WRITTEN PUBLIC
COMMENTS RECEIVED
From: AGirlsWorld
To: City Clerk
Subject: City Council Meeting 7PM Tuesday July 18, 2023 - PLEASE READ AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:36:30 AM
Importance: High
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
Dear Beverly Hills City Council,
Please listen to the residents and business owners. We are asking you to save trees, not commit a crime. We are asking you to support the community, which is what City Council is elected to do. We are asking you to save trees, to save healthy living trees that are a valuable resource and essential for our survival. Council should not be killing healthy trees, wildlife habitat or our environment. Honestly, why have all of you, except for Council Member Mirisch, who has been supportive of the neighborhood and our trees, not tried to help? Why are you not working together to find a solution?
Our elected officials and those making these decisions should NOT have unilateral control to kill our trees, birds, bees, wildlife and all habitat living in the trees. In my wildest dreams, I couldn’t imagine anyone would kill a healthy tree. You should be ashamed of yourselves for forcing us to fight for the life of a tree when they should be protected and preserved.
Trees are not disposal. Trees are an incredibly valuable resource to the life of a community, which we so desperately need in our area. Why have you allowed an Arborist complete control with no oversight? Why have you allowed an arborist, who is not an Urban Landscape Designer to make decisions about the City’s Urban Forest and Urban Design? We have read the Dudek Urban Forest Management Plan and it specifically states our area does not have enough shade canopy. The report also states to preserve, protect and maintain our trees and increase the shade canopy.
I ask Council to prioritize trees and add a “Significant Tree Ordinance” to the agenda.
The City needs to protect all of our trees and not kill any trees.
We need more Council members who are willing to fight for our trees and the environment…God bless Council Member Mirisch. We are so grateful for his voice! Thank you.
From: Stop DuPont Clinic
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comment for Study Session & Regular Meeting, July 18, 2023 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:48:03 AM
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
Last fall, an out-of-state abortion provider called DuPont Clinic announced plans to expand to Beverly Hills this September. DuPont Clinic is perhaps the most extreme abortion clinic in the United States; it is blatantly, proudly, and vocally disregardful of human life, and will abort a healthy, 31-week gestation unborn child without requiring a reason for the termination. In California, such practices would be in violation of California Health & Safety Code section 123468(b), which prohibits abortions after viability unless the mother's health or life is endangered.
In light of Dupont Clinic's desire to operate in the City of Beverly Hills, and the cruel practices of this abortion clinic, I request that the City of Beverly Hills publicize an urgency Resolution, stating your commitment to California law, your commitment to protect the innocent, and the inherent value and dignity of all human life.
Thank you for your consideration.
Tasha Barker, organizer at Stop DuPont Clinic
From: Lesli Callahan
To: City Clerk
Cc:
Subject: Save the Trees "Tree Ordinance"
Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 4:47:24 PM
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
Dear City Council,
Please place a "Significant Tree Ordinance" to protect all trees, wildlife habitats, and our environment. We are counting on our elected officials to support residents and business owners in Beverly Hills. And we expect nothing less than voting in favor of preserving our shared natural landscapes that provide: Shade, habitat for wildlife, oxygen that combats pollution, and, last but not least, beautifying our neighborhoods.
The city illegally removed over 100 Ficus Trees on Robertson Blvd. and is now trying to remove over 1,200 trees throughout the city that are perfectly healthy. This is outrageous! The City of Los Angeles has implemented a "Significant Tree Ordinance" which protects all trees of a specific size and maturity, which reads, "Any tree that measures 12 inches or more in diameter and at four-and-one-half feet above the average natural grade at the base of the tree and or is more than 35 feet in height.
The ordinance will protect not only our trees but future generations will enjoy the healthy, life-supporting shade from the canopies. we ask City Council to protect not only the residents and business owners but our valuable natural resources. The trees, the wildlifeand the environment sersreve our attention and protectection. Implementing a Significant Tree Ordinance will provide these protections and preserve our urban forest.
Please sign on behalf of those who don't have voices and place a "Significant Tree Ordinance " on the Council agenda.
Thank you in advance for taking action and working with the residents and business owners.
Sincerely,
Lesli Callahan, Owner
Lesli Callahan |
HovaveART
From: Teryne Dorret
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comment – 7PM City Council Meeting
Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 4:07:45 PM
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
Dear Beverly Hills City Council,
Please read at Tuesday, 7 p.m. meeting.
I request a motion be placed on the agenda for a “Significant Tree Ordinance” to protect all trees, wildlife and our environment. The city of Beverly Hills needs to care for its natural environment to benefit all residents and businesses in the city, as well as the natural environment itself. The trees, wildlife and the environment deserve our attention and protection. This is vitally important for our community given the climate crisis and our need for shade canopy trees. The City illegally removed over 100 Ficus Trees on Robertson Blvd and is now trying to remove over 1200 trees throughout the city that are perfectly healthy, shade canopy trees that should not be removed. It is unconscionable that the city council is planning to remove these trees, especially with the deadly heat we will continue to encounter with a warming planet.
