WRITTEN PUBLIC
COMMENTS RECEIVED
From: AGirlsWorld
To: City Clerk
Cc: SAVE THE TREES ROBERTSON BLVD
Subject: City Council Meeting 7PM Tuesday August 15, 2023 - PLEASE READ AT PUBLIC COMMENT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING
Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 10:38:45 AM
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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: Angelenos 4 Trees
To: City Clerk
Subject: Save the Trees on Robertson Avenue
Date: Monday, August 14, 2023 1:18:14 PM
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Dear Beverly Hills City Council,
I would like to request a motion be placed on the agenda for a “Significant Tree Ordinance” to protect all trees, wildlife and our environment.
A Significant Tree Ordinance would prevent future damage to Beverly HIlls urban forest and our community, given the irreparable harm caused by the City Council and the City’s Arborist’s actions in illegally clear-cutting over 100 perfectly healthy Ficus trees on Robertson Blvd.
Beverly Hills City Council and the City Arborist failed to heed the advice of not only residents and business owners but from the City’s own experts and consultants, as reflected in the Duduk Urban Forest Management Plan. We need to preserve and protect the 1200 healthy trees the City Arborist has planned to kill. City Council has a responsibility to not only the residents and business owners but to all of our natural resources and wildlife.
A Significant Tree Ordinance will protect not only our trees and wildlife but will provide health benefits for future generations who will enjoy life supporting, shade canopy trees. We ask Council to protect our valuable natural resources. The trees, wildlife and the environment deserve our attention and protection. Implementing a Significant Tree Ordinance will provide these protections and preserve our urban forest.
Please place a “Significant Tree Ordinance” motion on the agenda.
Thank you for taking action and working with the residents and business owners.
Angelenos for Trees
From: Beverly Hills Mailbox
To: City Clerk
Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 11:25:16 AM
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Please save the trees on Robertson
From: Darian Bojeaux
To: City Clerk
Subject: Non-Agenda Item
Date: Monday, August 14, 2023 6:24:56 PM
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________________________________
Please read this at the beginning of Tuesday night’s council meeting. Thank you. Best, Darian Councilmembers,
Please abandon your previous stance and place a significant tree ordinance on the agenda as other cities have.
Your previous stance has resulted in wasting attorney’s fees and fighting against doing the right thing for residents and Robertson Boulevard business owners. The fact that the attorney for the petitioner obtained both a Temporary Restraining and Preliminary Restraining Order, should be meaningful to you. It should also be meaningful to you that the petitioner and its attorney should not have been put to all of that work and expense. You have previously chosen to bully, to get your way, right or wrong, but it’s about time that you abandoned efforts to get your way when you are wrong. The way the city has handled this matter so far is a Shande. Settle the case about the trees amicably and do the right thing for residents, business owners on Robertson, and the city.
Darian Bojeaux
From: Domain Support
To: City Clerk
Cc: SAVE THE TREES ROBERTSON BLVD
Subject: Please read tonight 7pm City Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 9:18:42 AM
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Dear City Council,
Please place a “Significant Tree Ordinance” on the agenda to protect and preserve all trees and the precious wildlife that live in our trees. This is vitally important for our community given the dangerous heat index that continues to rise and our need for shade canopy trees.
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.”This Ordinance will protect our urban forest so that our children can enjoy the benefits for years to come.
We ask City Council to create a Tree Commission made up of residents, business owners and experts who can properly care for our urban forest and who will actually learn from the landscape architects and consultants to better serve our community and who will preserve and protect our urban forest and our shade canopy.
The City Arborist illegally removed our Ficus trees on Robertson Blvd and is now trying to remove over 1200 perfectly healthy trees throughout our city. There is no excuse for your failure to stop the tree massacre when the entire community has asked Council to stop since January. Your actions are criminal and the end in no way justify your means.
We ask City Council to protect not only the residents and business owners but our valuable natural resources. The trees, wildlife and the environment deserve our attention and protection from the City’s harmful mistakes. You cannot uncut a tree..this is a serious matter and should be given serious attention. Implementing a Significant Tree Ordinance will provide these protections.
