AGENDA REPORT
Meeting Date: August 1, 2023
Item Number:
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Christopher Paulson, Human Services Administrator Enisha Clark, LCSW, Human Services Outreach Manager
Stephanie Harris, Director of Community Services
Subject: UPDATE ON PROPOSED BEVERLY HILLS DAY OF WELLNESS, A
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL / HUMAN
RELATIONS COMMISSION COMMITTEE FOR A HEALTH &
WELLNESS EVENT AT ROXBURY PARK ON SUNDAY,
SEPTEMBER 10, 2023
Attachments: 1. City Council / Human Relations Commission Committee Report – May 17, 2023
RECOMMENDATION
City Council direction is requested on the City Council / Human Relations Commission Committee recommendation for the proposed Beverly Hills Day of Wellness on September 10, 2023 at Roxbury Park.
INTRODUCTION
At the May 17, 2023 Beverly Hills City Council / Human Relations Commission Committee, Vice Mayor Friedman and Councilmember Bosse gave initial support for a new event called Beverly Hills Day of Wellness, proposed for Sunday, September 10, 2023 at Roxbury Park. The event will bring health & wellness practitioners to Roxbury Park to provide complimentary sessions to the public, with presentations and information booths from wellness organizations and Community Assistance Grant Funding (CAGF) partner agencies. This event is a collaboration between the Human Relations Commission, Health & Safety Commission, and Recreation & Parks Commission. Staff was directed by City Council Liaison to bring this proposal to the full City Council for consideration.
Meeting Date: August 1, 2023
DISCUSSION
At the March meeting of the Human Relations Commission, Chair Freeman suggested the Commission host a wellness-based event, recommended to take place after the summer and be held at Roxbury Park. Chair Freeman also suggested that the Human Relations Commission (HRC) invite the Health & Safety Commission (HSC) and the Recreation & Parks Commission (RPC), as well as the Teen Advisory Committee (TAC).
As such, Chair Freeman and staff attended the April meetings of both the HSC and RPC to invite the commissions to join the HRC in the event, and both commissions happily agreed to participate and provide commissioners to be a part of the ad hoc committee planning the event.
Members of the ad hoc committee include HRC Chair Freeman and Commissioner Kraushaar, HSC Chair Lee Hilborne and Commissioner Erica Felsenthal, and RPC Chair Myra Lurie and Commissioner Amie Sherry.
The event is proposed to be held at Roxbury Park on Sunday, September 10, 2023 from approximately 10am to 3pm. The event space would include both the Roxbury Community Center rooms and patio and grass area near picnic tables and provide attendees with wellness programming and general wellness and mental health information.
Events and classes will be open to everyone in the community. There will be a hybrid activation of the Community Center rooms and lobby; with lobby doors open to the patio and grass area where booths will be setup. Appropriate sessions can take place on the grass, like Tai Chi, while others will take place inside, like a self-help session.
The Day of Wellness will be programmed with a variety of health and wellness practitioners offering their expertise in the field. At this time the ad hoc committee has inquired with 15-25 different practitioners and professionals that could provide a health & wellness program or experience. A sample of programming includes the following:
• Drum Circle
• Intention Setting & Affirmations
• Tai Chi
• Yoga (for kids, seniors, and with dogs)
• Grounding
• Managing Stress
• Meditation
• Soundbath
• Infant & Maternal Mental Health
• Self Help
• Craft Station (Dream Catchers & Coloring Therapy)
In addition to the programming, there will be several information booths for some of our relevant CAGF (Community Assistance Grant Funding) vendors to table and present their programming and services, such as The Maple Counseling Center. This could include NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), BHPD with Nami the dog and MHET officers, Norman Aid and Bulldog Aid, BHAAC (Beverly Hills Active Adult Club), Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, and other Human Services Division partners. There is currently interest by over 20 organizations wishing to have a booth at the event to highlight their services and specialization to the community.
Meeting Date: August 1, 2023
There will be amplified sound and music from a public address system in use during the event. There will also be several food trucks invited that focus on healthier options, to provide attendees to the Day of Wellness with food options that can allow them to stay and participate in the full day of programming. These elements would be similar to other Community Services programs and events, such as Doggy Daze 90210 at Roxbury Park, or the semi-annual Art Show in Beverly Gardens Park; additionally, all established policies will be followed.
In order to produce this new event, Community Services staff plans to continue working with the ad hoc committee and will require staff support (both in advance planning and day-of-event coordination and management). The Human Services Division staff will handle the pre-planning, and programming and vendor relations; Community Services and Public Works staff will assist with physical setup at the park and on-site support; and Marketing will assist with promotional flyers and materials.
At the City Council / Human Relations Commission Committee meeting, Vice Mayor Friedman asked why the event is not being considered as an additional element to the existing weekly Farmer’s Market on Sundays, in which other new events have been created and launched with the aid of an existing event. It was explained that the venue of the Farmer's Market or even the adjacent Boat Court in the Civic Center are not conducive to the type of health and wellness programming envisioned. It would be difficult to have a sound bath, yoga and Pilates, or self-help speakers, discussions on social media safety, and caregiver stress from the Farmer’s Market venue, and Roxbury Park provides the perfect balance of indoor programming inside the community center and appropriate outdoor programming on the grass in the park.
It was requested that if the event is to take place at Roxbury Park that a robust marketing plan be created to properly publicize the event and create community interest.
As such, the marketing team in Community Services have developed a plan that will involve press releases, ads in local papers, multiple social media posts, digital advertising, City’s website and newsletters, flyers and banners at community centers and other events, and cross promotion with the health and wellness practitioners providing their programming and their social media networks.
