Good evening. Welcome to West Hollywood City Council meeting. Before we call the meeting to order, I would like to read the city's land acknowledgement.
The West Hollywood City Council acknowledges that the land on which we gather, and that is currently known as the city of West Hollywood, is the occupied, unseated, seized territory of the Gabriele Angio Tongva and the Gabriele Angio Keish peoples.
I'm calling the October 20th, 2025 City Council meeting to order. It is 6 p.m. and we are without a student from West Hollywood Elementary School tonight to lead us in the pledge.
So I will ask that we rise if you are able and follow me in the pledge of allegiance.
The city clerk, may we please have a roll call. Yes, may I thank you. Council member Ericsson.
Here. Council member, hey.
Here. Council member, myster. Here. Vice Mayor Heilman. Here. Mayor Buyers. Here. We have a quorum. Thank you.
We'll get a report of the closed session agenda next. The next city attorney, we please provide us with a report.
Yes, good evening. The city council can be in the closed session meeting this evening.
The council discussed the one item of business on the post of agenda took no reportable action and concluded at 535 p.m.
That concludes my report. Thank you very much.
We'll move on to the approval of the agenda. First, are there any changes from staff on tonight's agenda?
No, Mayor, there are no changes from staff this evening.
Okay. Oh, look to my colleagues on council for any changes. I'm going to start over here. Council member, myster.
Yes, moving to consent E2 public private partnership.
The broadband with the broadband.
I have questions for staff.
F2 addressing unpromoted and unlicensed sidewalk vendors.
No question. I'd like to keep that one.
F4, reconceptualization and restoration of the music festival on the sunset strip.
No. Okay. F6 approval of the dates for the election and installation of the mayor and vice mayor.
The easiest one.
Well, that's will be the only one.
How about moving F5 to consent?
What is it?
You're item.
Oh, my item. Yeah, that would be good.
Keep it.
I would like to keep it because I think it relates to some dialogue that we're going to have later on.
Mayor, I'd also like to request that we table item F3.
This is my item on tall walls.
Okay.
We received a number of comments and input.
And I think it's wise for us to hold that until we have addressed a number of the concerns.
So I'm going to ask that we hold that.
Thank you.
What about item E1?
The update to the policy.
Concerns.
To the flag policy.
You want to quit. Okay.
We'll leave that one.
Okay.
I think that E5?
E5.
E5, the advisory board pilot program frequency.
Lots of questions.
Great.
Buckle up kids.
Here we go.
All right.
So we can move on from that.
We have a motion to approve the agenda as it stands with item F3 being table F6 being moved to consent.
Great.
Thank you.
We'll move to Levy and act as closures.
Can we do a quick review of the agenda and report any disclosures that we may have for the Levy and act?
Then?
No.
Okay.
Then we'll move to adjournment motions this evening.
Do any of my colleagues have adjournment motions?
I'll look to Councilmember Maester first.
Yes.
Thank you, Mayor.
First, I'd like to adjourn in memory of Carl Omkronen.
A long time resident and chronicler of our city's evolution who passed away just recently.
Through his insightful writings, Carl Omkronen captured the essence of West Hollywood's transformation,
offering both residents and visitors a window into our shared history.
His work not only documented events but also celebrated the vibrant tapestry of cultures,
personalities and stories that define our community.
Carl Omkronen raised his family here in West Hollywood and he spent much of his adult life working as a salesman.
He also taught cert classes for the community community years ago, which is where I first met him.
He was known for his kindness, generosity, and was a familiar presence at local events always eager to engage with neighbors.
As we reflect on his numerous invaluable contributions,
let us honor Carl Omkronen's legacy by continuing to foster the sense of community and shared history that he's so deeply valued.
Our thoughts over Toby, his wife, his sons, his family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
I have one more German, Jeffrey Jeff Buck, who also recently passed away.
Jeff was a longtime resident and previously served on the city's heritage, Tree Committee.
He was also an active member of the West Hollywood Tree Preservation Society serving as a former president.
Jeff will be remembered as someone who generously shared his time and expertise to protect and enhance West Hollywood's green spaces.
