MAYOR’S CABINET MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
September 18, 2023
5:00 PM
In the interest of maintaining appropriate social distancing, members of the public can view this meeting through live webcast at www.beverlyhills.org/live and on BH Channel 10 or Channel 35 on Spectrum Cable, and can participate in the teleconference/video conference by using the link below.
Written comments may be emailed to [email protected] and will also be taken during the meeting when the topic is being reviewed by the Mayor’s Cabinet committee. Beverly Hills Mayor’s Cabinet meetings will be in-person at City Hall. https://beverlyhills-org.zoom.us/my/cabinet
Meeting ID: 985 883 7201
Passcode: 90210
Or by telephone:
+1 669 900 9128 US
+1 833 548 0282 Toll-Free
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Date/ Time: Monday, September 18, 2023 / 5:00 PM
1. Welcome
2. Public Comment
a. Members of the public will be given the opportunity to directly address the Committee on any item listed on the agenda through email at [email protected].
No public comment.
3. Report from Commission Chairperson
a. Arts and Cultural Commission – Karla Gordy Bristol, Vice Chair Report
• Did not have a meeting this month.
• Will have meeting on October 10th.
• Beverly Hills Art Walk for September 10th was cancelled due to excess heat. • Next tour will be held on October 8
th
.
2 • Next Inside the Mansion event will be held on October 1 st
.
• Great Outdoors Greystone event will return on September 23rd. • Greystone Theatre Pilot Program was met with great success. • Global Celebration of the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare’s Folio on October 7 th
-8
th at Greystone Theatre.
b. Charitable Solicitations Commission – Kathy Melamed, Chair Report
• At their September 13th meeting, commission reviewed 26 financial statements and 24 permit requests.
• Reviewed the second draft of the 2022 Charitable Solicitations Commission Annual Report and are ready to meet with council liaisons. • Web-based financial statement form update – making it web-based where things are auto-filled and saved for easy convenience.
• Beverly Hills Police Department has joined the retail theft task force alongside other police departments.
• Sixth Annual Next Night Street Festival on September 23rd. • Beverly Hills Police Gala at the Waldorf Astoria on September 27th. c. Cultural Heritage Commission - Craig Corman, Chair
Report
• Did not meet last month but will meet next month.
• Nothing else to report.
d. Design Review Commission – Terri Smooke, Chair
Report
• Design Review Commission met on September 7
th
.
• 503 North Elm Drive and 527 Arden Drive were both reviewed at previous meeting.
• 145 North Stanley Drive, new two-story residence with a porte-cochère – approved as amended
• 140 South Weatherly Drive, new two-story residence with a basement and porte-cochère – approved as amended
• Next meeting on October 5
th
.
e. Health and Safety Commission – Lee Hilborne, Chair
Report
• Held a meeting this past month.
• Heard from partners that work with the city regarding gaps in care, such as issues related to social determinants, of health not addressed by medical systems.
• Also focused on suicide prevention
o Heard a wonderful presentation from the Maple Counseling Center regarding preparedness.
• Had annual review of water quality from Public Works. 3 f. Human Relations Commission - Noelle Freeman, Chair • Did not meet last month but had two events.
• Had first Day of Wellness on September 10th at Roxbury Park. • Had Beverly Hills Reads event in collaboration with the Beverly Hills Public Library.
• Currently in the process of reviewing Civility Awards. g. Planning Commission - Joe Ross, Chair
Report
• No meeting, next to take place August 22nd.
• August 1
st National Night Out success.
• Theater camp, Shakespeare in the Park, and drum circle programs were successful.
• August 15th meet the author virtual event approaching. • August 24th upcoming concert.
• Have had two meetings since the last Mayor’s cabinet. • High-end hospitality – Peninsula Hotel asked for a permit to increase space and rooftop dining.
• Cannabis – Obligated to enact or recommend to council an ordinance permitting cannabis delivery.
• Luxury Auto – Approved the project and will be on the corner of Beverly Drive and El Camino across the street from the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons. o Rolls-Royce dealership is going to be relocating to Wilshire and El Camino.
• Religious Training – Much of the second floor at 350 South Beverly Drive has been rented by the American Jewish University to engage in rabbinical training.
• Low-Income Housing – Project at 208 North Crescent approved. o Approved an application that involved one additional unit of very lowincome housing, increasing the right to build from 7 units to 10 units. • Next meeting is September 28th.
h. Public Works Commission – Wendy Nystrom, Chair
Report
• Did not get to meet in August, but crammed two meetings into their September 14th meeting.
• Talked about Sewage System Management Plan which was approved. o Updated draft had no mentions of fines or jail time, so it was approved.
• Public Works department performance update – discussed updated data o Trash diversion rate is at 59%.
o Had main line brakes.
o Parking transactions are increasing.
• Looking into using groundwater for beneficial reasons like landscaping. 4 • Will be doing lead service line inventory, lead service line replacement plan, lead trigger level, corrosion control treatment, public education, lead and copper tap sampling, and much more as a result of lead and copper role of revisions.
• Burton Way Project – still having electrical and supply chain issues but is expected to be up and running in November.
i. Recreation and Parks Commission - Myra Lurie, Chair
Report
• Met on August 22nd
.
• Welcomed J.R Dzubak as latest commissioner.
• Were provided with presentations of a recap of July activities by city staff. • Also had a preview of the return of the Senior Health Fair. • Increased program availability to meet needs of families from Beverly Hills Unified School District regarding after-school care.
• Also received a report on the status of La Hacienda Park water wells. • Also had a preview of the new class of the Teen Advisory Committee. • Had a field trip to see the water wells that currently exist. • Upcoming virtual author talks including Adam Altar on September 20th and more.
j. Rent Stabilization Commission – Lou Milkowski, Chair Report
• Were given a revamping of a monthly report.
k. Traffic and Parking Commission, Ron Shalowitz, Chair • Met on September 7
th
.
• Received a presentation from Dr. Michael Manville of congestion pricing and explained how and why it works to reduce peak hour traffic congestion. • Community Development Department Planning staff provided an update on the One Beverly Hills Project, including upcoming street closures and construction related traffic control issues.
• Staff presented proposed conceptual design for lanes on Beverly Boulevard. • Staff from the Streets Services Bureau gave an overview of their roles and responsibilities relating to parking and transportation. • Received some updates on upcoming projects like bike lanes. • Next meeting will be October 5
th
.
l. Architectural Commission – Tim Devlin, Chair
Report
• Upcoming meeting on September 20th.
• Seven projects which include multifamily housing, barricades, façade modification, and building identification signage.
5 • On September 20th, commission will have restaurant subcommittee meetings with two restaurants being reviewed.
• Moved the Dior construction barricade to the consent calendar and is now installed on Rodeo Drive.
• Approved 7 retailers with conditions.
• Approved a multifamily housing project proposed on South Spalding Drive with conditions.
5. Mayor’s Report
• Mayor Gold discussed: Day of Wellness, Health Fair, mental health wellness, recommendation to school boards, Team Beverly Hills class, retail smash and grabs, homeless initiative and temporary housing, Girls Empowerment Camp, Next Night Street Festival, Evening with the Mayor at Greystone, office hours, voter knowledge and engagement.
6. Questions and Discussion
7. Adjournment 6:11 PM