AGENDA REPORT
Meeting Date: June 23, 2026
Item Number:
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Stephanie Harris, Director of Community Services
Chad Lynn, Deputy Director Special Projects Public Safety Joana Torres, Community Services Manager
Subject: CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS CENTRAL BUSINESS SECURITY
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION FOR SAFETY AND HOSPITALITY
SERVICE; AND
AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AND EXECUTE
ALL AGREEMENTS AND APPROVE PURCHASE ORDERS
ASSOCIATED WITH SAFETY AND HOSPITALITY SERVICES UP TO
A NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $1.6 MILLION
Attachments: None
RECOMMENDATION
Per the recommendation of Central Business Security Committee (formerly the Community Security Ad Hoc), staff is requesting City Council to authorize the City Manager to enter into and execute all agreements and approvals of purchase orders associated with Ambassador services, Virtual Community Observers, and Code Enforcement Officers in the Business Triangle up to a not-to-exceed amount of $1.6 million.
INTRODUCTION
Upon completing a Request for Proposal process and several interviews with staff and the Central Business Security Committee (formerly known as the Community Security Ad Hoc), at the City Council Meeting of October 10, 2024, the City Council approved the Committee’s short-term recommendation to extend Block by Block’s (BBB) services. The recommended extended services are under a shorter-term agreement, concluding June 30, 2026, with a reduced scope of services to allow the Committee time to explore and recommend alternative methods of service delivery.
The origin of this short-term agreement began in 2024, when the Central Business Security Committee, then composed of Mayor Friedman and Councilmember Corman, Meeting Date: June 23, 2026
proposed a new scope of work for Safety and Hospitality Services along with consolidation of services, reduction of routes, and consolidation of shifts. This included consolidation of overnight security functions and parking garage checks with the current public safety contractor, as they are more integrated with BHPD for security services and engaged throughout the City.
There was also a recommendation to reduce the footprint for hospitality services.
Hospitality services in the Business Triangle and South Beverly Drive would maintain current service levels, while reducing Ambassador coverage outside of these areas.
Lastly, the Committee recommended a reduction in the hours of service and number of shifts provided by Ambassadors to better align with the peak visitor hours.
Staff returned to the Central Business Security Committee in 2026 for consideration of alternative options for service delivery prior to the expiration of the current agreement for Ambassador services, which concludes on June 30, 2026, unless extended or a new agreement is executed.
DISCUSSION
Central Business Security Committee members, then Mayor Nazarian and Councilmember Friedman, met on January 6, 2026, to discuss the impacts of the reduced services to the Business Triangle. While it was understood that there is a positive response to the service, it was agreed that a hospitality approach was no longer necessary and perhaps the service should have a stronger focus on safety and enforcement. The Committee requested staff to consult the Rodeo Drive Committee and the Chamber of Commerce.
Through informal discussions, the Rodeo Drive Committee and Chamber of Commerce generally supported the concept of maintaining a presence in these areas but with greater focus on engaging unhoused individuals and code enforcement. The feedback supported the continued efforts to engage unhoused individuals with the goal of providing needed services and documentation of these ongoing efforts. Additionally, there is a desire to see more engagement in the form of outreach, education, and documentation of those engaging in suspected code violations, including non-permitted commercial activities. In cases of ongoing or repetitive violations, there is a desire for more consistent and effective enforcement.
The Committee met again on April 6, 2026 to discuss the City partners’ feedback. A combined approach of private security, code enforcement, and ambassadors was suggested to be the best approach to provide effective enforcement in the Business Triangle.
On May 12, 2026 the Committee, now comprised of Mayor Corman and Councilmember Friedman, discussed the shared mission and coverage area to provide direct engagement and documentation of ongoing and repetitive violations for the escalation of services, such as with mental health concerns or code enforcement. The Committee recommended a three-prong approach:
Ambassadors: Ambassadors provide foot patrol, education, and constant documentation of their encounters. They currently operate Monday through Wednesday from 7am to 10pm and Thursday through Sunday from 7am to 12am.
The proposed plan will adjust their operating hours to 7am to 10pm daily.
Code Enforcement Officers: Additional Code Enforcement services will be added with specific focuses on quality of life issues and code violations. Code Enforcement Officers can issue citations to offenders.
Meeting Date: June 23, 2026
Virtual Community Observers (VCOs): Approximately 40 hours of VCO services, to be allocated during peak activity periods, will be added to specifically focus on quality of life and code enforcement concerns. This addition ensures the added functions do not detract or dilute VCO services related to community patrol and crime prevention. These services will assist with directing Ambassadors and Code Enforcement Officers to areas of activity for response and enforcement. The VCOs will also assist with providing observation and evidence for use in addressing quality of life concerns.
FISCAL IMPACT
A total annual amount of $1.6 million is currently budgeted for Ambassador services in the Community Services operating budget. This budget will be split and transferred to Policy and Management and Community Development as of July 1, 2026 as outlined below:
Service Account Budget
Ambassadors 00108803 - 731220 $902,000
Overtime for City-Employed Code
Enforcement Officers 00114620 - 713000 $60,000
Contracted Code Enforcement
Officers 00114620 - 731220 $290,000
Virtual Community Observers 00101315 - 731230 $150,000
Total $1,402,000
The surplus of $198,000 shall be set aside to cover any additional needs in coverage from any of the services listed above or overtime for City-employed Code Enforcement Officers.
Stephanie Harris,
Director of Community Services
Approved By