WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED — Beverly Hills City Council, September 19, 2023

WRITTEN PUBLIC

COMMENTS RECEIVED
From: AGirlsWorld
To: City Clerk
Subject: City Council Meeting 7PM Tuesday September 19th - PLEASE READ DURING PUBLIC COMMENT Date: Monday, September 18, 2023 10:08:57 PM
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City Council,
Why are you forcing the residents to go to such lengths to hold you accountable for actions illegally taken in clear cutting all of the trees on Robertson Blvd. The City absolutely knew this project was wrong and should have stopped cutting the trees immediately. The City failed to listen to its residents and business owner’s and failed to stop this environmental injustice.

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 Council 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. Council failed to review any options and continues to spread lies about having to fix sidewalks when there are numerous ways to fix sidewalks without killing trees. Every other city in the world has found a solution, why is Beverly Hills exempt from this practice? Why are you not working to find a solution?
We are asking for a full investigation as to why this matter occurred and why the City has not stopped this project. We are asking the Los Angeles Times to investigate the City of Beverly Hills actions. Council continues to discriminate against the business owners and residents of this area. To reduce the shade canopy in an area that is already significantly less than the rest of Beverly Hills is discrimination. To replace mature trees with the cheapest tree available is gross negligence. By not including residents in this project is egregious. Council has reduced our property values, reduced our business income and is now costing businesses significant hardship due to increased utility expenses to mitigate the sun exposure and damages caused by the loss of shade and damage to our products.

It’s clear by Council’s actions you have not taken this matter seriously and believe Beverly Hills is now a dictatorship. You have the chance to resolve this matter and do the right thing. I strongly suggest you reconsider your choices.

From:

To: City Clerk
Subject: Robertson trees
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 7:34:04 PM
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Robertson used to be a beautiful street. It now looks barren. I’m filled with overwhelming sadness when I walk on Robertson. You have ruined our neighborhood. We need the trees for beauty and shade. These trees dramatically decrease the surrounding temperature. This city council has drastically decreased the quality of life in Beverly Hills. From your decisions regarding real estate development to your environmental management, this city council has been a disaster.

Elizabeth Axelrod
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From: Beverly Hills Mailbox
To: City Clerk
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 11:24:16 AM
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BH MAILBOX
BEVERLY HILLS CA 90211
Please save the trees
Thank you
From: Robert Borowski
To: City Clerk
Cc: Save Blvd
Subject: Please Read at Tonight’s City Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 11:24:36 AM
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Please Read at Tonight’s City Council Meeting
Dear City Council,
Beverly Hills is a beautiful city. The trees are part of that beauty. But the trees cannot speak.

I am requesting the City of Beverly Hills SAVE the remaining trees on Robertson Blvd, prepare and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the entire project which includes review of the shade canopy on Robertson Blvd, allow the business owners and residents to select the replacement trees as recommended by the EIR preparer, establish a Tree Commission and place a Significant Tree Ordinance on the Agenda.

Thank you.

Robert Borowski
From: [email protected]
To: City Clerk
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 11:51:29 AM
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Dear Council,
I visit Beverly Hills when possible as it is close to my home and office in Santa Monica. I find it a good respite from the coastal gray and love the green areas.

Because Beverly Hills is on the Tree City USA list, much thought, research, and community input must be put into future large forestry projects. I ask the City Council to put this on their agenda and create a committee to oversee future, more significant projects. I fear that Climate Change has made us regret some of the past work done, and we can't afford to have that happen again on a place like Robertson Blvd.

Thank you,
Laura Borsecnik
From: The Joneses
To: City Clerk
Cc: Wendyinhollywood
Subject: Trees 227 S Robertson
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 3:50:08 AM
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Dear City Council,
The charm and shade are gone. It's too late for my store, as the trees were taken in the early AM. The City of Beverly Hills must do the right thing and SAVE the remaining trees on Robertson Blvd, prepare and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the entire project which includes review of the shade canopy on Robertson Blvd, allow the business owners and residents to select the replacement trees as recommended by the EIR preparer, establish a Tree Commission and place a Significant Tree Ordinance on the Agenda.

