Nov 20, 2015 - ... otherwise wasting water, please call (310) 285-2467 or go ... Center for Media for holiday treats and
Time to Step Up and Save More Water Penalty Surcharges Go Into Effect This Month
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he Beverly Hills Water Utility, which includes a portion of West Hollywood, is still well below the state-mandated 32% goal for reducing water usage. The State Water board has fined the City $61,000 and the fines may continue if the City does not show more progress in conservation. The Beverly Hills water district has shown reductions of 22% in June, 22% in July, 18% in August and 21% in September. These numbers reveal the urgent need to step up efforts to achieve mandatory conservation goals. The City is sending letters to the highest water users who have not met their 30% reduction goal. Beginning this month, penalty surcharges approved by the Beverly Hills City Council go into effect. Customers who consume more water than 70% of their 2013 base rate (indicated on your water bill) can expect to pay the following amounts: • For customers who use between 71% and 87% more than the baseline, the
The Beverly Hills Water Utility, which includes a portion of West Hollywood, is still well below the state-mandated 32% goal for reducing water usage.
penalty is 1.59 times the base water rate. • For customers who use 88% or more of their 2013 baseline consumption target, the first level penalty is 1.59 times the base water rate for usage between 71% and 87% PLUS an additional 3.08 times the base water rate for water usage that is 88% or more. While many residents and businesses have done an excellent job reducing their water consumption, others still need to do more. Here are a few things you can do immediately to increase conservation: • Sign up for the FREE Water Tracker program, which tracks your daily, weekly and monthly water use and keeps you up to speed on your progress toward meeting a 30% reduction, the mandatory target for most residents. To register, visit http://water. beverlyhills.org.
• Schedule a subsidized consultation with a landscape expert. Making smart decisions about outdoor watering and landscaping can lead to significant savings. For $50, an expert landscape consultant from Green Gardens Group (G3) will come to your home and offer advice about water-efficient systems and water wise landscaping. (The City will pay the remaining $175.) For more info, visit www.beverlyhills. org/gardenguru. • Learn more about rebate opportunities. You may be eligible for cash incentives from the City of Beverly Hills and/or the Metropolitan Water District if you remove your lawn or install water-efficient devices including weather-based irrigation controllers, low-flow toilets, and high-efficiency washing machines and rotating sprinkler nozzles. For more info about the City’s enhanced rebate program, visit www.beverlyhills.org/rebates. Rebates are available on a first come, first served basis. • Report Water Waste – If you observe a neighbor or local business violating the water restrictions or otherwise wasting water, please call (310) 285-2467 or go to www.beverlyhills.org/waterwaste. These programs are part of the City’s comprehensive water conservation program, which also includes extensive educational materials and a new tiered water rate structure that will cover the total system costs of providing water to customers and account for the impact of long-term conservation on revenue and reserves. To learn more about how you can step up your effort to save water, visit www. bhsaves.org.
Joy to the Hills: Beverly Hills Dresses Up for the Holidays!
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on’t miss the holiday shopping season in Beverly Hills: a walkable sophisticated urban village. This isn’t your typical mall experience. With a unique and appealing mix of retailers, first-rate restaurants and five-star hotels, Beverly Hills draws 6 million visitors each year. The spectacular holiday lighting ceremony on Rodeo Drive Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. is the traditional start of the season. The event will include festive holiday décor, the lighting of Rodeo Drive’s palm trees, the Beverly Hills High School marching band, an appearance by Santa Claus, snow, live musical performances and a light show.
Holiday Concert in the Park The Friends of Beverly Gardens Park are presenting a free holiday concert featuring local singer Golda Berkman, the Beverly Hills High School Madrigals, the Beverly Hills High School Band Ensemble, the BHUSD 4th and 5th grade honor choir and a special appearance by Santa! Refreshments provided by BHHS Culinary Arts. Sun., Dec. 13 from 1:00-2:30p.m. at Beverly Gardens Park (N. Santa Monica Boulevard between Beverly and Cañon drives)
Christmas Matters Holiday Carolers at Greystone Mansion
Santa at The Paley & the Jolly Trolley Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting Beverly Hills on select dates throughout the season. Join Santa Claus at The Paley Center for Media for holiday treats and a screening of holiday television specials. Mrs. Claus will be your hostess aboard the Jolly Trolley for a scenic tour of Beverly Hills and holiday songs and stories. The tour will end at The Paley where guests will be able to hop off for a visit with Santa. Entrance to The Paley is free. Tickets for the trolley can be purchased on board.
Christmas Matters Holiday Carolers will perform some of your favorite holiday songs in Greystone Mansion’s historic living room. Tickets are $70. Reservations are available for the following times on Dec. 13, 2015: • 12:00 – 2:30p.m. | buffet lunch • 3:30-5:30p.m. | dessert reception For more information on these and other Beverly Hills holiday events go to www.lovebeverlyhills.com/joytothehills.