The City of Los Angeles has implemented a “Significant Tree Ordinance” which protects all trees of a certain size and maturity, which reads “Any tree that measures 12 inches or more in diameter and at four-and-one-half feet above the average natural grade at the base of the tree and or is more than 35 feet in height.” Beverly Hills should have a similar ordinance.
You cannot uncut a tree..this is incredibly important and should be given immediate attention.
Implementing a Significant Tree Ordinance will provide these protections and preserve our urban forest.
Please place a “Significant Tree Ordinance” on the Council agenda.
Thank you for taking action and working with the residents and business owners Sincerely,
Teryne Dorret
From: Greystar Tenants
To: City Clerk
Subject: City Council - Please Read 7PM Meeting
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:02:30 PM
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
Please read at meeting….
City Council of Beverly Hills,
I find it disingenuous that we are still having this conversation when Lili Bosse, promised to help us in February and yet did nothing. Now, Mayor Gold says he wants to help us but has not resolved this conflict. City Council needs to prioritize trees and add a “Significant Tree Ordinance” to the agenda.
The City of Los Angeles has a “Significant Tree Ordinance” which protects all tree species, “Any tree that measures 12 inches or more in diameter and at four-and-one-half feet above the average natural grade at the base of the tree and or is more than 35 feet in height.” In 2023, in the midst of the climate change, the worst environmental crisis of our lifetime, no resident should be begging City Council to stop cutting down healthy shade trees. This is irresponsible. These trees are incredibly valuable to our community and provide enormous benefit to the residents.
Keep in mind, this entire situation could have been easily avoided had City Council acted responsibly and stopped clear cutting all of the healthy Ficus trees in February. And yet, Council did nothing, after being bombarded by thousands of calls, emails and in-person comments from residents and business owners. Why is Council wasting everyone’s time and tax payer money to remove trees that do not need to be removed, $8 Million dollars to be exact that none of the residents or business owners approved and again was unnecessary. Why did City Council not stop this process? And why are you protecting the Arborist who in fact should be removed because he did not have the authority or approval to remove any of the trees. Why has no formal investigation been done by the City? I suggest Council prioritize residents over staff. Stop acting as if you had nothing to do with this situation and start taking responsibility for your actions.
We request Council place a “Significant Tree Ordinance” on the Agenda. We need to protect our trees and our shade canopy for future generations.
Thank you for your immediate attention.
From: Hahn, Richard
To: City Clerk
Subject: Replacement of trees on Hillcrest Road (not on the agenda/to be read aloud) Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:39:00 AM
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
To whom it may concern:
My wife Shirley and I are 30-year residents of . Over 10 years ago, we hosted a meeting with then BH tree commissioner (Ken Pfalzgraf) with many of the residents of the 500, 600 and 700 blocks of Hillcrest. At the meeting, we were told that because of the blight affecting the Canary palm trees on our street (and all over the city), we had to select new trees and the consensus at that meeting, which everyone voted on, was to replace the Canary palms with Mexican fan palms. We and many of our neighbors thought this issue had been settled with that vote years ago, so we were surprised to receive a recent letter with totally new tree replacement options (Crape Myrtle Trees or Holly Oak) which many of us feel strongly will not look nearly as good as the palm trees and change the character of our iconic and widely photographed street dramatically. The attached ad for the movie Barbie taken from the 600 block of Hillcrest is a very good example. Bottom line the residents of the 500, 600 and 700 blocks of Hillcrest want a voice in determining what trees we plant on our street. We therefore suggest another meeting of the residents with the tree commissioner or whomever is the point person from the city to discuss and determine the best tree options and to vote on them once again.
Please read this letter into the record of your upcoming meeting and please put this topic on your agenda.
Thank you
Shirley and Richard Hahn
Beverly Hills
Get Outlook for iOS
From: Marianne King
To: City Clerk
Cc:
Subject: Public Comment - 7PM City Council Meeting
Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 5:50:24 PM
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
Please read at the Tuesday 7PM City Council Meeting of 7/18/23:
Dear Councilmembers,
Beverly Hills is known for many things but what stands to many are the beautiful mature street trees. Please do everything in your power to preserve these trees. In this period of excessive heat and water scarcity, we really need to keep our natural shade canopies. These trees have made it this far and do not need that much from us. Young trees will take decades to do what the existing trees do and likely will not make it. I would be so disappointed and surprised if you don’t work on a tree protection plan for the City..
