The mayor said she decided to begin the discussion on the topic of fire safety initiatives due to the January blazes in the Palisades. 

“When the recent Palisades fires hit, it was a rude awakening for many of us,” she said. “I thought that it would be important to discuss steps we’re taking to be proactive as a city.”

In March, new maps from the State Fire Marshal extended the “very high” fire hazard severity zone from Sunset down an additional block, near Lomitas and surrounding areas, according to Barton. 

Since local officials did not have any input in the decisions, Nazarian traveled to San Francisco to provide a public comment. Upon returning, Barton said the mayor urged the Fire Department to write a letter to reverse the change, promising to sign it on their behalf.

“Residents aren’t getting credit for what they’re doing to mitigate brush fire hazards around their house,” Barton said.

Nazarian agreed with the assessment, thanking a representative of California State Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur in attendance.

Barton then continued to highlight some existing measures in the city. Beverly Hills was recognized as a “Firewise Community” in 2005, the third such municipality in the state, owing to volunteer evacuation drills, a dozen outdoor warning sirens and other city-community interactions. The usual brush inspections, usually occurring in April or May, would begin this year in early June because of the new maps, making sure that trees were trimmed and private property met safety standards.

According to Barton, residents have been compliant overall. The program does not issue citations for fire code violations unless someone fails to address a notice within a certain amount of time.

“We’re not trying to be punitive,” Barton said. “We want to make sure everybody is working together.”

In response to a question from Nazarian about water, Barton touted the department’s Insurance Service Organization (ISO) Class 1 rating, the highest such benchmark, including a perfect score on the public works and water system section.

After additional discussion about the Beverly Hills Fire Department Wellness Network, BH Fire Watch technology, mental health resources and long-term equipment plans, Nazarian opened the session to audience questions.

Some public input related to Barton’s presentation, including a question about cameras and fire activity in Franklin Canyon, but others focused on adjacent topics. After a written question on 911 alternatives for smaller issues, Nazarian introduced Beverly Hills Police Captain Max Subin to remind attendees of the non-emergency phone number, which is 310-550-4951.

Todd Johnson, President and CEO of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, asked the mayor for guidance about spreading awareness of fire-related issues among local business owners. Generalizing her response to the entire community, Nazarian explained the functions of resources like Just in Case BH, a “collaborative emergency preparedness program” with trained community responders and facilitated access to emergency health and security services.

In the last quarter-hour of the session, Nazarian fielded questions on separate issues, from an Oct. 7 memorial site and attracting local restaurants to earthquake alert systems and Metro preparation. 

Regarding the city’s Metro projects, she confirmed a finished contract to install a ridership safety kiosk for customers at the La Cienega station, prompting City Manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey for additional information.

“We’ll be a model for the entire Metro system by having a public safety kiosk on the site,” Hunt-Coffey said. “We’re hoping they’ll see how valuable that is; maybe they can consider implementing that at other plazas.” 

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Before those topics were discussed, however, the meeting started with a report from Judy Manouchehri, Beverly Hills Unified School District board vice president. The commissioners asked for updates on education technology, athletic facilities and victims of the Palisades wildfires who relocated to local high schools. The district absorbed 46 students—an estimated two-thirds of whom were ninth graders, as some upperclassmen could not transfer their curriculum progress without risking scholarships.

Manouchehri also reiterated her support for recently appointed BHUSD superintendent Alex Cherniss. She characterized his previous management of the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s budget as successful, arguing that Cherniss’ experience in San Marino and Palos Verdes made him a qualified choice.

Cherniss previously served in Beverly Hills as a middle school math teacher, K-8 principal, director of human resources and assistant superintendent of business services.

“Dr. Cherniss’ trajectory is really clear,” Manouchehri said. “Palos Verdes decided to take a different direction on their board, but I believe his skills and vision align with ours.”

Commissioners then hosted KMB Design Studio’s Kari Brooner and Tiffany Mohr for an update on the Greystone Reforestation Project. Originally presented by Public Works Department staff in March 2024, the project has since been modified to its current goals, namely increasing canopies of native trees and reducing invasive species, rather than implementing a dense “tiny forest.”

The ultimately chosen Arboretum-style and botanical garden approach, according to Brooner, would highlight native plants, promote conservation and “aesthetically promote” Greystone Mansion. She told commissioners that the diverse flora would better teach residents about native plants.

In response to a public commenter’s concern about blocked downtown views, Brooner said clearing out the palm trees and some of the pine trees would improve the landscape, since replacements would be lower. Commissioner Zale Richard Rubins requested clarification on whether “the view” meant the neighbors’ view or the mansion’s view, to which Brooner said she was referring to both.

Rubins also pressed the architects on a claim that budgets could be affected by federal tariffs.

“The pricing we have right now is market rate,” Mohr said, making particular note of irrigation systems.

Recreation Services Manager Michael Muse then spoke on updates to the pickleball pilot program. Having taken commissioners’ suggestions from a City Council Liaison in February, Muse’s presentation invited feedback on his proposed court measurements and rules, such as stricter registration limits and banned equipment.