I would like to request a motion be placed on the agenda for a “Significant Tree Ordinance” to protect all trees.

A Significant Tree Ordinance is necessary. This is important for our community. We need the shade, the oxygen and the charm back. A deciduous tree like a crepe myrtle is no help at all for the year round sun that we experience In Beverly Hills.

A Tree Commission and Significant Tree Ordinance would prevent future damage to our 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 100perfectly healthy Ficus trees on Robertson Blvd. 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 remove. City Council has a responsibility to not only the residents and business owners but to all of our natural resources and wildlife.

A Tree Commission and 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 canopytrees. 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.

Kindest Regards,
Margaret von Braun-Ribo
CEO
The Joneses LA
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From: Domain Support
To: City Clerk
Cc: SAVE THE TREES ROBERTSON BLVD
Subject: Please read in FULL at 7pm City Council Meeting September 19, 2023 Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 10:41:15 AM
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Dear City Council,
I understand Council Member Mirisch asked Mayor Gold to place a significant tree ordinance on the agenda weeks ago. And yet Mayor Gold will not or is refusing the request. Please explain why residents have to continually ask for the same item to be placed on the agenda for months? An item that has been added to every city’s agenda which has bipartisan support of all residents.

I understand Mayor Gold has stopped allowing all video calls, reduced the time each resident has to speak at city council by half and is now NOT reading emails but summarizing and condensing the comments into a theme. This is by definition censorship. Public comment is only 3:00 minutes or 350 words, which is average as reported by National League of Cities. Beverly Hills has offered residents 3:00 minutes for over one hundred years because that is the industry standard. Public comment is the foundation of our democracy. Mayor Gold has violated our civil liberties, which protects citizens from governmental tyranny. Beverly Hills City Council members have condemned government censorship and actions of leaders in Iran, China, Russia, North Korea and Saudi Arabia.

However, under Mayor Gold, council members have sat silent, been complicit and are now an accomplice in violating our civil liberties. This is exactly how fascist leaders get in power because people say nothing. I’m ashamed of our Council and appalled at Mayor Gold’s lack of empathy.

TIMES UP! BEVERLY HILLS CITY COUNCIL. It is time for you to protect the residents who elected you to serve. You were elected to not only protect our civil liberties but also to protect and preserve our community and environment.

Please place a Significant Tree Ordinance on the agenda and return Public Comment to 3:00 minutes or 350 words.

Thank you for taking immediate action.

From: Miche Donjacour
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comment – 7PM City Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 11:47:00 AM
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Please read at the 7PM City Council Meeting.

Please save the remaining trees on Robertson Blvd, establish a Tree Commission and place on the agenda a motion for a "Significant Tree Ordinance". The environmental importance of the urban forest cannot be overstated and the remaining healthy trees must be preserved and protected for the benefit of residents, business owners and wildlife! Thank you.

From: Heather Fels
To: City Clerk
Subject: Dupont clinic
Date: Monday, September 18, 2023 7:04:16 PM
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As a concerned constituent of Beverly Hills I am requesting a full investigation into the events surrounding Dupont clinic.

Heather Fels, MD MPH
From: Joe Franzetta
To: City Clerk
Subject: PUBLIC COMMENT
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 11:34:10 AM
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To City Council,
Thank you for taking the time to read this, although I have to say I don't understand why we are all not on the same page.

These Ficus Trees both the ones on Robertson Blvd and the additional trees that are scheduled to be cut down should be halted for good. We must put in place a Significant Tree Ordinance, We must protect the healthy, mature trees that are standing. There are ways to keep them healthy, while still working with their roots, allowing them to thrive. If your team doesn't know how to do that, find the people that do. They are out there.

Once that canopy cover is gone it will not be easily replaced. For a state that screams about climate change, this is an easy one...keep the carbon sequestered in the ground, keep the canopy cover, keep the wildlife that these trees bring. Our urban forest is vital and I ask that you review the Dudek Urban Forest Management Plan to review their goals. Not your goals, their goals, to maintain, preserve, and protect our trees and shade.

