

do want to ask Commissioner Suhyam on clarification. You mentioned that you didn't like the strike through for 100 yards for reckless boaters. We struck that through because nobody should be operating a boat recklessly. So we figured whether it was 100 yards or not, we just don't want to have it there that someone should be operating a boat reckless at 88 yards versus 100. So that was why we struck it through.

And what is the difference between the high watermark and the low watermark?

Large distance? It's high tide and low tide. I don't have that measurement, sir.

Okay. So About 20 feet And the reason that I asked that question is, when how do you know where to put the buoys?

So it's based on our mean the mean low water mark. So wherever the average has been for the low water mark for low tide is what they go based on.

Okay. So we don't know what that

And that would be up to when the city hires a contractor to make that identification of the distance. They'll be the ones that will make the determination as to where the mean low water mark is or high water mark.

And you're comfortable with that?

I'm comfortable with that. Okay.

And the flag will still stay in existence if there is a dive flag. It's 100 yard boaters have to stay 100 feet from

No, that's state statute.

And who's going to implement that?

Implement which? I'm sorry.

That Roseguard.

The lifeguards make sure that there's boaters out there or if there's our law enforcement marine patrols out there, any law enforcement that's out there.

Okay.

All right. We've got two that want to give their last word. Was asked to call the question, but go ahead.

Just on that question from the chief mayor. My only point and I certainly understand we don't want reckless anywhere. It's just taking it out seemed unnecessary. So we could have an A and a B so that that ties to the state statute. That's all.

I'm the second of the motion. I don't support that. I like what you're talking about because otherwise it encourages stuff like that. And

We can leave it as is, but for the obvious clerical errors and formatting errors. And then we can settle that at second reading if need be, and maybe you'll have more feedback for us one way or another. Either way, it seems to be a minor enough issue, a city attorney, to where we can make that tweak at the second reading. Is that correct?

I agree, yes.

So we don't have to really do too much about that now. But low watermark, I think, is well taken, and I think the board supports here today. All right. Commissioner Gruber, last word, and then we're really taking the vote.

Yeah. So just lastly, to point out what as far as enforcement, and in speaking to Chris O'Brien, without the buoys, our marine units, MARTINEZ: enforcement. So they

Be challengeable.

Well, they JAMES There's no market. JAMES couldn't even do it because there's no market.

There's no

proof of it. So now, by putting these wherever we are putting them, now there can be enforcement. So those boaters that are coming close in the boating world will get the word out. No, don't mess around over there. Know, have some enforcement.

Good. We can revive the Hollywood police jet ski patrol to man the line. All those in favor of the

Excuse me.

I'm sorry. Need to read the roll call vote. I'm sorry. You're right. I caught myself halfway. All right. Clerk, city attorney, let's read the ordinance. And we'll call the roll call vote at the recommended two eighteen yard line.

An ordinance of the City Commission of the City Of Hollywood, Florida, amending chapter 98 of the Code of Ordinances entitled Marine and Waterway Regulations Boats and Other Vessels to Create a Vessel Exclusionary Zone, Providing for a Severability Clause and a Repealer Provision.

JULIE: Commissioner Schuham? I'm sorry? No. Commissioner Hernandez?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Caleri?

Yes.

JULIE: Commissioner Gruber?

Yes.

JULIE: Commissioner Biederman? Yes. Commissioner Cantana?

Yes. Mayor Levy?

Yes. All right. Let's show the ordinance passing six to one on first reading. I just do want to mention for everyone who cared enough to come out today. I know you're passionate about the issue of where the line was, but the one indisputable thing based on whatever everyone's opinion is was the map that the chief showed that showed that the 300 yard line was more on top of the reef than the two eighteen at the North Beach section. So that went into my thinking and to Oliver's thinking. And I think it'll be safe. It'll and everyone needs to comply with the law of boaters and snorkelers and scuba divers alike. Thank you all so much. Alright, ladies and gentlemen. Let's let's go on.

Alright. You wanna take a break?