All commissioners were mostly supportive of the guidelines, but at least two requested further details within the rules themselves. Tara Riceberg wanted glass containers specified as a prohibited safety hazard, while Amie Sherry advocated for facility signage asking players to not enter courts before their scheduled times.

“The idea is to respond to concerns about overcrowding and noise,” Muse said. “If you’re not playing, we’re asking that you wait.”

Muse stayed to give an overview of the “Parks Make Life Better” campaign for the month of July. The summary was largely procedural, as most events had already been highlighted in other commissions’ meetings, but it gave the panel a chance to discuss promotional strategy.

The main agenda concluded with a dialogue about the commission’s community award. As interim Recreation Services Manager Adrine Ovasapyan informed the panel that she had only received five nominations (down from 11 last year) and floated the idea of extending the upcoming deadline, Vice Chair JR Dzubak announced his intention to double the total.

“I’ll submit my five later today,” Dzubak said. “Folks from [Rotary Club of Beverly Hills] mentioned it to me; they assumed I’ll just do it for them.” 

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Organized by the Armenian Youth Federation, the annual rally marked an observation of Genocide Remembrance Day, enacted by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022. LAUSD schools also had the day off, allowing for a children’s chorus to lead the crowd in Armenia’s national anthem, “Mer Hayrenik” (Our Fatherland). 

More than 200,000 Armenians live in Los Angeles, the largest such community outside of the nation itself.

“We are still experiencing genocide today in Artsakh,” said Haig Minasian, a fourth-generation Armenian American and chair of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation “Shant” Student Association, alluding to an Azerbaijani military offensive that forcefully displaced ethnic Armenians. “Without that justice from 100 years ago, this genocide has continued unsolved.”

Minasian, who also addressed the crowd, told the Courier that although the United States has recognized the atrocities, economic and military alliances with genocide-denying countries create obstacles to change. All speakers stood under a “110 Years of Armenian Resilience” sign, a reference to the Ottoman Empire’s estimated 1.5 million killings during the early stages of World War I.

Prior to the speeches, some attendees gathered on the sidewalks, chanting “open your eyes to Turkey’s lies,” and waving red, blue and orange flags. Others displayed hats, pins and bracelets. A plane circling overhead carried a banner reading “GENOCIDE IGNORED IS GENOCIDE REPEATED.”

“It’s a first step, a step that goes along with hundreds of other initiatives and community work,” Minasian said.  

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Commissioners acknowledged that the “edgy” image of a female model was consistent with the store’s branding and advertising, but some didn’t consider the large-scale image appropriate for the city. 

“There’s something that feels inappropriate about this,” Commissioner Jeffrey Daniels said. “If this were an image of a man with a similar kind of pose, I think people would be instantly repelled.”

Ultimately, as the panel could only regulate time and placement rather than signage content, they requested that the applicant consider other images for review, but didn’t enforce the alternative.

The meeting shifted toward discussion of two adjacent property developments, although both projects were evaluated as separate proposals. Commissioners first invited comment on a requested R-1 Design Review Permit for the construction of a two-story, single-family residence at 1000 Ridgedale Drive.

Assistant Planner Ally Majka outlined the contemporary international-inspired design in a staff report, emphasizing the smooth stucco, natural light-colored stone and horizontal roof lines, in addition to a “substantial” landscaping element.

As public comments were opened, resident Nancy Clavin signaled her approval of the design, but she remained worried about parking availability on the narrow street during construction—set to begin in mid-June. After Jeff Bezos purchased a property on the other side of the roadway a few years ago, she attested that there often hadn’t been room for her, her kids, gardeners or guests.

“I wrote a letter, I took pictures […] I kept calling the city to say, `Can you do something about the parking?'” Clavin said. “That [space] had 13 acres and a parking area; I don’t know what you have for your construction workers.”

Commissioner Tim Devlin was complimentary toward the house’s design, but he suggested that a middle layer was missing from the landscaping plan between grasses and trees. Vice Chair Rebecca Pynoos put forth a similar sentiment, suggesting that something was needed to “achieve more screening from the street.”

In the end, commissioners unanimously agreed to a conditional approval, provided that revised landscape plans were later approved by an ad hoc committee and the applicant provided further details on how honeysuckle would be attached to part of the exterior.

The commission also passed a resolution approving the same permit for the nearby two-story residence at 1728 Chevy Chase Drive. The staff report made note of the cantilevered overhangs and use of natural light, stone cladding and dark metal-framed glass.

Daniels noted similarities with the previous proposal, with one directional difference, compared to the other house “gesturing towards the view to the north.” Even with the “odd layout,” he said the smaller-scale rooms were more typical of others in the neighborhood, but he raised analogous concerns about the landscaping.

Devlin had praise for the sculpted land form, but he expressed similar concerns with the landscaping and also requested additional information on the hardscaping.

“We need to know more about what the material is and what the finish is,” he said.

Commissioner Terri Smooke elaborated on the landscaping issue, saying that higher hedging would create a more harmonious integration.

“Even though [the Chevy Chase property] is much smaller, the monumentality of the project dwarfs the adjacent home,” Smooke added. “It would be very nice to have more separation.”

