STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: December 11, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Keith Sterling, Deputy City Manager
Huma Ahmed, City Clerk
Attachments: 1. Request from the Municipal League of Beverly Hills
2. Request from the Southwest Beverly Hills Homeowners
Association
INTRODUCTION
Representatives from the Municipal League of Beverly Hills and the Southwest Beverly Hills Homeowners Association have expressed interest in hosting two separate City Council candidate forums at City Hall. This report seeks Council direction related to the two requests.
DISCUSSION
The City of Beverly Hills will hold a municipal election on March 5, 2024 to fill two City Council seats. Traditionally, a number of community groups hold candidate forums to educate voters on the candidates.
Similar to years past, the two organizations have submitted requests to use the Council Chamber for their public candidate forums. Both have requested that the forums be livestreamed and rebroadcast on local Beverly Hills Television (BHTV 10).
Based on chamber availability, the following dates have been proposed and are pending final confirmation:
-Municipal League of Beverly Hills: Wednesday, January 31, 2024 -Southwest Beverly Hills Homeowners Association: Thursday, February 1, 2024 Subject: Requests to Use the Council Chamber to Conduct Candidate Forums from the Municipal League of Beverly Hills and the Southwest Beverly Hills Homeowners Association and to Waive the Fees for Use of City facilities, Waive Staff Costs, and Televise the Forums
Meeting Date: December 11, 2023
The Council Chamber and adjacent meeting rooms are available to accommodate these dates. The organizations have requested that fees and charges associated with their events be waived, including room rental, and staff costs, which include Cable TV, park rangers and facilities workers. The City Council has granted similar requests in previous elections
Forum Guidelines
The goal of the forums is to help educate the community about the candidates who are seeking a position on the City Council. The City Council may approve of a forum to be held at City Hall with the expectation that forum organizers conduct their events with professionalism and respect to all those in attendance.
Forums that are held in the City Council Chambers are subject to the following guidelines:
- Sponsoring organization is responsible for the format and content of the event. - Sponsoring organizations will withhold candidate endorsements until the conclusion of the sponsored forum.
- No campaign signage (includes buttons, t-shirts and other materials) inside City Council Chambers.
- The City will provide tea/coffee/water. All other refreshments are the responsibility of the sponsoring organization.
- Questions shall be fair to all candidates and be conducted with respect. - Personal attacks are not permitted.
FISCAL IMPACT
If approved by the Council, City staff would manage the facility and the re-broadcasting of the candidate forums. In the past, the City has absorbed all staff and facility costs for these events. The cost is approximately $3,000 per forum, inclusive of cable, park rangers and facilities staff.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff seeks City Council direction on these two pending requests with the Municipal League of Beverly Hills and the Southwest Beverly Hills Homeowners Association.
Keith Sterling,
Deputy City Manager
Approved By
Meeting Date: December 11, 2023
Attachment 1
Meeting Date: December 11, 2023
Meeting Date: December 11, 2023
Attachment 2
Meeting Date: December 11, 2023