Thank you,
Joe Franzetta
From: ANITA FRIEDMAN
To: City Clerk
Subject: Beverly Hills/Dupont Clinic
Date: Monday, September 18, 2023 7:51:33 PM
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Please initiate a full investigation and public disclosure of contact between City Hall officials, the Beverly Hills Police Department, Douglas Emmett and anti-abortion groups. The people of this City deserve to know the full extent to which City officials were acting in collusion with antichoice activists.

Thank you,
Anita and Harvey Friedman
.

From: Greystar Tenants
To: City Clerk
Cc: SAVE THE TREES ROBERTSON BLVD
Subject: City Council September 19, 2023 - PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE EMAIL DURING PUBLIC COMMENT (NON-AGENDA ITEM)
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 10:58:54 AM
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To City Council,
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, add a “Significant Tree Ordinance” to the agenda and create a Tree Commission.

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 the midst of climate change, the worst environmental crisis of our lifetime, no resident should be begging City Council to stop cutting down healthy shade canopy 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 is unnecessary. Why did Council not stop this process? And why are you protecting the Arborist who should be terminated 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?
We 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 formally investigate this matter, place a Significant Tree Ordinance on the agenda and create a Tree Commission. We need to protect our trees and our shade canopy for future generations.

Thank you.

From: Ellen Isaacs
To: City Clerk
Subject: Beverly Hills" About-Face re Abortion Clinic
Date: Thursday, September 14, 2023 12:11:45 AM
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Mayor Gold and Councilmembers,
I want to register my strong opposition to your action in your official capacities to reverse your previous vocal support for abortion rights. Pressuring both the brokerage that found and leased space in Beverly Hills for a respected all-trimester abortion clinic, as well as the clinic ownership, to rescind the clinic's lease, at a time when abortion rights have been eviscerated by the US Supreme Court and half the States, is reprehensible. The clinic space was already fully renovated when your about-face occurred out of public view. When the matter became public, the reason you gave to city residents and the press for this change of heart was 'safety concerns.'
No one can doubt that there will be safety concerns when this clinic opens. And we know that security is costly. But just whose safety are you more concerned about? Other tenants in the building? People entering the building? People trying to use the sidewalk that anti-abortion demonstrators intend to occupy? These are legitimate concerns - but not the only ones you should address. How about also supporting the right of women who urgently need an abortion for their health, or because of an anomaly that endangers the life of the baby or mother, or because she is the victim of a sexual assault, or cannot support a child? What about the safety of the doctors who perform the procedures, and the nurses and staff that keep clinic operations running?
The right to an abortion is now a part of the California Constitution. The City cannot back away from the legal responsibility to uphold a woman's right to make choices about her own body, or from the moral responsibility to stand up for women who are being bullied. Do the right thing, and please - start planning how to make this enterprise work.

Sincerely,
Ellen Isaacs
From: Jesse Sanford
To: City Clerk
Cc: Save Blvd
Subject: Public Comment – 9/19 @ 7PM City Council Meeting Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 9:50:49 AM
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Please read at Tuesday, 9/19 @ 7PM City Council Meeting Dear Beverly Hills City Council,
I am requesting that the City Council recognize the importance of our existing mature urban tree canopy by placing a "Significant Tree Ordinance" on the agenda to settle this matter once and for all.

Following the removal of nearly 100 mature, significant ficus street trees along Robertson Blvd, community members have repeatedly requested that the City Council abandon the proposed plan to remove approximately 1,200 healthy trees throughout the City of Beverly Hills scheduled for this year. The Robertson Blvd Special Task Force has presented a settlement offer to the City, which would preserve remaining trees, prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the proposed project, allow community members to select replacement trees as recommended by the EIR, and establish a citizen-led City of Beverly Hills Tree Commission to engage and oversee this important work moving forward.

