CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS
455 North Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills, OA 90210
TelephonicA/ideo Conference Meeting
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED STUDY SESSION
February 8, 2022
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 telephonicaliy, through live webcast, and BHTV Channel 10 on Spectrum Cable.
City Council meetings are broadcast on local Beverly Hills television and on other media platforms. Anyone who participates at the meeting and/or enters the City Council Chamber is subject to having their image displayed. These recordings will remain publicly accessible in perpetuity.
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
Huma Ahmed, City Clerk
Ken Pfalzgraf, City Arborist
Shana Epstein, Director of Public Works
Gregory Barton, Fire Chief
Cynthia Owens, Policy and Management Analyst
Debby (Figoni) Dunn, Water Conservation Administrator
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Wunderlich at 2:30 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.
Telephone Comment:
1. David Gingold re: LA District Attorney George Gascon City Council Adjourned Study Session Minutes
February 8, 2022
A - DIRECTION
1. Urban Forest Management Plan
First Agendlzed January 4, 2022
Staff seeks City Council input to and adoption of the Urban Forest Management Plan developed by consultant Dudek.
City Arborist Ken Pfalzgraf provided a synopsis of the item.
Written Comment:
1. Travis Longcore Ph.D., Science Director at the Urban Wiidlands Group
2. Chuck Alpert, Public Works Commissioner
Dudek Urban Forester and Arborist Ryan Allen answered City Council questions about the Plan. Mr. Longcore spoke on original heritage trees.
Mr. Pfalzgraf and Fire Chief Gregory Barton each spoke on the fire management program.
Director of Public Works Shana Epstein spoke on educating the Community about the Plan.
City Council approve the Urban Forest Management Plan, inclusive of the recommended revisions as set forth in the Public Works Commission Resolution but suggested to expand the tree canopy coverage and not to cap it at 33% if possible.
2. Request by Councilmember Mirisch for Information on Public Banks First Agendized October 26, 2021
Councilmember Mirisch is requesting information on public banks be provided to the City Council.
Policy and Management Analyst Cynthia Owens reported on the item. Public Bank LA and the California Public Banking Alliance co-founder David Jette spoke on the advantages public banks may offer to cities. Vice President - Deputy Director of Government Relations for the California Bankers Association Jason Lane spoke on the disadvantages of public banks.
Councilmember Mirisch explained the objective of his request to add the item to the agenda was to provide the City with information about the tools available to governments to install public banks.
Telephone Comment:
1. David Gingold
City Council thanked staff, Mr. Jette and Mr. Lane for the information. They did not support creating or joining a Public Bank at this time.
3. Resolution of the Council of the City of Beveriy Hiils Declaring a Drought Presenting the Public Works Commission's recommendation to adopt a resolution declaring a drought and promoting water efficiency through increased education and enforcement of water conservation measures.
Water Conservation Administrator Debby (Figoni) Dunn reported on the item and pointed out that the resolution is on the evening's City Council Formal agenda for approval.
Telephone Comment:
1. David Gingold
City Council Adjourned Study Session Minutes
February 8, 2022
Ms. Dunn and Director of Pubiic Works Shana Epstein answered City Council questions.
City Council provided their comments and expressed their support. The resolution is on the February 8, 2022 City Council Formal agenda for approval.
B - ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO CONSIDER (TIME PERMITTING)
None
0 - INFORMATION
4. An Informational Report on the Progress of City of Beverly Hills Safety Element Update Project, and the Proposed Changes Contained in the Draft Safety Element Informing the City Council that the draft Safety Element Update documents have been submitted to state agencies for review, and have been reviewed by the Planning Commission.
Informational report only, item not discussed.
5. Treasurer's Report for the Month Ended December 31, 2021 This report includes a summary of cash receipts and disbursements and a summary of fund balances.
Informational report only, item not discussed.
6. Treasurer's Report for Quarter Ended December 31, 2021 This report includes a summary of investment balances and a listing of the portfolio value by each City fund.
Informational report only, item not discussed.
The Study Session adjourned at 5:04 pm to the Closed Session to discuss items that are identified on the agenda.
PASSED, Approved and Adopted
this day of March, 2022
iL\JA
ROBERT WUNDERLICH, MAYOR
This meeting was broadcast on live television, on City of Beverly Hills municipal government television access Channel BHTV10 Spectrum Cable.