His commitment and his contributions leave a lasting legacy in our community.
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you.
Vice Mayor?
Mayor, I would request that we adjourn tonight's meeting in memory of Vince Wong.
Vince passed away, peacefully at his home on October 5th, just a month shy of his 43rd birthday.
He earned his BS degree in public policy and management in 2003 from USC.
He previously served as president of Lambda and was a passionate advocate for the community and inclusion.
Vince worked hard, he played hard, he was intense, he served on several advocacy boards and committees throughout his career.
He survived by his parents and by his sister, his brother-in-law, Dr. Brian Hoying,
and their three children, Kylie, Ethan and Caden, whom he adored and loved like his own.
Vince's life was cut way too short.
We extend our condolences to all who knew him and loved him and honor his legacy tonight.
Thank you.
Are there others?
Councillor Merrickson.
Thank you very much, Madam Mayor.
First, I'm going to adjourn memory of Diane Keaton, actress and icon many of us knew her works very well.
And the first wife's club was probably my first gay awakening as a gay man, so I will miss her very much.
She was a very involved resident in Los Angeles in a number of causes.
Additionally, I would like to adjourn in memory of Dominic Joladi.
I'm a Marine Corps veteran business man, passed away in September, 12, 20, 25.
Dominic survived by his wife, Wilma, and his three children, Dave, Cheryl and Stephen.
Dominic lived a rich life serving our country in the Marines and as an allied craft trade,
pressman and printer.
He loved donuts and coffee, and only after marrying Wilma, did he learn to eat rice and vegetables and healthy food cooked by her.
Always with a smile on his face, he led by example and worked hard to provide for his family.
Dominic was Italian and brought that fire to everything that he did.
He will be missed by all in this mark on this world we forever be remembered by his friends and family.
Additionally, I'd like to adjourn in memory of Kevin Siddell, a resident of Mediterranean village, eight years living in West Hollywood,
formerly of Chicago.
He worked as a barista for several years at the Starbucks in the corner of Santa Monica and Robertson and was an avid tennis player.
Spending weekends with friends at the WeHo Park and bold and several leagues in the out loud sports and studio bowling leagues.
He loved being a cat dad to his girls, Venus and Serena, ensuring on his favorite tennis player.
His go-to travel destinations include a port of rare to a province town in New York.
Sounds like a typical West Hollywood resident to me.
With his daughter, Dr. Rachel West Bay, and his two grandsons bow, and Luke, who he gushed about at every chance he got as a proud father and grandfather.
And his professional life, Kevin, was an English and law teacher, coach, tennis and swimming.
Dean of discipline and vice principal, educating thousands of students with one former student sharing.
He was a toughest, but the best he made learning fun.
Kevin gave back our joyously to the community through his volunteer work.
With local non-profit, handle with care, providing assistance to the unhoused and continually championed.
Their efforts by recruiting new members to join the organization.
When not on the tennis courts in the bowling alley, he could be found with his friends at Jambar.
Sharing the latest of his daughter's successes, the newest things his growing grandsons accomplished,
and simply enjoying the retired life.
He was the epitome of what community means and West Hollywood.
On Friday, he passed away at his home at the age of 74 after a very brief battle with cancer.
It was surrounded by his family and friends.
His family and friends loved him and his memory lived on through all of them.
And I will miss him seeing him every time I walked into Jambar for a drink with friends.
He always greeted everyone with a smile.
Thank you all.
We'll move forward with our presentations this evening.
First, we are proud to be welcomed by our assembly member, Rick Chavez-Aver,
to provide us with a legislative update to the council.
Thank you so much.
Thank you Mayor Byers, members of the council.
Thank you for having me tonight.
I want to especially thank Assemblymember Hang for inviting me tonight.
It's been a couple of years since I was here last year.
My mom was ill and I was ill.
And so we missed a year.
So it's really great to be back.
And I also want to thank members of the community for coming out to the 20-25 community.
Excellence awards where we were able to honor Councilmember Meister with the Distinguished Service in Government Award,
which we extend to local government officials in my district to our completing their years of service.
Thank you.
Councilmember Meister for your service.
