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From: Nalini Lasiewicz ORG
To: WebCBH MAYORANDCITYCOUNCIL; Michael Muse
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comment (item not on Agenda) Urgent Request to Reconsider CEQA Exemption for Noise Impacts Date: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 2:40:42 PM
Attachments: Roxbury Pickleball Courts Noise Assessment Report 10.20.24_1754503405243.pdf La Cienega Pickleball Courts Noise Model Study Report 05.06.25_1754503405240.pdf BeveryHillsRec-Parks 8-26-25PublicComments.mp4
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Dear Honorable Mayor Sharona R. Nazarian and Members of the Beverly Hills City Council, I am writing as a concerned Los Angeles County resident to urgently request that you reconsider your finding of a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption for the permanent conversion of tennis courts to pickleball courts. This project is far more impactful than a simple "restriping" and will generate significant noise, potentially affecting residents, tennis players and other park users.*
The sound studies submitted for this project are insufficient. While they may satisfy a narrow requirement for decibel limits set by L. A. County, they fail to address the broader community concerns over the unique impulsive sound generated by this sport, reported across the country as a loud, excessive and unusual noise that disturbs the peace. CEQA requires an evaluation of all potential environmental impacts, and decades of research have shown that noise has both auditory and non-auditory health consequences, including anxiety, sleep disturbance, and stress. The reports by Noise Monitoring Services did not analyze the repetitive nature of the sound, it’s pitch or frequency, number of noise events (600-900 POPS per hour, per court) or its potential effects on human well-being, which a comprehensive CEQA review would.
By approving the construction contract on August 5, 2025, the Council implicitly adopted the staff’s recommendation of a CEQA exemption. No Notice of Exemption (NOE) was filed, leaving a 180-day statute of limitations to challenge the exemption.
At La Cienega, neither the tennis players nor the neighbors were given warning of the potential impacts of 12 full-time pickleball courts during the pilot period.** At Roxbury, aerial images confirm that the park is immediately surrounded by a dense residential neighborhood of single-family homes and multi-family apartments. We urge you to take immediate action to reconsider the exemption and initiate a full environmental impact study on the noise pollution associated with this project. For a transparent process, the City should mail notices to all residents within 1,000 feet of both Roxbury Park and the La Cienega Tennis Center so they can participate.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Nalini Lasiewicz
Robert and Nalini Lasiewicz Foundation
4634 Leir Drive
La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
(818) 249-9691
* Public Comments at the August 26,2025 meeting of BH Recreation and Parks Commission (attached)
** To hear a short recording of pickleball play:
https://app.box.com/s/bk1rfei25br6cfrd058cm4gjup7mtyy1
oise Monitoring Services
Sound and Vibration Measurement, Testing & Consulting
Noise Monitoring Services, 7800 Jackson Street, Ste B, Paramount, CA 90723 Phone: 323-546-9902 Email: [email protected]
www.thenoiseexperts.com
May 6, 2025
Patty Acuña
Assistant Director of Community Services
City of Beverly Hills
444 North Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Subject: Noise Model Study for Pickleball Courts at La Cienega Tennis Center Dear Ms. Acuña,
As requested, we have performed a noise analysis for the three proposed pickleball court alternatives at the La Cienega Tennis Center, located at 325 La Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Hills. The noise study was performed to evaluate pickleball noise impacts on the tennis courts surrounding the pickleball courts and on Le Doux Road, which runs along the west side of the site. This report provides noise modeling results for the existing pickleball court configuration in addition to three potential pickleball court layout alternatives. There are 16 courts at the tennis center. Currently, Courts 1 and 8 are set up for pickleball, with each containing four pickleball courts. Figure 1 shows the existing pickleball court configuration.
Figure 1 Existing La Cienega Tennis Center Court Configuration Pickleball
courts
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2 Pickleball Court Sound Analysis
The City of Beverly Hills is proposing three alternative pickleball court configurations to minimize pickleball noise impacts to the surrounding tennis courts and to the residences on Le Doux Road. The three pickleball court configuration alternatives are shown in Figures 2 through 4.
Figure 2 Pickleball Court Configuration Alternative 1
Figure 3 Pickleball Court Configuration Alternative 2
Pickleball
courts
Pickleball
courts
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3 Figure 4 Pickleball Court Configuration Alternative 3 Computer sound models of the existing pickleball court configuration and three alternatives were constructed to estimate the pickleball noise levels during a busy period (ie. when all pickleball courts are in use with full capacity). The sound model was constructed using SoundPlan three-dimensional sound modelling software, which takes into account the locations, levels and frequency spectra of the sound sources, and the terrain, buildings and barriers at the site. The sound level input data used in the noise model was derived from noise measurements of pickleball games at various facilities, including at the La Cienega Tennis Center. The sound sources associated with playing pickleball include hitting balls on rackets and people talking and occasionally shouting during the games. Our measurements indicate that an average sound level of 60 dBA is produced at a distance of 30 feet from the backlines of two adjacent pickleball courts when the game is played (a total of eight people playing at the two courts simultaneously). It is noted that instantaneous maximum sound levels of 70 dBA were common when players hit balls; however the maximum sound level was not specifically modelled as part of this analysis. Sound measurements were conducted using a Bruel & Kjaer Model 2250 Type 1 precision sound level meter with 1/3rd octave band analyser.
Noise contour maps showing the estimated pickleball noise levels for the four modelled scenarios are provided in Figures 5 through 8. A summary of the computer modelling results is provided in Table 1.
This table includes the estimated noise levels at the loudest residences on Le Doux Road and the reduction achieved by each of the proposed alternative court configurations. Due to the fact that the modelled noise levels represent the courts at their busiest (worst-case), the estimated noise levels may be higher than measured during our previous surveys at the tennis center.
