STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: December 9, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Nancy Hunt-Coffey, City Manager
Subject: Recommendation by the October 7th Permanent Memorial Ad Hoc Regarding Details of the Memorial and Finalization of the Donor Recognition Program
Attachments: 1. October 7th Memorial overview, basin and Wall of Victims images
2. Donor wall options
3. Hardscape/landscape options
INTRODUCTION
The October 7th Memorial Ad Hoc Committee Liaisons, Mayor Nazarian and Vice Mayor Mirisch met on December 1, 2025 to discuss details of the memorial and the fundraising campaign.
The City Council has already set aside $500,000 toward the October 7th Permanent Memorial project, but the cost of the memorial will exceed this amount and as a result, it is important to begin building out the fundraising campaign and recognition program.
DISCUSSION
Details of the Memorial
The ad hoc discussed the fountain basin at the center of the Memorial. The questions were: 1. Should there be writing in the fountain basin and 2. If so, what should the writing say?
The ad hoc recommends that there be writing in the fountain basin. There are twelve “segments” to the fountain basin, representing the months of the year. The ad hoc recommends that six Psalms be selected to go into the basin. Each one would be written twice, in English and in Hebrew, to fill each of the segments. The ad hoc recommended Psalms that are not heavily religious such as Psalm 23. Should the City Council support this general recommendation, the list of recommended Psalms will be brought to Council at a future date.
The ad hoc also discussed the Wall of Victims and the way in which the victim names should be listed. The ad hoc requested two mockups, one with the names in English only and the other with the names in the victim’s native language and also in English (in this Meeting Date: December 9, 2025
version, some victim names would be listed in two different languages, e.g. Hebrew and English). The recommended version of the names will be brought to Council at a future date. In addition to the names of those who were murdered on 10/7, the ad hoc recommended listing the names of the hostages who were killed or died as a result of being held hostage. Toward this end, the ad hoc recommended that staff reach out to the Israeli consulate to make the final recommendation on the names that should be listed.
The ad hoc was presented with various options for the site landscape and hardscape.
Regarding the landscaping, it should be noted that the two mature pine trees at the location will need to be removed since the grading and sitework is too significant to expect the trees to survive. As a result, alternative specimen trees were considered. The ad hoc recommended planting nonfruiting olive trees. Meadow plant concepts with various grass species were also considered; however, the ad hoc preferred plantings that offer more of a manicured look for the landscaped areas. As a result, a recommended plant palette will be brought to Council at a later date. For the hardscape, the ad hoc recommends a combination of pavers and the gravel walkway with resin binder. They recommended the use of natural colors for the hardscape such as greens, greys, etc.
As Council may recall, the decision was made to use the wall panel closest to the intersection of Rexford Dr. and Burton Way as the name marker for the site. The ad hoc recommends that the name marker state: October 7th Memorial Garden, provide a dedication date and list the Councilmembers, current and former, who were involved in the creation of the Memorial, as well as the City Treasurer.
Donor Program
As Council will recall, the other wall panel, closest to the intersection of Civic Center Dr. and Burton Way will be used for the highest-level donors. The Council also directed that the City of Beverly Hills be listed at the top of this panel. The ad hoc recommends that the font size for the City be approximately 3.5”. Any donors above $500k would have their names at 3” and donors between $250k and $499k would be listed at 2.5”.
Additionally, the Council had previously directed that a portion of the back wall of the monument should be used for other donations. The ad hoc considered a few options for materials to be used on the donor wall (precast concrete, stainless steel or modular inserts), and they recommend the use of precast concrete. While the precast concrete panel would need to be replaced should there be donations after it is cast, based on prior fundraising experience in Beverly Gardens Park and at the dog park, the ad hoc felt that it was unlikely that there would be substantial donations after the completion of the Memorial, and that the precast concrete provides a cleaner look. The ad hoc recommended that a deadline be set by which donations are received to appear on the panel and to encourage donations within a certain time period.
On this wall, donor recognition levels and sizes would be as follows:
--$100k-$249k, 2.5”
--$50k-$99k, 2”
--$25k-$49k, 1.5”
It should be noted that the ad hoc is recommending the Council consider a change in the lowest level of donation. The ad hoc and the Council had originally approved recognition on the donor wall for donations at $10k and above. The ad hoc now recommends that the lowest level for recognition on the donor wall should be $25k.
Meeting Date: December 9, 2025
The Council is asked to approve the following:
• The use of words in the basin of the Memorial fountain. • The words being from the Psalms (the individual Psalms to be approved by Council at a later date) and to be written in English and Hebrew. • The selection of nonfruiting olive trees for the site. • The use of pavers and gravel walkway with resin binder. • The language for the name marker.
