AGENDA REPORT
Meeting Date: September 22, 2026
Item Number:
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Magdalena Davis Jones, Community Outreach Manager Subject: APPROVAL OF A FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 PURCHASE ORDER IN A NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $667,575 TO J. BEN BOURGEOIS
PRODUCTIONS, INC., FOR THE 2026 RODEO DRIVE HOLIDAY
LIGHTING CELEBRATION ON RODEO DRIVE
Attachments: 1. City Council Study Session Report from September 1, 2026 (without attachments)
RECOMMENDATION
Approve a purchase order in an amount not-to-exceed $667,575 to J. Ben Bourgeois Productions, Inc. for holiday décor and lighting materials and services.
INTRODUCTION
This purchase order will provide for the materials and services related to the 2026 Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration.
DISCUSSION
J. Ben Bourgeois Productions, Inc. (JBB) has been the selected vendor for the Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting celebrations since 2019. The City of Beverly Hills has an existing contract with JBB for event management services following a competitive bidding process.
The City Council reviewed and approved the Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration program and Liaison recommendations at the September 1, 2026, Study Session (Attachment 1), including the budget from City funding in the amount of $667,575.
It should be noted that the total budget for the event that was presented and approved was $712,575; however, the additional $45,000 not from the City will instead be procured from sponsors through the Rodeo Drive Committee (RDC), and managed by JBB for the event. There is no separate sponsorship management fee as a courtesy for this program.
Meeting Date: September 22, 2026
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration comes from Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). The City has maintained a policy of funding its tourism and marketing programs from a specific allocation of the TOT. The City collects a total of fourteen percent (14%) TOT based on gross room sales from the City’s hotels. Oneseventh of the total TOT revenue has been the basis of calculating the funding for the Tourism and Marketing budget in Beverly Hills for approximately 28 years.
The 2026 Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration is funded by the Tourism and Marketing budget (00101311), partially with TOT funds. Funding from the Tourism and Marketing budget is available to cover the event funding request by the RDC up to $667,575.
The FY 26/27 budget includes funding for other Tourism & Marketing events and programs (including Holiday Lighting Celebration and Rodeo Drive Holiday Décor for Holidays 2026) in the total amount of $1,234,534. The actual total for the décor and event, including sponsorship is $1,279,534.
The total $667,575 purchase order is based on the baseline Holiday Lighting Budget.
Council recommended that staff administratively review any costs outside this amount, such as a necessary rain contingency, if needed.
Keith Sterling
Deputy City Manager
Approved By
ATTACHMENT 1
STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: September 1, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Magdalena Davis Jones, Community Outreach Manager Subject: Recommendation of the Beverly Hills City Council Liaison / Rodeo Drive/ Special Events/ Holiday Program Committee Regarding the 2026 Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration Program, Rodeo Drive Holiday Banners and Citywide Holiday Décor
Attachments: 1. Proposal from Rodeo Drive Committee for Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration on November 19, 2026,
including Event Elements, Banners, Street Closures and
Budget
2. Update to Rodeo Drive Holiday Decor
3. City Council Liaison/Rodeo Drive /Special Events /Holiday Program Committee Report from August 14, 2026 (without
attachments)
4. Citywide Holiday Décor Update
INTRODUCTION
This report provides the recommendation of the Beverly Hills City Council Liaison/Rodeo Drive/Special Events/Holiday Program Committee (Liaisons) of Mayor Corman and Vice Mayor Wells, regarding the Holiday Lighting Celebration, a partnership between Rodeo Drive Committee and the City. This item seeks direction and approval from the City Council related to the recommendations of the Beverly Hills City Council Liaison / Rodeo Drive/ Special Events/ Holiday Program Committee, regarding the Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration on November 19, 2026, permit and fee waivers, Rodeo Drive banner design, and associated street closures on Rodeo Drive, Dayton Way and Brighton Way, as well as an update to the Citywide Holiday Décor program.