The estimated sound level reductions of 2 to 3 dBA for the various proposed alternative court configurations are small. A change in sound level of 3 dBA is generally considered “just perceptible”. The Pickleball
courts
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4 reason for the small magnitude of this reduction is in part due to the increased number of pickleball courts of alternative configurations 1, 2 and 3 compared to the existing setup (ie. while the distance from the residences to the pickleball courts would increase, the amount of sound energy produced would also increase for each of these alternatives).
To evaluate the impact of pickleball noise within the tennis center, the pickleball sound levels were assessed against the noise levels that occur when only tennis is played at the center. Our ambient sound level measurements conducted in October 2024 indicate that average sound levels inside the center are typically about 55 dBA when the tennis courts are in use. A 5 dBA increase in sound level is generally considered significant and corresponds with a clearly noticeable difference. Our assessment therefore considers which locations inside the center will be subject to sound level of at least 60 dBA when the pickleball courts are in use since these areas could be considered significantly impacted. Figures 5 through 8 include 60 dBA noise level contours, indicating which courts may be affected by the pickleball sound. The number of tennis courts where the 60 dBA infringed on a portion of the court ranged between 4 and 7 for the various pickleball court configurations. A summary of the affected number of courts for each configuration is provided in Table 1.
Table 1 Summary of noise modelling results
Pickleball court
configuration
Noise level at loudest
residence on Le Doux
Road, dBA
Change in sound level
relative to existing
configuration, dBA
Number of tennis courts
impacted by pickleball sound
levels above 60 dBA
Existing
(Courts 1 & 8) 53 - 6
Alternative 1
(Courts 7, 8 & 12) 50 -3 7
Alternative 2
(Courts 7, 11 & 12) 51 -2 7
Alternative 3
(Courts 8, 12 & 16)
50 -3 4
Conclusion
Computer sound models of four pickleball court configurations were constructed to estimate the noise impact within the La Cienega Tennis Center and at residences on Le Doux Road. Our analysis indicates that Alternatives 1 , 2 and 3 each provide a small decrease in sound level at the residences compared to the existing court configuration. Our analysis indicates that between 4 and 7 tennis courts near the pickleball courts would experience noise level increases greater than 5 dBA compared to a scenario where only tennis is played at the center. These court could therefore be considered as “significantly impacted”.
oise Monitoring Services
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La Cienega Tennis Center Noise Assessment
May 6, 2025
5 Sincerely,
Thomas Corbishley, MEng (Hons)
Principal Consultant
oise Monitoring Services
Sound and Vibration Measurement, Testing & Consulting
Noise Monitoring Services, 7800 Jackson Street, Ste B, Paramount, CA 90723 Phone: 323-546-9902 Email: [email protected]
www.thenoiseexperts.com
October 20, 2024
Patty Acuña
Assistant Director of Community Services
City of Beverly Hills
444 North Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Subject: Noise Assessment for Pickleball Courts at Roxbury Park Tennis Courts Dear Ms. Acuña,
As requested, we have performed a noise survey for the pickleball courts at Roxbury Park, located at 401 S Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills. Sound measurements were conducted on a weekend day and a weekday at one location at the nearest residences. Figure 1 shows the pickleball court location and sound measurement location. This report provides an analysis of the sound measurements, an assessment of compliance with applicable noise limits, and an estimate of the noise levels that will be produced if a second tennis court is dedicated to pickleball.
Figure 1 Pickleball courts and sound measurement locations Roxbury Drive Pickleball
Courts
Sound
Measurement
Location
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2 County of Los Angeles Noise Standards
The City of Beverly Hills Municipal Code does not contain quantitative noise limits that apply to the recreation center. This report therefore assesses noise levels against the County’s noise limits. Chapter
12.08 of the County of Los Angeles Code provides the following quantitative noise limits that could be applied to the venue:
A. Unless otherwise herein provided, the following exterior noise levels shall apply to all receptor properties within a designated noise zone:
Table 1. County of Los Angeles exterior noise standards for residential uses Noise Zone
Designated Noise Zone Land
Use (Receptor property) Time Interval Exterior Noise Level (dB) I Noise-sensitive area Anytime 45
II Residential Properties
10:00 pm to 7:00 am (nighttime) 45
7:00 am to 10:00 pm (daytime) 50
III Commercial properties
10:00 pm to 7:00 am (nighttime) 55
7:00 am to 10:00 pm (daytime) 60
IV Industrial properties Anytime 70
B. Unless otherwise herein provided, no person shall operate or cause to be operated, any source of sound at any location within the unincorporated county, or allow the creation of any noise on property owned, leased, occupied or otherwise controlled by such person which causes the noise level, when measured on any other property either incorporated or unincorporated, to exceed any of the following exterior noise standards:
1. Standard No. 1 shall be the exterior noise level which may not be exceeded for a cumulative period of more than 30 minutes in any hour. Standard No. 1 shall be the applicable noise level from subsection A of this section; or, if the ambient L50 exceeds the foregoing level, then the ambient L50 becomes the exterior noise level for Standard No. 1.
2. Standard No. 2 shall be the exterior noise level which may not be exceeded for a cumulative period of more than 15 minutes in any hour. Standard No. 2 shall be the applicable noise level from subsection A of this section plus 5dB; or, if the ambient L25 exceeds the foregoing level, then the ambient L25 becomes the exterior noise level for Standard No. 2.
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3 3. Standard No. 3 shall be the exterior noise level which may not be exceeded for a cumulative period of more than five minutes in any hour. Standard No. 3 shall be the applicable noise level from subsection A of this section plus 20dB; or, if the ambient L8.3 exceeds the foregoing level, then the ambient L8.3 becomes exterior noise level for Standard No. 3.
4. Standard No. 4 shall be the exterior noise level which may not be exceeded for a cumulative period of more than one minute in any hour. Standard No. 4 shall be the applicable noise level from subsection A of this section plus 15dB; or, if the ambient L1.7 exceeds the foregoing level, then the ambient L1.7 becomes the exterior noise level for Standard No. 4.