Sincerely,
Marianne King
Lifelong Tree Admirer and Preservation Advocate
From: Janine Milne
To: City Clerk
Subject: "Public Comment – 7PM City Council Meeting”
Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 12:24:53 PM
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
To whom it may concern: Please read my comment at the City Council Meeting I am honestly shocked and appalled that one of the wealthiest cities in the world is so poor, and quite frankly backward, in how they deal with and approach climate change. Do we have climate deniers on the City Council?
I do not live in Beverly Hills but I have worked in the City for many years with clients who are long time Beverly Hills retailers. Some on Robertson Blvd. Why would the City not have a Significant Tree Ordinance as part of policy? To kill another 42 healthy trees on Robertson Blvd. is outrageous! I am also hearing there are 1200 trees that are healthy- due for being cut down this year! I am sure the City knows that progressive cities, and countries, understand that mature trees provide shade canopy. Our urban tree canopy has been decimated in Southern California to make way for ever larger homes on every square foot of property. Trees sequester CO2- they literally clean the air and our area has the worst air quality in the entire country! So to sum up, you feel it appropriate to add to climate change and compromise the health of your stakeholders and those who are in cities adjacent to you? I can only say I urge you to understand that trees lower temperature, clean air, and both mentally and physically improve health. And then act accordingly.
Janine Milne
** Please don't forget to update your records **
NEW EMAIL:
From: SAVE THE TREES ROBERTSON BLVD
To: City Clerk
Subject: City Council 7pm Meeting - Please Read
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:59:46 AM
Importance: High
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
Mayor Gold and City Council Members,
This email shall serve as notification that Mayor Gold and Larry Weiner canceled a scheduled meeting with the Robertson Blvd Special Task Force and our attorney, Jamie Hall on July 6th. To date, we have not received any response from the City to reschedule this meeting. Please note, this meeting was previously rescheduled twice to accommodate Mayor Gold’s schedule. Not to mention, on March 9, 2023 Mayor Gold failed to show and failed to cancel another previsouly scheduled meeting, again inconveniencing everyone. Mayor Gold has stated he would like to resolve the Robertson Blvd Tree issue and yet has made no effort to resolve this matter.
We are appalled in 2023 the City of Beverly Hills is cutting down healthy, valuable trees without doing any due diligence to save the trees. Every City in America is implementing new techniques to save their trees while fixing the sidewalks. Everyone knows you don’t have to remove a tree to fix the sidewalk. And yet Beverly Hills has failed to review any alternatives. Not to mention, for over eighty years the City has fixed the sidewalks perfectly without removing any trees. This practice of removing healthy trees is egregious and reckless. The City is well aware of the damage caused by removing the trees and continues to proceed.
Again, Mayor Gold has stated he would like to resolve this matter. However, has not provided the Association with a settlement offer, a counter offer or any conditions. We are trying to work with the City and ask The City to be respectful of our time and act in good faith.
Thank you
The Robertson Blvd Special Task Force
From: Jesse Sanford
To: City Clerk
Cc: Save Blvd
Subject: Public Comment – 7/18 @ 7PM City Council Meeting Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 12:47:07 PM
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
Please read at Tuesday, 7/18 @ 7PM City Council Meeting Dear Beverly Hills City Council,
I strongly disagree with the City of Beverly Hills' removal of nearly 100 mature, significant ficus street trees along Robertson Boulevard. Therefore, I am requesting once again that the City Council place a "Significant Tree Ordinance" on the agenda for a future meeting.
Most major cities, especially those equal in stature to Beverly Hills, have a "Significant Tree Ordinance" to preserve and protect precious existing mature tree canopies and urban forests.
Unfortunately, Beverly Hills remains an outlier and does not yet have such an ordinance.
I also remain concerned about and strongly oppose the impending removal of approximately 1,200 healthy trees throughout the City of Beverly Hills scheduled for this year. These trees provide innumerable benefits to our local climate, ecosystem, community members, and local businesses. More specifically, these trees prevent the urban heat island effect, provide critical shade and cooling, filter air pollution, absorb carbon dioxide, boost property values, and provide habitat for local wildlife species.
The community is counting on its representatives to stand up for both the environment and local citizens and truly represent the opinion of the communities which elected them. The Robertson Blvd Special Task Force (RBSTF) looks forward to working on a beneficial solution for all parties involved, beginning with agendizing a "Significant Tree Ordinance." Thank you for your consideration of this most urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Jesse S.
From: Randy Simon
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comment – 7PM City Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:59:09 AM
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
________________________________
Please read at Tuesday 7PM meeting.
As a resident who is greatly concerned with preserving the large healthy shade providing trees we have in our Green City, I urge the Mayor and City Council to prioritize our urban forest and enact a Significant Trees Ordinance similar to other nearby cities.
Thank you very much.
