STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: December 16, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Huma Ahmed, City Clerk
Subject: Commission Reappointments (Planning Commission, Public Works Commission and Recreation and Parks Commission)
Attachments: 1. Commissioner Letters
INTRODUCTION
The initial two-year terms for Planning Commissioner (Lou Milkowski), Public Works Commissioner (Ben Ritterbush) and Recreation and Parks Commissioner (Tara Riceberg) are ending on December 31, 2025. They are eligible for reappointment to a second term of four years. All three have submitted correspondence indicating a willingness to serve a second term from January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027.
DISCUSSION
LOU MILKOWSKI (Planning Commission)
First term expires December 31, 2025
Meetings held (January 2024 – November 2025)
• 29 Regular
• 13 Special
• 1 Absences (Regular)
• 2 Recusal
BEN RITTERBUSH (Public Works Commission)
First term expires December 31, 2025
Meetings held (January 2024 – November 2025)
• 19 Regular
• 2 Special
• 0 Absences
• 0 Recusals
TARA RICEBERG (Recreation and Parks Commission)
First term expires December 31, 2025
Meetings held (January 2024 – November 2025)
• 15 Regular
• 5 Special
• 1 Absences (Special)
• 0 Recusals
Meeting Date: December 16, 2025
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
RECOMMENDATION
The City Council Liaisons were consulted regarding these reappointments. The Council liaisons are as follows:
Planning Commission
Mayor Sharona R. Nazarian, PsyD and Vice Mayor Craig A. Corman Public Works Commission
Councilmember Lester J. Friedman and Councilmember Mary N. Wells Recreation and Parks Commission
Mayor Sharona R. Nazarian, PsyD and Councilmember Mary N. Wells In accordance with the reappointment process, the City Council is requested to provide direction. Due to the deadline, staff has included a formal adoption report on this evening’s Consent Agenda.
Huma Ahmed
City Clerk
Approved By
Attachment 1
From: Lou Milkowski
To: Huma Ahmed
Cc: Karen Myron; Megan Mumby
Subject: Planning Commission reappointment
Date: Friday, October 24, 2025 3:03:45 PM
I Huma -
It's been two quick years serving on the planning commission.
It would be my honor to be reappointed for four more years.
I have had the opportunity to not only utilize all of my past involvement, but it has been a pleasure to work with my most dedicated and intellectually gifted fellow commissioners.
From: Tara Riceberg
To: Huma Ahmed
Subject: RPC Second Term
Date: Friday, October 24, 2025 7:15:23 PM
I’m thrilled at the possibility of being reappointed to another term. The work plan items that I proposed, new big park signage and digital signage in the recreation buildings, have finally been moved up on our agenda. I’ve proposed planting butterfly friendly plants in the new playground in La Cienega Park, installing sun-protection canopies over picnic tables in Roxbury Park, replacing or repairing the dining tables in Beverly Canon Gardens, and installing e-bike safety stickers on sidewalks.
I’ve always been a champion of safety in the city and look forward to making our parks as safe and enjoyable as possible for everyone from small children to seniors. I would love to continue to work on completing the projects that have begun during my first term.
Being a commissioner has enhanced my connection to the community. My retail store on Canon now feels more like a neighborhood general store than a gift shop. I display city marketing materials for events and the AskBH postcards to keep residents informed on how they can get involved in making Beverly Hills better. When I tell clients that I’m on RPC, they immediately open up and share what they’d like to see in Beverly Hills, from better lighting at the parks, to their concerns about various topics like new construction projects, to their stories of losing their homes in the Palisades and being new to Beverly Hills.
Understanding how the commissions work has also helped me as a member of the Small Business Task Force and the Chamber of Commerce. I was able to present my case for sidewalk signage to both the Architectural and Planning Commissions and have them both recommend a pilot program to City Council.
My role as a commissioner extends beyond City Hall and I’m proud to be a cheerleader for the city. I hope to continue to enthusiastically serve the community.
Best regards,
Tara