CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS Council Chamber 455 North Rexford Drive Beverly Hills, CA MINUTES. March 6, :30 p.m.

Transcription

1 0-4 CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS Council Chamber 455 North Rexford Drive Beverly Hills, CA MINUTES CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION 2:30 p.m. PRESENT: ABSENT: Mayor Bosse Vice Mayor Gold Councilmember Mirisch Councilmember Friedman Councilmember Wunderlich Mahdi Aluzri, City Manager Laurence Wiener, City Attorney Lolly Enriquez, Chief Assistant City Attorney Susan Healy-Keene, Director of Community Development Ryan Gohlich, Assistant Director of Community Development/City Planner Aaron Kunz, Deputy Director of Transportation Robert Welch, Project Manager Therese Kosterman, Public Information Manager Huma Ahmed, Community Outreach Manager None The meeting was called to order at 2:30 p.m. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS 1. AUDIENCE COMMENTS. Any person wishing to address the City Council on any matter not on the agenda may do so at this time. However, the State open meetings law (Government Code Section et seq.) prohibits the City Council from providing a detailed response or acting upon any item not contained on the agenda posted 72 hours before a regular meeting and 24 hours before a special meeting. If you wish to address the City Council at this time, please complete a speaker s card and give it to the City Clerk prior to the commencement of the meeting. Please use the microphone provided, clearly stating your name for the official record and courteously limiting your remarks to three (3) minutes so others may have the opportunity to speak as well. 1. BradleyW. Hertz, Esq., L.A. Lobbyist Association 2. Robert Tanenbaum 3. Steve Mayer 4. Ronald Richards

2 Page 2 of 6 5. Thomas White, Municipal League of Beverly Hills 6. Mark Elliot A DIRECTION 1. Recommendation by the Sunshine Task Force Committee Regarding Legislative Advocacy Registration, Expanding Notice for Projects and Amending Hearing Procedures Transmits the Sunshine Task Force Committee s recommendations to require legislative advocates who have registered between February 9, 2017 and February 8, 2018 to re register using the new forms, to increase the period and distance of notice for projects from 10 to 20 days and from 500 feet to 1000 feet, respectively, and to change the quasi-judicial Public Hearing procedures to provide generally for the following order of testimony: (1) the applicant team (including legislative advocates in support), (2) legislative advocates (in opposition), (3) public, (4) rebuttal by applicant, (5) rebuttal by public. Chief Assistant City Attorney Lolly Enriquez presented the recommendations made by the Sunshine Task Force Committee (STFC) at their February 12, 2018 meeting. She pointed out that the 100 and 300 foot radius noticing did not change as it was not discussed at the meeting. 1. Thomas White, Municipal League of Beverly Hills 2. BradleyW. Hertz, Esq., L.A. Lobbyist Association 3. Mark Elliot 4. Steve Webb 5. Judie Fenton 6. Harvey Englander, Los Angeles Lobbyists & Public Affairs Assn. 7. Marcia Hobbs 8. Mitch Dawson 9. Ronald Richards 10. Debbie Weiss 11. Robert Tanenbaum STFC Council Ad Hoc Liaisons Councilmember Mirisch and Mayor Bosse each spoke in support of the recommendations. City Manager Mahdi Aluzri, Victoria Talbot from the Beverly Hills Courier, and Ronald Richards each spoke on how notifications about the STFC meeting dates are released. Community Development Department Director Susan Healy-Keene and Assistant Director of Community Development/City Planner Ryan Gohlich each discussed the timing and procedures for approving projects and on the impacts of noticing of residents based on the recommendations. City Attorney Laurence Wiener provided clarification on follow up notices. Vice Mayor Gold expressed support for the changes to the ordinance however, reiterated his apprehension about the ordinance itself and stated that he would likely not vote for it. Council agreed to include the public s input as a requirement of a project s application process. Vice Mayor Gold, Councilmember Wunderlich, and Councilmember Friedman each expressed their concerns regarding the recommended policy for quasi-judicial hearings