The holiday décor for Rodeo Drive was previously approved by City Council on July 21, 2026. With approval of the event, staff will bring to the next Council meeting a purchase order to J. Ben Bourgeois Productions, Inc. (JBB) for the proposed budget of $667,575.
DISCUSSION
Each year the City sponsors a signature holiday program designed to celebrate the season and attract visitors from around the region to shop, dine and stay in Beverly Hills.
These unique themed annual designs are separate from the various Citywide Holiday BEVERL
HILLS
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Meeting Date: September 1, 2026
Decor elements, which have already been approved by City Council on July 21, 2026, for the theme “50 Years of Brillance”, in honor of the Rodeo Drive Committee’s 50th anniversary. There is one additional Rodeo Drive decor update of the overhead spans to review in this report.
The City Council Liaison Committee of Mayor Corman and Vice Mayor Wells reviewed the proposal for the associated event, held annually for the community as a partnership between the Rodeo Drive Committee (RDC) and the City, on August 14, 2026 (Attachment 3). The made recommendations for the event elements, banners, and budget, detailed below, and recommended that the street closures move forward as proposed.
Additionally, the overall Citywide holiday décor program was brought before Liaisons and City Council separately, for recommendations, which are also included in this report.
Rodeo Drive Banner Options
The proposal originally included 2 banner options, one in black and gold, one in red and silver, for consideration that matched the theme, and the Committee recommended a third option be considered, in a blue and silver motif. It should be noted that the banners are paid for out of a different Policy & Management existing budget and agreement with the banner vendor. Liaisons requested a mockup of all 3 colorways, which can be found in Attachment 1, however City Council is requested to recommend a singular banner color option, for cohesion, as there are only 28 total banners on the street, 10 on the sidewalk and 18 in the median (9 pairs). Both the blue and red motifs will match one of the oversized gems on Rodeo Drive, and the black and gold motif most closely matches the RDC’s 50th anniversary colorway.
These banners differ in design from the Citywide holiday banners, hung throughout the community, which are in their 3rd year of the same design, as confirmed by the Liaisons at a separate review.
Holiday Lighting Celebration
The Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration, set for Thursday, November 19, 2026, returned with a proposal from production company JBB for the event elements. In the past, the event has attracted up to 10,000 attendees from 5-8pm.
Liaison Committee reviewed and recommended the proposed event elements for the 2026 Holiday Lighting Celebration (Attachment 1) scheduled for Thursday, November 19, 2026, from 5-8pm, from the City’s funding, including:
• Street closures for preparation, production and striking of the program (similar to prior years) from Wednesday, November 18 at 9pm until Friday, November 20 at 6am as follows:
o Rodeo Drive from S. Santa Monica Boulevard to Wilshire o Dayton Way from Rodeo Drive to the alleyways to the East and West o Brighton Way from Rodeo Drive to the alleyways to the East and West o Access to the Rodeo Collection Garage on the 400 block will be discussed with impacted tenants
o Access to the City’s Brighton Garage and Two Rodeo Garage will be maintained through the alleyways.
• The necessary infrastructure and security to ensure a safe and enjoyable event, including traffic control, restrooms, signage, and staff • A stage at Brighton Way and Rodeo Drive
Meeting Date: September 1, 2026
• 3 hours of on-stage entertainment including host “Aly”, DJ Lady Sha, vocalists The Noelles, and Tenors, LED Violinist, and a cultural Pacific Islander-themed holiday performance
• Special guest performers with Debbie Allen Dance Academy, For the Record, The Wallis, and West Side Ballet
• New entertainment this year of a talent search “Rodeo Drive Has Talent” to attract potential vocalists, variety acts, or solo artist and bands o Online application from September 14 – October 12, 2026 (promoted to locals through ads, and on social media)
o Panel of judges to select the top act (the Committee recommended we promote and commit to selecting 1 top act, with the possibility to expand to up to 3 if the pool of talent is spectacular!)
o Acts announced on October 20, 2026
o And the top act performs live during the November 19 Holiday Lighting Celebration, and are promoted as such
• Street and Interactive entertainment including individual photos opps that match the theme, holiday skaters, stilt walkers, an oversized tricycle, interactive Santa with his “red carpet security”
• A static photo opportunity that features our Beverly Hills trolley as a backdrop with Santa
• No headliner talent, preferring the local talent search and professional talent as proposed
• One wine garden
• Food trucks and individual stands with local businesses All of the above elements can be accounted for in the City’s budget of $667,575.