Please place a “Significant Tree Ordinance” on the Council agenda.
We need you to work with the residents and business owners.
Thank you for taking immediate action.
From: Greystar Tenants
To: City Clerk
Cc: SAVE THE TREES ROBERTSON BLVD
Subject: City Council - Please Read 7PM Meeting
Date: Monday, August 14, 2023 10:54:29 PM
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Please read at City Council 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: Jesse Sanford
To: City Clerk
Cc: Save Blvd; Wendyinhollywood
Subject: Public Comment – 8/15 @ 7PM City Council Meeting Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 10:12:35 AM
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Please read at Tuesday, 8/15 @ 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 once again requesting 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." The discussion and passage of such an ordinance will prevent another disaster like what happened along Robertson Boulevard, in which Beverly Hills City Council and the City Arborist failed to heed the advice of not only residents and business owners, but the advice of the City’s own experts and consultants, as reflected in the Duduk Urban Forest Management Plan.
Thank you for your consideration of this most urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Jesse S.
From:
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comment – 7PM City Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 10:38:58 AM
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Please read at Tuesday 7PM meeting
For years, I’ve enjoyed the splendor of Robertson Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Whether it was eating at the Ivy, and then strolling the tree-lined Boulevard in wonder of the beauty, or shopping at the many upscale, amazing stores, that line the boulevard, strolling or driving down Robertson’s tree-lined Boulevard has always been a pleasure. We live in a desert and the magnificent ficus trees that have been growing on the boulevard for almost a century provided a welcome respite from the blazing heat of the Los Angeles Sun. The beauty of the boulevard is intrinsically, tied in to the magnificent, old-growth trees that have lined it, and that has been a magnet for the businesses that have been there, and for the many people that come to shop and visit the businesses on it. For years, I have gotten a coffee and walked the boulevard because it is a beautiful place to enjoy Beverly Hills. When my wife was recovering from surgical procedures at Cedar Sinai, I would always visit and walk Robertson Boulevard to take a break from my vigil and enjoy a coffee or lunch, and then stroll the boulevard for some shopping or a visit to an art gallery. The idea that you would remove these trees that are so intrinsically linked to the beauty of the Boulevard is outrageous. Everyone in greater Los Angeles enjoys these magnificent trees and that is what makes a Boulevard a Boulevard and not just another of the crummy streets around our city. If you remove them and put in a bunch of small trees that will take years to grow, I would imagine that all the businesses that have thrived in that area will take a major hit, and it certainly won’t be the beautiful Boulevard that we’ve all loved for decades and decades. I for one, hope you reconsider this ill advised action and allow the beautiful ficus trees that have adorned this famous Boulevard to thrive for years to come.
Sincerely,
Danny Kon
From: kmussette
To: City Clerk
Subject: Please read tonight at City Council meeting...
Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 10:20:22 AM
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________________________________
To whom it concerns:
This is my third plea to all of you, so please listen….I am a resident of Beverly Hills for over 30 years. I am appalled at the mere thought of removing any living tree in this community, especially those that have graced our streets for over 60 years. There is no logical reason for the removal of ANY tree, especially now with the severe climate disasters we face on a daily basis. Maui was a crucial slap in the face of humanity to wake up. We don’t have the time to look the other way, we just don’t. There has to be a way for both sides to work this out, in order to save the Robertson trees, and all others. Please do it for your grandchildren, who are inheriting the planet..
Thank you~
Kare Mussette
From: Louis Sanford
To: City Clerk
Subject: Significant Tree Ordinance
Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 10:05:53 AM
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Dear Beverly Hills Council,
As a past resident of Beverly Hills for many years, I would like to call your attention to the need of a Significant Tree Ordinance.
The recent controversy over the cutting of the mature trees along Robertson Blvd. reminds us of the growing pain of global warming and climate change, which have left us no choice but to preserve our precious tree canopy--whether in a city quadrant or in a rural acre.
It’s now up to you to step up and stop destroying this life-saving natural resource once and for all.
Government must always adhere to and aspire to a higher standard and not only plan well as possible for the community but more importantly, protect it.