Yeah. Why don't we do one more? Let's do one more and then take a break because the one more is just the end of the time certain items. Let's just get through it real quick. An ordinance item 49 an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Hollywood vacating a portion of Platte Alley lying within Block 53 of the Platte Of Hollywood, Platte Book one, page 21, etcetera, etcetera. This is an ordinance on first reading. This is for Alta Hollywood and the vacation of the alley, I believe, something we've been working on for many years. An ordinance on first reading by development services. Andrea?

Correct, mayor. Thank you very much. This is vacation of an alley for a project known as Alta, or I might say this wrong, GIA. GAIA. GAIA. Thank you. It's had a few different names. It's a four sixty four unit mixed use development taking place just north of downtown. Their request is to vacate the alley and put in two additional access easements for the two properties, one on the east and west side, to be able to retain access.

I'm going go ahead and open the public hearing. Are there any speaker cards on ordinance item 49?

No cards.

Public hearing is now closed. I'll accept the motion.

Motion to approve. Motion

from Vice Mayor Colari, second from Commissioner Gruber to approve the ordinance on first reading. Let's go ahead and read the ordinance and call the roll call vote.

ANNETTE An ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Hollywood, Florida vacating a portion of the Platte Alley lying within Block 53 of the Platte Of Hollywood, Platte Book one, page 21, and more specifically described in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein, providing a severability clause, a repeal or provision, and an effective date, all to Hollywood.

JULIE Commissioner Shuham? JULIE Yes. JULIE Commissioner Hernandez?

JULIE Yes.

Commissioner Gruber? JULIE Yes. JULIE Commissioner Quintana?

JULIE Yes.

JULIE Mayor Levy?

JULIE Yes. All right. Let's show the ordinance passing unanimously on

Mayor, I forgot to mention this project is in permitting, and they're very close to getting their permit issued.

All right. We're excited about that. All right. We're going to, at the request of the commission, take a five that usually becomes a ten minute break. So we'll see you when we come back.

Recessed. Zooming our meeting, ladies and gentlemen. I was asked during the break if I can give some quick consideration if the commission doesn't object. Apparently, are folks here that have been waiting on items fifty four and fifty five, which are some contracts for asphalt and paving and things. So without objection, fifty four and fifty five.

And then 51, we'll do right after that. And then we can continue on. We can get these folks back to work. So item 54 is a resolution of the city commission authorizing the city to execute agreements with and issue blanket purchase agreements with a number of asphalt companies for asphalt pavement resurfacing and general rights of way maintenance work in an annual amount of up to $2,000,000 per vendor per year for a three year term, with up to two additional two year renewal terms. Are there any speaker cards on item 54? I don't imagine there are.

No cards.

All right. If there's not a request for discussion, I'll entertain a motion.

Motion to approve.

Second. We have a motion from Vice Mayor Kalari and a second from Commissioner Biederman to approve item 54. All those in favor, aye. Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, the item carries unanimously. Item 55 is a resolution of the city commission approving and authorizing the city to execute agreements and issue blanket purchase agreements with a number of companies for concrete construction and general rights of way maintenance work in an amount up to $2,000,000 per vendor per year for a three year term, with up to two additional two year renewal terms. Are there any speaker cards on item 55? Pat, any speaker cards on item 55? No? I'll entertain a motion.

Motion to approve. Second.

We have a motion from vice mayor Coleri and a second from commissioner Quintana to approve item 55. All those in favor, aye. Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, those items carry unanimously. Thank you. Sorry to keep you waiting, but hopefully you found this lesson in civics and how we make a great meal out of spaghetti. You can be proud. But thank you. And let me just say, for those who are here on the asphalt work especially, please, when you resurface our roads, let's have the crews pay extra attention to keep it as smooth as possible.

I hate seeing when we resurface a road and new road is as bumpy as the old one was. So please, I know our staff will talk to you guys about that, about the specs. But if I could just instill upon you that, you know, spirit of pride in the finished product, I'd appreciate that. Thank you. Take care, everybody. Alright. Mayor Bober, welcome. Good to see you. I think you are here on item 51, resolution of the city commission approving and authorizing the appropriate city officials to negotiate and execute an agreement with Boucher Brothers, Hollywood Beach LLC, for beach concessionaire services. This is under the guise of public utilities here.