Due to efforts to keep the holidays overall budget that comes from Tourism and Marketing, funded by TOT, at its projected amount, the elements above were the only items able to be confirmed with City funding, leaving out a second wine garden and fireworks.
The RDC proposed and was able to confirm at the Committee meeting, local sponsors including Gearys, Auto Vault, and Two Rodeo Drive, for this year an estimated $45,000.
Although this event has not traditionally had a sponsorship model in past, the Committee appreciated and supported the sponsorships, as those amounts are able to cover the above elements and the add-on of a fireworks finale. Under the budget in Attachment 2, the cost for a second wine garden is shown, should additional sponsor(s) be able to be secured. JBB will handle the sponsorship fulfillment as they do for Concours d’Elegance, and are generously waiving any additional sponsorship management fee, since the number of sponsors and exhibitors are much less for this event.
The $667,575 City contribution is available in the existing Tourism and Marketing budget.
The Committee restated their desire to prioritize the longer-term décor over the one-day event, and a waiver of the permits and personnel for the event (JBBs agency fee will not apply to our City’s waived amount). The total amount for the event, with sponsorship, will be $712,575. The total amount for décor approved is $566,959.20, for a total budget of $1,279,534.20. A full year over year budget slide will be available at the Council meeting.
Notably, last year, the event did require putting forward a rain plan, for only the second time in the last decade, which is not in the total available budget above. The 2025 rain plan cost $42,875, and allowed the event to be held, with great attendance, despite the rain that occurred, since the rain plan ensures coverage for the essential AV elements, and tenting for certain elements for guests. The Committee acknowledged that a rain plan would come from a contingency available in the Tourism and Marketing budget, if need Meeting Date: September 1, 2026
be, and recommended that City staff and JBB look closely at the necessary elements to ensure the event can continue safely in the rain, aside from the elements that only provide guest comfort.
As proposed, JBB and RDC would follow all City requirements for permits and inspection, including the necessary staff time to review and approve the installation and electrical uses, however the agency fee would not apply to permits or labor. The City would absorb, as it has in years’ past, the approximately $70,000 in waivers for the event, as well as costs for marketing the event. All installations and lighting testing will take place overnight, to not impact the Rodeo Driver merchants. Resident notifications and a marketing plan with the City partners will be executed by City staff.
Update to Rodeo Drive Holiday Decor
Due to the structural integrity of the street light poles on Rodeo Drive, the initial proposal for garlands strung across the street, would pose a potential safety issue. Due to a high amount of construction on the street, the RDC and City Council agreed on a goal to prioritize an elegant, high decor feature across the street, to draw the public’s eyes up, and provide a unique, unified look down the block.
With this goal in mind, the City’s vendor JBB proposed an expansion of the “dripping” lights feature in the center median palms – adding additional dripping lights to every sidewalk palm tree, in addition to strands of dripping lights from sidewalk to media. In total, 16 strands would be hung down the block, an increase from the 4 proposed garlands (Attachment 2). These lights have a slow, elegant movement, and have featured on the block for several years. This design, while including more strands, is the same budgeted amount that Council has approved for Rodeo Drive Holiday Decor.
They have been evaluated by the City’s Public Works department, and do not pose any risk to the health of the trees, or any safety issue with pedestrians or vehicles. A rendering of the new design appears in Attachment 2 to this report.
