Thank you for your support! 

There will be a demonstration outside Hollywood City Hall from 4:30-6:30 pm Sept 14. It is located at 2600 Hollywood Blvd. Please join, even if you’re running late! Signs are helpful, but not necessary. Single-use plastics are prohibited on city property, so please bring a reusable bottle of water. This is a family friendly event.

The Regular City Commission Meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 14, and Citizen Comments are at 5 PM.
***Citizen Comments are Agenda Item 28.*** More info at HollywoodFL.org

There are two options for the public to provide Citizen Comments:
1. Register to provide comments virtually via the Webex Virtual Meeting App. You must be able to join the meeting virtually from an internet connected device with a web camera and microphone such as a personal computer, smart phone, or tablet. Those who register to provide comments virtually will receive the Webex meeting link by e-mail the day before the meeting.
Or:
2. Register to provide in-person comments during the meeting (capacity limits and social distancing requirements apply).
Registration to participate in the meeting virtually or in-person must be received by 6:00 p.m. on Monday, September 13th. The meeting is at 1 pm Sept 14, Citizen Comments are inside City Hall at 5 pm.

Use this link to register your in-person attendance or to provide comments virtually (agenda item 28) at 5 pm on 9/14: https://fl-hollywood2.civicplus.com/FormCenter/City-Clerk-12/2Regular-City-Commission-Meeting-Public--262?fbclid=IwAR35Ci-7PMxQRkmin59qD-1nr1AaCbwLYsvl_mnRuPz3d82epc9bjO_7Wu0

Please try to make it to the demonstration at any time between 4:30-6:30 PM outside, east side of City Hall, on Tuesday, Sept. 14. 

Sun Sentinel editorial: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/editorials/fl-op-edit-hollywood-park-beach-condo-20210902-xfs557qip5gd5op7janjm4fqvm-story.html

If you frequent Azalea Terrace beach, you know that it is a quiet section, away from the crowds on the Broadwalk. Harry Berry Park is part of these 4 acres of public land, as is a community center, small library, dunes, public parking, and an outdoor pavilion. The League of Women Voters of Broward County has written a letter to the city opposing this proposal. (See letter below)

Hope to see you at City Hall on 9/14.

• 4:30-6:30 PM- Demonstration outside City Hall, east side
• 5:00 PM- Citizen Comments inside City Hall (you must pre-register)

Greetings:

The League of Women Voters of Broward County believes the proposed condominium project at Harry Berry Park in Hollywood is an inappropriate use of public land.
 
While the League is nonpartisan, it does take positions on issues - but only after conducting a methodical study and taking a consensus of its membership. We have reviewed our position on the use of public parks and the proposed condominium project to make this determination. Our
interest in public parks goes back to the 1970s when we affirmed the importance of acquisition and development of land for parks and recreation and later included the importance of greenways
and open spaces to our community.
 
In 1989, we conducted a study of the privatization of public parks which resulted in a list of criteria the League recommends be considered when determining whether to put a for-profit enterprise in a public park. These criteria are used by the League to support or oppose projects in public parks and have been reaffirmed by our membership every year since 1989.
 
The League of Women Voters of Broward County will consider the following in evaluating the suitability of a commercial enterprise in a public park:
1. The type of park in which the business is being proposed, i.e., active park, passive park, environmentally sensitive park, etc.
2. The type of land that would be used within the park under consideration, i.e., environmentally sensitive, disturbed; unique habitat, wildlife habitat, etc.
3. Could the proposed business be successfully operated outside of the park?
4. Would this project be compatible with current facilities and use within the park?
5. The environmental impact on the park and the surroundings, i.e., noise level created by the business, effect on wildlife and plant life, impact on groundwater and air quality, impact on neighborhood traffic, lights, litter, etc.
6. The amount of land area proposed for the project including its support facilities in relation to the size of the park.
7. Opinions of nearby residents.
8. Cultural, recreational, and educational advantages to the community.
9. Broad public use — is it affordable and available for all economic classes?
10. Intention of the donors of the land, if applicable.
11. Does the project preclude use by the public for part of the year?
12. Will the developers pay their fair share of development costs within the negotiations, i.e. roads,
lights, sewers, water, surface drainage, etc.
13. Negotiations between the proposed business and governmental entity should be conducted in the “Sunshine” with adequate notice to the public and opportunity to observe all aspects of the negotiation process.
 
The proposed high rise condominium project for the Harry Berry Park fails almost all of our criteria, and so we urge you to deny this use of public land.
 
This project permits luxury housing on public land and does nothing to help with the affordable housing crisis in the City. It reduces public park space and public access. It sits on land that will be affected by sea level rise. There will be a negative impact on neighborhood traffic, noise and
light pollution, wildlife, and plant life. Some financial remuneration to the city cannot justify taking important public space and ocean access. Furthermore, it seems to defy deed requirements that the land be used for civic purposes and recreation.
 
We would remind the City Commissioners of the Margaritaville controversy (a $28 million loan that became a grant), and the current issue with Renaissance on the Ocean at 6051 North Ocean
Drive. In the latter situation, the development agreement is supposed to bind the condominium association to keep that beachside path open. Ninety-nine year deals that seem beneficial in the short term have long-term consequences for all citizens of Hollywood.
 
We urge you to reject this project.

Monica Elliott, President League of Women Voters Broward

Stephanie Pearson, Chair, Environmental Issues Committee

Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
 
P.O. Box 15952 Plantation, Florida 33318 954.546.4484
www.lwvbroward.org

More concerns on this project can be found in Hollywood Lakes Civic Association Newsletter on page 6: https://www.hollywoodlakes.com/