5. Standard No. 5 shall be the exterior noise level which may not be exceeded for any period of time. Standard No. 5 shall be the applicable noise level from subsection A of this section plus 20dB; or, if the ambient L0 exceeds the foregoing level then the ambient L0 becomes the exterior noise level for Standard No. 5.
Based on the above standards, the basic noise limits for residential uses are shown in Table 2:
Table 2. Basic Noise Limits
Cumulative period
Noise Level (dBA)
Daytime
(7:00 am to 10:00 pm)
Nighttime
(10:00 pm to 7:00 am)
30 minutes in any hour (L50) 50 45
15 minutes in any hour (L25) 55 50
5 minutes in any hour (L8.3) 60 55
1 minutes in any hour (L1.7) 65 60
Any period of time (Lmax) 70 65
Pickleball Court Sound Analysis
Twenty-four hour sound measurements were conducted on Sunday, October 6 (representing a weekend day) and Tuesday, October 8, 2024 (representing a week day) at one location at the nearest residences.
The sound measurements were obtained with a model SVAN 971 type 1 precision sound level meter manufactured by Svantek, which recorded audio during the measurements. The sound level meter was calibrated before the measurements. Table 3 provides the results of the sound measurement data without pickleball court activities (ambient) and during the peak hour pickleball court activities. Figures 2 and 3 show the measured hourly sound levels at the off-site residences on a weekend day and a weekday.
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4 Table 3. Measured Ambient and Pickleball Sound Levels Noise Time period
A-Weighted Sound Levels, dBA
Maximum
Cumulative
1-minute
Cumulative
5-minute
Cumulative
15-minute
Cumulative
30-minute
Ambient
Morning (6 am) 77.4 69.3 58.0 52.5 48.5
Evening (6 pm) 88.6 73.7 69.1 61.6 55.7
Weekend
Pickleball
(October 6)
Morning (10 am) 87.7 72.6 66.4 60.7 56.6
Evening (5 pm) 86.5 73.1 69.4 64.6 58.9
Weekday
Pickleball
(October 8)
Morning (10 am) 78.3 73.7 69.1 63.5 60.5
Evening (5 pm) 86.9 73.7 70.0 65.3 60.1
The measured ambient noise levels exceeded the County’s daytime noise limits in the maximum and 1- minute categories during the morning measurements. The measured ambient noise levels exceeded the County’s daytime noise limits in all categories during the evening measurements. The noise limits are therefore adjusted upwards to match the measured ambient noise level in all exceeding categories.
Our analysis indicates that the morning and evening measured 15-minute and 30-minute cumulative noise levels when the pickleball courts were in use are significantly higher than the measured ambient levels. The noise levels when the pickleball courts were in use were between 3 and 12 dBA higher than the ambient level in these categories. The levels correspond to exceedances of the adjusted noise limits of up to 10.5 dBA. While some of this increase in noise may be attributable to a difference in traffic noise at the different times of day when ambient noise and pickleball noise were measured, assessment of the audio recorded during the measurements indicates that the pickleball noise is a significant factor in this increase in noise. While the noise levels in the maximum, 1-minute and 5-minute categories during pickleball games were also generally higher than ambient levels, the noise sources that contribute to these metrics are highly variable from hour to hour and therefore these elevated noise levels cannot reliably be attributed to pickleball.
Our noise measurements indicate that the pickleball noise currently exceeds the County’s noise limits.
We estimate that conversion of an additional tennis court to pickleball courts will increase the overall 15-minute and 30-minute cumulative noise levels by 2 dBA, causing the courts to further exceed the noise limit.
oise Monitoring Services
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Roxbury Pickleball Court Noise Assessment
October 20, 2024
5 Sincerely,
Thomas Corbishley, Meng (Hons)
Principal Consultant
oise Monitoring Services
Sound and Vibration Measurement, Testing & Consulting
City of Beverly Hills
Roxbury Pickleball Court Noise Assessment
October 20, 2024
6 Figure 2 Measured hourly sound levels on Weekend
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7 Figure 3 Measured hourly sound levels on Weekday
Gardening activities
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8 Appendix I
Glossary of Acoustical Terms
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9 Glossary of Terms
The following is a list of definitions of terms commonly used in the field of acoustics. Some, or all, of these terms may have been used in the preceding report:
Ambient Noise: The all-encompassing noise associated with a given environment at a specified time, usually a composite of sound from many sources both near and far.
Average Sound Level: See Equivalent-Continuous Sound Level.
A-Weighted Sound Level, dB(A): The sound level obtained by use of A-weighting. Weighting systems were developed to measure sound in a way that more closely mimics the ear’s natural sensitivity. The A- weighting system is incorporated into the sound level meter to alter its sensitivity relative to frequency so that the instrument is less sensitive to noise at frequencies where the human ear is less sensitive and more sensitive at frequencies where the human ear is more sensitive.
Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL): A 24-hour A-weighted average sound level which takes into account the fact that a given level of noise may be more or less tolerable depending on when it occurs. The CNEL measure of noise exposure weights average hourly noise levels by 5 dB for the evening hours (between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.), and 10 dB between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., then combines the results with the daytime levels to produce the final CNEL value. It is measured in decibels, dB.
CNEL: See Community Noise Equivalent Level.
Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL or Ldn): A measure of noise exposure level that is similar to CNEL except that there is no weighting applied to the evening hours of 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. It is measured in decibels, dB.
Daytime Average Sound Level (Leq(12)): The time-averaged A-weighted sound level measured between the hours of 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. It is measured in decibels, dB.
Decay Rate: The time taken for the sound pressure level at a given frequency to decrease in a room. It is measured in decibels per second, dB/s.
Decibel (dB): The basic unit of measure for sound level.
Direct Sound: Sound that reaches a given location in a direct line from the source without any reflections.