Speaking last, Chair Evan Meyer recommended applying the same ad hoc committee step to this property. As the same conditions were set forth, all five commission members voted to approve the permit.

Two other orders of new business related to facade remodels and business identification signs were next on the agenda. Commissioners were largely positive toward the renovations at William Morris Endeavor and Anta, noting award-winning designers behind both projects.

The commission’s last order of business was a preliminary review on a proposed three-story Cartier flagship store at 370 North Rodeo Drive. The project had already been conditionally approved by the Planning Commission in February.

Architectural representatives spoke about the building’s metal canopy, glazed awning, curved corner and horizontal bands with LEDs concealed in the triangular exterior patterns. They asserted the white, gray, bronze and beige color scheme matched the city’s character.

“It will be nice for the pedestrian experience,” Pynoos said. “We look forward to this. 

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The session began with Recreation Supervisor Norma Mower’s ArtWalk series presentation. 

She described alterations to the program, relaunched in March with a registration fee, scheduling changes and city-branded merchandise.

“The department is trying to pull any remnant items from other programs to identify what worked well, as well as what didn’t get picked up,” Mower said. “There was a lot of evaluation taking place.”

Senior Recreation Supervisor Paul Paolone spoke about the Spring Beverly Hills Art Show, scheduled for May 17 and 18. Paolone began by listing some demographics about the 235 exhibitors, including 51 first-time participants. He noted that 12 different states are represented, as well as France and Mexico.

Paolone also outlined new and revamped event features. Responding to Vice Chair Pamela Beck’s questions about the expanded creative area and other topics, the supervisor assured that staff could handle event setup scaling into the street without overburdening nearby parking areas.

The meeting continued with Paolone’s status recap of the Fine Arts Fund before moving on to Assistant Director of Community Services Patty Acuña’s report about Yayoi Kusama’s “Hymn of Life: Tulips” sculpture. The restored work represents Kusama’s first American public art commission and the panel’s first commissioned piece.

Acuña described the status of the restoration process, which involves detailed work on the curved flower heads of the sculpture. The project is exceeding the original two-week time estimates, she noted. 

Recreation Service Manager Matthew Brown followed with feedback about Festival Beverly Hills from the Arts and Culture Council Liaisons, Vice Mayor John Mirisch and Councilmember Mary Wells. To deliver on Mirisch’s and Wells’ vision of the multicultural event, Brown is prepared to recommend an appropriation request at a City Council meeting for an additional $18,000 (on top of the allocated $47,000) in infrastructural funding to match last year’s scale.

If approved, according to Brown, the $18,000 would come from the Transient Occupancy Tax.

“To capitalize on the success of the [2023] event, we expanded the scale,” Brown said, pointing to last year’s 20 cultures represented across three stages. He cited an attendance estimate of 3,000 people, calling the space “lively and energetic.”

The meeting became similarly energetic during discussion of the proposed Arts and Culture Commission Award. Brown began with a procedural overview of qualifications and guidelines, drawing comparisons to awards already being bestowed by the Recreation and Parks Commission and Human Relations Commission, and recommended that this new honor be similarly announced at a regular meeting.

There was a contentious discussion as to the merits of such an awards program, leading Commission Chair Karla Gordy Bristol to call for a short recess of proceedings. 

The commission continued to debate award logistics after reconvening. Brown acknowledged he had more information on staff involvement and other specifics not listed in the report and suggested a return in May for a follow-up and vote.

As the session reached its denouement, the manager’s report and chair’s report also touched upon other upcoming celebrations, including a preview of Jewish American Heritage Month and a report on the upcoming UNESCO World Art Day, 

As always, a lot [is] happening in the city,” Bristol said.  

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Approved by the Beverly Hills City Council in early February, the street closure between El Camino Drive and Crescent Drive was intended to allow construction on a Wilshire/Rodeo station, part of the D Line extension project. One of two new stops in the second phase of the project, the station is expected to debut in 2026.

Metro spokesperson Dave Sotero told the Courier that the allocated “contingency weekends” in late April and May to address unforeseen issues would not be needed. 

According to a Feb. 18 Beverly Hills press release, Metro and the city had reached a deal in 2019 on construction across a series of 18 weekends. The two sides later agreed to a 21-day shutdown between March 17 and April 7—the longest continuous period since the COVID-19 pandemic—to “shorten the overall disruption to the community.”

While local establishments were permitted to remain open, the transportation project led to a relative paucity of customers. Some business owners and managers expressed frustration to the Courier about disruptions to their operations.

“They should’ve removed that equipment during the night,” said Michelle Cregan, owner of Total Body Nutrition of Beverly Hills, located on South Beverly Drive less than 500 feet from Wilshire. “I don’t believe there was any consideration for the businesses.”

Cregan estimated her store’s guests and sales had been more than halved by the third week. Her other main grievance concerned the city’s signage, which she described as “like a maze.” Although there were large road closure markers advertising the restricted street, she said the banners conveying that businesses would remain open were not visible enough from the north and south. 

