At the Dec. 7 Study Session, the Beverly Hills City Council addressed a brewing controversy over changes proposed by the County of Los Angeles to the operation of the Virginia Robinson Gardens. Then, the Council set the city’s default energy rate to 100% renewable energy sources, up from its previous default of 50%. Finally, the city renewed its commitment with Vanity Fair to allow its lavish annual Oscar party on the 400 block of North Crescent Drive for the next three years.
The Virginia Robinson Gardens, the six-acre property that abuts the Beverly Hills Hotel and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, has become the focal point for a controversy pitting Beverly Hills against the county. In early November, the county announced a proposal to expand public access to the facilities, immediately raising concerns among neighbors about the impact the changes could have on the area.