Divergence: The spreading of sound waves from a source in a free field, resulting in a reduction in sound pressure level with increasing distance from the source.
Energy Basis: This refers to the procedure of summing or averaging sound pressure levels on the basis of their squared pressures. This method involves the conversion of decibels to pressures, then performing the necessary arithmetic calculations, and finally changing the pressures back to decibels. oise Monitoring Services
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10 Equivalent-Continuous Sound Level (Leq): The average sound level measured over a specified time period. It is a single-number measure of time-varying noise over a specified time period. It is the level of a steady sound that, in a stated time period and at a stated location, has the same A-weighted sound energy as the time-varying sound.
For example, a person who experiences an Leq of 60 dB(A) for a period of 10 minutes standing next to a busy street is exposed to the same amount of sound energy as if he had experienced a constant noise level of 60 dB(A) for 10 minutes rather than the time varying traffic noise level. It is measured in decibels, dB.
Fast Response: A setting on the sound level meter that determines how sound levels are averaged over time. A first sound level is always more strongly influenced by recent sounds, and less influenced by sounds occurring in the distant past, than the corresponding slow sound level. For the same non-steady sound, the maximum first sound level is generally greater than the corresponding maximum slow sound level. Fast response is typically used to measure impact sound levels.
Field Impact Insulation Class (IIC): A single number rating similar to the impact insulation class except that the impact sound pressure levels are measured in the field.
Field Sound Transmission Class (FSTC): A single number rating similar to sound transmission class except that the transmission loss values used to derive this class are measured in the field.
FIIC: See Field Impact Insulation Class.
Flanking Sound Transmission: The transmission of sound from a room in which a source is located to an adjacent receiving room by paths other than through the common partition. Also, the diffraction of noise around the ends of a barrier.
Frequency: The number of oscillations per second of a sound wave (i.e., the number of cycles per second). It is measured in hertz. Hz.
FSTC: See Field Sound Transmission Class.
Hertz (Hz): See Frequency.
Hourly Average Sound Level (HNL): The equivalent-continuous sound level, Leq, over a 1-hour time period. It is measured in decibels.
Impact Insulation Class (IIC): A single number rating used to compare the effectiveness of floor/ceiling assemblies in providing reduction of impact-generated sounds such as the sound of a person walking across the upstairs floor.
Impact Noise: The noise that results when two objects collide.
Impulse Noise: Noise of a transient nature due to a sudden impulse of pressure like that created by a gunshot or a balloon bursting.
Insertion Loss: The decrease in sound power level measured at the location of the receiver when an element (e.g., a noise barrier) is inserted in the transmission path between the sound source and the receiver. It is measured in decibels.
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11 Inverse Square Law: A rule by which the sound intensity varies inversely with the square of the distance from the source. This results in a 6 dB decrease in sound pressure level for each doubling of distance from the source.
L2, L8, L25, L50: See X-Percentile-Exceeded Sound Level.
Ldn: See Day-Night Average Sound Level.
Leq: See Equivalent-Continuous Sound Level.
Leq(12): See Daytime Average Sound Level.
Lmax: See Maximum Sound Level.
Ln: See X-Percentile-Exceeded Sound Level.
Lpk: See Peak Sound Level.
Masking: The process by which the threshold of hearing for one sound is raised by the presence of another sound.
Maximum Sound Level (Lmax): The greatest sound level measured on a sound level meter during a designated time interval or event. It is measured in decibels.
NC Curves (Noise Criterion Curves): A system for rating the noisiness of an occupied indoor space. An actual octave-band spectrum is compared with a set of standard NC curves to determine the NC level of the space.
NIC: See Noise Isolation Class.
NNIC: See Normalized Noise Isolation Class.
Noise: Any unwanted or disagreeable sound.
Noise Criterion Curves: See NC Curves.
Noise Isolation Class (NIC): A single number rating derived from measured values of noise reduction between two enclosed spaces that are connected by one or more partitions. Unlike STC or NNIC, this rating is not adjusted or normalized to a measured or standard reverberation time.
Noise Reduction: The difference in sound pressure level between any two points.
Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC): A single number rating of the sound absorption properties of a material. It is the average of the sound absorption coefficients at 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz, rounded to the nearest multiple of 0.05.
Normalized Noise Isolation Class (NNIC): A single number rating similar to the noise isolation class except that the measured noise reduction values are normalized to a reverberation time of 0.5 seconds.
NRC: See Noise Reduction Coefficient.
Octave: The frequency interval between two sounds whose frequency ratio is 2. For example, the frequency interval between 500 Hz and 1,000 Hz is one octave.
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12 Octave-Band Sound Level (Octave-Band Level): For an octave frequency band, the sound pressure level of the sound contained within that band. It is measured in decibels.
One-Third Octave: The frequency interval between two sounds whose frequency ratio is 21/3 (1.26). For example, the frequency interval between 200 Hz and 250 Hz is one-third octave.
One-Third-Octave-Band Sound Level (One-Third-Octave-Band Level): For a one-third-octave frequency band, the sound pressure level of the sound contained within that band. It is measured in decibels.
Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class (OITC): A single number rating used to compare the sound insulation properties of building facade elements. This rating is designed to correlate with subjective impressions of the ability of facade elements to reduce the overall loudness of ground and air transportation noise.
Peak Sound Level (Lpk): The maximum instantaneous sound level during a stated time period or event. It is measured in decibels.
Pink Noise: Noise that has approximately equal intensities at each octave or one-third-octave band.
Point Source: A source that radiates sound as if from a single point.
RC Curves (Room Criterion Curves): A system for rating the noisiness of an occupied indoor space. An actual octave-bond spectrum is compared with a set of standard RC curves to determine the RC level of the space.
Real-Time Analyzer (RTA): An instrument for the determination of a sound spectrum.