3 Page 3 of 6 procedures. Mr. Wiener explained the recommendation and spoke on the law and procedures for determining new information. Councilmember Wunderlich suggested to provide additional training to meeting chairs. The item is on the City Council Regular meeting for adoption. 2. North Canon Drive Closure Feasibility Study Forwards Traffic & Parking Commission s recommendations regarding the North Canon Drive Closure Feasibility Study prepared per the Metro Purple Line Section 2 Memorandum of Agreement with Metro. Pursuant to provisions in the California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act, the City Council will consider finding the project within the scope of the Westside Subway Extension Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement. Deputy Director of Transportation Aaron Kunz provided background information then introduced Fehr and Peers Principal Sarah Brandenberg. Ms. Brandenberg presented the traffic mitigation options and recommended improvements, spoke on environmental considerations and discussed the next steps. 1. Bob Foster, CoIdwell Banker Residential 2. Barbara Lazaroff, Spago 3. Tracey Spillane 4. Tom Dunlap, Coldwell Banker Residential 5. Cary Hardwick, Citizen Restaurant 6. Beth Styne 7. Jay Newman 8. Gina Raphael Traffic and Parking Commission Council Ad Hoc Liaisons Councilmembers Friedman and Vice Mayor Gold each spoke on the recommendations. Council approved the recommendations. 3. Public Information Graphics for Construction of the Metro Purple Line Extension Project, Section 2, Rodeo Station Staff seeks direction regarding the preferred design concept for the construction barriers of the Rodeo Station. Project Manager Robert Welch provided background information then introduced Shook Kelley, Inc. Founding Partner and Principal Kevin Kelley who presented the recommended concepts. Mr. Welch discussed the next steps then requested Council direction. 1. Barbara Lazaroff Councilmember Friedman suggested to apply the same design concept along Section 1 the Metro Purple Line Extension. of Council approved the recommendation.

4 Page 4 of 6 4. Request for City Co-Sponsorship for a Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of Israel s Independence A group of residents have formed a committee to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel and have requested City support for a proposed event on May 9,2018. Public Information Manager Therese Kosterman presented the request. She noted that due to pledges, the original request for $27,255 will be reduced to less than $10,000. She also presented the payment options. Committee co-chairs Sharona Nazarian and Gina Raphael spoke on the item. Ms. Nazarian offered to provide Council with the list of sponsors who have pledged donations. She spoke on the Peninsula Hotel s in-kind contributions and explained how people can donate money to the event. Mayor Bosse suggested adding information about the event on the City s website with instructions on how to donate. Council approved the request and agreed to waive the bidding process. 5. Request for a One-Day Free Use of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts by the Farhang Foundation This item requests that the City Council consider giving one of the City s free use days to the Farhang Foundation to host a short film festival and awards ceremony on September 29, Community Outreach Manager Huma Ahmed presented the request. She noted that the requested date of September 29, 2018 is available and temporarily on hold by the Wallis. She provided background information and event details, reviewed the City s agreement with the Wallis, and discussed the fiscal impacts. Volunteer Nooshin Meshkaty spoke on the item. Rodeo Drive/Special Events/Holiday Program Committee Council Ad Hoc Liaisons Councilmember Friedman and Mayor Bosse each spoke in support of the request. Councilmember Mirisch suggested to provide the residents with a discounted price. Farhang Foundation Executive Director Alireza Ardekani agreed to speak to the Board of Directors regarding a discount. Council approved the request. B ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO CONSIDER (TIME PERMITTING) None

5 March 6,2018 Page 5of6 C - IN FORMATION 6. Waiving Overdue Library Fines as Part of National Library Week The Library will hold its eighth annual Food for Fines program from April 8th through April 1 5th where library fines are waived in exchange for canned food that is collected for the Westside Food Bank. 7. Treasurer s Report for Quarter Ended December 31, 2017 This is the Quarterly Treasurer s Report on the status of the City s Investment Portfolio. 8. Complete Streets Plan Information regarding the first Complete Streets Plan community workshop on March 12, Beverly Hills City Hall to Light Up in Red in Honor of Red Cross Awareness Month from March 7 31 This item provides information on the City s plan to recognize March as Red Cross Awareness month. 10. Update on the City of Beverly Hills Economic Sustainability Plan This report provides an overview of the progress made on the priorities, initiatives and programs identified in the Economic Sustainability Plan. 11. Year Round Installation and Maintenance of Warm Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lights on Trees Throughout the City This report provides information and cost associated with the installation of additional LED lights to enhance the Southeast area of Beverly Hills. The Study Session adjourned at 5:20 pm to the Closed Session to discuss items that are identified on the agenda that has been prepared for the meeting.

6 Page 6 of 6 PASSED, Approved and Adopted this 10th day of April, 2018 BYbtk JULIAN A. GOLD, MCD., MAYOR This meeting was broadcast on live television, on City of Beverly Hills municipal government television access Channel BHTV10 Spectrum Cable.