And we also recognize Mayor Pro Tem Heilman with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
I think bristled a little bit about that lifetime.
You have done a lifetime of work.
And one of the things that we recognize is that not only you went to the longest serving members of the city council,
but you're the nation's longest serving openly gay elected officials and many of the things
that we've accomplished in the LGBTQ civil rights arena and for HIV service,
where things that started right here in West Hollywood under your leadership.
And so we were very proud to recognize you.
So with that, let's get to why I'm here tonight.
This past year was a very difficult year with the state budget.
We were facing billions of dollars of budget deficits.
Because primarily because of the Trump administration, both cuts in what we should have anticipated being coming to the state anyway.
And then because of the chaos, his tear of an economic policies are causing the amounts that we're projecting to come in through the economic output of the country and of the state are in significant decline.
And I'm proud to say that we were able to preserve some of the key social service and social safety net programs.
I am particular thought for more than $30 million that was proposed to be cut in the governor's initial budget in the health equity funding for a near that would have funded nearly set that fund is will continue to fund nearly 70 organizations.
One third of which our LGBTQ plus led that was originally going to be cut from the budget.
With a quality California is support and with the LGBT caucus is supported and we're able to keep that in the budget.
We also fought for an additional $15 million so that health insurance companies can continue providing gender affirming care benefits in the state of California.
That would have been a cut in the kind of benefits that we had and we were able to preserve that for an additional year.
And then of course helped to secure funding for UCLA Center for reproductive health and policy to sort of give them some additional breathing room to sort of get their programs up and running.
Beyond that, we were successful in preserving IHSS funding in home supported services for long-term care continuing prop 56 supplemental payments supporting plan parenthood and other women's health providers.
Increasing state funding for affordable housing, preserving 50 million in low income housing tax credits and 120 million in multifamily in the multifamily housing program both key assembly priorities.
We rejected cuts to our UC and CSU systems and we increased funding for KTK through 12 education.
Unfortunately, with President Trump continuing to target California, it looks like we're going to have another tough year ahead and so we'll be looking to you to help us identify things that may be cut that you know that are residents and what's Hollywood depend on.
And really appreciate the city's partnership and all of your partnership and helping identify those things.
You know when you've got a budget that's this big, we don't get like a list of everything that's in the budget.
What we get from the governor is a list of things that are going to be cut.
And so we don't really know and some of those things are just very top line things.
So sometimes you don't have a good sense of what that really means when you've got a line item with a cut there can be a lot of stuff embedded in that.
So anyway, we look forward to continuing that partnership as we move to the budget process for next year.
I also getting to legislation.
This past year, I and Senator Allen took on the critical fight for California's economic future expanding and strengthening the film and tax credit program to keep Hollywood here in California.
The good news is with the support of the city of West Hollywood and so many.
The others, we did it. For those of you who are not in the industry, you may not realize the extent to which production is down in our state.
We face an epidemic of unemployment and underemployment in the industry. One of the estimates was that in the entertainment industry, we are facing 50% levels of unemployment.
We are facing 25% levels of unemployment during the Great Depression, so it shows you how bad off we were. The good news and that, you know, a big reason for that was because
states, other states like Georgia and New York and countries like Canada and the UK have adopted tax credit and incentive programs that
dwarf Californians. They see enormous benefits in this industry that provides our workers and our small businesses. And unfortunately, they've been successful in
lowering away these jobs. That's why expanding the program and reforming it so that we change the rules with something that was so important.
Alongside a coalition of legislators, I want to say I'm really proud that the Los Angeles delegation really
pulled together this time because we knew that it was going to be a heavy lift to expand the program and modify it.
And we were successful in expanding the program from 330 to 750 million. And since the program was adopted, 22 new productions have been approved through the program.
There are already filming now. I was just on a set last week for a new 30 minute scripted program that's in production right now.
So you can already sort of feel that coming back and that's due to that program and that was one of my one of my top priorities this year.
One of my other major legislative priorities was AB 715. It built to combat any semitism and our K through 12 schools.
Reports of any submitted content and incidents in our school have reached alarming proportions across the state.