According to Sotero, Metro “directly received” seven complaints and inquiries during the closure period, most of which concerned detours and altered bus stops. As feedback was divided between city and Metro officials, the total number of messages filtered through the company included four from commercial properties, three from residents, two from businesses and an unspecified amount from others who work or use public transportation in the area. 

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“One of the goals was to showcase the city of Beverly Hills as a world-class arts and cultural destination,” said Recreation Services Manager Matthew Brown. “[We] would like to build upon the success of the first Festival and continue to elevate the Festival as a cultural destination.”

The Festival’s first iteration, held in March 2023 at the Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market, saw more than 15 artists and organizations take part — including theater performances, culinary programs, and art workshops. Between the marionette productions and Chinese New Year lion dances, the day was one of the commission’s most ambitious attempts to showcase the diversity of the city’s cultural scene.

Brown’s vision, as presented to kick off the liaison meeting, focused on expansion. With a planned date in late July, increased promotional efforts, and a prospective new venue in Roxbury Park, he claimed that Festival 2024 could attract more high-profile talent and larger crowds. The proposal was also targeted to fix some of the issues with last year’s debut, such as inclement weather and schedule competition with the Los Angeles Marathon and Easter programming.

“July offers the opportunity to avoid the logistical challenges with an additional spring event,” Brown said. “We would program activities in such a way that would keep people interested throughout the duration.”

Councilmember Lili Bosse was among the attendees at the 2023 Festival. Although she labeled the event as “still growing,” she commended last year’s effort on its engagement, particularly with children. Bosse seemed to suggest even more publicity measures than the commissioners detailed, getting a range of restaurants involved and investing in banners.

Mayor Julian Gold was largely supportive of the proposal as well, but he raised questions throughout the meeting. The commissions were able to provide some specifics about his budgetary concerns, but Gold still had feedback about timelines and prioritizing talent.

“I’d rather have the performers than the banners,” Gold said, although he conceded that he wasn’t going to micromanage the plans. “It’s a new venue, we’d like to make a big splash, we don’t want to be penny-wise and pound-foolish.”

Festival still has hurdles to clear before it becomes an annual mainstay. Next week, the commission faces a second presentation, this time in front of the full City Council. Gold indicated that he was looking for more concrete information moving forward.

“[If] it’s going to take a little extra money, I doubt you’re going to have a problem,” he concluded. “If it’s four hours, eight hours, that’s nice. I’d just ask that as you present it, you’d have a better idea of what we’re really talking about.”  

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The agenda included reports from Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) and Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) representatives. Topics in the BHUSD presentation ranged from mental health programs to the Safety and Security Committee’s review of local schools’ preparedness plans.

BHPD’s section was presented by Giovanni Trejo, whose promotion from lieutenant to police captain was announced five days ago. He responded to questions on larger concentrations of officer presences in certain areas, a proposed full-time data intelligence position, and a police statement on a man arrested for allegedly carving Nazi symbols into a public menorah.

Beverly Hills Fire Battalion Chief David Perusse recapped his department’s metrics for the year.

Perusse reported mixed results – there was an overall increase of about 1,300 calls, for example, but a decrease in red flag activations, including none in December so far. Perusse attributed some of the fluctuations to behavioral readjustments – the COVID-19 outbreak and initial lockdowns had disrupted trends in 2020.

Commission Chair Kirk Chang touched upon a number of accomplishments over the past year he was most proud of, such as emission reductions efforts, the Health and Safety Recognition Program, and the “Seventh Inning Stretch,” an activity-promoting series of yoga and personal training videos for intermissions.

Chang also listed a number of external or collaborative programs that the Commission supported. These included the Health and Safety Awards, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and JUST IN CASE BH, the community emergency response team launched two years ago.

The other commissioners surprised Chang, whose yearlong term expires in two weeks, with a commemorative plaque and gavel for his leadership. All of the commissioners posed for a photo as he welcomed his successor, current Vice Chair Lee Hilborne, M.D., to the office.

Hilborne outlined the areas that he wanted the Commission to focus on in 2023. One of Hilborne’s foremost priorities was to expand programs to address those affected by the COVID- 19 pandemic, both in terms of medical effects and psychological impacts, or “long COVID.” He also stressed a need to promote full vaccination and booster rates, reduce secondhand smoke exposure, and consider the findings from the Beverly Hills Climate Action and Adaption Plan in future policy updates. In conjunction with the JUST IN CASE BH program, Hilborne expressed interest in developing a “Mental Health First Aid Cabinet” to promote mindfulness, promising further discussion in the Commission’s January meeting.

Additionally, Hilborne mentioned two budgetary tasks for the upcoming fiscal year. He pledged his support for the Health and Safety Awards and signaled approval of a partnership with the Fire Department to enable residents to purchase fire extinguishers.

Others at the meeting weighed in as well. Chang spoke about the need to continue with community outreach, while Commissioner Helena Rosenthal suggested that the Commission should bear increased responsibility for making sure that residents were comfortable enough to share empirical data.

All of these recommendations, according to Hilborne, formed a cumulative campaign to increase public health preparedness.