Randy Simon
From: Maureen Toth
To: City Clerk
Cc:
Subject: Public Comment - 7pm City Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:48:37 AM
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
Please read at Tuesday 7PM Meeting
PLEASE PLEASE place the Significant Tree Ordinance on the Agenda.The reasons for this need are many and crucial. Large trees support mature wildlife and in particular birds of prey that must hunt from high above. They provide immense shade and water retention and act as a SIGNIFICANT cooling mechanism to counter the heat island effect of the city landscapes. They provide cleaner air and habitat for smaller animals. They provide immense beauty and these benefits CANNOT be replaced by saplings that will not mature for 25-50 years. There are significant options for sidewalk repair or root encroachment other then removing large mature trees as MANY other cities have implemented.
We absolutely MUST do more and better to retain these valuable and non replaceable large mature trees to counter the significant effects of climate change - full stop.
Thank you for your attention,
M
MAUREEN TOTH she/her/hers
OWNER/AGENT
EASTERN TALENT AGENCY
• www.easterntalent.net
From: Anne Arenson
To: City Clerk
Subject: Upcoming Hearing
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:31:35 AM
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
________________________________
City Council Hearing
Mixed Use Overlay Zone
Dear City of Beverly Hills,
As a resident of , we advocate for a shift in our development strategy, in particular by updating the mixed use overlay zone. Increasing height and density in major commercial cents could accommodate growth, while preserving our residential neighborhoods' charm. We all cherish the unique character of Beverly Hills; strategically channeling development helps retain it Overdeveloplent in residential areas compromises this. character. Therefore, let's embrace sustainable growth. by focusing on our commercial centers, thus securing a balanced and prosperous future for all residents.
Sincerely,
Drs. Howard and Anne Winter
From: Michael J. Novack
To: City Clerk
Subject: More housing needed
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:27:48 AM
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
________________________________
Dear City Council Members--
The City of Beverly Hills desperately needs more housing for two simple reasons: (1) the additional supply will put downward pressure on the exorbitant cost to rent and (2) if we don't build more housing, the City will lose control of its zoning to the state and courts.
Once we're building more housing, we have two choices where we can build: (i) existing residential neighborhoods and (ii) commercial districts like the Mixed Use Overlay Zone. The choice between those two should be clear -- building in residential areas means evicting existing tenants, noise and construction for neighbors and buildings that are likely taller than neighboring buildings.
None of those issues exist in commercial districts. As such, I implore you to revise the Mixed Use Overlay Zone to make development make sense. We don't need skyscrapers on Wilshire or Olympic but limiting height to three stories (even when factoring in additional height as a result of state density bonus laws) is inappropriate. There's a reason why not a single project in the Mixed Use Overlay Zone has begun construction and only one has made it to the Planning Commission.
Let's take a common sense approach to getting the housing that is needed in our beautiful city by tweaking the Mixed Use Overlay Zone ordinance.
Best,
Michael J. Novack
From:
To: City Clerk
Subject: FW: Mixed use overlay zone (item G1 on Tuesday"s agenda) Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 11:54:55 AM
CAUTION: External Sender
Use caution when clicking links or opening attachments
Sorry, this is from Steve Webb.
From:
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2023 11:53 AM
To: '[email protected]' <[email protected]> Cc: 'Cindy Gordon' ; 'Ryan Gohlich )'
>; 'Julian Gold 'Lester
Freedman' >;
Subject: Mixed use overlay zone (item G1 on Tuesday's agenda) To Hon. Mayor and Councilmembers: I wish to add my support for the need to modify the MUOZ because it has not achieved in any meaningful way, its goal to add affordable housing in our city. As staff report indicates, in 2 ½ years there have only been 4 applications under the MUOZ with one approved by the Planning Commission which is currently under appeal. There is no guarantee that the other 3 proposed mixed use projects will be approved. At the same time, it appears that there have been 5 applications utilizing what is referred to as a “Builder’s Remedy” seeking to circumvent city codes. In addition to the memo submitted by BHIRD, I want to suggest some meaningful easy fixes. Firstly, the state allows up to 3 “ incentives” (ie, added height, density reduced setbacks ) for incorporating affordable housing in a project. However, The city requires the use of 2 of those incentives; for both height and number of stories, thus limiting the benefits granted by the State.
Height alone is the main issue; not number of stories. Therefore, the city should allow the use of just one incentive for both. Also, under our current codes, the height of a roof top bathroom in an underling R4 zone is NOT included in determining the overall height of a building, but in a C3 zone where you are trying to encourage mixed use, the height of certain roof top uses including a small bathroom, is included in determining the overall height of the building, again making it more difficult for a property owner to get approval for a mixed use project. I’m sure there are other examples where the city can make reasonable changes to benefit a mixed use project. Finally, efforts should be made by the city to provide added incentives beyond what the state is requiring to encourage commercial property owners to develop mixed use projects. Thank you.