In one instance, a child was repeatedly tunted by students calling her the Jew and the murderer in another school district.
The intentionally scheduled district task force during a major Jewish holiday. So the task force could discuss and approve material.
That they knew the Jewish community had had rage concerns about and they wanted to do it without the participation and input from the Jewish community.
Another school district students were told by their teacher that the school was closed on a Jewish holiday because there are too many Jews.
I just want to be clear the overwhelming majority of teachers in our school districts are hardworking public servants and professionals and are inclusive and incredible public servants.
But incidents of hate and bigotry in our schools always need to be addressed.
And AB 715 will address those rising levels of antisemitism and ensure that classrooms are safe and supportive spaces in a number of ways.
First, it will strengthen laws prohibiting discrimination and instructional materials and professional development materials.
Second, it will create an office of civil rights, which includes an antisemitism prevention coordinator to develop guidance and education to better identify and combat any semitism.
It will all, the companion bill will also create this non-discrimination prevention coordinators for racial and ethnic communities, the LGBTQ community for based on gender and based on religion as well.
So, the outgrowth of this bill is one that will create much broader protections against discrimination for all communities that protected under Section 220 of the Education Code.
Turning through to climate change, as you are aware, one of my key priorities has been addressing climate change since I've been in the legislature.
That's why I'm proud to share that Governor do some signed AB 39, the local electrification planning act, a bill that emplowers local governments to lead in building California's energy future.
California has set ambitious climate goals transitioning to electric vehicles on our roads and electric appliances and equipments in our home and businesses.
But to reach those goals, we need our cities and counties to be full partners in planning how that transition is going to happen and to make sure no one is left behind.
So, AB 39 requires cities and counties with populations of 75,000 or more to develop local plans to meet their electrification and decarbonization needs.
These plans must prioritize disadvantaged communities, low income households and small businesses ensuring that investments in clean energy are equitable and benefit everyone.
I'm really proud that the city of West Hollywood, even though we had to negotiate the city out of the bill, you're already well on your way to complying with it.
You were one of the examples we used many times about the fact that this is something the cities can do because the city of smallest West Hollywood was already doing it.
Another key bill this year on the housing front was AB 748, the streamlining student housing.
This was a bill that was sponsored by Santa Monica College and it's turned out most of the almost all of the community colleges across the state.
Governor News some signs AB 648 and this is a bill that helps combat housing insecurity and homelessness among community college students staff and faculty.
One of the surprising statistics that I didn't really understand until Santa Monica College brought me to this bill was that nearly 60% of community college students base housing insecurity while they're in school and about one and four have experienced homelessness while they're in community college.
That is an astounding, the high number.
AB 648 gives community colleges the flexibility to build student housing and staff housing on land that they already own or lease near campus, cutting red tape while still protecting environmental and planning standards.
And this is a right that basically the California University of California and the Cal State Systems already hold.
Next bill, AB 1084, name and gender marker changes.
One of my key priorities is protecting the LGBTQ civil rights and healthcare.
That's why I'm proud that Governor News some signed AB 1184.
I built a protect transgender and non-binary people by speeding up the process for a tending gender marker documents.
It used to be that it took a minimum of six weeks to get documents.
Now the new bill requires that agencies act work quickly and process these with a maximum of six weeks.
So that will speed up getting documents for.
And this was really inspired by parents who came to me because they were trying to plan for what they would do if they had to sort of leave the country to get healthcare for their children for the transgender children.
It anxious about their ability to get passport documents, but having the documents they need in order to travel to get the medical care.
I know you were all interested in AB 309, the HIV and hepatitis prevention act.
Governor News some also signed that, which is a bill to prevent the spread of HIV and viral hepatitis by preserving access to sterile several syringes.
This was a law that was already in place but which was sunsetting.
It was and we were able to sort of get that extended.
We've shown that this is an effective program to prevent HIV transition.
And then the final bill I'll talk about is a bill that's close to I think many of your hearts, especially the heart of the city of West Hollywood, which is such a.
It's been such a leader at assuring that the members of our family who we are guardians of are cared for and protected is AB 478, the found act.
How many of you know?