Respectfully,
Louis Sanford
From: Saphire Dance
To: City Clerk
Subject: TREES
Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 4:32:14 PM
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________________________________
It is a TRAGEDY to destroy trees of Beverly Hills which is has been the trademark for the last 100 years.
Without the magnificent ficus and the other trees it would make this city look absolutely horrible! The trees give you and everyone so much OXYGEN and as you know, they clean all the pollution we have.
When I tell people they have destroyed most of the tress on Robertson they say, WHY, ARE THEY SO STUPID? Residence are shocked and furious about what you have all done in destroying so many ficus trees. Shame on you all.
These trees give so much oxygen and beauty to Beverly Hills.
Stop replacing the trees you destroyed on Robertson with Palm trees that give NO OXYGEN and NO SHADE.
Do not continue CHOPPING & DESTROYING more trees.
Stop this travesty city council members!
Sent from my iPhone
From: Maureen Toth
To: City Clerk
Subject: Trees
Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 9:47:54 AM
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________________________________
Please please prioritize the trees. At this point in our battle with warming cities, heat island effect, habitat and species loss, the need to retain and maintain mature large trees cannot be overstated.
Maureen Toth
From: Hallie Foote
To: City Clerk
Subject: City of Beverly Hills Interim and Permanent Housing Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 11:58:08 AM
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I support the proposal by the City of Beverly Hills for Interim and Permanent housing. I think it is an important step in helping address the homelessness problem in Beverly Hills. I hope that the council seriously considers this proposal.
All best,
Hallie Foote
All Saints’ Episcopal Church Beverly Hills
From: Daniel Tamm
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comment at City Council, August 15, 2023 (item G-1) Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023 11:59:29 AM
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From: The Reverend Daniel Tamm, Deacon
All Saints' Episcopal Church
504 N. Camden Drive
Beverly Hills, 90210
Agenda Item G-1
Dear Councilmembers,
As a stakeholder and community partner of the City of Beverly Hills, I am writing in favor of agenda item G-1, to wholeheartedly support an agreement with Step Up on Second to provide 30 units of scattered site permanent supportive housing and motel stays for up to 20 unhoused people annually. I support the rest of the recommendations of the City Council Unhoused Services Ad Hoc Committee, as well.
It is abundantly clear that for people who are unhoused, the way to end homelessness is to have a place to call home, a house, the dignity of a safe place to sleep at night, to cook meals, to have the use of a private bathroom, in short, a place to live - something that all of us take for granted.
It is a laudable step forward for the City, to permanently house 30 of the most chronically homeless individuals, as well as to provide temporary housing for 20 nonchronic homeless people, along with the wrap around services with case managers to ensure that each person is recieving the care they need to regain stability in their lives.
All Saints’ stands ready to expand our partnership with you in relation to the newly housed individuals coming into this program to sustain a successful transition. Thank you for all that you are doing to take a new approach to ending homelessness.
The Reverend Daniel Tamm, Deacon
All Saints' Episcopal Church
Beverly Hills
The Reverend Daniel Tamm
Deacon
www.allsaintsbh.org
It would be an honor for Los Angeles and Beverly Hills to have a publicly accessible artwork by Judy Chicago in Beverly Hills.
Judy Chicago played a critical role in Los Angeles’s feminist art movement during the 1970s. She co founded the Feminist Studio Workshop in Los Angeles, the first independent feminist art program in the country. She also helped establish the Woman’s Building, a public center for women’s culture that was integral to the feminist art movement in Los Angeles. She deeply impacted the LA art scene but also had a lasting impact on feminist art and thought globally. At this point in her career, she has already secured her place in art history.
LACMA owns several works by Chicago, including an early work now on view in our “Light and Space” exhibitionS She was well known for her experimentation with new materials creating beautiful iridescent surfaces. She also, appropriately in LA, painted automobile hoods, using their symmetry and sculptural qualities to make colorful wall-mounted paintings.
Every global city is known for its public artworks. Los Angeles has been home to so many great artists, especially over the last decades. This is a great opportunity to recognize and showcase an artist that is also globally recognized and appreciated.
Michael Govan
Director and CEO of Los Angeles County Museum,$LACMA)