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
From: Nicole Katano
To: City Clerk
Subject: clinic
Date: Monday, September 18, 2023 4:52:21 PM
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To the Beverly Hills City Council,
This is a follow-up to my letter regarding city officials blocking an all-trimester clinic from opening:

1. We demand a full investigation and public disclosure of contact between City Hall officials, the Beverly Hills Police Department, Douglas Emmett, and anti-abortion groups.

2. An ordinance prohibiting city agencies from using city resources to cooperate with out of state entities related to abortions performed within the state of California.

The citizens are watching.

Nicole Katano
From: Rebecca Klingel
To: City Clerk
Subject: Abortion access in our city!
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 3:48:44 PM
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________________________________
What is going on is horrendous. Did our mayor and chief or police collude to pull rights from women??? I am outraged. The taxes alone that I pay to live here. Disgusting.

We demand accountability and access to reproductive health resources! Rebecca Klingel
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From: Danny Kon
To: City Clerk
Cc: [email protected]; Wendyinhollywood
Subject: Public Comment – 7PM City Council Meeting
Date: Monday, September 18, 2023 2:39:55 PM
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PLEASE READ AT TUESDAY 7PM MEETING
Dear City Council,
I am imploring the City of Beverly Hills to SAVE the remaining trees on Robertson Blvd, prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the entire project which should include a review of the shade canopy on Robertson Blvd, allow the business owners and residents to select the replacement trees as recommended by the EIR preparer, establish a Tree Commission and place a Significant Tree Ordinance on the Agenda.

I am requesting a motion be placed on the agenda for a “Significant Tree Ordinance” to protect all trees, wildlife and our environment in general. Once a tree is cut down there is no going back and these trees have been there for years and serve a real purpose to the community and the Beverly Hills environment.

Given the current climate crisis, a Significant Tree Ordinance should not be considered a luxury but rather a must for all cities. Shade canopy trees are part of our urban ecosystem and are needed more than ever for our community to thrive, especially now that green spaces have been reduced throughout LA County.

A Tree Commission and Significant Tree Ordinance would prevent future damage to our urban forest and our community, which is sorely needed following the harm already caused by this City Council and the City’s Arborist’s actions in illegally clear-cutting over 100 perfectly healthy Ficus trees on Robertson Blvd. This City Council and the City Arborist failed to heed the advice of Beverly Hills residents, local business owners AND 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 cut down. The Beverly Hills City Council has a responsibility to not only the residents and business owners but to all of our natural resources and wildlife.

A Tree Commission and a Significant Tree Ordinance will protect our trees and wildlife, and will provide health benefits for current residents as well as future generations who will enjoy life supporting, shade canopy trees. We ask this Council to protect our valuable natural resources. The trees, wildlife and the environment at large 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.

We, the community, hope you take action and start working with the residents and business owners to address this imperative issue.

Danny Kon
From: annette konikiewicz
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comment – 7PM City Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 9:58:32 AM
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Please read at Tuesday 7PM meeting
Dear City Council,
I am requesting the City of Beverly Hills SAVE the remaining trees on Robertson Blvd, prepare and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the entire project which includes review of the shade canopy on Robertson Blvd, allow the business owners and residents to select the replacement trees as recommended by the EIR preparer, establish a Tree Commission and place a Significant Tree Ordinance on the Agenda.

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. You cannot uncut a tree…this is a permanent act with serious real-life consequences, affecting everyone.

A Significant Tree Ordinance is not a luxury but a requirement for all cities given the current climate crisis. This is vitally important for our community’s survival and our communities need for shade canopy trees. Landscaping trees, such as Crepe Myrtles, although beautiful, do not come close to providing the same shade canopy as Ficus trees and they have a shorter life-span, require more surface watering, would require more frequent replacement, replanting and waiting for several years before the tree matures to a size where any shade is even provided.

Please place a “Significant Tree Ordinance” motion on the agenda.