Now many of you know my district director Robert Oliver and well he and my chief of staff Tommy and pretty much our entire office have been after me for a number of years to work on a bill related to pet safety.
Well we finally did it.
The found act which stands for Friends of Oreo Uniting during Disasters was inspired by Oreo, a pomeranian who went missing during the palacates fire and somehow survived five days in the debris before being reunited with his owner.
The bill makes sure that pets are accounted for during emergencies by requiring cities and counties to develop clear procedures to support pet owners during evacuations.
Legally animals may be considered property but for most of us we think of them as members of our family and we'll do anything to save them.
Of course I don't need to convince anyone here of that West Hollywood change it's municipal code way back in 2001 to refer to people with pets as guardians not owners.
And I'm happy that's Governor Newsome sign that.
So in closing I'd like to thank you all again for inviting me here to speak today and give you an update.
During my first term we were able to work together on AB 1620.
A bill that was inspired and sponsored by the city of West Hollywood that allowed tenants with permanent physical disabilities to really locate accessible units without losing red protections.
A simple but life changing solution to help people stay in their homes.
We also secured over a million dollars in state funding to support the restoration of the lock cabin building together with the help of Senator Allen.
And this year we're looking forward to discussions with you to explore the possibility of expanding the speed safety camera pilot program to West Hollywood.
That's something we're going to have to explore the viability on I'm very interested in working with you on that and so look forward to those discussions.
And as those we start shaping our bill package for next year look forward to talking to many of you if you have other ideas open to it and for those that are watching.
On live stream today please contact my office if you've got good bit of ideas on things you should be thinking that I should be working on.
So with that I just want to thank you all.
Thank you.
We certainly appreciate you coming taking the time to share these updates with us.
Please consider this a standing invitation at the start or at the end of any legislative section.
I think we certainly know as a community that our cities engagement in the legislative process as you've said is very outside.
And we really appreciate you helping make sure that our community as a whole can be a part of this.
So thank you so much.
And thank you to Joshua who does a tremendous job serving our community as field office.
Yes, thank you so much.
Any questions? Okay, we'll move on to our next presentation of the evening.
We have councilmember Ericson to present a certificate.
Thank you so much Madam Mayor.
At this time I would love to present a certificate to an incredible business right here in West Hollywood.
If you haven't had the opportunity to visit so me or are able to, I highly encourage you to do so.
Under the visionary leadership of chef, I tour as a baller originally from Barcelona and with over 27 years of experience.
So many has achieved the prestigious distinction of being Los Angeles's first.
I'm sorry, West Hollywood's first three Michelin starred restaurant.
They also kind of serve people in Los Angeles, but for right now you're ours.
Just six months after chef resurrected his ambitious Spanish tasting menu and restaurant in West Hollywood.
He brought this extraordinary culinary experience to life.
The previous iterations of me located inside the SLS Beverly Hills are in two Michelin stars but closed in August 2020 amid the pandemic.
This historic three star recognition marks the first time a restaurant in Los Angeles has received three stars since the Michelin guide arrived in the city in 2008.
Chef's journey spans the globe from the legendary Yubuli to leadership roles at Think Food and now the creation of so many 2.0.
The dining experience reflects chef's unwavering dedication to creativity, innovation, and culinary experience excellence.
So many's commitment to exceptional dining experiences is not only elevated West Hollywood's local restaurant scene, but also has inspired chef's food lovers and the wider culinary community.
This recognition celebrates artistry, passion, and perseverance that make so many a true gem in our city.
Tonight we are honored to be enjoyed by the one the only chef at this time I would like to invite him up to come up to the day to accept this certificate and say a few words as well.
Thank you very much.
Good morning everyone.
So it's a really honor to be here tonight.
So I want to thank you to the city of West Hollywood.
There is this recognition from somebody and our team members.
A ring three Michelin star for us is a big dream that take years for work and sacrifice and passion from many, many people.
And many proud of my team and pass up the present to give this everything every day to make something special happen.
So many was born in this city and I am grateful to be part of this place, the celebrity creativity and diversity.
So values that they are essentially with and what we do.
