STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: September 9, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Nancy Hunt-Coffey, City Manager
Subject: Recommendations for the October 5th Groundbreaking Ceremony, including street closures, library closure, appropriation not-toexceed $150,000 from the General Fund and authorizing the City Manager to execute various contracts for the groundbreaking event.
Attachments: None
INTRODUCTION
At the August 19, 2025 City Council meeting, the Council discussed the scope and scale of the October 5th groundbreaking ceremony for the permanent October 7th memorial, which will also commemorate the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel.
Council was interested in an event setup like the September 11th annual commemoration ceremony, but for a substantially larger number of attendees. This report asks for Council’s authorization to close certain streets, close the library, an appropriation from the General Fund not-to-exceed $150,000 and authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary contracts and issue purchase orders to carry out the event up to an $150,000 maximum.
DISCUSSION
At the last meeting, the City Council provided feedback on the October 5th groundbreaking ceremony and commemoration of the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel.
The event would be held on the 400 block of N. Rexford Drive, between the Library and Fire Station 1. Based on feedback from the City Council, the expected attendance would be in the low 1000s. Chairs would be set up, facing a stage and podium. The program would be comprised of speakers, music and a ceremonial groundbreaking. Overflow seating could take place in one or more of the bays of the fire department. Council placed heavy emphasis on providing a safe and respectful event.
With this event scope provided, a cross-departmental team was formed with representatives from nearly every department in the City to provide guidance on the numerous aspects of the program. Since security is key to the event, this report will provide a general overview of event but will not go into specific details.
Staff recommends controlled entry into the event, including having attendees pass through metal detectors. Controlled entry will require fencing the perimeter of the event Meeting Date: September 9, 2025
as well as staff to monitor the fencing if rapid exiting is required. Multiple police and security personnel will be staged at various strategic locations throughout the footprint.
The free speech zone will be provided and monitored by BHPD and private security Staff recommends the following street closures:
--N. Rexford Dr. just south of the entry to the Rexford Parking Structure and N. Rexford Dr. at Burton Way, similar to the 9-11 annual commemoration. --An additional closure of the entrance to the west /east alley, south of Burton Way at N.
Rexford Dr.
-Closure of N. Rexford Drive between Burton and Dayton (residents will be allowed in with proper ID).
Closure of Alpine Dr. between Dayton and Burton (residents will be allowed in with proper ID).
-Closure of Burton Way from Foothill Dr. on the east to Crescent Dr. on the west. --Closure of 3rd Street between Civic Center and Foothill. -Closure of the entrance to the west / east alley, north of Burton way at Civic Center Drive.
-Closure of the intersection of Civic Center and Third Street.
The closure of N. Rexford Dr. south of the entry to the parking structure to Burton Way would need to commence the evening of October 4th to allow for event setup (the street will be open to emergency vehicles during this time) The remainder of the street closures listed above would be in place approximately 3-4 hours before and after the event.
The city will send out Citywide Announcements, Nixle Alerts, Everbridge Robo Calls, post on all social media platforms and will place ads in local papers notifying the Beverly Hills community of the street closures, as well as maintain an event webpage providing the public with the most up to date information and public may call our Customer Service Line as well. Additional Meridian barriers will need to be rented to augment the City’s supply in order to accomplish the above listed closures. Street closures and detour routes would be handled by Public Works and closure points would be staffed by Traffic Control Officers.
Staff additionally recommends the closure of the Library on Sunday October 5th, both to assist with hardening the perimeter of the event, but also to alleviate cross pedestrian traffic and parking in the Rexford Parking Structure. Staff believes that the farmer’s market can remain operational on October 5th.
Staff requests that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute various agreements and amendments and issue purchase orders as necessary to carry out the event. These agreements would provide for services such as event support and rentals (e.g. chairs, metal detectors and associated staffing, additional Meridian barriers, temporary fencing, audio visual equipment and associated staffing, portable restrooms, etc.), additional private security, materials to kick off the fundraising campaign for the permanent memorial, educational signage regarding the permanent memorial, etc.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize an appropriation of up to $150,000 from General Fund reserves for the event. These funds would cover the items listed above as well as the additional City staffing that will be required, primarily from Beverly Hills Police Department (which will be on full tactical alert) and from the Public Works Department.
Meeting Date: September 9, 2025
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council affirm the scope and scale of the event, authorize the closure of the streets listed above and the closure of the Beverly Hills Public Library, authorize the City Manager to execute agreements and amendments and issue purchase orders as needed for the event up to a maximum of $150,000, and appropriate up to $150,000 from General Fund reserves to provide for event expenses and staffing.
Jeff Muir
Director of Finance
Nancy Hunt-Coffey
City Manager
Approved by Approved By