From: Vaughan Meyer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Beverly Hills & Douglas Emmett / DuPont Clinic Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 8:55:32 AM
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________________________________
Dear Councilmembers,
My name is Vaughan Meyer and I live in Cheviot Hills. I am deeply disturbed by the allegations that Beverly Hills city officials, including the Mayor of Beverly Hills and Chief of Police, colluded with an antiabortion group to pressure Douglas Emmett into cancelling an abortion clinic's lease weeks before the clinic was set to open. It is not the business of the city to interfere with access to legal healthcare, and doing so not only impacts residents of Beverly Hills, but people throughout the country. This clinic would have served women far beyond Beverly Hills.

I am demanding a full investigation and public disclosure of contact between City Hall officials, the Beverly Hills Police Department, Douglas Emmett, and anti-abortion groups. I also believe the city of Beverly Hills should pass an ordinance prohibiting city agencies from using city resources to cooperate with out-of-state entities related to abortions performed within California state.

Sincerely ,
Vaughan Meyer
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Please excuse typos - I am better at typing with full keyboard From: kmussette
To: City Clerk
Cc: Wendyinhollywood
Subject: Public comment for 7pm City Council Meeting...

Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 10:54:36 AM
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________________________________
Hi there~
Please read this at council meeting tonight at 7pm. Thank you! To the members of City Council:

While this is my third email to all of you in an effort to save the beautiful old ficus trees on Robertson, it shouldn’t have to be this way. It shouldn’t have to be this difficult to save a living tree in this day and age. Cutting down those trees shouldn’t even be a consideration in this time we live. When the world is either under water or on fire, cutting down a force of nature to help save us…shouldn’t even be a thought. There should be a “Significant Tree Ordinance” in Beverly Hills yesterday. I don’t know what you are thinking, what your mindset is in this effort to destroy trees, thus our environment. I’m unclear about your intent to further help your constituents….but I do know that your decisions will have such an impact on this community and what people think about you. I hope to God you make the right ones.

Sincerely,
Karen Mussette
Resident of Beverly Hills for over 30 years...

From: Neenah Paige
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comment
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 11:47:08 AM
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________________________________
Dear City Council,
These trees have been lining the streets as long as I’ve been in Beverly Hills, almost 45 years. They are a thing of beauty and life. Why are we destroying them? They are not unhealthy, quite the opposite. They are extremely healthy. There is no good reason to take down these valuable trees only to plant new ones that don’t compare and cannot offer the same benefits now or when they are full grown.

1. Canopy cover and shade

2. Year round beauty and habitat for wildlife

3. Noise absorption

4. Absorbing excess water

5. Absorbing air pollution

6. Taking in and sequestering carbon.

7. Oxygen

8. Saves energy usage.

The list goes on, but what’s not on the list is taking down trees in the name of progress or whatever the reason is that the city is benefiting from.

I do hope you will reconsider.

Thank you,
Neenah
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From: Rose Hanson
To: City Clerk
Subject: email in support of Save the trees settlement offer on city council docket today.

Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 10:01:51 AM
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To whom it may concern:

This email is in support of the Save the Trees task force. Accept the settlement offered by them and place a tree significant ordnance on agenda. Lead by example. Trees are the only chance we have for a tolerable climate.

I am again asking the City Council to Prioritize Trees, place a Significant Tree Ordinance on the Agenda. Today cities large and small are doing everything in their power to preserve trees. Cities are on a mission to increase shade canopy to help mitigate the effects of climate change. For example, most cities have a Significant Tree Ordinance to preserve and protect their urban forests. Unfortunately, Beverly Hills does not. Please join in me in again requesting the City Council Prioritize Trees…Place a Significant Ordinance on the Agenda.

Thank you
Franchesca Pelton
From: Randy Simon
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public comment - 7 PM City Council meeting
Date: Monday, September 18, 2023 9:38:20 PM
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________________________________
Please read at Tuesday 7PM meetingAs a resident like so many others you have heard from, we are all greatly concerned with preserving the large healthy shade providing trees we have in our Green City. We respectfully urge the Mayor and City Council to prioritize saving our urban forest by following the lead of other nearby cities like Los Angeles and take steps to enact a Significant Trees Ordinance.