We are proud to represent West Hollywood and the culinary wall and we will keep pushing to make this city know for excellence in innovation and hospitality.
Thank you so much.
We will now move to public comment.
The city council values your comments, however pursuant to the brown act, the council cannot take action on items not listed on tonight's posted agenda.
The public comment period is limited to 20 minutes with two minutes allotted for each speaker.
This public comment period is to address city council on consent calendar items other agenda items if the member of the public cannot be present at the time of sorry at the time the item is considered or items of general interest within the jurisdiction of the city council.
Another period is also reserved for general comment later in the meeting for those that could not be heard at this time.
Public hearing testimony will only be taken at the time of the hearing.
In particular, how many speakers do we have in chambers and in zoom?
We have 14 individuals in chambers.
Not in zoom.
Okay.
We may be able to get through everyone.
So we will go ahead and start calling folks up a few at a time.
Please be ready so we can move through as many people as we can as possible tonight.
In this public comment period.
First, I see Michael Seldich followed by Wendy Goldman, followed by Stephanie Harker.
I would like to thank the council for approving B8, the artist grants.
As a filmmaker, I appreciate your support.
That said, I must call out on the record the underhanded way the steering committee for the fountain streetscape project was formed.
Staff working for a pro project council majority hand-picked members. There was no open call for neutral or opposing voices, and the people who live on fountain, like myself, the ones most affected, were left out.
Instead, we got city commissioners, staff, designers, and bike advocates who were all already on board.
Kevin Burton and others are on the record saying just that. Critics aren't imagining bias, and there are plenty of critics, with staff selecting members and council approving the roster,
dissenting voices had no chance to be heard, and the outcome was inevitable.
Bottom line, this committee was stacked from the start. The way this committee was formed, the lack of multiple design options,
and the blatant dismissal of valid, logistical, and safety concerns from the public, and council members, helmet, and myster, all expose how the council majority pushes its agenda while ignoring its constituents.
And with the shameful item F1 set to pass tonight, you'll be proving my point.
Wendy Goldman, followed by Stephanie Herker, followed by Tom Demil.
Good evening, council members, mayor, city staff, and residents, and members of the public. Wendy Goldman, West Hollywood.
I'm speaking to item B5, regarding the ordinance regulating ADUs.
In number 4A, it states no off-street parking is required, and for B, no replacement parking required.
It begs the question of where the displaced residents are supposed to park.
In 2019, Harret Street, laws 15 parking spaces due to development, pushing residents, gas, and delivery vehicles to park further away on Hammond Street and further east.
The residents who park near Harret in San Vasene were also pushed, and scarcity has made us into enemies.
This sounds like the old shell game, moving the target around so it gets lost.
The anger and frustration of residents who live in the Cynthia Sunset Neighborhood Watch area, especially on Phyllis Avenue, with 380U projects are currently underway.
May I have 30 seconds?
Oh, yeah, that wasn't your title.
We're 380U projects are underway, is spilling over into daily life.
As the decision to allow these policies to take effect being ignored, has it just ignored the harm done to residents.
I've heard that the owner of the ADUs have to allow the residents to rent reduction when this amenity is removed.
Do the residents have a choice to refuse and demand a better solution.
I do not understand the history of this item.
The rationale of doing such harm to residents living on a dead end street, we're parking a scarce, getting calls from neighbors about damaged under their property by other vehicles.
Going cut through, cut through traffic, side swiping parked cars on narrow streets like Phyllis.
This should be a no brainer stop making a choice to remove off street parking for ADUs.
Thank you.
Stephanie Harker, followed by Tom Demil, followed by Paul Nichols.
Good evening, Stephanie Harker, City of West Hollywood.
I want to thank all of you who, all of the community members and staff members and more and myster for showing up to our local organic, no king's day rally.
It was very successful, there was a lot of enthusiasm and we were especially happy to see Debbie and Lauren there as they were the ones who inspired us with their brilliant rally in June of this year.
I want to thank you all for the approving the Arts Council's recommendations to award the grants to 12 arts organizations.
The more our grants, the better, especially with what the National Federal Government is doing.