Citywide Holiday Decor
At the April 21, 2026, City Council Study Session, the Council reviewed the zero-based budget including reductions to the citywide lighting and décor. With these savings, the following elements will make up our 2026 citywide holiday décor and lighting:
• Warm white lights throughout the business district
• Santa and Reindeer Display
• Wilshire Spans
• Beverly Canon Gardens – same décor as last 2 years
• Beverly Gardens Park Menorah scene and Tree
• Lights on the Lily Pond show reusing previous programing and reduce number of reeds if necessary
• Robertson Blvd – Street pole lights and lighted garland with bows • Street spans on N. Beverly (to remain white)
• Street spans on N. Canon (to remain white)
• S. Beverly canopy spheres
• S. Santa Monica Blvd – west of Wilshire - Snowflakes
• Triangle bows and garland
• Static projection onto the Crescent side of City Hall • Triangle background audio
• Citywide banners in business areas
Meeting Date: September 1, 2026
Other changes to note:
• Discontinue banner up-lighting
• Discontinue the Jolly Trolly
• Discontinue colored lights and canopy spheres on La Cienega (the street will keep the year-round white twinkle lights)
• Discontinue colored lights and canopy décor on Camden Drive (the street will keep the year-round white twinkle lights)
• The Citywide Twinkle lights will go from an annual replacement schedule to every other year. Staff will also evaluate savings that could be attained by lighting every other tree instead of every tree in some areas.
As part of the zero-based-budget process, the citywide décor was reviewed by both the ZBB who referred the review to the RDC Ad Hoc with the goal of reducing annual costs by 50%. We did get the cost reduced by 37% for 2026 by removing some items and choosing to reduce others rather than purchase additional parts/equipment. The Citywide Holiday décor is funded from a separate City CIP budget, and through an agreement with Utopia Worldwide, Inc.
Community Menorah Lighting
Traditionally, the City Council has held an annual community Menorah Lighting event, free to the public and led by the Mayor, to commemorate the Hannukah holiday. This year, Hannukah begins on Friday, December 4, 2026, and so to not interfere with many residents’ traditional Jewish Sabbath, the recommended date for the Menorah Lighting is Monday, December 7, 2026, instead. It will be the fourth night of Hannukah and take place at 5pm adjacent to the menorah display at Beverly Gardens Park.
FISCAL IMPACT
It should be noted that funding for the Rodeo Drive Holiday décor, as well as the Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration, comes from Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT) funds allocated to the Tourism and Marketing budget (00101311). The City collects a total of fourteen percent TOT based on gross room sales from the City’s hotels. One-seventh of the total TOT revenue has been the basis of calculating the funding for the Tourism and Marketing budget in Beverly Hills for approximately 27 years.
The budget request from the City for this event as proposed above is $667,575. The total cost of the event is $712,575, and assumes $45,000 in sponsorship. A full budget detailed sheet can be found on Attachment 1. Note, this total does not include the aforementioned fee waivers and additional marketing costs absorbed by the City.
TOT has traditionally funded the Rodeo Drive holiday décor and program, in addition to the annual partner workplans, Concours car show event, landscaping in the business triangle including Rodeo Drive, and the City’s trademark branding costs.
JBB has been the selected vendor for Rodeo Drive Holiday Décor and Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting celebrations since 2019. The City of Beverly Hills has an existing contract with J. Ben Bourgeois Productions, Inc. (JBB) for services resulting from a competitive bidding process; and approval of a purchase order in an amount not-to-exceed $667,575 will be requested from Council at the next formal session, provided Council approves the event today.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council review the 2026 Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration proposed event elements, banner designs, and associated budget, as well as Meeting Date: September 1, 2026
recommended the street closures, as described further in Attachment 1 to this report, and provide comments as appropriate.
It is also recommended that the City Council review and approve the updated design to the overhead lighting for Rodeo Drive Holiday Décor, the updates to the Citywide Holiday Décor program, and confirm the December 7, 2026, date for the community Menorah Lighting Celebration.
Keith Sterling,
Deputy City Manager
Approved By