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Hollywood City Commission reviews multi‑phase $1.3B septic‑to‑sewer conversion plan
Summary
City staff presented a proposed six‑phase, 30‑year septic‑to‑sewer program affecting about 17,000 properties with an estimated $1.3 billion sewer cost (about $2.5 billion total for water, wastewater and plant needs). Commissioners signaled interest in faster timelines, financing options and enforcing connection rules.
Hollywood City Commission held a workshop on Oct. 22, 2025 to review a proposed multi‑phase septic‑to‑sewer conversion program that staff said would ultimately expand sewer service to roughly 17,000 presently unsewered accounts.
Vin Morello, Department of Utilities, told commissioners the effort is part of an overall water and wastewater master plan and presented a 30‑year, six‑phase proposal. "It's a 2 and a half billion dollar water and wastewater program," Morello said, and he identified about $1.3 billion specifically for sanitary sewer expansion. The plan groups neighborhoods into phased tranches — for example, Phase 1 would cover Boulevard Heights and adjacent areas (about 1,100 properties, roughly $71 million) while later phases cover Hollywood Hills, Driftwood and the 441 corridor.
Consultants said the plan was developed to coordinate sewer work with water‑main replacement and stormwater projects to reduce repeated street excavation. Stantec principal Eric Grau described the financial framing for the commission: the firm modeled a 10‑year financial forecast and a recommended five‑year near‑term rate plan that would set the city on a 30‑year construction timeline with blended water and sewer adjustments.
Staff emphasized constraints and risks: the city's primary wastewater plant is rated at 55.5 million gallons per day with about 21.8 million gallons of reserved capacity. Consultants warned that adding connections from 17,000 properties could exceed reserved capacity before 2035 unless infiltration/inflow (I&I) reductions and plant upgrades occur. Staff estimated roughly 8 million gallons per day of existing I&I and said comprehensive I&I work could remove about half of that flow.
Commissioners pressed staff on alternative timelines, homeowner costs and whether the city should develop an in‑house construction capability to avoid market price pressures. No formal motions or votes were taken. The commission asked staff to return with detailed options aligned to the commission’s timeline preference — several commissioners signaled support for accelerating the schedule into a 10–15‑year window — and to provide more analysis on financing, enforcement of the existing connection ordinance and public outreach.
The workshop closes with staff directed to refine phasing, financing and outreach plans and to present a follow‑up report and proposed resolution options to the commission for formal action.