“We came through COVID-19, but we don’t know what’s on the horizon,” he said. “This is a very aggressive agenda.”

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The first agenda item was the briefest, involving the reappointment of four Commissioners. Kathy Melamed (Charitable Solicitations Commissioner), Terri Smooke (Design Review Commissioner), Helena Rosenthal (Health and Safety Commissioner) and Noelle Freeman (Human Relations Commissioner) each submitted letters of interest to be reappointed.

Their reappointment was essentially a formality. Following the City Council’s unanimous approval, the Commissioners were enabled to serve additional four-year terms starting next year.

“I think all four Commissioners have done a great job,” Councilmember Sharona Nazarian said. “I have no problem extending their [terms].”

Next, Mayor Lili Bosse opened the discussion on a staff report of first quarter fiscal year 2022-23 results. The presentation provided an update on the audited general fund financial results and provided recommendations on how to use available funds on a “future public benefit.”

The report was too long to address in full, but Director of Finance Jeff Muir mentioned a fiscal year 2021-22 General Fund available balance of about $34.1 million. Muir recommended that $29.1 million of that should be allocated to Infrastructure Fund capital projects, with the rest being earmarked for undetermined public benefit.

First quarter results had mostly aligned with his projections. According to Muir, expenditures usually exceed revenue at this time of year due to several factors, such as when property taxes are received.

Councilmember John Mirisch wanted to know more about Muir’s claim that there was more money than anticipated for tourism and marketing going into last year’s budget. Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) as a whole was $42 million, about 6% more than forecasted. With allocation policy leaving much of the tax amounts unspent, the Councilmember asked about the money’s availability for other purposes.

“Would it be fair to say it would be a slush fund,” Mirisch said.

The conversation eventually shifted toward other parts of the report. Mirisch’s suggested balance split, which would double the money for public benefits and focus on funding for land acquisition, was a sign that the initial recommendations would be discussed into the future.

Bosse, meanwhile, raised an issue with the report lacking context. She spoke mostly positively about the data included but called the presentation “too broad” as a whole.

“It’s counterintuitive to say we want to spend $1 million on marketing, but only $300,000 for water,” Bosse said. “When this comes back … we need to be a little more specific.”

Per Mirisch’s request, the last part of the Study Session was reserved for information about protections for renters displaced by redevelopment. Director of Community Development Ryan Gohlich started the agenda item by giving background details of existing legislation.

The Ellis Act, the first law that Gohlich highlighted, establishes guidelines for evictions when a landlord wishes to leave the rental business, such as mandating that the landlord withdraw all apartment units from a particular building and provide at least 120 days of written notice to tenants. Combined with the Municipal Code, the Act gives further protections under certain circumstances, including a tenant’s age or disability status.

Senate Bill 330, or the Housing Crisis Act of 2019, adds to these protections, with provisions on buildings that are scheduled to be demolished and/or redeveloped. For example, developers are required to replace “protected units” with units “that will be available at affordable levels.”

Finally, Gohlich reemphasized the City Council’s previously established priority list, which governs placement in affordable units to certain households. The eight-tier system ranges from displaced senior tenants to any income-qualified household.

With the number of public comments on the agenda item, it became clear that tenants’ protections would remain one of the most relevant issues in the public eye. One commenter called relocation costs “far from the current real estate reality,” while another resident expressed helplessness that his family could be displaced by a proposed development project.

“We are very involved in the community and would like to continue to be part of it,” the latter commenter said. “Situations like this make it difficult.”

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Friedman emphasized that it was not a matter of qualifications, but a lack of preparedness that informed the decisions on the applicants.

“I would encourage them to apply again,” Friedman said. “With the caveat that they be familiar with what the Commission does.”

Nazarian said that the panel “needed to do a better job” of communicating expectations. Bosse, who was not part of the interview process, offered her opinion, as well. 

“I’m not sure that it’s up to us to teach people how to be prepared,” Bosse said. “We never want just to fill a position on any commission just to fill it.”

Another agenda item made recommendations for two positions on the Recreation and Parks Commission and one on the Community Charitable Foundation (CCF). One panel endorsed Deborah Termeie and John Dzubak, Jr. to begin commission terms in 2023, while another gave the thumbs-up to Lisa Greer for the CCF. Termeie will start on Jan. 1, while Dzubak, Jr. and Greer will wait until July to replace their predecessors.

Marketing and Economic Sustainability Manager Laura Biery introduced the session’s final topic, a proposed extension of the OpenBH program that allowed outdoor operations for businesses in June 2020. Nearly 150 organizations have taken advantage of the program in total, which was later expanded to include parklets and street closures.

Biery reminded the Council that OpenBH relies on temporary Special Event Permits, without fees and valid for 90 days. The program had already been extended for nine months in March 2022, and two main choices were on the table for another – a second nine-month extension that would cause over $1 million in fiscal impact, or a yearlong renewal that would cause roughly $350,000 more.

The Council was once again divided. Bosse supported the first plan, but Gold argued overall uncertainty with phase-out times led him to favor the longer option.

“Realistically, I would give ourselves some time and some breathing room and extend this for a year,” Gold said.