Thank you very much.

Randy Simon

From: Natalia Reagan
To: City Clerk
Subject: Abortion access in Beverly Hills
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 3:37:18 PM
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Dear Beverly Hills City Council,
I am a concerned citizen who believes abortion IS healthcare. Thus, I demand:

1. A FULL INVESTIGATION AND PUBLIC

DISCLOSURE OF CONTACT BETWEEN CITY HALL OFFICIALS, THE BEVERLY HILLS POLICE DEPARTMENT, DOUGLAS EMMETT, AND ANTI-ABORTION GROUPS.

2. AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING CITY

AGENCIES FROM USING CITY RESOURCES TO COOPERATE WITH OUT-OF-STATE

ENTITIES

RELATED TO ABORTIONS PERFORMED
WITHIN CALIFORNIA STATE.

Thank you,
Natalia Reagan
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From: Louis Sanford
To: City Clerk
Subject: PUBLIC COMMENT - 7PM City Council Meeting
Date: Monday, September 18, 2023 8:16:56 PM
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PLEASE READ AT TUESDAY 7PM MEETING
Dear City Council,
As a former resident of Beverly Hills (1978-1990), I was horrified by the news of the wholesale elimination of those trademark trees on Robertson Blvd. Of course, once I drove past and observed the newly-blighted Beverly Hills for myself, I was speechless.

It took a few months to digest it all but it was clearly done for all the WRONG reasons, especially with the reputation the city has enjoyed for nearly a century and the warning bells of climate change that have sounded for decades.

The City of Beverly Hills must first rid the system of the civil servants who allowed this happen. It was all avoidable and acutely reflects the absence of common sense. Next, allow residents and business owners to take charge of how replacement trees will be approached--demanding evergreen, mature tall trees so we don’t have to wait 50 years before the new ones reach maturity and recreate the precious canopy that was mindlessly lost.

Also, I’m certain a Significant Tree Ordinance and a Tree Commission make perfect sense to insure this never happens again. Please place these on the agenda and millions of residents, business owners, visitors and tourists (the life blood of the city's commerce) will appreciate your actions that started tonight.

With Great Hope,
Louis Sanford

From: Amanda Smith
To: City Clerk
Subject: Beverly Hills / Dupont
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 12:26:00 PM
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________________________________
Dear Councilmembers,
My name is Amanda Smith, and I live in Los Angeles but was a resident of BH for most of my life. I continue to be very disturbed by the allegations that Beverly Hills city officials, including the Mayor of Beverly Hills and Chief of Police, colluded with an antiabortion group to pressure Douglas Emmett into cancelling an abortion clinic's lease weeks before the clinic was set to open. It is not the business of the city to interfere with access to legal healthcare, and doing so not only impacts residents of Beverly Hills, but people throughout the country.

Sincerely ,
Amanda Smith
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From: Lucy Stutz
To: City Clerk
Subject: Beverly Hills/DuPont Clinic Illegal Closure
Date: Monday, September 18, 2023 8:01:43 PM
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To the City Clerk for September 19, 2023 City Council Meeting:

As a Beverly Hill resident I’m appalled that an employee of Beverly Hills, whose salary is paid for with my exorbitant tax dollars, was able to bully Douglas Emmett with the city council’s support into revoking the lease to Dupont Clinic, an abortion provider. I was a young girl when abortion was LEGALIZED nationwide and I’ve watched religious zealots chip away at that right for 50 years. However I never dreamed that this right would be in jeopardy in California, especially in Beverly Hills. Therefore, I demand the following

1. A full investigation and public disclosure of contact between City Hall officials, the Beverly Hills Police Department, Douglas Emmett, and anti-abortion groups
The people of this city deserve to know the full extent to which city officials were acting in collusion with antichoice activists.

2. Legislation prohibiting city agencies from using city resources to cooperate with out-of-state entities related to abortions performed within California state.

Similar legislation was passed by New York City 8/12/22.

