D-2
CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS
455 North Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
TelephoniclVideo Conference Meeting
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
December 7, 2021
2:30 p.m.*
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(e)(3), members of the Beverly Hills City Council and staff may participate in this meeting via teleconference/video conference. In the interest of maintaining appropriate social distancing, members of the public can access City Council meetings telephonically, through live webcast, and BHTV Channel 10 on Spectrum Cable.
The City Council may act on any item listed on the agenda.
PRESENT: Robert Wunderlich, Mayor
Lili Bosse, Vice Mayor
John A. Mirisch, Councilmember
Julian A. Gold, MD, Councilmember
Lester J. Friedman, Councilmember
George Chavez, City Manager
Laurence Wiener, City Attorney
Michelle Ramos-Vergara, Management Analyst
Magdalena Davis, Special Events & Filming Coordinator
Timothea Tway, City Planner
Robert Welch, Utilities General Manager
Josette Descalzo, Environmental Compliance and Sustainability Programs Manager
Shana Epstein, Director of Public Works
Colonel James Burnley, Solid Waste Manager
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Wunderlich at 2:33 p.m.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
1. AUDIENCE COMMENTS. Any person wishing to address the City Council on any matter may do so through email. However, the State open meetings law (Government Code Section 54950 et seq.) prohibits the City Council from providing a detailed response or acting upon any item not contained on the agenda posted 72 hours before a regular meeting and 24 hours before a special meeting. If you wish to address the City Council at this time, please email the City Clerk prior to or during the meeting. Please limit your email remarks to three (3) minutes in length (350 words) that can be read, so others may have the opportunity to participate as well.
Written Comment
1. Thomas White re: Police Chief swear in and menorah ceremonies City Council Study Session Minutes
December 7, 2021
A — DIRECTION
1. Special Events Request for Vanity Fair to Continue to Utilize the 400 Block of North Crescent Drive for Academy Awards Event over the Next Three Years (2022-2024) This item seeks City Council direction regarding Vanity Fair’s request to continue utilizing N.
Crescent Drive for post-Academy Awards Events over the next three years (2022-2024).
Vanity Fair Director of Special Projects Sara Marks briefly introduced the event and request.
Special Events & Filming Coordinator Magdalena Davis provided a detailed presentation.
Special Events City Council Ad Hoc Liaisons Vice Mayor Bosse and Mayor Wunderlich each spoke in support of the request.
Written Comments:
1. Thomas White
2. Kory KIem
3. Steve Mayer
City Council unanimously supported the request for another 3-year commitment with the City.
2. Update on County of Los Angeles Project at Virginia Robinson Gardens Staff will provide an update to the City Council on a proposed project to change the operations at Virginia Robinson Gardens located at 1008 Elden Way in Beverly Hills and is seeking City Council direction on future City action.
Vice Mayor Bosse recused herself as she lives within 500 feet of Virginia Robinson Gardens.
City Planner Timothea Tway presented an update on the proposed project and requested City Council direction on future City action.
Councilmember Mirisch clarified that the proposed project belongs to County of Los Angeles and not to the City of Beverly Hills. City Attorney Laurence Wiener advised on the City’s authority to regulate activities at the property.
Telephone Comments
1. Daniel Farasat
2. Daryoush Mahboubi
Video Comments
1. Masud Hakim
2. Jodi Stine
3. Antony Spencer
4. Roger Hepher
5. Chuck Alpert
6. Sally Harkham
7. Arnie Messer
8. Robin Kim
9. Kathy Checchi
10. Debbie Weiss
11. Michael Wierner
City Council Study Session Minutes
December 7, 2021
Written Comments
1. Mehdi Boulour, Bijan and Bronia Todd, Jacqueline and Isaac Morad, Jamshid and Julia Beroukhim Mehdi Boulour
2. Vera and Paul Guerin
3. Jonah Feit, Ben Kashanian and Esther Kashanian
City Council unanimously agreed to move forward with interacting with the County to oppose the proposed operational changes at the Virginia Robinson Gardens site. They also agreed to look into the City’s ability to regulate activities at the property, to research whether the proposed project is in violation of the grant deed requirements, and to look into the possibility of the City taking over control of the property.