• The donor levels and font sizes for the front and back donor walls. • The use of precast concrete for the donor walls.
FISCAL IMPACT
As stated previously, the City has dedicated $500,000 toward the creation of the Memorial, and it is expected to cost approximately $1.5 million to construct. A more defined project cost will be provided once sufficient funds have been raised and the project has been bid.
So far, the City has received $3,087.18 in donations toward the October 7th Permanent Memorial.
At this time there are no additional fiscal impacts.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council discuss the recommendations provided by the October 7th Memorial Ad Hoc Committee Liaisons and provide direction regarding the design details of the October 7th Memorial and the donor program.
Nancy Hunt-Coffey,
City Manager
Approved By
Attachment 1
Top View - Full Site - Day Time Visualization Page 5 of 21 Front View - Day Time Visualization Page 8 of 21
Top View - Core Structure - Day Time Visualization Page 11 of 21 Top View - Core Structure - Night Time Visualization Page 12 of 21 Attachment 2
VERSION 02 | NOVEMBER 19, 2025
DONOR WALL INFORMATION
Largest donors
City of BH at top
Recommendation: $250k+
Other donor
Names
Recommendation
$25k-$249k
SAMPLE Donor wall at Burton Way and Civic Center Dr.
Donors $500k+, 3”
$250k-$499k, 2.5”
City of Beverly Hills, 3.5”
SAMPLE Donor wall at back of the Memorial
$100k-$249k, 2.5”
$50k-$99k, 2”
$25k-$49k, 1.5”
OPTION 01. CONCRETE INSERT Option recommended by the ad hoc OPTION 02. STEEL INSERT
OPTION 03. MODULAR INSERTS
Attachment 3
Studio AN32
PREPARED FOR CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS
AN32 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE | 8549 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 156 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 | 323.790.4782 | AN32.com OCTOBER 7th MEMORIAL GARDEN
CONCEPTUAL LANDSCAPE MATERIAL AND PLANT STUDIES
NOVEMBER 26, 2025
Black Locust End Grain Pavers set on Gravel Base
HARDSCAPE MATERIAL CONCEPTS
AN32 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE | 8549 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 156 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 | 323.790.4782 | AN32.com Black Locust End Grain Pavers set on Gravel Base with weathered Patina finish End Grain Wood Pavers and Concrete Benches Black Locust End Grain Pavers and DG Walkway
HARDSCAPE MATERIAL CONCEPTS
AN32 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE | 8549 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 156 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 | 323.790.4782 | AN32.com Ad hoc
preferred
pavers,
but not
made of
wood.
HARDSCAPE MATERIAL CONCEPTS
Gravel Plaza, Stone, Concrete Benches and Native Grass Meadow Gravel Walkway with Core Gravel Base and resin binder
Gravel walkways, light concrete benches and native bunch grasses AN32 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE | 8549 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 156 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 | 323.790.4782 | AN32.com Ad hoc
preferred
gravel
base and
resin
binder
HARDSCAPE MATERIAL CONCEPTS
Cobble or End Grain Wood Pavers set on non-compacted base around Trees Island planters to define walkways, courtyards and landscape AN32 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE | 8549 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 156 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 | 323.790.4782 | AN32.com
PLANT MATERIAL CONCEPTS
80-150 yr. old Orchard Grown Olive Trees creating symbolism and structure to the garden AN32 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE | 8549 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 156 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 | 323.790.4782 | AN32.com Ad hoc recommends nonfruiting olive trees
PLANT MATERIAL CONCEPTS
Deer Grass massing along decomposed granite walkway Native Deer Grass Hillside, Olive trees and gravel walkway AN32 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE | 8549 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 156 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 | 323.790.4782 | AN32.com
PLANT MATERIAL CONCEPTS
White Sage
Mound landscape at islands to define space and create interest Giant Wild Rye - Massing California Buckwheat
AN32 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE | 8549 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 156 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 | 323.790.4782 | AN32.com
PLANT MATERIAL CONCEPTS
Cape Mendocino Reedgrass - Native bunch grass
Cleveland Sage Purple Sage
Mixed native grass meadow
AN32 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE | 8549 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 156 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 | 323.790.4782 | AN32.com
PLANT MATERIAL GROUNDCOVER CONCEPTS
California Sage ‘Canyon Gray’ - Groundcover
Ceanothus ‘Yankee Point’ - Groundcover Dudleya - Groundcover California Buckwheat - Fall season
AN32 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE | 8549 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 156 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 | 323.790.4782 | AN32.com