The Dec. 16 Health and Safety Commission special meeting highlighted the contributions of former commissioners as well as year-end reflections on the achievements of 2024. The commission recognized significant accomplishments, including the emergency water supply initiative and various health and safety presentations. The meeting also featured reports from the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD), Beverly Hills Fire Department and Human Services, detailing crime statistics, emergency responses, and outreach efforts.
Former Planning Commissioner and Public Works Commissioner Jerrold Felsenthal’s achievements were recognized at the start of the Dec 16 Special meeting, where he was presented with an official certificate of recognition. Felsenthal was celebrated by fellow commissioners as well as members of the public for his contributions to emergency preparedness and community resiliency. During his tenure on the Planning Commission, Felsenthal championed the development of new local water supplies and increased water storage. He created an integrated water resource master plan and supported the move forward by joining the Clean Power Alliance for Renewable Energy. A strong advocate of the Beverly Hills community, Felsenthal was involved in several projects that bettered the city. These projects include the reconstruction of North Santa Monica Boulevard, safe plugging of former Venoco oil wells at Beverly Hills High School, major water main replacements on Loma Vista Drive and water treatment plant rehabilitation and expansion.
Reports from priority agencies began with Rachelle Marcus, Board Vice President of the Beverly Hills Unified School District. Marcus informed the commission of various end-of-semester activities taking place at the BHUSD as well as an update on the move to Hawthorne Elementary School. “We are in talks with the city right now to go ahead and do an early childhood center on the south side, which will probably include more preschool and other special things, like ‘mommy and me’… so it’s really going to be a fantastic thing,” Marcus said.
BHPD Lieutenant Andrew Myers reported on various crime statistics from November 2024, with total crime up by 32% from October. Myers reassured attendees that this statistic follows a historic low of recorded crimes in October 2024, and that the current rate is within the typical five-year average for November. Spreading some holiday goodwill, Myers also shared details on the BHPD’s monthly visits to Cedars- Sinai which has seen them connect with over 120 children over the last 17 months. These visits have included volunteers from the community relations unit, school resource officers, mental health evaluation team, patrol, detectives and dispatch, among other units. Moreover, for the past two years, BHPD has partnered with Cedars-Sinai to host a holiday Christmas party at Roxbury Park for discharge patients and their families.
The final priority agency to speak to the commission was the Beverly Hills Fire Department, represented by Deputy Fire Chief Alfred Poirier. Poirier discussed fire prevention efforts, emergency medical services and recent fire responses. He also highlighted the Beverly Hills Fire Department’s proactive response to the recent fires in Malibu. “They asked for mutual aid resources, so Beverly Hills contributed an engine company and four of our personnel to that fire effort,” Poirier said. “In addition to the things we do here in town, we do send resources out, and they do a fantastic job supporting our partners, who then support us in our times of need as well,” he concluded.
Chair of the Beverly Hills Health and Safety Commission Erica Felsenthal reviewed the major accomplishments of the commission for 2024. A 12-page document of accomplishments included emergency water supply initiatives, social media safety awareness and various health and wellness projects, such as the second annual Beverly Hills Day of Wellness and monthly ‘Moment of Mindfulness’ presentations. “I’m proud of all of us … it was a good year,” Felsenthal said.
Felsenthal thanked the 2024 outgoing Vice chair Helena M. Rosenthal for her service over the year and remarked on the exciting things to come during Rosenthal’s tenure as chairperson for the commission in 2025. “As outgoing chair, I’d like to express my gratitude for your support, guidance, elite volunteerism, leadership and camaraderie. Thank you. It’s been fun,” Felsenthal concluded.
A meeting of celebration and gratitude, the commission ended by expressing thanks for Cathy Baker’s many contributions to the Health and Safety Commission. Baker, who served as chair in 2021, navigated the COVID-19 pandemic as well as focusing on smoking education, resiliency and promoting the benefits of physical resiliency during her time at the commission. Baker said, “It was not only a privilege to serve, but to serve among this particular group and this particular staff was an honor of a lifetime.”
