CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS
Room 280A
455 North Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
In-Person / Telephonic / Video Conference Meeting
PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
SYNOPSIS
August 14, 2025
8:00 AM
.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Date/Time: August 14, 2025 / 8:00 AM
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Commissioners Dar, Nystrom, Millan, Vice Chair Ritterbush, Chair Nehoray.
Commissioners Absent: None.
Staff Present: Vince Damasse, Josette Descalzo, Cole Duffy, Samer Elayyan, Melissa Gomez, Amanda Grossman, Michael Hensley, Tristan Malabanan, Robert Welch, Audrey Wright, Pei-Shin Wu.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
Public Speaker: None.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
By Order of the Chair, the agenda was approved as presented.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Consideration of Minutes
Consideration of Minutes of the Public Works Commission regular meeting of July 17, 2025.
Motion: MOVED by Commissioner Millan, SECONDED by Commissioner Nystrom to approve the Consent Calendar item as presented (5/0).
AYES: Commissioners Dar, Nystrom, Millan, Vice Chair Ritterbush, Chair Nehoray.
NOES: None.
CARRIED
Public Works Commission Regular Meeting Synopsis
August 14, 2025
REPORTS FROM PRIORITY AGENCIES
Operations Reports from City Departments, Consultants and Outside Agencies Dr. Barry Pressman, Director for the City of Beverly Hills on the Board of the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) provided an update on MWD’s activities. Recruitment is ongoing for a new General Manager following the termination of the previous General Manager this last January. MWD recently adopted the Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water (CAMP4Water) to address longterm concerns about the effects of climate change on water resources. MWD has recently agreed to allow for trading of water between agencies. The Commission asked about the opening date of the pure water treatment facility, the negotiations on the Colorado River, and rate increases.
Sustainability Program Administrator Amanda Grossman introduced Los Angeles County Sustainability Policy Advisor Raj Dhillon. He gave a presentation on the Chief Sustainability Office’s 2025 OurCounty Plan, which focuses on long-term environmentally friendly improvements for the county and to increase sustainability. He reviewed the 12 different goals in the plan and said that public comment on the plan was open until August 22, 2025. The Commission thanked him for his presentation and asked about availability of electricity through the grid in relation to efforts for increased ownership of electric vehicles.
CONTINUED BUSINESS
2. Water Treatment Plant Quarterly Update (March 2025 – June 2025) Water Resources and Operations Manager Vince Damasse gave a quarterly update on the City’s water treatment plant. He reviewed the raw water quality of the wells owned by the City, the quality of the finished water pumped out by the treatment plant, and the production volume of the plant. The Commission asked about how the finished water quality from the plant compares to water imported from MWD, how the wells are rehabbed on a rotational basis, and what the process of rehabbing/deep cleaning the well involves.
3. Legislative Update
Senior Management Analyst Melissa Gomez and Management Analyst Audrey Wright gave an update on recent state-level and federal-level legislation and funding changes that impact Public Works. They highlighted multiple bills, including AB 337 (greenhouse gas reduction fund), SB 496 (advanced clean fleet), AB 523 (MWD alternate voter), and SB 607 (California Environmental Quality Act). They also reviewed the governor’s approved budget of $325 billion for FY 2025-2026, including allocations for water, clean energy, and infrastructure. The Commission asked about terminology used in grant applications, how staff prioritizes which bills to review and encourage the City to support/oppose, and the City’s efforts to increase its number of electric vehicles.
The Commission took a break at 9:28 AM.
The Commission returned from break at 9:38 AM.
4. Consumer Confidence Update
Water Quality Specialist Jason Dyogi gave an update on the City’s annual water quality report, which is provided to the public every July. He reviewed the regulations on the City’s drinking water, the City’s proactive standards for monitoring water quality, and what’s included in the annual report made available to the public. The Commission asked about the process of collecting water samples, the in-house lab accreditation process, how the City and its contracted certified labs manage hundreds of water quality tests per day, and how the City having its own in-house certified lab will save both time and money.
Public Works Commission Regular Meeting Synopsis
August 14, 2025
NEW BUSINESS
None.
PROJECT UPDATES AND STATUS ITEMS
5. Sustainability Report
Sustainability Program Administrator Amanda Grossman reported on the City’s sustainability initiatives, including the City’s partnership with the Being Waterwise Art Contest. 3 students from BHUSD submitted their original artwork and were recognized by City Council. The City will host a paper shredding & compost giveaway on September 7. The City will host a hazardous waste roundup on September 27. WaterSmart, the City’s new app for water bills, began sending leak alerts to single family residences on July 9 and to multi-family residences on July 28. 1,727 alerts have been sent since the launch of the alert system. The Commission asked about emission reduction monitoring, engagement levels on the City’s social media accounts, how many accounts have transferred from the old water billing service to WaterSmart, and if the leak alerts take into account watering days.
6. Capital Projects Update
Project Manager Tristan Malabanan gave an update on the water main replacement project to replace old cast-iron pipes with earthquake resistant ductile iron pipes (ERDIP). Over 10,000 feet of pipe will be replaced by Williams Pipeline Contractors for $5.5 million. Physical construction began on August 11, with an estimated completion date of July 2026.
Engineering Services Manager Samer Elayyan provided an update on various projects happening across the City, including the sewer main rehabilitation project and improvements to the six-way intersection at Beverly-Lomitas-Canon. The Commission asked about the origin of the water main replacement project, what is being done with the old pipes, and about progress on the Cabrillo reservoir project and the Gregory-Le Doux wells project.