3. Proposed Ordinance of the City of Beverly Hills Amending the Beverly Hills Municipal Code to Include Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Senate Bill 1383 requires jurisdictions to adopt a Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance to help reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants.
Implementation of the Ordinance will help reduce organic waste disposal in landfills.
Item A-3 was presented after Item A-4.
Utilities General Manager Robert Welch introduced Solid Waste Manager Colonel James Burnley who spoke on Senate Bill (SB) 1383 and briefly reviewed the Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance as part of SB 1383’s requirements.
Mr. Burnley and Director of Public Works Shana Epstein answered City Council’s questions about addressing the City’s food waste.
The Ordinance is on the December 7, 2021 City Council formal meeting agenda for City Council approval.
4. Consider Changing the Default Energy Product to 100% Green Power for the Entire City of Beverly Hills under the Clean Power Alliance
Staff is seeking City Council direction whether or not to increase the City’s default energy product to 100% Green Energy under the Clean Power Alliance (CPA). City Council’s direction will help CPA procure additional 100% renewable electricity for Beverly Hills and begin service by October 1, 2022.
Item A-4 was presented before Item A-3.
Utilities General Manager Robert Welch introduced Environmental Compliance and Sustainability Programs Manager Josette Descalzo who presented the item.
Video Comments
1. Chuck Alpert
2. Craig Cadwallader, Suririder Southbay
Written Comments
1. Wendy Nystrom, Basher Productions, LLC Environmental Social Justice
2. Anheles Thomas
3. Katia Thomas
4. Peter Ostroff
5. Farrah Dodes
6. Dr. Jason Doctor, University of Southern California
City Council Study Session Minutes
December 7, 2021
7. Dr. David Kaake, MD, Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club
Clean Power Alliance of Southern California (CPASC) Executive Board Member, Councilmember Gold, spoke on the item. Clean Power Alliance (CPA) Executive Director Ted Bardacke briefly explained the CPA’s Community Education Plan. Director of Public Works Shana Epstein spoke on the residents’ options.
The City Council agreed to the recommendation for staff to notify CPA to change the Default Energy Product to 100% Green Energy seffective October 1, 2022, without receiving a recommendation from either the Public Works Commission or the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Community Advisory Committee (CAC).
B — ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO CONSIDER (TIME PERMITTING)
None
C — INFORMATION
5. Budget Amendments and Transfers Between Funds Under the Authority of the City Manager and the Director of Finance for Fiscal Year 2020-21; Citywide Level 2 and Level 3 Awarded Purchases and Contracts for Fiscal Year 2020- 21 This report provides annual reporting of fund transfers and appropriations approved during Fiscal Year 2020-2 1 by the City Manager and Director of Finance and Citywide level 2 and level 3 awarded purchases and contracts.
Informational report only, item not discussed.
6. Treasurer’s Report for the Month Ended October 31, 2021 This report includes a summary of cash receipts and disbursements and a summary of fund balances.
Informational report only, item not discussed.
7. Highlights from Mayor’s Cabinet Meeting - November 8, 2021 This report provides monthly highlights from the Mayor’s meeting with Commission Chairs.
Informational report only, item not discussed.
City Council Study Session Minutes
December 7, 2021
The Study Session adjourned at 5:04pm to the Closed Session to discuss items that are identified on the agenda.
PASSED, Approved and Adopted
this 4th day of January, 2022
(JdLt/fltk 7t&4Q4
HUMA AHMED’City Clerk
ROBERT WUNDERLICH, MAYOR
This meeting was broadcast on live television, on City of Beverly Hills municipal government television access Channel BHTV1O Spectrum Cable.