Beverly Hills public meetings in 2022

Sunshine Task Force

The regular meeting of the Sunshine Task Force Committee scheduled for November 28, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. has been cancelled because a quorum was not reached. The agenda contains only this cancellation notice and no items for discussion or decision.

• Meeting cancelled due to lack of quorum

Sunshine Task Force

The regular meeting of the Sunshine Task Force Committee scheduled for December 26, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. has been cancelled because there was not enough members present to form a quorum. The notice was posted on December 16, 2022 by the City Clerk's Office. No business will be conducted at this meeting.

• Meeting cancelled due to lack of quorum
• Original meeting date: December 26, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.
• Notice posted December 16, 2022

Sunshine Task Force

The regular meeting of the Sunshine Task Force Committee scheduled for October 24, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. has been cancelled because a quorum was not reached. No business will be conducted at this meeting.

• Meeting cancelled due to lack of quorum

Sunshine Task Force

The special meeting of the Sunshine Task Force Committee scheduled for October 3, 2022 was cancelled because a quorum was not reached. The committee is being restructured, and the next regular meeting is set for October 24, 2022. This notice is procedural only, with no decisions or discussions on the agenda.

• Special meeting cancelled due to lack of quorum
• Committee is being restructured
• Next regular meeting scheduled for October 24, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

Sunshine Task Force

The September 26, 2022 meeting of the Sunshine Task Force Committee was cancelled due to a lack of quorum. The meeting has been rescheduled to Monday, October 3, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. No agenda items were discussed.

• Meeting cancelled due to lack of quorum
• Rescheduled to October 3, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

Sunshine Task Force

The Beverly Hills Sunshine Task Force will discuss and potentially act on several transparency measures, including a resolution to continue virtual meetings, a local ordinance banning campaign donations from contractors, developers, and legislative advocates, and disclosure requirements for fees paid to legislative advocates. The committee will also consider establishing revocation procedures for development permits and discuss the next meeting date, which conflicts with Rosh Hashanah.

• Resolution to continue teleconferenced public meetings under Government Code Section 54953(e)
• Ordinance amending Municipal Code to require disclosure of fees paid to legislative advocates, with ranges up to $2,000,000+
• Discussion of local ordinance prohibiting campaign donations from contractors, developers, and legislative advocates
• Establishment of revocation procedures for development permits
• Discussion of campaign advertisement disclosure requirements for contractors, developers, and legislative advocates

Sunshine Task Force

The regularly scheduled Sunshine Task Force Committee meeting for July 25, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. has been cancelled because a quorum was not reached. The notice was posted on July 21, 2022, by the City Clerk's Office. No business will be conducted at this meeting.

• Meeting cancelled due to lack of quorum
• Original meeting date: July 25, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.
• Notice posted July 21, 2022

Sunshine Task Force

The Beverly Hills City Council Liaison/Sunshine Task Force Committee will meet to consider a resolution to continue teleconferenced meetings during the COVID-19 emergency, discuss establishing revocation procedures for development permits based on inaccurate information, and review proposals by Councilmember Mirisch to disclose fees paid to legislative advocates, require campaign advertisement disclosures, and potentially prohibit campaign donations from contractors, developers, and legislative advocates doing business with the city. The agenda also includes items on restricting continuances, limiting advocate contacts, and allowing public observation of on-site visits with developers.

• Resolution to continue teleconferenced public meetings under Government Code Section 54953(e) due to COVID-19
• Discussion on revocation procedures for development permits, including whether to require 'intentional' or 'willful' misconduct
• Discussion on disclosing fees paid to legislative advocates and notice of termination filed by advocates
• Discussion on campaign advertisement disclosure requirements for contractors, developers, and legislative advocates
• Request to discuss a local ordinance prohibiting campaign donations from contractors, developers, and legislative advocates doing business with the city

Sunshine Task Force

The Beverly Hills Sunshine Task Force Committee will consider a resolution to keep holding public meetings via teleconference under AB 361 due to the COVID-19 emergency. They will also discuss several transparency items, including disclosing fees paid to legislative advocates, requiring lobbyists to disclose advertisements, and a possible ordinance banning political donations from city contractors. The agenda includes routine items like approving prior meeting highlights and public comment.

• Resolution to continue teleconferenced public meetings under Government Code Section 54953(e)
• Discussion on disclosing fees paid to legislative advocates
• Discussion on disclosure requirements for lobbyists who take out advertisements
• Request to discuss a local ordinance banning political donations from city contractors
• Discussion on owner names for multi-family properties

Open BH - Code Changes & Fees Subcommittee

The special meeting of the City Council Liaison / Open BH Code Changes and Fees Ad Hoc Subcommittee originally scheduled for 11:00 a.m. was cancelled due to a lack of quorum. The meeting was rescheduled to 4:00 p.m. on the same day.

