Residents press city on flooding as Hollywood advances stormwater master plan and new fee

Residents described severe, rapidly occurring flooding during the week before the Sept. 15 public budget hearing and urged the City Commission to accelerate stormwater work as staff presented the FY2026 funding plan. Anne Ralston said, "There's no place for water to go. Everything flooded in 15 minutes," describing standing water on US‑1 and neighborhood streets.

The issue matters because commissioners and staff said stormwater improvements are intended to reduce property and public safety risks as sea levels and king‑tide impacts intensify. Assistant City Manager Adam Reichbeck and staff described the stormwater funding package: staff presented a stormwater master plan with an initial program of projects and a proposed billing mechanism. Utilities staff said the plan initially identified roughly $375 million in projects: approximately $300 million for large‑scale CIP projects and $75 million for interim projects. The budget shows an annualized first‑year allocation of $20,000,000 from available sources to begin work on interim projects.

Utilities staff explained a proposed stormwater rate of 1 ERU = $22 per month for an average household; the first charges were scheduled to appear on early November bills, funding design and construction of interim projects and consultant work for longer‑term projects. Staff said a portion of earlier work tied to the Hollywood Beach Golf Course drainage had been budgeted separately.

Commissioners and staff noted that flooding is often a combo of rainfall and astronomical tides. In response to questions about the recent events, a staff member (Vin) said the heavy rains coincided with a king tide and that portable pumps cannot discharge effectively when ocean levels are elevated: "You're literally shoveling against the tide." Commissioner Quintana asked staff to expedite public communications about the new fee and the timing of projects; staff said a communications plan for rate changes and project schedules will be rolled out as consultants complete designs. The commission scheduled a related public workshop on septic‑to‑sewer conversion for Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. to discuss groundwater and septic‑to‑sewer issues raised during the meeting.

Residents and several commissioners pressed for immediate maintenance actions in low‑lying neighborhoods — clearing flap gates, targeted dredging and interim pumping efforts — while the long‑range CIP proceeds. Staff said some interim fixes have already been or will be implemented (portable pumps, targeted pipe work, canal dredging and specific outfall easements), but several lake/neighborhood areas will require larger projects and right‑of‑way or easement acquisitions. The stormwater funding and rate change were presented as part of the FY2026 budget overview; the commission did not vote separately on the ERU rate at this session but directed staff to continue outreach and implement the program steps in the coming months.