Receiver: A person (or persons) or equipment which is affected by noise.
Reflected Sound: Sound that persists in an enclosed space as a result of repeated reflections or scattering. It does not include sound that travels directly from the source without reflections.
Reverberation: The persistence of a sound in an enclosed or partially enclosed space after the source of the sound has stopped, due to the repeated reflection of the sound waves.
Reverberation Time (T60): The time required for the sound pressure level of a given frequency in an enclosed or partially enclosed space to decrease by 60 dB after the source of the sound has stopped. It is measured in seconds.
Room Absorption: The total absorption within a room due to all objects, surfaces and air absorption within the room. It is measured in Sabins or metric Sabins.
Room Criterion Curves: See RC Curves.
RTA: See Real-Time Analyzer.
SLM: See Sound Level Meter.
Slow Response: A setting on the sound level meter that determines how measured sound levels are averaged over time. A slow sound level is more influenced by sounds occurring in the distant past that the corresponding fast sound level.
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13 Sound: A physical disturbance in a medium (e.g.. air) that is capable of being detected by the human ear.
Sound Absorption: The process of dissipation of sound energy, and the property of materials and structures to dissipate sound energy.
Sound Absorption Coefficient (α): A measure of the sound-absorptive property of a material.
Sound Insulation: The capacity of a structure or element to prevent sound from reaching a receiver room either by absorption or reflection.
Sound Level: See Sound Pressure Level.
Sound Level Meter (SLM): An instrument used for the measurement of sound level, with a standard frequencyweighting and standard exponentially weighted time averaging.
Sound Power Level: A physical measure of the amount of power a sound source radiates into the surrounding air.
It is measured in decibels.
Sound Pressure Level: A physical measure of the magnitude of a sound. It is related to the sound's energy. The terms sound pressure level and sound level are often used interchangeably. It is measured in decibels.
Sound Transmission Class (STC): A single number rating used to compare the sauna’ insulation properties of walls, floors, ceilings, windows, or doors. This rating is designed to correlate with subjective impressions of the ability of building elements to reduce the overall loudness of speech, radio, television, and similar noise sources in offices and buildings.
Source Room: A room that contains a noise source or sources.
Spectrum: The spectrum of a sound wave is a description of its resolution into components, each of different frequency and usually different amplitude (level).
STC: See Sound Transmission Class.
T60: See Reverberation Time.
Tapping Machine: A device used in rating different floor constructions against impacts. It produces a series of impacts on the floor under test, 10 times per second.
Tone: A sound with a distinct pitch (i.e., a dominant frequency).
Transmission Loss (TL): A property of a material or structure describing its ability to reduce the transmission of sound at a particular frequency from one space to another. The higher the TL value the more effective the material or structure is in reducing sound between two spaces. It is measured in decibels.
White Noise: Noise that has approximately equal intensities at all frequencies. (White noise need not be random noise.)
Windscreen: A porous covering for a microphone, designed to reduce the noise generated by the passage of wind over the microphone.
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14 X-Percentile-Exceeded Sound Level (Ln): The A-weighted sound level equaled or exceeded by a fluctuating sound level x percent of a stated time period. E.g., the letter symbol L10, represents the sound level which is exceeded 10 percent of the stated time period. For a 1-hour measurement, L50, is the sound level exceeded for more than 30 minutes in an hour, L25 is the sound level exceeded for more than 15 minutes in an hour. L8 is the sound level exceeded for more than 4 minutes and 48 seconds in an hour, and L2 is the sound level exceeded for more than 72 seconds in an hour.
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6 Figure 5 Existing pickleball courts noise noise level contour map Le Doux Rd.
La Cienega Blvd.
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7 Figure 6 Pickball court Alternative 1 noise level contour map Le Doux Rd.
La Cienega Blvd.
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8 Figure 7 Pickball court Alternative 2 noise level contour map Le Doux Rd.
La Cienega Blvd.
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9 Figure 8 Pickball court Alternative 3 noise level contour map Le Doux Rd.
La Cienega Blvd.
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10 Appendix I
Glossary of Acoustical Terms
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11 Glossary of Terms
The following is a list of definitions of terms commonly used in the field of acoustics. Some, or all, of these terms may have been used in the preceding report:
Ambient Noise: The all-encompassing noise associated with a given environment at a specified time, usually a composite of sound from many sources both near and far.
Average Sound Level: See Equivalent-Continuous Sound Level.
A-Weighted Sound Level, dB(A): The sound level obtained by use of A-weighting. Weighting systems were developed to measure sound in a way that more closely mimics the ear’s natural sensitivity. The A- weighting system is incorporated into the sound level meter to alter its sensitivity relative to frequency so that the instrument is less sensitive to noise at frequencies where the human ear is less sensitive and more sensitive at frequencies where the human ear is more sensitive.
Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL): A 24-hour A-weighted average sound level which takes into account the fact that a given level of noise may be more or less tolerable depending on when it occurs. The CNEL measure of noise exposure weights average hourly noise levels by 5 dB for the evening hours (between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.), and 10 dB between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., then combines the results with the daytime levels to produce the final CNEL value. It is measured in decibels, dB.
CNEL: See Community Noise Equivalent Level.
Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL or Ldn): A measure of noise exposure level that is similar to CNEL except that there is no weighting applied to the evening hours of 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. It is measured in decibels, dB.
Daytime Average Sound Level (Leq(12)): The time-averaged A-weighted sound level measured between the hours of 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. It is measured in decibels, dB.
Decay Rate: The time taken for the sound pressure level at a given frequency to decrease in a room. It is measured in decibels per second, dB/s.
Decibel (dB): The basic unit of measure for sound level.
Direct Sound: Sound that reaches a given location in a direct line from the source without any reflections.
Divergence: The spreading of sound waves from a source in a free field, resulting in a reduction in sound pressure level with increasing distance from the source.
