Pembroke Park hires Ackerman LLP to explore possible recovery from Hollywood over wastewater billing

The commission voted to engage the law firm Ackerman LLP as special counsel to evaluate potential recovery from the City of Hollywood arising from the large-user wastewater agreement, approving Resolution 2025-074 with a caveat that the commission be notified before large legal fees are incurred.

Town Attorney Trevor Horwitz summarized the background: a recent settlement between Pembroke Pines and Hollywood prompted other large users to examine their billing methodology and potential recoveries. Horwitz said Ackerman has experience in the prior Pembroke Pines litigation and that the firm can guide the town through Chapter 164 dispute-resolution steps that typically precede litigation between local governments.

Commissioners emphasized a preference for negotiation; Horwitz said the town manager and Hollywood's manager would be asked to meet first and that commission-to-commission talks would follow before any lawsuit. Commissioners approved engaging Ackerman but asked for a return to the dais before advancing expensive legal work; the motion passed by roll call.

Why it matters: The engagement seeks to ensure the town is not overpaying under an intergovernmental large-user calculation and to correct future billing methodologies if warranted. Staff said potential recoveries for Pembroke Park would likely be modest but fixing methodology going forward could have ongoing value.