CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS
Council Chamber
455 North Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION
September 9, 2025
2:30 p.m.*
Sharona R. Nazarian, PsyD, Mayor
John A. Mirisch, Vice Mayor
Lester J. Friedman, Councilmember
Craig A. Corman, Councilmember
Mary N. Wells, Councilmember
Nancy Hunt-Coffey, City ManagerRyan Gohlich, Assistant City ManagerKeith Sterling, Deputy City ManagerLaurence Wiener, City Attorney Huma Ahmed, City Clerk
Chloe Chen, Principal Planner
Michael Forbes, Director of Community
Greg Barton, Fire Chief
Sean Stokes, EMS Division Chief
None
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:
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Nazarian at 2:30 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 (GovernmentCode Section 54950 et seq.) prohibits the City Council from providing a detailed response oracting upon any item not contained on the agenda posted 72 hours before a regular meeting and24 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 Development
ERL2
may be summarized by the City Clerk’s Office. The entire written comment shall be archived in full as part of the record.
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 (GovernmentCode 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 and24 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 the meeting. 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 may be summarized by the City Clerk’s Office. The entire written comment shall be archived in full as part of the record.
Mayor Nazarian announced that September is Library Card Sign-Up Month.
A -DIRECTION
1. Recommendation and Request for Approval of Handy Worker Program; and Approval of a One-Time Affordable Housing Fund Appropriation of $5,000 for Fiscal Year 2025- 26 The Handy Worker program will assist lower-income tenants who meet program eligibility by providing funding reimbursements to complete minor improvements related to health and safety in multi-family residential units. Staff is requesting approval of the Program along with a one-time appropriation of $5,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to pay for program reimbursements.
Principal Planner Chloe Chen presented information related to this item.Council provided their questions and comments.
Principal Planner Chloe Chen, Director of Community Development Michael Forbes, and City Manager Nancy-Hunt Coffey responded to Council questions.Council directed staff to start the program for tenants with a very low income level.
2. Recommendation of the Beverly Hills Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services Division to Establish a Paramedic Subscription Program
This item provides a recommendation of the Beverly Hills Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services Division, regarding its proposed Paramedic Subscription Program.
Fire Chief Greg Barton and EMS Division Chief Sean Stokes presented information related to this item.
Council provided their questions and comments.
EMS Division Chief Sean Stokes and Fire Chief Greg Barton responded to Council questions.
Council directed that the program should begin on January 1, 2026 and will cost $90 for the fixed period of the year.
3. Proposed fundraising program for the October 7th Permanent Memorial The October 7th Permanent Memorial ad hoc has provided feedback on the fundraising levels and recognition for donors to the memorial. The City Council is asked to consider therecommendations by the ad hoc and provide direction on the fundraising program.
City Manager Nancy-Hunt Coffey presented information related to this item.
Zoom Public Comment:
1. Mark Elliot
Council provided their questions and comments.
City Manager Nancy-Hunt Coffey responded to Council questions.
Council agreed not to include donor names on the front wall and no dedications on benches.
They also decided to explore alternative fabrication options due to cost. The Ad Hoc Committee will continue working on this item and return to Council.
4. Recommendations for the October 5th Groundbreaking Ceremony, including street closures, library closure, appropriation not-to-exceed $150,000 from the General Fund and authorizing the City Manager to execute various contracts for the groundbreakingevent Based on feedback received from the City Council at the August 19th meeting, staff recommends the closure of Rexford Dr, Burton Way and Civic Center Dr. Additionally, staffseeks various appropriations from the general fund reserve for expenses related to the groundbreaking ceremony.
City Manager Nancy-Hunt Coffey announced that this item will be taken off the agenda for revisions and brought back to the next meeting.
B — ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO CONSIDER (TIME PERMITTING)
None
C - IN FORMATION
5. State and Federal Legislative Update
This item provides an update to the City Council on legislative activities at the state and federal level.
Informational report only, no action taken.
PASSED, Approved and Adopted
this 30th day of September, 2025
HUMA AHMED, City Clerk
441&4
SHARONA R. NAZARIAN, PSY , MAYOR
This meeting was broadcast on live television, on City of Beverly Hills municipal government television access Channel BHTVIO Spectrum Cable.