Energy Basis: This refers to the procedure of summing or averaging sound pressure levels on the basis of their squared pressures. This method involves the conversion of decibels to pressures, then performing the necessary arithmetic calculations, and finally changing the pressures back to decibels. oise Monitoring Services
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12 Equivalent-Continuous Sound Level (Leq): The average sound level measured over a specified time period. It is a single-number measure of time-varying noise over a specified time period. It is the level of a steady sound that, in a stated time period and at a stated location, has the same A-weighted sound energy as the time-varying sound.
For example, a person who experiences an Leq of 60 dB(A) for a period of 10 minutes standing next to a busy street is exposed to the same amount of sound energy as if he had experienced a constant noise level of 60 dB(A) for 10 minutes rather than the time varying traffic noise level. It is measured in decibels, dB.
Fast Response: A setting on the sound level meter that determines how sound levels are averaged over time. A first sound level is always more strongly influenced by recent sounds, and less influenced by sounds occurring in the distant past, than the corresponding slow sound level. For the same non-steady sound, the maximum first sound level is generally greater than the corresponding maximum slow sound level. Fast response is typically used to measure impact sound levels.
Field Impact Insulation Class (IIC): A single number rating similar to the impact insulation class except that the impact sound pressure levels are measured in the field.
Field Sound Transmission Class (FSTC): A single number rating similar to sound transmission class except that the transmission loss values used to derive this class are measured in the field.
FIIC: See Field Impact Insulation Class.
Flanking Sound Transmission: The transmission of sound from a room in which a source is located to an adjacent receiving room by paths other than through the common partition. Also, the diffraction of noise around the ends of a barrier.
Frequency: The number of oscillations per second of a sound wave (i.e., the number of cycles per second). It is measured in hertz. Hz.
FSTC: See Field Sound Transmission Class.
Hertz (Hz): See Frequency.
Hourly Average Sound Level (HNL): The equivalent-continuous sound level, Leq, over a 1-hour time period. It is measured in decibels.
Impact Insulation Class (IIC): A single number rating used to compare the effectiveness of floor/ceiling assemblies in providing reduction of impact-generated sounds such as the sound of a person walking across the upstairs floor.
Impact Noise: The noise that results when two objects collide.
Impulse Noise: Noise of a transient nature due to a sudden impulse of pressure like that created by a gunshot or a balloon bursting.
Insertion Loss: The decrease in sound power level measured at the location of the receiver when an element (e.g., a noise barrier) is inserted in the transmission path between the sound source and the receiver. It is measured in decibels.
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13 Inverse Square Law: A rule by which the sound intensity varies inversely with the square of the distance from the source. This results in a 6 dB decrease in sound pressure level for each doubling of distance from the source.
L2, L8, L25, L50: See X-Percentile-Exceeded Sound Level.
Ldn: See Day-Night Average Sound Level.
Leq: See Equivalent-Continuous Sound Level.
Leq(12): See Daytime Average Sound Level.
Lmax: See Maximum Sound Level.
Ln: See X-Percentile-Exceeded Sound Level.
Lpk: See Peak Sound Level.
Masking: The process by which the threshold of hearing for one sound is raised by the presence of another sound.
Maximum Sound Level (Lmax): The greatest sound level measured on a sound level meter during a designated time interval or event. It is measured in decibels.
NC Curves (Noise Criterion Curves): A system for rating the noisiness of an occupied indoor space. An actual octave-band spectrum is compared with a set of standard NC curves to determine the NC level of the space.
NIC: See Noise Isolation Class.
NNIC: See Normalized Noise Isolation Class.
Noise: Any unwanted or disagreeable sound.
Noise Criterion Curves: See NC Curves.
Noise Isolation Class (NIC): A single number rating derived from measured values of noise reduction between two enclosed spaces that are connected by one or more partitions. Unlike STC or NNIC, this rating is not adjusted or normalized to a measured or standard reverberation time.
Noise Reduction: The difference in sound pressure level between any two points.
Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC): A single number rating of the sound absorption properties of a material. It is the average of the sound absorption coefficients at 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz, rounded to the nearest multiple of 0.05.
Normalized Noise Isolation Class (NNIC): A single number rating similar to the noise isolation class except that the measured noise reduction values are normalized to a reverberation time of 0.5 seconds.
NRC: See Noise Reduction Coefficient.
Octave: The frequency interval between two sounds whose frequency ratio is 2. For example, the frequency interval between 500 Hz and 1,000 Hz is one octave.
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14 Octave-Band Sound Level (Octave-Band Level): For an octave frequency band, the sound pressure level of the sound contained within that band. It is measured in decibels.
One-Third Octave: The frequency interval between two sounds whose frequency ratio is 21/3 (1.26). For example, the frequency interval between 200 Hz and 250 Hz is one-third octave.
One-Third-Octave-Band Sound Level (One-Third-Octave-Band Level): For a one-third-octave frequency band, the sound pressure level of the sound contained within that band. It is measured in decibels.
Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class (OITC): A single number rating used to compare the sound insulation properties of building facade elements. This rating is designed to correlate with subjective impressions of the ability of facade elements to reduce the overall loudness of ground and air transportation noise.
Peak Sound Level (Lpk): The maximum instantaneous sound level during a stated time period or event. It is measured in decibels.
Pink Noise: Noise that has approximately equal intensities at each octave or one-third-octave band.
Point Source: A source that radiates sound as if from a single point.
RC Curves (Room Criterion Curves): A system for rating the noisiness of an occupied indoor space. An actual octave-bond spectrum is compared with a set of standard RC curves to determine the RC level of the space.
Real-Time Analyzer (RTA): An instrument for the determination of a sound spectrum.
Receiver: A person (or persons) or equipment which is affected by noise.
Reflected Sound: Sound that persists in an enclosed space as a result of repeated reflections or scattering. It does not include sound that travels directly from the source without reflections.