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Room 361 at Beverly Hills High School (BHHS) was packed with middle school students on Nov. 17, long after the high schoolers had left. Some were wearing black aprons, others vests with “KBEV” printed on the back, but all had the same eagerness to put on a show.

“A lot of these career tech education programs, KBEV, culinary, there’s so many moving parts to these industries,” said Chef Rick Leece, who taught the cooking course.

In the weeks prior to the cook-off, Leece’s students were able to speak with industry professionals. They  learned mechanics and techniques in the introductory course, as well as resume development and career research for those particularly interested in a culinary future.

Leece told the Courier that for some of the students, their “creativity might exceed their skill level,” but the goal was to develop a passion rather than take them out of school and put them into kitchens full time. He said the shared experience of an opt-in course created opportunities for bonding as well.

“I’ve got students in high school and other seniors that met during these workshops in middle school; they built these long-term friendships,” Leece said. “There’s just so much to offer from this kind of collective experience.”

Meanwhile, KBEV Supervising Producer Ricky Lee was helping to facilitate the broadcast. The students holding microphones and directing shots had plenty of practice, as they had been taught skills such as scriptwriting, camera operations, and interviewing.

According to Lee, it’s “very common” for former KBEV students to pursue media careers at the collegiate level. 

A program alum himself from five years ago, he told the Courier that he aimed to reach both middle schoolers and community audiences.

BHHS senior Chloe Truong was the show’s host. Truong, a culinary student her freshman year, has been involved in a catering and mentorship role ever since. She joked that the hosting duties fell to her because Leece “doesn’t know how to talk to a camera.”

Truong told the Courier that she wants to work in the food industry at some point, but her final goal is to become a teacher. In the meantime, she has been giving demonstrations to the people in her position a few years later. “You learn a lot over time. Freshman year, I failed culinary,” Truong said. “It’s all a learning experience.”

The competition was judged by Thomas Henzi from The Beverly Hilton and Ricardo Aguilar from the Peninsula Beverly Hills. Henzi and Aguilar rated the dishes based on criteria such as taste, texture, and presentation, making note of how each group incorporated the mystery ingredients.

Group 3 ended up impressing the judges the most. As the chefs praised the winning team’s breaded chicken, they had words of encouragement for everyone taking part.

“We’re very proud of your efforts,” Henzi said. “Continue to work hard, because you’re going to make your way into an amazing career.”

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The discussions about the program were, in effect, a recap and continuation of a Town Hall meeting two weeks ago. City Council was reminded of the proposed changes with license plate recognition technology and the use of “permit by plate,” a newly acceptable alternative to hangtags for vehicle verification.

Once again, consultant Julie Dixon and Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) representatives fielded questions on the scheduled 2023 relaunch, this time in hopes of earning City Council approval.

“The system remains very much the same,” Chief of Police Mark Stainbrook said. “It’ll give us information to fight crime and provide better security in the city.”

This time, the most common concern from audience members was the same as the previous Town Hall: resident reporting with the lack of a visual indicator. Councilmembers asked a more varied spread of topics, from fiscal impact to forged parking credentials.

Throughout their presentation, Dixon, Stainbrook and BHPD Sergeant David Tomlin emphasized the importance of messaging prior to the “soft launch” in February. All three argued that increased public awareness would help the implementation in its early stages. 

“It’s really about education and outreach,” Dixon said. “Letting folks ask questions, anything that they need to understand about signup.”

Ultimately, the proposal received unanimous support from City Council. 

The second and final agenda item began with an overview of the upcoming 80th Golden Globe Awards from the Community Development Department’s Stephanie Murillo. The Golden Globes, which have taken place at The Beverly Hilton every year since 1974, have become an annual city tradition – both the Hilton and the Waldorf Astoria are set to host studio after parties, as usual.

NBC will televise the television awards ceremony on Jan. 10, 2023, after the 2022 Golden Globes were not aired due to a lack of diversity within the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The Globes will take place on a Tuesday for the first time in over 50 years, mostly to avoid scheduling conflicts with the NFL.

“[The Golden Globes] spotlights the city of Beverly Hills as the heart of the entertainment industry,” Murillo said. “To ensure the safety and protection of the community and event attendees are served, various streets and sidewalk closures surrounding the event will be fully or partially closed.”

After Murillo and a BHPD lieutenant spoke about security personnel, Dick Clark Productions (DCP) staff members were invited to the microphone to preview the event.

“We’ll have a wonderful party, big new sets, a wonderful red carpet,” DCP Vice President of Production Fonda Anita said. “It’s great to have high-profile guests, but we are very cognizant of how we impact the locals nearby.”

Councilmember Lester Friedman raised points about traffic concerns for the Tuesday timeslot and the use of drones for camera angles. In response to production-focused questions from Councilmember John Mirisch, DCP representatives promised an “immersive” set featuring innovative views, camera angles, and presentation features.

“I’m also obviously supportive; this is a tradition in Beverly Hills,” Vice Mayor Julian Gold said. “We like to not only honor Dick Clark’s memory, but his good sense to understand that this event belongs here.”

