CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS
Council Chamber
455 North Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION
May 6, 2025
2:00 p.m.*
Members of the public may participate in the meeting by attending in-person or telephonically andmay view the meeting through live webcast or BHTV Channel 10 on Spectrum Cable.
City Council meetings are broadcast on local Beverly Hills television and on other media platforms. Anyone who participates at the meeting and/or enters the City Council Chamber is subject to having their image displayed. These recordings will remain publicly accessible in perpetuity.
The City Council may act on any item listed on the agenda.
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
Sharona R. Nazarian, PsyD, Mayor
John A. Mirisch, Vice Mayor
Lester J. Friedman, Councilmember
Craig A. Corman, Councilmember
Mary N. Wells, CouncilmemberNancy Hunt-Coffey, City ManagerRyan Gohlich, Assistant City ManagerKeith Sterling, Deputy City ManagerLaurence Wiener, City Attorney Huma Ahmed, City Clerk
Patty Betancourt, Special Events and Filming Coordinator Mandana Motahari, City Architect
Greg Barton, Fire Chief
Ryan Gohlich, Assistant City Manager
Daren Grilley, Assistant Director of Public Works
None
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Nazarian at 2:00 p.m.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
AUDIENCE COMMENTS. Any person wishing to address the City Council on any matter may do so in writing, through email or in-person. However, the State open meetings law (Government Code Section 54950 et seq.) prohibits the City Council from providing a detailed response or acting upon any item not contained on the agenda posted 72 hours before a regular meeting and 24 hours before a special meeting. If you wish to address the City Council at this time, pleaseemail or provide an in-person speaker card to the City Clerk prior to or during the meeting. Public comment via video conference or in-person will be no longer than three (3) minutes per each individual comment, subject to City Council discretion based on the anticipated length in themeeting. The City Clerk will read only the first three minutes (approximately 350 words) of a written comment. In the event of a large number of written comments on one item, written comments D-1
may be summarized by the City Clerks Office. The entire written comment shall be archived in full as part of the record.
Speaker:
1. Lewis Hall re: Police enforcement, School Board issues, Golda Zahra event
A -DIRECTION
1. Request from Local Business Owner Shallom Berkman to Host Golda Zahra Concert Event on Saturday, May 24, 2025 and to Hang Event Banners Around Beverly Cañon Gardens
This report requests City Council consideration and approval for a City partnership with Shallom Berkman to host a free community musical event. The request includes a waiver of fees and approval for pole banners for the special event at Beverly Cañon Gardens.
Nancy Hunt-Coffey clarified that the request is only for the ability to hang banners on the street poles. Special Events and Filming Coordinator Patty Betancourt presented information related to this item. The City’s banner policy requires that the City be a co-sponsor of an event to allow for the hanging of banners related to an event as such. Shallom Berkman provided hiscomments.
Council provided their questions and comments regarding potential conflict with other banners/events, precedent setting, and more.
Special Events and Filming Coordinator Patty Betancourt, Shallom Berkman, City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey responded to Council questions.
Council supported the request.
2. Finalize Priority Setting Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations for FY 2025-26 The Priority Setting Ad Hoc Committee recommends that the City Council discuss, provide direction and finalize the Citywide priorities for fiscal year 2025-26.
City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey presented information related to this item.
Mayor Nazarian explained that this item has already come before Council several times andis now up for final review.
City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey, City Architect Mandana Motahari, Fire Chief Greg Barton, Assistant City Manager Ryan Gohlich, Assistant Director of Public Works Daren Grilley, and City Clerk Huma Ahmed responded to Council questions.Council determined that plans for the Police Department need to be evaluated further. There was support for the library restroom upgrades and parking structure seismic upgrades. City Clerk’s Office renovations will be re-evaluated, with urgency placed on preserving historic documents. Council agreed to hold off on upgrades to EV chargers and City Hall towers under the current budget constraints. The commission work plan items will return to a future meeting.
B -ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO CONSIDER (TIME PERMITTING)
None
C - IN FORMATION
3. Amended and Restated City of Beverly Hills Community Charitable Foundation By Laws
This report provides a summary of the amendments to the City of Beverly Hills Community Charitable Foundation (“Foundation”) By-Laws adopted by the Foundation’s Board of Directors on March 25, 2025.
Informational report only, no action taken.
4. State and Federal Legislative Update
This item will provide an update to the City Council on legislative activities at the state and federal level.
Senior Management Analyst Mandy Jiang reported that there was a discrepancy inattachment I of the staff report. The bill matrix reflected that the City took a “watch” position, however, we have since taken a position of either “oppose” or “support”. Corrected copies of the bill matrix were provided to the Council and hard copies provided at the meeting.
5. Treasurer’s Monthly Report
This City Treasurer’s Report for the month ended March 31, 2025, includes a summary of cash receipts and disbursements as well as a summary of fund balances.
Informational report only, no action taken.
6. Treasurer’s Quarterly Report
This City Treasurer’s Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, includes a summary of investment balances and a listing of the portfolio value by each City fund.
Informational report only, no action taken.
PASSED, Approved and Adopted
this 3rd day of June, 2025
HUMA AHMED, City Clerk
SHARONA R. NAZARIAN, PSYD, MAYOR
This meeting was broadcast on live television, on City of Beverly Hills municipal government television access Channel BHTVIO Spectrum Cable.