Reverberation: The persistence of a sound in an enclosed or partially enclosed space after the source of the sound has stopped, due to the repeated reflection of the sound waves.
Reverberation Time (T60): The time required for the sound pressure level of a given frequency in an enclosed or partially enclosed space to decrease by 60 dB after the source of the sound has stopped. It is measured in seconds.
Room Absorption: The total absorption within a room due to all objects, surfaces and air absorption within the room. It is measured in Sabins or metric Sabins.
Room Criterion Curves: See RC Curves.
RTA: See Real-Time Analyzer.
SLM: See Sound Level Meter.
Slow Response: A setting on the sound level meter that determines how measured sound levels are averaged over time. A slow sound level is more influenced by sounds occurring in the distant past that the corresponding fast sound level.
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15 Sound: A physical disturbance in a medium (e.g.. air) that is capable of being detected by the human ear.
Sound Absorption: The process of dissipation of sound energy, and the property of materials and structures to dissipate sound energy.
Sound Absorption Coefficient (α): A measure of the sound-absorptive property of a material.
Sound Insulation: The capacity of a structure or element to prevent sound from reaching a receiver room either by absorption or reflection.
Sound Level: See Sound Pressure Level.
Sound Level Meter (SLM): An instrument used for the measurement of sound level, with a standard frequencyweighting and standard exponentially weighted time averaging.
Sound Power Level: A physical measure of the amount of power a sound source radiates into the surrounding air.
It is measured in decibels.
Sound Pressure Level: A physical measure of the magnitude of a sound. It is related to the sound's energy. The terms sound pressure level and sound level are often used interchangeably. It is measured in decibels.
Sound Transmission Class (STC): A single number rating used to compare the sauna’ insulation properties of walls, floors, ceilings, windows, or doors. This rating is designed to correlate with subjective impressions of the ability of building elements to reduce the overall loudness of speech, radio, television, and similar noise sources in offices and buildings.
Source Room: A room that contains a noise source or sources.
Spectrum: The spectrum of a sound wave is a description of its resolution into components, each of different frequency and usually different amplitude (level).
STC: See Sound Transmission Class.
T60: See Reverberation Time.
Tapping Machine: A device used in rating different floor constructions against impacts. It produces a series of impacts on the floor under test, 10 times per second.
Tone: A sound with a distinct pitch (i.e., a dominant frequency).
Transmission Loss (TL): A property of a material or structure describing its ability to reduce the transmission of sound at a particular frequency from one space to another. The higher the TL value the more effective the material or structure is in reducing sound between two spaces. It is measured in decibels.
White Noise: Noise that has approximately equal intensities at all frequencies. (White noise need not be random noise.)
Windscreen: A porous covering for a microphone, designed to reduce the noise generated by the passage of wind over the microphone.
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16 X-Percentile-Exceeded Sound Level (Ln): The A-weighted sound level equaled or exceeded by a fluctuating sound level x percent of a stated time period. E.g., the letter symbol L10, represents the sound level which is exceeded 10 percent of the stated time period. For a 1-hour measurement, L50, is the sound level exceeded for more than 30 minutes in an hour, L25 is the sound level exceeded for more than 15 minutes in an hour. L8 is the sound level exceeded for more than 4 minutes and 48 seconds in an hour, and L2 is the sound level exceeded for more than 72 seconds in an hour.
Gary N. Jacobs
September 8, 2025
Re: Proposed Bond Issue
Hon. Sharona R. Nazarian
Mayor, City of Beverly Hills
455 N Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Dear Mayor Nazarian:
My wife Robin and I have lived in Beverly Hills for almost 50 years (and she in fact grew up here and attended Beverly Hills public schools).
We attended the City Council hearing on August 19, 2025 concerning, among other agenda items, the proposed Mello-Roos bond issuance in support of One Beverly Hills, a private luxury development (the “Bond Issuance”).
We are very opposed to the Bond Issuance, which could be as high as $590 million and is in support of an immense private project geared to very wealthy people.
We do not think it is appropriate for the City to be undertaking this massive Bond Issuance in furtherance of overwhelmingly private gain. There are lots of reasons to oppose it, but I will not restate them here, as others in opposition to issuance of the Bonds have already done so.
I have read the various materials and advertisements, pro and con. My principal takeaway from the ‘pro’ literature are the assertion that the Bond Issuance by the City won’t impact its credit, cost the City anything, or expose it to any financial or legal risk. These -2-
assertions are strongly and persuasively contested by the opponents, and I will not repeat their arguments here.
If I understand the City’s position, it claims that issuing the bonds will be ‘cost free’ to the City, as the hotels, retail and residents occupying the site will be totally responsible for servicing the debt, with no exposure to the City. This may or may not be accurate - the opponents disagree.
I do note that even the City acknowledges that the One Beverly Hills project will go forward whether or not the Bond Issuance takes place.
I am writing this letter to question the underlying accuracy of the City’s base assertion that the Bond Issuance will be ‘cost free’ to the City (quite apart from the disputed claims of there being no financial or liability risk). Contrary to the City’s assertions, if the Bond Issuance does take place, there will be a direct and significant cost to the City and the Beverly Hills United School District (‘BHUSD”) amounting to millions of dollars in reduced property tax collections compared to what the City and the BHUSD would receive if the One Beverly Hills project was completed without the Bond Issuance. I have not previously seen this reduction in property tax collections discussed (maybe I missed it). It seems to me, for reasons I will explain below, that the City and, particularly the BHUSD, will directly suffer a significant diminution of property tax revenue if the Bonds are issued.
Here is why (and I will use hypothetical numbers to make my point):
- The allocation of property tax revenue is approximately 53% to schools, 20% to special districts; 14% to counties; 12% to cities.
- The Mello-Roos tax assessments are not subject to these allocations but are dedicated to servicing the Bonds.