The Beverly Hills Trolley departs from the corner of N. Rodeo Drive & Dayton Way. The Paley Center is located at 465 N. Beverly Dr.
Holiday Entertainment on Rodeo Drive Two Rodeo will be hosting holiday events nearly every day starting Nov. 27. You’ll see magical 3D Paintscaping Light Shows, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, a Hanukkah celebration and live classical and jazz music. For a complete schedule of Two Rodeo events go to www.lovebeverlyhills.com/ joytothehills. 2
Prepare for the Rain, Save for the Drought
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he City of Beverly Hills is preparing for El Niño and the predicted severe storm season. However, it is equally important for all residents and businesses to think ahead and prepare for the impacts of heavy rain and flooding. Keep in mind that no matter how much rain falls, potable water is a scarce resource and conservation mandates are still in effect!
The City of Beverly Hills will provide up to 10 filled sandbags per household. Sandbags can be picked up at 342 Foothill Rd. during sandbag operation hours. For information on sandbag distribution times call Public Works at (310) 285-2467. For information on preparing for all emergencies and disasters call the Office of Emergency Management at (310) 285-1025.
El Niño Preparation Checklist The following is a checklist of things to do BEFORE the rain comes: ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,,
Check your roof. Engage a licensed roofing contractor to thoroughly check and repair your roof. Clean out gutters, ditches and drainage systems. Ensure drains are draining away from hills and slopes. Keep sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and other building materials handy for waterproofing, particularly if you have had problems in the past. Purchase or renew flood insurance policy. During rainy season, lower the water level in swimming pools to prevent overflowing. Purchase rain barrels to collect water to be used later. Know how to turn sprinklers off. Do not water lawn during or after a storm. Cover the top of slopes with sheets of plastic to prevent mud slides. Report blocked or clogged catch basins to the City at (310) 285-2467. Know how to turn off utilities. Regularly listen to weather forecasts. Sign up to receive emergency alerts from the City by going to www.beverlyhills.org/emergencynotification and by texting Bevhills and BevHillsPD to 888777. Discuss evacuation procedures with your family. Assemble a disaster supply kit for you and your pets. Include items such as radio, flashlight, food, water, first aid kit, medications and cash. Keep in an accessible location.
The Rising Cost of Water
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fter several public hearings the City of Beverly Hills, like many water districts in California, has approved temporary water rate increases to cover rising operating costs and revenue losses related to the severe statewide drought. The rate increases will take effect: • 5% on Nov. 20, 2015 • Another 5% on Mar. 1, 2016, if needed. The increase in water rates, which applies to all customers, is necessary because as consumption declines, revenues decline.
Although the per-unit water costs to the City will go down, the fixed costs associated with supplying water to customers, such as pipeline maintenance and operations, do not decline. Therefore, in order to cover all the costs of providing water to customers, the rates must go up. However, as customers conserve, most individual bills will go down, but they may not go down as much as expected; for example, a customer who conserves 30% will see the bills decrease, but by less than 30%.
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These rates will be replaced by a new tiered rate structure sometime in early 2016. This new rate structure, which may be more or less than existing rates, is being developed to meet state requirements for cost recovery of providing government services. Please note that the water rates are separate from the penalty surcharges.
Artificial Turf: A Front Lawn Alternative
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hinking about installing artificial grass to save water? Thanks to a new Beverly Hills ordinance, residents may now consider artificial turf in front yards as an option for working toward their 30% water conservation goal.
The artificial turf must come with at least an eight-year warranty and be installed by a licensed installer who is trained to install that brand.
The City has reversed a long-standing ban on using the synthetic material in front yards, and designed a program that will still preserve the garden-like atmosphere in Beverly Hills. Starting Nov. 5, Beverly Hills homeowners may apply for a permit to install artificial turf in their front yards. The permit application process requires homeowners to submit, among other items, a landscape plan, a sample of the artificial turf and information about installing the material. Landscape plans
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must limit artificial turf to no more than 70% of the required landscaped area in the front yard (and no more than 40% of the entire front yard). In addition, City regulations outline specifications for the type of artificial turf that is allowed for front yard installations. Please refer to www.beverlyhills.org/turf for additional information.
Artificial turf continues to be allowed in back and side yards with no restrictions. However, the City Council did not lift the ban on artificial turf in parkways—the planters between the sidewalk and street—out of concern for potential impact on street trees. Parkways must be covered with organic material, including plants and organic mulch. Please note that the turf removal rebate program is only for installing drought tolerant plants, and does not include artificial turf. For more info, please call (310) 285-1122 or visit www.beverlyhills.org/turf.
