Nov. 4--Hollywood commissioners Wednesday fired the director of a city agency that oversees beach redevelopment -- two days after he released a report showing massive cost overruns for a Brazilian festival.

Commissioners voted 5-2 to fire Gil Martinez, with Commissioners Fran Russo and Patricia Asseff voting against.

Martinez, 39, has been with the Community Redevelopment Agency for many years, serving in various capacities. In recent years, he oversaw the $100 million renovation of Hollywood Beach, and several other ambitious projects.

Martinez also came under fire in September, when city commissioners learned that he had given himself and other CRA employees bonuses, phone stipends and car allowances that were out of line with those given to city employees, according to city spokeswoman Raelin Storey.

And in March 2008, Martinez -- then head of the beach staff -- was criticized for increasing his staff from four employees to 17. At the time, city officials said they were worried about how CRA money was being spent.

Hollywood spent nearly $600,000 for the community beach party this year, nearly quadruple what was budgeted at a time the city was scrambling to slash expenses.

City officials say the March event -- Brazil on the Beach -- was a success that drew thousands to the beach with concerts and other activities, boosting shops and restaurants.

"Shame on us," said City Commissioner Dick Blatter, who was surprised by the total tab: $587,090.

In January, the commission, acting as the oversight board for the CRA, approved spending up to $150,000 for the Brazilian festival. Since it was a new event, the cost estimates were based on other events, according to a memo from Martinez distributed to commissioners.

More than 65,000 people attended a concert during the festival, which city officials said was one of the largest single-day events in city history.

Yet production costs "began to escalate" during the on-site work leading to the event. Then, the city said, severe weather on the main day of the event, March 21, sent the bill skyrocketing.

Rescheduling led to cost overruns for setup costs, security, marketing, portable bathrooms and other expenses. After the event, invoices started piling up.

The city plans to continue the event -- but at a scaled-back price. For next year, Martinez suggested the CRA spend $200,000.

The item wa not on Wednesday's 10 a.m. CRA agenda, though controversy over the 2009 price tag surfaced. Commissioners may push CRA officials to seek help from businesses in paying for the event or to consider charging admission.

"It's a nice event, but it's not fiscally responsible to spend this kind of money at the same time at which unemployment is as high as it is and we are laying off people in the city," Mayor Peter Bober said.

As the city tries to stem spending amid plummeted property values, commissioners have taken a critical look at CRA expenses.

Commissioners approved a budget in September that ultimately could lead to about 11 layoffs citywide by January. Also, commissioners agreed to place the CRA under City Manager Cameron Benson's authority -- in the past it had reported directly to commissioners -- and have one director lead the two districts in the beach and downtown.

Benson has interviewed Martinez and the director of the beach district, Neil Fritz, but has yet to announce a selection or whether he'll launch an external search.

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