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CRA board funds cultural programming, approves bollards and names new executive director; dune project update raises access concerns
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Summary
The board approved a $352,000 amendment for security bollards, appointed Raylan Story as CRA executive director, authorized quarterly advertising support for Cinema Paradiso, and heard a county dune-construction update after residents raised concerns about beach width, rope-and-post height and plant survival.
At its April 6 meeting the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency approved several governance and program actions and heard informational updates on dune construction and cultural programming.
The board authorized an amendment to the phase 4 guaranteed maximum price with Burkhart Construction to add security bollards at beach street ends for about $352,000 (including $124,000 of materials to be purchased by the CRA). The amendment passed by unanimous voice vote.
The board also appointed Raylan Story as the CRA’s executive director by unanimous vote and asked staff to provide a report on the beach-district sunsetting process and remaining projects ahead of the statutory deadline.
On culture, Jennifer Homan, who manages Cinema Paradiso, outlined programming to increase attendance and regional visibility. The board agreed to release the next $15,000 quarterly tranche of advertising support from CRA funds, conditioned on quarterly reporting; the measure passed unanimously 6–0. Board members discussed moving future support to a different line item that better reflects cultural programming rather than general marketing.
The board received a county-led update on the dune project for North and South Central Beach. Chris Roscheck, the city’s resiliency lead, said the county’s design follows the dune-master-plan ratio (one-third dune, two-thirds open beach) and that construction is slated to wrap up later in the month. Residents and board members had raised concerns that, at certain tides and locations, the dunes appear to consume more of the sandy beach than expected and that rope-and-post protective measures looked taller than planned. Staff said contractors must provide post-construction surveys and that plantings carry a one-year warranty; staff will follow up with the county on planting and signage plans and will monitor accessibility at pedestrian crossovers.
Public commenters and board members also flagged traffic impacts, maintenance-of-traffic (MOT) practices and the quality of temporary roadway repairs near ongoing pump-station construction; FDOT and city staff said they will review MOT and timing with construction teams.
Votes at a glance
- Install 30 backflow-preventer valves: approved (resolution, item 11), contractor: Southeastern Engineering Contractors, amount up to $1,016,000 + 30% contingency. - Amend Phase 4 GMP to add security bollards: approved (item 13), added cost approximately $352,000. - Appoint Raylan Story as CRA executive director: approved (item 14). - Release next quarterly CRA advertising funding to Cinema Paradiso: approved, $15,000 this quarter (board directed quarterly reports).