A Water-Wise Approach to Washing Buildings
f you’re a business or homeowner in Beverly Hills concerned about how to keep up appearances during the drought, here’s some news you can use: Recent changes to Beverly Hills’ water conservation ordinance allow exterior washing of commercial storefronts and residential buildings under certain circumstances—and require the use of reclaimed water system or waterless techniques when doing so. A reclaimed water system collects the water runoff from the activities, treats it and recycles it for non-potable use. Exterior washing of buildings was restricted as part of the Stage D emergency water conservation ordinance the City adopted in May. The changes reflect the fact that new reclaimed
water systems and waterless techniques have become available since the original ordinance was written in 1992.
Commercial Buildings & Sidewalks Under the new rules, buildings and sidewalks can now be washed periodically— according to the guidelines below—only if a reclaimed water system is used: • Retail building frontages can be washed down no more than once a month. • Office and commercial exterior buildings can be washed no more than twice per year. • Sidewalks and pavement of outdoor dining areas and building frontages involved in food service may be washed no more than is necessary to comply with health laws and regulations.
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Did you know a standard hose typically discharges five to 20 gallons per minute? Save water by using a broom to clean your driveway, sidewalk and patio. Residential Buildings • Residential buildings, including single family homes and apartment or condominium buildings, can be washed down once per year solely for the purpose of preparing the structure for painting. • Similar to commercial buildings, a reclaimed water system must be used.
Meet Your New City Manager, Mahdi Aluzri
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t’s official: Beverly Hills has a new city manager. In October, the City Council voted unanimously to appoint Mahdi Aluzri to the City Manager’s position. Mr. Aluzri had been serving as interim city manager, and previously held the position of Beverly Hills assistant city manager for six years. “I am extremely honored to be appointed as permanent city manager,” said Aluzri. “This is a unique and wonderful community, and I look forward to many more years of providing the highest quality programs and services to Beverly Hills residents and businesses.” In a municipal government career spanning more than 30 years, Mr. Aluzri has spent more than 23 of those years in Beverly Hills. Earlier in his career, Aluzri was director of Beverly Hills’ Planning and Community Development Department for five years. Aluzri also served
as deputy city manager for the city of Rancho Cucamonga from 2007 to 2009. As city manager in Beverly Hills, Aluzri oversees a staff of more than 800 employees and manages the affairs of a municipality with an annual budget of over $400 million. His primary duties include carrying out the City Council’s priorities, hiring and supervising a staff through 10 department directors, preparing a draft budget each year, and researching and making recommendations about issues important to the community. Aluzri has a master’s degree in business administration from Loyola Marymount University and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of Southern California. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and a licensed professional engineer in the state of California.
Following a national search and interviews with several top candidates, the Beverly Hills City Council voted to offer Aluzri a five-year employment agreement. Details on the City Manager’s role can be found at www.beverlyhills.org/ manager.
A Common-Sense Approach to Washing Vehicles
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f you’re among the drivers who have let your car collect dust because of the drought, there’s a way to keep your cars clean and still contribute to the water conservation effort. According to the new rules, vehicles can be washed in Beverly Hills: • If the resident or service uses a reclaimed water system where it collects the runoff, treats it, and reuses it for vehicle washing. • If the resident or service has an approved alternative plan by the Director of Public Works Services. An approved alternative plan demonstrates minimal water use which includes wiping rather than washing a vehicle by using waterless commercial products or techniques that uses less than five gallons of water is used per vehicle. By sticking to these guidelines, you can help our community achieve water conservation goals. For more info, please call Public Works Customer Service at (310) 285-2467. 5
Ambassador Program Hits Its Stride
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s Beverly Hills’ Ambassador Pilot Program enters its fourth month, both businesses and residents are taking full advantage of unique services that the 12 professional ambassadors provide. Three shifts of green-shirted ambassadors roam the business triangle and S. Beverly Drive 21 hours a day. By day, the ambassadors are on foot, providing wayfinding and other services, such as intervention with aggressive panhandlers. By night, they patrol on bicycles, help restaurants and other businesses that are open late, and deal with illegal camping in parking structures. A big focus of the Ambassador program has been to secure public parking structures and stairwells. Since the nightly inspections of the garages started, the number of times Ambassadors have needed to intervene and secure a stairwell to prevent after-hours access has dropped from 100 in September to 38 times in October.
problem solvers. Some of the problems resolved include locating the owner of a lost phone, returning a lost bunny to its owners, helping a driver who had run out of gas on Beverly Drive and giving first-aid to a senior who fell on the street. The ambassadors coordinate closely with law enforcement, and are prepared to file police reports and serve as witnesses in court proceedings. By providing additional eyes and ears on the streets, the ambassadors greatly aid the City’s homeless outreach team in identifying homeless individuals to connect them with needed services.