- In general, the higher the property tax on a property, the lower will be what a buyer is prepared to pay for that property.
- For simplicity, assume the City issues $500 million of Bonds at an annual interest rate of 6% (which might be at a higher or lower rate) and that the Bonds have a 30 year maturity.
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- To service these hypothetical bonds, the annual debt service would be about $30 million per year. I am assuming (perhaps not accurately), that the annual MelloRoos property tax bills would remain relatively constant, as principal amortization would roughly offset reduced interest payments over the life of the Bonds. - Assume that the $30 million is split evenly between the residential and commercial components of the project. I am not dealing in this letter with the impact of the debt service on property tax collections from the commercial elements (although I believe those would also be reduced as a result of the assumed $15 million of annual Mello-Roos debt service.)
- I believe that approximately 200 residential units are planned for the project, and using my hypothetical numbers, these units would have to absorb the $15 million Mello-Roos property tax hypothetically allocable to the residential component. If this burden is apportioned equally among the units, that would equal an annual Mello-Roos tax burden per unit of $75,000 per year in addition to ordinary property tax. ALL OF THIS TAX WOULD GO TO SERVICE THE BONDS; NONE WOULD GO TO THE CITY, SPECIAL DISTRICTS, THE COUNTY OR THE CITY. - If there were no Mello-Roos Bonds, and the developer had to come up with the $500 million from commercial sources, the price the developer would need to command would necessarily be higher than if there were Mello-Roos Bonds, as that would have to be built into the sales price.
o For example, assume no Mello-Roos Bonds, a $10 million sales price per unit, and a $125,000+ annual property tax bill per unit. o As a consequence of issuing the Mello-Roos bonds, each residential unit would have an additional Mello-Roos property tax burden of approximately $75,000 per year.
o Unless buyers are irrational, they necessarily would take this extra tax payment into account in pricing what they would be prepared to pay for their unit.
o If the realized price per unit is reduced from $10 million to $9 million, the normal annual property tax would be reduced to approximately $112,500 +. -4-
o Without Mello-Roos, the split on the property tax (at a $10 million per unit price) would be per annum:
▪ (a) BHUSD - 53% x 125,000 = $66,250
▪ (b) special districts - 20% x125,000 = $25,000
▪ (c) County - 14% x 125,000 $17,500
▪ (d) City - 12% x 125,000 = $15,000
o With the Mello-Roos Bonds, the annual split on the ordinary property tax per unit (assuming a $9 million sales price per unit) would be per annum:
▪ (a) BHUSD - 53% x 112,500 = $59,492
▪ (b) special districts - 20% x 112,500 = $22,500
▪ (c) County - 14% x 112500 = $15,750
▪ (d) City - 12% x 112,500 = $13,500
o The difference is that all the Mello-Roos tax would go to the Bonds, and none of that would go to the BHUSB, special districts, the County or the City .
- What this hypothetical exercise means is that Mello-Roos bonds would over a 30 year term, would cost in lost property tax revenue per unit:
▪ (a) BHUSD - 6,758 x 30 = $202,740
▪ (b) special districts -2,500 x 30 = $75,000
▪ (c) County - $1750x30 = $52,500
▪ (d) City - $1,500 x 30 = $45,000
▪ (t) total impairment - $375,240
o Assuming 200 residential units, this would work out to a loss of property tax revenue over the life of the Bonds in excess of $75,000,000, more than half of which would be borne by the BHUSD. THIS IS REAL MONEY. o Obviously, if the units sold for more than a 10% discount due to the tax impact of the Bonds, the fiscal impact on BHUSD, special districts, county and city would be even greater, as would be the case if the term of the Bonds was greater than 30 years.
- The numbers will of course move around based on the specific facts of the Bond Issuance and sales results, but the conclusion seems to be inescapable that the proposed transaction, viewed as a whole, represents a very substantial financial transfer from various governmental entities (and especially BHUSD) to -5-
the Developer because of the benefits the Developer would realize, and is not at all ‘cost free’ to the City and certainly not ‘cost free’ when the interests of the BHUSD are taken into account.
- The City may wish to argue that this erosion of the tax base is not significant. If it wishes to make that argument, it should do so, but a $75,000,000+ giveaway is hardly insignificant.
- If the City wishes to make the further argument that the financial detriments to the City and the other governmental agencies are outweighed by the ‘benefits’ the City will supposedly be receiving from the developer, it should make that argument as well. But we already know from the points made by other opponents of the Bonds, that the so-called ‘benefits’ are significantly overstated (to the extent those ‘benefits’ are not illusory), and the other detriments and potential liabilities are understated. Additionally, the City concedes that the One Beverly Hills project will go forward with or without the Bond Issuance.
I am not opposed to the One Beverly Hills project, particularly since construction is in process and we obviously need it to be completed; the alternative is a giant construction hole.
But before the City commits to a massive financial accommodation to the developer (which I assume the developer wants to shore up its financing and reduce its interest expense), the City needs to be more thoughtful, candid and clear eyed in its analysis and fully and accurately into account the actual costs and risks, as well as the wishes of the City’s residents.
If what the City is proposing is such a good idea, why is the City seeking the ‘vote’ of only the handful of people who live in the so-called Special District, and put it up for the up or down vote of the citizens of Beverly Hills? The City’s residents should have a say in how this $75,000,000 plus ‘sausage’ is being put together. And as noted earlier, the impact of the property tax losses attributable to the commercial element will likely make the costs of the Bond Issuance even higher.
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Kindly include this letter in the formal administrative record of the deliberations on the Bond Issuance
Thank you for consideration.
Gary N. Jacobs
Cc: John A, Mirisch, Vice Mayor
Lester Friedman, Member City Council
Craig A. Corman, Member City Council
Mary N. Wells, Member City Council
Darian Bojeaux
Editor, Beverly Hills Weekly
Editor, Beverly Hills Courier
Editor, Beverly Press