STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: December 9, 2025
To:
From:
Subject:
Attachments:
Honorable Mayor & City Council
Huma Ahmed, City Clerk, CMC
Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC) and Community Charitable Foundation (CCF) Interview Panel Update
1. Redacted Applications
INTRODUCTION
This report provides two interview panel updates: the Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC) and Community Charitable Foundation (CCF).
Cultural Heritage Commission
The Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC) interview panel met on Thursday, October 30, 2025, and consisted of Mayor Sharona R. Nazarian, PsyD, Councilmember John A.
Mirisch, CHC Chair Lori Greene Gordon, and Commissioner Marc Teren.
The panel interviewed 10 (ten) applicants for two vacancies on the Cultural Heritage Commission.
Community Charitable Foundation
The Community Charitable Foundation (CCF) interview panel met on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, and consisted of Mayor Sharona R. Nazarian, PsyD, Councilmember Mary N. Wells, City Treasurer Howard S. Fisher and Resident Board Member Lisa Greer.
The panel interviewed 5 (five) applicants for one vacancy on the Community Charitable Foundation.
DISCUSSION
After discussion and careful review, the two Panels recommended the following:
Cultural Heritage Commission
Sandra Pressman (Term: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027) Outgoing Commissioner Marc Teren (Term ends: December 31, 2025) Meeting Date: December 9, 2025
Michael J. Libow (Term: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2028)
Outgoing Vice Chair Josh Flagg (Term ends June 30, 2026) Community Charitable Foundation
Atoosa Nehorai (Term: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027) Former Resident Board Member: Mark Schwartz (Term ended: June 30, 2024) Per the terms outlined in the City Council Policy Handbook, there should be a minimum of three (3) applicants for one vacancy and five (5) for two vacancies.
The recommended candidates are required to attend all commission and/or foundation meetings leading up to their appointments. There is also an expectation that, once seated, commissioners and resident board members will schedule their time accordingly and attend meetings in person at City Hall.
The three candidates will be eligible for a four-year appointment upon the conclusion of their initial terms. They have also successfully completed the City’s required background check.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
RECOMMENDATION
The interview panels for the CHC and CCF recommend that the City Council appoint Sandra Pressman and Michael J. Libow to the Cultural Heritage Commission and also appoint Atoosa Nehorai to the Community Charitable Foundation. With concurrence of the City Council, a formal report will be included on Consent for the December 9, 2025 City Council Formal Session.
All the candidates are thanked for their thoughtful and compelling answers to the questions posed by the interview panel. The City of Beverly Hills is fortunate to have an extraordinary applicant pool and the applicants are encouraged to re-apply for upcoming vacancies. Applicants who have not participated in Team Beverly Hills are urged to apply and complete the resident-based education program.
Huma Ahmed,
City Clerk
Approved By
Attachment 1