From previous generations’ stars such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Elizabeth Taylor to more recent entertainers like Jennifer Aniston and Eddie Murphy, many of the Globes most recognizable guests over the years have been Beverly Hills residents themselves. 

In his speech to the councilmembers, DCP Executive Vice President of Television Barry Adelman agreed with Gold’s comments – the location was now in the event’s DNA.

“[Clark] called me one night when he was thinking about the Globes, and he said to me, ‘Please, whatever you can do, don’t let them ever move the show out of Beverly Hills,'” Adelman said. “He believed there was some magic going on at that hotel.” 

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The meeting started with an overview of the current program, including reminders of three permits per household and how permits could be self-managed online or via phone. Ahead of the PPP’s proposed relaunch in 2023, Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) personnel were on hand to explain how the system would work moving forward and answer residents’ questions – particularly about “permit by plate,” or the use of license plates as an acceptable alternative to hangtags.

In what was referred to as “a holistic approach to parking,” BHPD Sergeant David Tomlin gave an overview of the city’s partnership with a new technological service provider. Tomlin announced BHPD’s plan to increase reliance on license plate recognition (LPR) technology, with patrol cars being outfitted with devices to scan and verify rear license plates. At the moment, the Department is using four vehicles with LPR and has ordered six more.

“With the support of Public Works, we’ll have all of our vehicles outfitted here within the next few years,” Tomlin said. “That would be my dream.”

Several attendees were worried about enforcement. Multiple audience members recalled experiences where police were quick to respond to their reports but weren’t able to find permit less vehicles on their own – a system that one resident called “more reactive than proactive.” 

With the implementation of permit by plate, these residents would need to rely entirely on police patrol or memorize every regular vehicle in the neighborhood. Tomlin acknowledged the concern but argued that the new technology would allow BHPD to “be preventative and be able to go out there and anticipate these issues” without manual scrutiny.

A number of other issues were discussed in the Town Hall as well, from illegally selling permits to ticket appeals processes. Attendee David Gingold asked a range of questions himself, prompting explanations about special occasion permits, disabled placard exemptions, and account management.

“I’m one of the few people in the city who sees all sides of the situation,” Gingold said.

Many audience members had comments about technological capabilities as well. One pointed out that some cars might be parked too tightly for the camera to accurately read a license plate, while another suggested that the patrol cars could be more efficient if they could read front plates as well.

Answering one such question about what would happen if the reader confused an “O” for a “0” or “D”, Tomlin cited the appeals process and a particular software feature.

“[If] it’s still pushed through, the LPR system has what’s called a ‘make mismatch,'” Tomlin said. “I’ll look at the picture, and if it’s anywhere close, we always go ahead and vote in your favor.”

Resident Steve Galen talked about a handful of issues relating to guest parking, such as time limits on friends or caregivers intending on short stays, but he spoke optimistically throughout his feedback.

“I’m glad we’re moving forward with this,” Galen said. “I’m glad we’re bringing this city into the 21st century.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, the proposed changes were set to be officially presented to City Council. Pending approval, current permits would be automatically extended until the end of January, with the new Preferential Parking Program taking effect a week later on February 6.

Gingold told the Courier he was satisfied with the explanations he received throughout the evening. To him, the continued use of hangtags made the program “very equitable,” and his concerns about account management via phone rather than a website were addressed too.

“For senior citizens who aren’t into technology, it was like learning a foreign language,” Gingold said. 

“The explanations were very forthright language,” Gingold said. “The explanations were very forthright.” 

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Recreation and Services Manager Christopher Paulson formally introduced Norma Mower and Andrew DeLeon at the beginning of the meeting, the newest Recreation Supervisor and Recreation Coordinator, respectively. Mower and DeLeon each had a chance to address the Commission, with the former detailing her nearly three decades of experience in parks and recreation service and the latter discussing more recent projects.

After each had a chance to speak, Senior Recreation Supervisor Paul Paolone recapped last week’s Beverly Hills Fall Art Show and previewed some future programming. Paolone hailed the fall show as a success, declaring it “a very memorable bash for the community to partake in.”

Additionally, he gave a sneak peek of next year’s Spring Art Show, the 50th anniversary of the event. Paolone confirmed the date of the event as May 17-18 and responded to some of the meeting attendees’ feedback, suggesting that the milestone exhibition could have interactive painting stations if residents felt inspired to create their own art.

Paolone also provided updates about the ArtWalk Guided Tours, two of which are scheduled before 2023. Next year, he explained his plan to incorporate new sites into the walking tours, such as a history of Rodeo Drive and analysis of the art in City Hall.

After briefly touching upon the annual Harvest Festival, Paolone concluded his presentation with holiday announcements about the Greystone Mansion. He promised visits with Santa and crafts for children, but only hinted at what was in store for December.

“Now that it’s back, there’s no other option but to go big,” Paolone said.

Paulson followed with an in-depth look into the drafted Memorandum of Understanding that the City negotiated with the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). A plan to “clearly delineate the various responsibilities of the entity versus the city,” the draft agreement gives AYSO priority to use local fields from August until December – Little League would retain access for the first half of the year. The Memorandum also prohibited subletting to clubs or other groups, outlined participant fees for resident and non-resident players, allowed storage in city and district closets, and set training session maximums for referees, coaches, and volunteers.