Open BH - Code Changes & Fees Subcommittee

The Open BH Code Changes and Fees Subcommittee is meeting to discuss potential code and fee changes for making temporary outdoor dining permanent. They will review a new tiered fee structure for public right-of-way use and sidewalk clearance requirements, with staff recommending a minimum six-foot pedestrian path. The subcommittee will provide direction on these items.

• Proposed tiered fees for open air dining: $1.75/sq ft/month (Tier 1), $1.50 (Tier 2), $1.00 (Tier 3); parklet dining: $2.00, $1.75, $1.50
• Sidewalk width data for streets like Rodeo Drive (19 ft), Canon Drive (15 ft), and Robertson Boulevard (12 ft)
• Require 6-foot minimum sidewalk clearance, with discretionary permit for 5-foot minimum
• Discussion of 50% sidewalk width cap for open air dining
• No rental fees currently charged; OpenBH program extended through Dec 31, 2022

The Open BH Code Changes and Fees Subcommittee met to continue developing a tiered fee system for sidewalk and street rentals used by restaurants for open-air dining and parklets. The discussion included how the fees would interact with parking meter revenues. No formal decisions were made; the subcommittee plans to reconvene in one month to finalize details before presenting to City Council.

• Reconvened in one month to determine further details on fee system

Sunshine Task Force

The Sunshine Task Force Committee is reviewing a proposal to ban political donations from city contractors. The committee is also addressing the costs of maintaining hybrid meeting capabilities for public access.

• Discussion of an ordinance banning political donations from contractors doing business with the City
• Resolution to continue authorizing public meetings via teleconferencing
• Estimated $250,000 cost to equip two additional rooms for hybrid meeting broadcasting
• Proposed $157,000 annual cost for two part-time staff positions to support broadcasting
• Review of R-1 applications and the creation of an Office of the Public Advocate

Open BH - Code Changes & Fees Subcommittee

The Open BH Code Changes and Fees Subcommittee is reviewing proposed regulations to transition temporary pandemic-era dining into a permanent program. The discussion includes potential changes to sidewalk clearance, parking requirements, and a tiered monthly rental fee system based on street location.

• Proposed three-tier rental fee for open air dining ranging from $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot/month
• Proposed parklet dining fees ranging from $2.50 to $5.00 per square foot/month
• Requirement for a minimum six-foot pedestrian path of travel on sidewalks
• Proposal to allow outdoor dining to extend beyond restaurant facades with neighbor permission
• New requirement for barriers on dining installations with more than eight seats

The subcommittee approved a resolution to continue virtual meetings under AB 361 and discussed guidelines for the Open BH outdoor dining program. They agreed to a $2 per square foot fee ceiling for open air dining, allowed dining to extend beyond restaurant facades with written permission, and set a 6-foot pedestrian path rule for new applicants. No final ordinance was adopted; staff will return with more details.

• Approved resolution authorizing teleconference meetings under AB 361 (unanimous)
• Agreed to $2 psf fee ceiling for open air dining
• Allowed open air dining beyond restaurant facade with written permission from adjacent property owners
• Agreed no additional parking required for dining within first 40 feet of sidewalk
• Set 6-foot pedestrian path rule for new applicants; 5-foot path possible via discretionary process
• Agreed to grandfather existing businesses on path of travel rules
• Agreed umbrellas may be inserted into railing pole/sleeve or stand inside service space
• Extended Open BH no-fee program until December 31, 2022 (by City Council)

Sunshine Task Force

The Beverly Hills City Council Liaison/Sunshine Task Force Committee will meet to discuss a proposed ordinance banning campaign donations from city contractors, along with other transparency measures. The committee will also consider a resolution to continue virtual meetings during the COVID-19 emergency and receive updates on various initiatives.

• Discussion of ordinance prohibiting campaign donations from contractors (Attachment 4)
• Resolution to continue teleconferenced public meetings under Government Code Section 54953(e)
• Draft ordinance regarding public review of project plans (Attachment 5)
• Process for proposed amendments to Legislative Advocate Ordinance
• Creation of Office of the Public Advocate (Attachment 5)

Affordable Housing Ad Hoc Committee

The Affordable Housing Ad Hoc Committee will consider adopting a resolution to continue holding public meetings via teleconferencing under AB 361, citing the ongoing COVID-19 state of emergency and social distancing recommendations. The resolution requires findings that the emergency impacts in-person meeting safety and that officials recommend social distancing. This is a procedural item to maintain remote meeting flexibility.