Thousands of contacts between ambassadors and citizens have been recorded and ambassadors have proven to be creative
The Runaway Bunny – An ambassador reunited “Clyde” with his Beverly Hills family after locating him in Beverly Gardens Park.
The fastest way to contact an ambassador about a real-time issue on the street is to send a text to (424) 302-1487.
Water Tracker Registration Drive
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f you have not yet signed up for Water Tracker, you are missing out on the best tool yet for keeping tabs on your water consumption! Water Tracker will display your water conservation threshold using the required 30% reduction goal. Using data from the City’s smart water meters, this free online tool displays your monthly, weekly and even daily use of water—and emails you an alert if you reach a specified threshold of
Sign Up NOW to Track Your Water Use water use. Water Tracker’s easy-to-read graphics compare current household usage with your target water consumption, as well as with average household consumption in your neighborhood. Beverly Hills has asked each customer to reduce their water use by at least 30%. This is part of the City’s efforts to meet the state of California’s mandatory 32% reduction goal for the water district as a whole.
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The Water Tracker is also a powerful tool for identifying potential leaks. If your smart meter detects a continuous flow, the Water Tracker will let you know. Using similar technology, the City has already notified thousands of customers about leaks. Signing up for Water Tracker is easy. To register, visit water.beverlyhills.org. You will be prompted to enter your e-mail address, account number and customer number.
New Public Forum Addresses Tenant-Landlord Issues
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re you a renter or landlord who needs help resolving an issue?
On Nov. 19, the Beverly Hills Human Relations Commission will host its first Tenant Landlord Forum, a public platform that invites tenants and landlords to present issues and learn about resources that can help them come to resolution. The Forum aims to promote better relations between tenants and landlords and increase awareness of available resources. It will take place at regularly scheduled Human Relations Commission meetings on the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at City Hall in Room 280A. Prior to appearing before the Commission, community members should complete a “Dispute Form,” available at www.beverlyhills.org/rent.
During the Tenant Landlord Forum, community members will have 10 minutes to present and discuss their situations. Although the Human Relations Commission is unable to intervene directly between involved parties, the Commission will assess the matter and help tenants and landlords navigate existing systems such as mediation services, Code Enforcement and other relevant resources. The Tenant Landlord Forum is part of the City Council’s effort to address housing-related concerns and inform community members about their rights and responsibilities. As of 2004, the Beverly Hills Municipal Code requires landlords to provide written notice to prospective tenants advising them of tenant and landlord rights at least 24 hours before executing a lease or rental agreement.
Visit www.beverlyhills.org/hrc to learn more about the Tenant Landlord Forum and to access the Tenant Landlord Rights and Responsibilities notice, or contact Human Services at (310) 285-1006. For more info about renting in Beverly Hills, visit www.beverlyhills.org/rent.
A Road for the Future: Beverly Hills Gets Ready for a New N. Santa Monica Boulevard
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s the N. Santa Monica Boulevard reconstruction project takes shape, the City is preparing for the disruption in traffic circulation that likely will occur due to the narrower lanes and occasional lane closures.
The goals of construction mitigation include prevention of cut-through traffic on residential streets.
The goals of construction mitigation include prevention of cut-through traffic on residential streets, directing traffic to thoroughfares such as Sunset and Olympic boulevards and maintaining access to the business triangle. The Traffic and Parking Commission is working on a detailed mitigation plan that will be presented to the City Council in late November. After extensive public outreach, the City recently approved a design for the project, which includes swales, lighting and a wider street: 7
• A curbside, swale drainage system will be built along the length of Beverly Gardens Park; it will capture and naturally treat storm runoff, which otherwise would flow to the ocean. • The roadway between Wilshire Boulevard and Canon Drive will be widened from 60 ft. to 62-64 ft. to make more room for street uses. • Mismatched street light fixtures will be replaced and additional lighting will be installed for adjacent sidewalks. Construction is due to start in the spring of 2016 and $36 million has been budgeted for the project. For more information, go to www.beverlyhills.org/smblvd.
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Calendar NOVE MBE R Thanksgiving Holiday – City Hall & Library Closed Thu., Nov. 26 and Fri., Nov. 27
JAN UARY New Year's Day Holiday – City Hall & Library Closed Fri., Jan. 1
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday – City Hall & Library Closed Mon., Jan. 18
DEC E MBE R California Friendly Landscape Training – Library Auditorium Sat., Dec. 5 9:00 a.m. – noon
Business Water Conservation Open House – City Hall Municipal Gallery Mon., Jan. 25 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
H OL IDAY H AP P EN ING S
Christmas Holiday – City Hall & Library Closed
Information on holiday events is on page 2
Fri., Dec. 25
For a complete listing of City events, go to www.beverlyhills.org/calendar