Paulson elaborated on the city’s duties as well, including lining the fields and securing goals. In response to questioning, he clarified that rangers already included the field areas in their regular rounds and argued the supervision would be adequate security.

Under the agreement, AYSO would also be allowed one “large-scale special event” per season. AYSO Beverly Hills Region 76 plans to revive the Sportsmanship Cup, last held in 2019, for this year’s allotment.

The next major item on the agenda was a breakdown on permits handed out by the Filming and Special Events Division of the Community Development Department. Magdalena Davis, the Community Services Manager, described the difference in two types of permits. Filming and Photography permits, for example, are required for all Beverly Hills commercial shoots except those in Greystone. 

Special Events permits, on the other hand, come into play when the event is “in the public right-of-way” or the operations of the park are changed – for example, with rental equipment. These permits are unnecessary if the rentals can occur within standard public procedures.

Next, Assistant Director of Community Services Patty Acuña gave a report on the 2022 Recreation and Parks Award. She detailed the nomination process – nominations could occur via the public or a commissioner, with the recipient being invited to a later meeting to receive the award.

Acuña and Paulson commented on other happenings as the meeting went on, from the upcoming Beverly Hills Fire Department Girls Empowerment Camp to facets of Universal Transitional Kindergarten training. Paulson also congratulated several members of the Commission, shared winners of a “Bright Idea” employee excellence award for June’s Beverly Hills Pride Night.

Finally, Commissioner Alissa Roston fielded questions and gave quick updates on other City matters. One of the last topics mentioned was the pickleball pilot program, as meeting attendees were eager to hear results, especially with notable Major League Pickleball investments from the likes of Tom Brady and LeBron James.

“We are working with a third-party vendor to help us with the survey,” Roston said. “We want to get opinions…before we evaluate it as a whole.” 

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Following a virtual format that took place over the course of social distancing, the in-person art show returned with a scaled-down roster of 130 artists in October 2021. May’s art show featured works from about 150 people, but the fall 2022 show neared pre-pandemic size with contributions from roughly 230 artists – including a dozen Beverly Hills residents.

“This is the only place that I’ve been showing my art,” Beverly Hills wood sculptor Atta Lavi told the Courier. “I like this location and the reputation of the place, the variety of the show and artists that are here.”

A staple of the city’s arts scene, the show drew participants from all across the country. In addition to visual displays, other attractions occupied the space between Rodeo Drive and Rexford Drive, from live music and children’s activities to an array of gourmet food trucks.

Many artists returned to the show from previous years, but 75 newcomers also put their art on view, such as ceramic artist Daniel Monroe, who brought a range of lamps to the show. He explained that he brought both normal, design-oriented lamps and lamps that were altered or exploded, the latter of which represented the difficulty and weight he felt during the past two years.

“[I was] like, ‘Hey, let’s take this creative leap and see if it works out,'” Monroe told the Courier. “Sixty percent of the time, it doesn’t work out, that was a waste of time. But then that special forty percent of the time, it’s really cool.”

It wasn’t just the Fullerton resident’s first Beverly Hills Art Show – it was his first art show of any kind.

“I don’t think I was nervous, just trying to figure out how to set up everything,” Monroe said. “But once I set up, it’s been exciting to be in a place with all these other fantastic artists and be able to talk about your work with people who stop by.”

The majority of the artists were Californians, with several entrants submitting pieces depicting scenes from The Golden State. Emily Wallerstein, who moved to Los Angeles 10 years ago and has been attending the art show since 2019, is one such entrant. Her landscape paintings included the Los Angeles River and iconic beaches as subjects.

“There’s a lot of vibrancy to the Los Angeles art scene,” Wallerstein told the Courier. “You can get to the desert, you can get to the mountain, you can get to the ocean. It’s really an inspiring state.”

Wallerstein characterized Beverly Hills as one of the most prominent parts of the Los Angeles art scene. In turn, she said, local happenings bring “newness” to the global art community.

On Oct. 16, Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse handed out ribbons behind the Lily Pond to the winners of 16 awards – 11 art categories and five general awards.

Bay Area resident Fortune Sitole was one of three people to receive multiple awards – Best of Show and First Place in 2D Mixed Media. Sitole, who used aluminum, oil paint, sand, and rocks to depict vibrant scenes of South Africa, told the Courier that he was “not afraid of color” in his artwork.

“Nowadays, with the internet, I can put on radio programs in South Africa,” Sitole asid. “I can imagine people, what they are doing when I’m working.”

The final award announced was the Mayor’s Choice Award. Per tradition, Bosse chose a piece to be installed at a public building or facility. Fittingly, this year’s Mayor’s Choice recipient, photographer Pamela Beck, is from Beverly Hills herself.

“I wanted to pick a piece of art that exemplifies what I want people to feel when they walk into Beverly Hills,” Bosse said. “A sense of light, a sense of future, a sense of hope.” 

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