I see that. Although, I would have thought it would have been Parks. Is that a Scrivener's error? Yeah, seems so. All right. Let's not make that a habit. We don't like Scrivener's errors, or the suggestion thereof. Ricky, welcome.

I heard that.

Okay. Mayor, vice mayor, commissioner, city manager, city attorney, assistant city manager, Rick Engel, director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts. I have a short presentation to

go over.

Currently, have a contract with Boucher Brothers for the beach concessions. That contract expires on March 30. We went out to bid in the October. And then first time out, we didn't get any proposals back. So we extended the contract three different times.

We made some minor adjustments. And then we received a proposal from Boucher Brothers that we'll talk about today. So Boucher Brothers has been with us. Current contracts are in for eight years. But Boucher Brothers have been around quite a long time, since 1987.

They're very familiar in the business. They have a large company. And so we know that we have a good candidate in their proposal. The proposal that they gave us is for a five year contract. The initial terms for the first year would be $410,000 per year. And that amount goes up each year. Second year will go up by 2%, then 3%, four percent. Fifth year would be up 5%. And then there's also an option for a three year extension. And each year of that extension would go up 5%.

So over the first five year period, we'd make over $2,100,000 over that five year period. And if we decided to take the renewal option, we'd make an additional 1.5 and onetwo million dollars over that next three years. So the total for eight years would be almost $3,800,000 over eight years. And just as a comparison, our current contract, we've been receiving $200,000 a year. So this contract more than doubles what we're getting currently.

Nope, it died on me. I'm sorry. Eileen, can you move it? Thank you. Yeah. So the new agreement, in addition to the funds, they have also agreed to provide a resident discount. So residents would receive a 25% discount over their normal rental rates. They also are proposing a senior day, so once a week. We haven't determined what day that would be. But seniors would receive a 35% discount one day out of the week. You can't get both, though. You can't get a resident discount and a senior discount. You can only take one.

We're going to have to speak with them in about one minute. Okay.

Again, I Okay, in addition to that, they did put a couple other incentives in their contract. They would provide kids zones. That could be depending on the day and the crowds on the beach. It could be one zone. It could be multiple zones where they'll put out some games just to attract the children and have something for the children to play.

They also will have their staff, as part of their normal service, they'll pick up at least three pieces of trash each day. And they're going to encourage any participant, anyone that rents from them, to participate in that program. It would be a volunteer on a voluntary basis, but there are no incentives to the people to do it. But it's to help the city have that environmental aspect and take pride in the way the beach looks. And lastly, they also will provide the city with a, over the five year period, dollars 12,500, basically as a sponsorship funding where each year they'll give us $2,500 that the city can determine how best to use that, whether it's for a dune restoration project or some other area along the beach or wherever we want to do it that we had that choice to use that $2,500 a year.

And at this point, open to any questions. And Boucher Brothers is here if they have any questions of them.

Thanks, Rick. Thank you. Commissioner Gruber?

Yes. Thanks, Rick. I have a couple of questions. With regards to there's some other vendors more towards the south end of the beach, like I know in front of Sierra Towers, in front of Summit. Are they staying there? There's like a handful of small businesses. Or is this taking over everything?

JAMES This contract goes from Sherman Street South to Bougainvillea, with the exception of Margaritaville. Our plan is to go back out with the south end of the beach and create a wheel and work with the hotels and the condos on the south end of the beach, where they will have the opportunity to pick who they'd like off of the wheel. So we'll have some of the smaller vendors that might be out there would have the option to become part of that wheel. So we'll be going out separately with that. We SPEAKER

It's still publicly accessible, but nonetheless registered with the city.

Right. Okay. So Okay. The senior discount, what did you say that was gonna be? If I can ask from the Shea Brothers.

It's 35%, but they can go into more detail. Gotcha.

I think when I when I met with you guys, I think I remember it being a bigger discount, no? That in that you do in other cities?

Yes. We do have a senior discount in other cities that's a little more favorable. We also do not have a resident discount in that same city.

Got it.

So they're to balance the both of

Got it. What raising

the rent.

Was it free that I remembered correctly We in other have