7. Specific Information and Project Updates
Utilities General Manager Robert Welch asked for questions on this item. The Commission did not have any questions on this item.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE COMMISSION
8. Chair’s Report
Chair Nehoray reported on August’s Mayor Cabinet Meeting. He reminded viewers that anyone calling the City about coyote sightings should contact LA County’s wildlife services.
Commissioner Nystrom asked if the City could explore shutting down Rodeo Drive for pedestrians once a month.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM STAFF
9. Director’s Report
Utilities General Manager Robert Welch announced the City will host a paper shredding & compost giveaway on September 7 and a hazardous waste roundup 27. The Mayor will host Straight Talk with Sharona on August 14 with a focus on Public Works.
ADJOURNMENT
Date/Time: August 14, 2025 / 11:05 AM
CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS
Room 280A
455 North Rexford Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
AND
Teleconference Location:
Palazzo Ripetta
Via Di Ripetta 231
Rome, IT 00186
In-Person / Telephonic / Video Conference Meeting
PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
SYNOPSIS
September 11, 2025
8:00 AM
.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Date/Time: September 11, 2025 / 8:00 AM
Vice-Chair Ritterbush opened the meeting. Chair Nehoray continued the meeting, participating remotely.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Commissioners Dar, Nystrom, Millan, Vice Chair Ritterbush, Chair Nehoray.
Commissioners Absent: None.
Staff Present: Christine Chung, Josette Descalzo, Cole Duffy, Samer Elayyan, Amanda Grossman, Robert Welch.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
Public Speaker: None.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
By Order of the Chair, the agenda was approved as presented.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Consideration of Minutes
Consideration of Minutes of the Public Works Commission regular meeting of August 14, 2025.
Public Works Commission Regular Meeting Synopsis
September 11, 2025
Motion: MOVED by Commissioner Millan, SECONDED by Commissioner Nystrom to approve the Consent Calendar item as presented (5/0).
AYES: Commissioners Dar, Nystrom, Millan, Vice Chair Ritterbush, Chair Nehoray.
NOES: None.
CARRIED
REPORTS FROM PRIORITY AGENCIES
Operations Reports from City Departments, Consultants and Outside Agencies None.
CONTINUED BUSINESS
2. Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) Update Sustainability Program Analyst Trevor Alsop gave a presentation on the history of the City’s Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) based on state guidelines and how the City has updated its ordinance to reflect changes over time. The 2025 revisions by the State updated and enhanced the clarity of the ordinance and its enforcement measures, with a greater alignment to technical standards. Next steps will be to work with the City Attorney’s Office to update the City’s version of the ordinance, then to present the revised ordinance to the Commission for feedback. The Commission thanked him for his presentation and asked about whether the ordinance will reflect the different water usage by single family homes vs multi-family housing and commercial buildings, requirements for including precipitation in the calculation for budget-setting water usage, the City’s ban on artificial turf, and how farming might apply (e.g., if a residence has fruit trees on the property).
NEW BUSINESS
None.
PROJECT UPDATES AND STATUS ITEMS
3. Sustainability Report
Sustainability Program Administrator Amanda Grossman reported on the City’s sustainability initiatives, including the relaunched Green Business Program, WaterSmart’s notification system to track residents who water their lawns more than 2 days per week, Metropolitan Water District’s (MWD) new non-residential landscape rebate, and route reviews of trash bins for SB 1383 compliance. She also highlighted the upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up for all LA county residents on September 27 which the City is participating in with a drop-off location on 3rd St. The Commission thanked her for her presentation and asked about how staff can audit waste containers used by multi-family homes, how to encourage residents and people working in the city to use the waste containers correctly, and how staff can assess what is inside the waste containers they inspect without opening bags.
4. Capital Projects Update
Engineering Services Manager Samer Elayyan introduced Project Manager Christine Chung, who gave an update on construction of the Metro D Line extension. The first segment of the line extension, which ends at Wilshire/La Cienega, is on scheduled to open in Q4 2025. The second segment of the extension, which stops at Beverly/Wilshire and ends in Century City, is on schedule to open in Q4 2026. Samer also gave a brief presentation on additional projects, including the sewer main rehabilitation project. The Commission thanked them for Public Works Commission Regular Meeting Synopsis
September 11, 2025
their presentation and asked about how Metro construction impacts City infrastructure, how Metro will meet City standards for subway station design in their scope of work, and the status of the Automated Meter Infrastructure (AMI) project.
The Commission took a break at 9:15 AM.
The Commission returned from break at 9:25 AM.
5. Specific Information and Project Updates
Utilities General Manager Robert Welch highlighted that the S. Santa Monica Blvd Street Tree Master Plan is moving forward to City Council for their consideration at their September 16 meeting.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE COMMISSION
6. Chair’s Report
Chair Nehoray reported on September’s Mayor Cabinet Meeting, and on the Public Works/ City Council liaison meeting held on August 20 about the S. Santa Monica Blvd Street Tree Master Plan, where it was decided that Mexican Fan Palms were the best option for tree replacement.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM STAFF
7. Director’s Report
Utilities General Manager Robert Welch announced that the City will host a hazardous household waste roundup on September 27, and that Dr. Barry Pressman from MWD has been appointed to be a Vice-Chair on their board.
The meeting concluded with a moment of silence for the victims and first responders of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
ADJOURNMENT
Date/Time: September 11, 2025 / 9:31 AM