Additionally, I think the police chief needs to be asked why he is unable to protect the people of Beverly Hills. This is very upsetting since each step that the city takes promoting rightwing extremist agendas is going to make us a target for all more extremists and for those of us who don’t agree with them it will become much more dangerous to live here. Decisions made in Beverly Hills are consistently outside the norm of the surrounding areas in terms of liberties and attitudes and you are all making us look like frightened rich people outside the mainstream.

The silent majority is been awakened and we won’t be silent.

Thank you.

Lucy Stutz
From: Darian Bojeaux
To: City Clerk
Cc: Chloe Chen
Subject: Agenda Item F 1 Tonight
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 2:53:35 PM
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Please read this at the meeting tonight right after Lee Pasternak’s comment. Thx.

The absurd limitations recommended for building under Senate Bill 9 have been made in bad faith because they are clearly designed to prevent anyone from building anything under SB 9.

1. The height limitation of 14’ prevents the building of any two story structure, and prevents the building of an ADU over a garage to preserve parking. Such a 14’ height limit does not meet our city’s standard height limit for homes of 2 stories or 32’. At the planning commission meeting on this matter, a staff member misleadingly claimed that a 2 story structure could be built within 14’ even though there is a 7’ height requirement for each story.

2. An 800 square feet limitation for a dwelling also does not meet our city’s standards.

Our homes are much larger. Since the units must be at least 800 square feet, the city’s limitation to 800 feet means that only 800 square feet units may be built, which is unreasonable.

3. A required 48/52 to 50/50 lot split limiting an existing home to only half its lot is ridiculous, especially when the size limit for a new unit is only 800 square feet. The lot split should be 60/40 to 50/50.

4. The recommendation to prevent any parking within the front setback violates our standard which is to allow parking for front for up to 2 cars. And certainly the more units there are on a property, the more parking will be needed. So requiring a one story dwelling to take away garage space, and not allowing parking in front prevents adequate parking so a sensible project cannot be built.

The above recommendations are cute deceptive antics which will create a mess when they are brought to the HCD’s attention. Instead, the planning department should go back to the drawing board and create reasonable recommendations which would keep our neighborhoods looking nice. Maybe there should be only one front door facing the street, and any rear units should look like a guest house and be obscured by what is in front.

Darian Bojeaux
From: Lee Pasternak
To: City Clerk
Cc: Chloe Chen
Subject: Agenda Item F1
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 2:52:38 PM
CAUTION: External Sender
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Please read this public comment right before Darian Bojeaux’s. Thanks.

Although my previous comment to the Planning Commission is included within your packet, due to the poor practices of city staff, there is no paginated table of contents so it difficult to locate any particular attachment.

Our city has promised state housing repeatedly that the city would make it easier for residents to build guest houses or ADU's, but our city has failed to further that objective for four years. Meanwhile, we probably could have had at least 25 new guest houses a year, or about 100 new by now, spread out over the city, which would have made us look so much better with the state housing department.

We were told that the ADU subject should again come before the Planning Commission before the end of the year, but the Planning Commission has held a number of meetings on that subject and then done zero. Now we are told that there would probably be a 22’ height limit on ADU’s if the subject actually comes to the council. But that height limit is insufficient because 22’ should be the plate height limit for where a pitched roof starts. Building height beyond the plate height limits should be 32’ just like it is for single family residences in our area, so that attractive, expensive guesthouses with high ceilings may be built.

We have also been informed that only residents in north portion of the city can even apply to build a guest house over their garage, and that the application costs thousands of dollars to bring.

We are not really in favor of SB 9 and its ramifications, but we thought we would at least be able to have our main house and finally build a guest house over our garage. But instead of following the SB law in good faith, the majority of the planning commissioners thought they would be very sly and recommended standards which make it an impossible to build anything pursuant to SB 9. These absurd limitations will be set forth in the following comment by Darian Bojeaux.

Lee Pasternak

Beverly Hills City CouncilSeptember 19, 2023

Beverly Hills City Council
September 19, 2023