The West Melbourne City Council voted to approve a first amendment to a license for the use of city right‑of‑way at the Hollywood Estates entrance, settling a long‑running dispute between neighbors and the voluntary homeowners association over landscape maintenance.

What council approved: The amendment attaches an exhibit map that defines the landscaped areas at the entrance parcels and assigns maintenance responsibility for those landscaped parcels to the Hollywood Estates HOA (a voluntary HOA). Council clarified during debate that the two privacy fences located on the purchased city parcels remain city property; the city manager will retain discretion over fence maintenance or replacement. The motion passed 7–0 after the council amended the measure on the floor to include the map and the fence clarification.

Public comment and context: Two longtime Hollywood Estates residents spoke during the public forum. Joan Connolly (551 Jennifer Circle) asked the city to resume mowing both the east and west sides of the entrance and to honor a prior 2011 agreement that established a memorial brick garden and set maintenance expectations. She said residents signed a petition asking the city to reverse unauthorized changes and requested restoration of a mowed look at the entrance.

Paul Lilliebridge (542 Monte Circle), a past HOA president and current former board member, said Hollywood Estates is a voluntary HOA with roughly 80 members of more than 400 lots. He told council the HOA historically handled entrance elements in coordination with the city and said the HOA can accept responsibility for maintenance of the landscaped areas but noted the controversy that led several board members to resign.

Staff background: City staff recounted the entrance’s history: the county had relocated a prior Hollywood entrance to Henry Avenue as part of a larger roadway project, and the city acquired two parcels to create the replacement entrance. The city previously entered a license agreement with the HOA (2011) that allowed a memorial brick garden and set maintenance expectations. Over time, residents’ preferences diverged—some wanted a more natural, low‑maintenance landscaping scheme while others asked for traditional mowed grass. Staff proposed the amendment to make the maintenance decision one the HOA can manage so the issue would not return repeatedly to council.

Council discussion and fence ownership: Councilmembers asked whether the HOA is active and who can join (staff and a former HOA president said any resident can join; dues are voluntary and modest). Members also pressed staff on who owns the fences: staff said the two wooden privacy fences on the purchased parcels are city assets; a longer split‑rail fence along Henry Avenue is not a city asset. Council directed staff to include the exhibit map in the record and clarified the city would keep responsibility for the privacy fences while working with the HOA on potential replacement options and costs.

Why it matters: The action removes recurring agenda friction by placing day‑to‑day landscape decisions with the neighborhood HOA while preserving city control of structural assets that affect safety and right‑of‑way integrity. The council’s amended approval creates a clearer legal description of what the HOA will maintain and what remains a city responsibility.

Next steps: Staff will record the amended license together with the attached exhibit map and work with the HOA to coordinate ongoing maintenance. The city manager will oversee any necessary fence replacement and can negotiate specifics with the HOA and adjacent homeowners.

Ending: The motion to approve the first amendment (with exhibit and fence clarification) passed unanimously, ending the latest chapter of a multi‑year, locally contentious maintenance dispute.