In review, elements of the proposed Day of Wellness include the following:
a. Roxbury Park and Community Center – Sunday, September 10, 2023 for a free community event with hours spanning approximately 10am to 3pm. b. Health & Wellness practitioners providing complimentary sessions to the public c. Information booths for Health & Wellness organizations & City or CAGF partner agencies
At this time, staff believes that this event can be executed using existing staff resources, including labor and materials budget, and is seeking full City Council support of the event and associated staff costs.
FISCAL IMPACT
Fiscal impacts include use of Community Services Department budgeted-staff time, as well as usual event support from Public Works (Facilities & Parks). Staff estimates the need for a small budget for direct costs of no more than $5,000, which will be used to account for typical special event needs such as printing, permits, and supplies. Funding Meeting Date: August 1, 2023
for this request is available in the approved budget for the Community Services Department. There are no significant additional or unbudgeted fiscal impacts identified at this time.
Stephanie Harris
Director of Community Services
Approved By
Attachment 1
CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS
COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
MEMORANDUM
TO: Human Relations City Council Liaisons
FROM: Stephanie Harris, Director of Community Services
Christopher Paulson, Human Services Administrator
Enisha Clark, LCSW, Human Services Outreach Manager
DATE: May 17, 2023
SUBJECT: Proposed Event: Beverly Hills Day of Wellness – Sunday, September 10, 2023 at Roxbury Park
Introduction
The Human Relations Commission is proposing a new event in collaboration with the Health & Safety Commission and Recreation & Parks Commission focused on wellness. The event is proposed as Beverly Hills Day of Wellness, taking place Sunday, September 10, 2023 at Roxbury Park and Community Center. City Council Liaison support is requested in order for staff to move forward with the Commissioners in planning and executing the proposed event.
Discussion
At the March meeting of the Human Relations Commission, Chair Freeman suggested the Commission host a wellness-based event in May for Mental Health Awareness Month. After further discussion within the commission ad hoc, it was determined that the Community Services Department has too many events already planned for May to add any additional events. It was then recommended that the event take place after the summer and be held at Roxbury Park.
Chair Freeman also suggested that the Human Relations Commission (HRC) invite the Health & Safety Commission (HSC) and the Recreation & Parks Commission (RPC), as well as the Teen Advisory Committee. As such, Chair Freeman and staff attended the April meetings of both the HSC and RPC to invite the commissions to join the HRC in the event, and both commissions happily agreed to participate and provide commissioners to be a part of the ad hoc committee planning the event.
Members of the ad hoc committee include HRC Chair Freeman and Commissioner Kraushaar, HSC Chair Hilborne and Commissioner Felsenthal, and RPC Chair Myra Lurie and Commissioner Amie Sherry.
2 of 3
The event is proposed to be held at Roxbury Park on Sunday, September 10, 2023 from approximately 10am to 3pm. The event space would include both the Roxbury Community Center and patio and grass area near picnic tables, and provide attendees with wellness programming and general wellness and mental health information. Events and classes will be open to everyone in the community. The hybrid activation of the Community Center rooms and lobby; with lobby doors open to the patio where booths will be setup. Appropriate sessions can take place on the grass, like Tai Chi, while others will take place inside, like the Grounding session.
The Day of Wellness will be programmed with a variety of health and wellness practitioners offering their expertise in the field. A sample of programming includes the following:
• Drum Circle
• Intention Setting & Affirmations
• Tai Chi
• Yoga
• Grounding
• Managing Stress
• Meditation
• Soundbath
• Craft Station (Dream Catchers & Coloring Therapy)
In addition to the programming, there will be several information booths for some of our relevant CAGF (Community Assistance Grant Funding) vendors to table and present their programming and services, such as The Maple Counseling Center. This could include NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), BHPD with Nami the dog and MHET officers, Norman Aid and Bulldog Aid, BHAAC (Beverly Hills Active Adult Club), and other Human Services Division partners.
The ad hoc committee is also interested in providing an opportunity for specialty health and wellness vendors to be able to sell some of their products. This could include vendors of crystals, aromatherapy, massage services, or health food products and supplements. There will also likely be amplified sound and music from a public address system in use during the event. These elements would be similar to other Community Services programs and events, such as Doggy Daze 90210 at Roxbury Park, or the semi-annual Art Show in Beverly Gardens Park; additionally, all established policies will be followed.
In an effort to provide programming during the Month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, the HRC, in partnership with the Community Services Department, has also launched a five-part video series featuring many of the same wellness practitioners that are envisioned for the Day of Wellness in September. The video series is called Mindfulness Monday, with a new video airing on Cable Channel 10 and live-streaming on the BHTV website every Monday in May at 6pm.
In order to produce this new event, Community Services staff plans to work with the ad hoc committee and will require staff support (both in advance planning and day-of-event coordination and management). The Human Services Division staff will handle the pre-planning, and programming and vendor relations; Recreation staff will assist with physical setup at the park and on-site support; and Marketing will assist with promotional flyers and materials.
In review, elements of the proposed Day of Wellness includes the following:
a. Roxbury Park and Community Center – Sunday, September 10, 2023 for a free community event with hours spanning approximately 10am to 3pm.
b. Health & Wellness practitioners providing complimentary sessions to the public 3 of 3
c. Information booths for Health & Wellness organizations & City or CAGF partner agencies d. Specialty Health & Wellness vendors
At this time, staff believes that this event can be executed using existing staff resources, including labor and materials budget, and is seeking City Council Liaisons support of the event and associated staff costs.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal impacts include use of Community Services Department budgeted-staff time, as well as usual event support from Public Works (Facilities & Parks). There are no significant additional or unbudgeted fiscal impacts at this time.
Recommendation
It is requested that City Council Liaisons support and approve the proposed Beverly Hills Day of Wellness on September 10, 2023 at Roxbury Park, and support the use of City staff and resources to plan and execute the event.