STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: November 7, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Ryan Gohlich, Assistant City Manager
Keith Sterling, Deputy City Manager
Subject: Proposed Temporary Art Installation of Shabbat Table Art Piece and/or Flag Representational Piece on City Property and, at Mayor Gold’s Request, Consideration to Host a Reception in Support of the Recently Released Israeli Hostages
Attachments: None
INTRODUCTION
Following the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, the City of Beverly Hills has expressed its steadfast support for Israel and condemned this heinous act of terrorism by Hamas.
Currently, the Israeli and American flags are projected on the exterior of City Hall and the palm trees that line the Crescent Drive side are illuminated in blue each night.
There have been community events and demonstrations in support of Israel and several requests for public displays to call attention to the ongoing conflict, including the regular display of a Shabbat table. Additionally, the Consul General of Israel has presented a concept of a display of flags to represent the lives that were lost during the initial attack on Israel. The purpose of this report is to seek Council direction regarding several options for recognizing the impacts of the October 7th attack.
DISCUSSION
Shabbat Table. There has been community interest in setting up a Shabbat table each Friday afternoon in the City to honor those that were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th. Specifically, Rabbi Cunin of Chabad in the Hills has taken on setting up a table each Friday afternoon, and is currently doing so on the Crescent Drive side of City Hall in accordance with BHMC 4-3-200 et seq. While Rabbi Cunin will likely continue with his weekly display, the City Council may also wish to pursue its own temporary art installation that would similarly honor the hostages taken by Hamas. If so, staff would work with a local artist and/or vendor to create and manage such an installation. Based on this information, staff seeks Council direction as to whether such an installation should be pursued, as well as the following considerations:
Meeting Date: November 7, 2023
• Location – potential locations include in front of City Hall, in Beverly Gardens Park across from the Wallis, or any other locations recommended by the Council. • Duration – staff recommends that the art display be set up and removed each Friday in order to avoid any adverse weather and/or security needs. Staff is also seeking direction regarding the overall timeline for the installation since it is intended to be temporary in nature.
• Security – given the heightened level of security resulting from the ongoing events in Israel, additional security would need to be provided in order to appropriately secure the installation. Staff would work with the Police Department to establish appropriate security protocols, and the Council may also wish to provide direction.
Flag Display. Staff has been approached by the Consul General of Israel regarding a concept of creating a temporary art display to honor those individuals that lost their lives during the initial attack by Hamas on October 7th. The concept would involve creating an art installation whereby one flag for each life lost is displayed, with each flag being representative of the nationality of the individual. Given that there were approximately 1,400 lives lost on October 7th, there would be approximately 1,400 flags installed. The concept is to use miniature flags, similar to those that are placed at grave markers, with the flags clustered together in a single area with even spacing. Accordingly, staff seeks Council direction as to whether such an installation should be pursued, as well as the following considerations:
• Location – potential locations include in front of City Hall, in Beverly Gardens Park across from the Wallis, or any other locations recommended by the Council. • Duration – staff seeks direction on the total duration of the installation since it is intended to be temporary in nature.
• Security – given the heightened level of security resulting from the ongoing events in Israel, additional security would need to be provided in order to appropriately secure the installation. Staff would work with the Police Department to establish appropriate security protocols, and the Council may also wish to provide direction.
Hostage Families Reception. Mayor Gold was recently contacted by representatives of a delegation that includes family members of former hostages held captive by Hamas.
The group is planning a trip to the West Coast within the next two weeks and Mayor Gold has requested that a reception be held in the Municipal Gallery upon their anticipated arrival in the City on the evening of Monday, November 13. Staff seeks Council concurrence regarding the coordination of a reception to recognize the families of the hostages.
FISCAL IMPACT
Given that the specific details of each temporary art concept have not been finalized, the total costs have yet to be determined. However, the costs for installation and maintenance are anticipated to be nominal, and are unlikely to exceed $20,000 unless the duration of the project is extended for a prolonged period of time. There is also the potential for costs associated with security, and while staff would attempt to utilize existing resources, there may be a need for additional staffing depending on the level of security provided.
Meeting Date: November 7, 2023
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council provide direction regarding the temporary art installations, authorize the City Manager to execute any associated agreements, and that the Mayor appoint an Ad-Hoc Committee to work with staff in determining final parameters for any temporary art installations. Staff also recommends consideration and approval of Mayor Gold’s request for use of the Municipal Gallery to host a reception on Monday, November 13.
Ryan Gohlich,
Assistant City Manager
Approved By