The Beverly Hills City Council has moved closer to determining its top priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.
At a Study Session on May 6, councilmembers reviewed draft priorities for 2025-26 that had been previously identified by the Priority Setting Ad Hoc Committee, which consists of Mayor Sharona Nazarian and Councilmember Craig Corman.
The committee requested that the council evaluate six items that could potentially be placed on a wish list or deferred to a later date as part of the review process. This was in response to expected budget challenges.
“Given the budget constraints that we anticipate in the coming years, we took a closer look at the full list of priorities and identified a few areas that we believe are worth reevaluating,” said Nazarian. “Our guiding principle throughout all of this has been to distinguish between what is essential in the short term and what could reasonably be deferred.”
The ad hoc committee first met in July 2024, and draft priorities were presented to City Council for discussion on Dec. 10, 2024. City staff incorporated that feedback and brought a revised document to the ad hoc on April 30.
The council’s draft priorities fall into seven categories, which include enhancing community safety and health, ensuring financial stability and accomplishing the city’s housing goals.
On May 6, councilmembers discussed whether to proceed with the six items under review for possible deferral.
“Unlike in past years, this plan … only really discuss[es] things we’re going to do this year as opposed to something that is, like, 10 years out, five years out,” said Corman.
The items under review for deferral were a complete upgrade of technology in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as well as a survey for potential new locations for the center; a preliminary plan for police station improvements; plans to renovate the first-floor public restrooms in the library; plans to renovate the City Clerk’s office; exploring the use of the City Hall towers; and implementing a means-tested rent subsidy program.
During the discussion period, councilmembers weighed the benefits and potential drawbacks of each.
In discussing possible upgrades to the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) station, Councilmember Mary Wells noted that the draft priorities already include a number of advancements for BHPD.
“We’re going to be investing a lot in police,” she said. “The kiosk, the added police, the added technology; I don’t think right now would be the time to move forward on [station upgrades].”
Corman said that in considering whether to upgrade EOC technology, the council should consider when and whether the center will move to a new location.
“The concern I had was if we do put money in the EOC now, make sure we are not buying things that can’t be moved,” he said. “It wasn’t so much whether we should upgrade the actual, physical equipment, just how far do you take that given the fact that you may not be there?”
City staff will incorporate the council’s feedback and bring it back in front of the council at a later date.
In other business, at the council’s Regular Meeting on the evening of May 6, councilmembers voted unanimously to adopt an interim urgency ordinance to bring the city into compliance with state law regarding updated zoning regulations.
Senate Bill (SB) 450, which went into effect on Jan. 1, updates an existing state law that allows the development of up to four residential units on single-family lots. That existing law, SB 9, permits either the division of a single-family lot into two lots upon which two units can be built, or the development of four units of a certain type on a single-family lot that isn’t split.
Under SB 450, local governments are prohibited from applying standards to SB 9 projects that deviate from their existing standards.
Several councilmembers expressed displeasure about having to approve the interim urgency ordinance, noting that they had no choice since it is state law.
“We have a Sacramento legislature that is intent upon changing the character of our city, and quite frankly, changing the American Dream,” said Councilmember Lester Friedman. “Having said that, we have to be in conformance with state law, and that’s what this urgency ordinance is doing.”