• Resolution to authorize teleconference meetings under Government Code Section 54953(e)
• Findings that COVID-19 emergency continues to impact in-person meeting safety
• Reference to AB 361 and Executive Order N-29-20 for remote meeting rules
• Public comment must be allowed in real time via call-in or internet-based options

Open BH - Code Changes & Fees Subcommittee

The Beverly Hills City Council Liaison / Open BH Code Changes and Fees Ad Hoc Subcommittee is meeting to discuss potential changes to the approval process and fees for permanent open air dining, as part of ongoing efforts to make temporary OpenBH outdoor dining installations permanent. The agenda also includes a resolution to continue holding meetings via teleconference due to the COVID-19 state of emergency. The meeting is primarily a discussion, with no final decisions listed on the agenda.

• Resolution to continue teleconferenced meetings under AB 361 due to COVID-19 emergency
• Discussion on open air dining permit approval process and fees
• Current permit process: Director review (2-5 months) or Planning Commission for projects with >12 outdoor chairs within 170' of residential zones
• Permits valid for 5 years, renewable once for an additional 5 years
• Public noticing required: 20 days before decision, early notice within 40 days for Planning Commission cases

Sunshine Task Force

The Beverly Hills City Council Liaison/Sunshine Task Force Committee will meet to approve prior meeting highlights, adopt a resolution continuing teleconferenced meetings during the COVID-19 emergency, and discuss several transparency-related items. These include a draft ordinance on public review of project plans, a request to ban political donations from city contractors, and updates on means and methods notifications and the creation of an Office of the Public Advocate.

• Resolution to continue teleconferenced public meetings under Government Code Section 54953(e)
• Draft ordinance regarding public review of project plans
• Request by Councilmember Mirisch to discuss a local ordinance banning political donations from contractors
• Creation of Office of the Public Advocate
• Means and Methods notifications update

Open BH - Code Changes & Fees Subcommittee

The Beverly Hills Open BH Code Changes and Fees Subcommittee met to discuss converting temporary pandemic-era outdoor dining into permanent regulations. Staff presented recommendations for sidewalk clearance widths, dining extensions beyond restaurant facades, and indoor-to-outdoor area ratios. The group also adopted a resolution to continue holding meetings via teleconference under state emergency provisions.

• Resolution CCL-OBHC-02 adopted to continue teleconferencing meetings under Gov. Code 54953(e)
• Discussion on requiring 5-7 foot minimum sidewalk clearance for pedestrian passage
• Proposal to allow dining extensions beyond restaurant space with neighbor permission
• Recommendation to prohibit restaurants from having both a parklet and extended dining
• Review of fee structures and permit processes for permanent open air dining

The Open BH Code Changes and Fees Subcommittee directed staff to develop permanent regulations for open-air dining, including rules on what is allowed, how much, and restrictions. Staff was also asked to consider whether dining can extend beyond restaurant facades, sidewalk clearance changes, and parking requirements. The subcommittee approved a resolution to continue virtual meetings under AB 361. No final code changes were adopted; staff will draft language for future discussion.

• Approved resolution authorizing teleconference meetings under AB 361 (motion by Friedman, seconded by Gold)
• Directed staff to develop permanent open-air dining regulations
• Directed staff to consider code language on extending dining beyond restaurant facades
• Directed staff to consider sidewalk clearance changes based on restaurant type and parklet presence
• Discussed potential ratio of open-air to indoor dining and parking requirement changes

Sunshine Task Force

The Beverly Hills Sunshine Task Force Committee will meet to discuss and potentially act on several items, including a resolution to continue virtual meetings during the COVID-19 emergency, a proposed ordinance establishing revocation procedures for development permits, next steps for a legislative advocate ordinance, and an amendment to the voluntary campaign expenditure ceiling. The meeting is largely procedural, with public comment and approval of previous meeting highlights also on the agenda.

• Resolution to continue teleconferenced public meetings under Government Code Section 54953(e) due to COVID-19
• Ordinance establishing revocation procedures for development permits, including grounds for revocation and resident reimbursement for attorney's fees
• Proposed amendment to voluntary campaign expenditure ceiling (currently up to $80,000) to include cash equivalents and PAC expenditures
• Discussion of next steps for a Legislative Advocate Ordinance
• Approval of November 22, 2021 meeting highlights