And also on Saturday, I attended the Children's Halloween Party at Plumber Park.
It was wonderful, it gets better every year.
I especially want to thank Stephanie Martinez and staff members, Natalie and Diana, who are there every year.
And I want to thank staff in general for putting up with us, us dashing our letters off in the last minute with Melissa handling those.
And I want to also commend the city, David Wilson, for moving forward on safety measures for fountain, because whether or not the bike lanes are installed,
we need that fountain to be safer for the next two years possibly with the building going on.
So we all know the problems and the issues with that.
And we hope that things will move along quicker for the safety measures that are being taken on their including red light cameras.
Thank you.
Tom Demil, followed by Paul Nichol, followed by Rooney Arantas, sorry if I'm getting me strong.
Yes, my name is Tom Demil, I'm from the city of West Hollywood.
I graduated from the Sheriff's Academy 2002, proud of that.
I've also run for city council four times.
And I intend on having my name on the ballot next November.
Probably, and mostly, because of the fountain project, we have six bikes on that street.
And we have 100,000 people walking on our sidewalks and boys town, rainbow district, and sunset followed by.
Not so much sunset, we'll get to that.
But hundreds of thousands of people walking on our sidewalks and our sidewalks are broken up.
City Attorney stopped this city manager saved the money and spent it on the sidewalk.
But the people walk with the people walk up on sunset.
I also want to fix sunset.
It'd be very easy, there's no one there now.
Let's put music up there.
Let's make your calendar of events with rock music that they play the entire rock catalog of that particular artist all day long from five to like 11.
And it'll be just a little bit louder than the traffic and the trucks.
But not loud enough that you won't hear someone beep your horn at you.
And that'll bring the people back there.
We'll get businesses driving there.
And let's, when we do the sidewalks, which I wanted you right away, all the sidewalks and rainbow district.
They all should have our insignia and their names of people that mattered in our history.
The same thing with Sunset Boulevard, all the rock bands in our history should be up on the sidewalk.
So people will walk and have something to do up there and spend their money.
It's going to pay it back.
It'll pay us back the next 20 years.
Why do we lose our history?
Because of that, we lost our balance.
We lost our city.
If we don't remember our history, we lost everything going to the future.
I've got 10 seconds left.
I said enough.
Thanks a lot.
Thank you.
Paul Nichols, Paul by Romeo Arantes, Paul by Kevin Burton.
Council.
My name is Paul Nichols.
I'm one of the partners of Beaches, Tropicana.
I've lived in West Hollywood for 25 years.
I'm speaking with regards to the item F2, the unlicensed sidewalk vendors.
I want to start off by saying, I'm usually here asking for less regulations.
But I'm never against anybody's hustle or making a living in the city.
It's how I started handing out flyers in that same corner for my promotions.
But there's some really, it's basically gotten out of control.
Aside from the obvious health issue, it's still cheaper than an Olympic prescription.
So I'm not really even here to speak to that.
But the safety issue has really gotten really hard for us to deal with as a venue on that corner.
So at times we have sometimes 12 to 20 hot dog vendors blocking our exits, our entrances.
Being extremely aggressive with how they're trying to sell the hot dogs.
I've had security who's asked them to move or get out of the way.
Had them splash hot grease at them.
That same grease, by the way, that gets dumped onto the sidewalk or into the trees at the end of the night, which people then slip on the next day.
We also had a hot dog cart blow up.
It had flames going about 10 feet in the air.
The same height as the bus station.
Of course, was abandoned by the vendor who ran away.
Led to the fire department being called to our venue because it set up all our smoke alarms.
Not to mention the obviously unsafe issue of a fireball in the middle of a very busy sidewalk.
The other issue that's come up now is they are now working with or actually vending alcohol.
Both in the form of minis and bus balls.
If you don't know what a bus ball is, it's a really strong drink that's shaped like a ball.
The reason why it's shaped like a ball is so you can sneak it into a venue between your breasts or your butt cheeks.
And they're also selling them to minors who are now hanging out on the streets.
Enjoying the music which you can hear, of course, on the street from the venues which are open concept.
Just having a party which has led to fights and also to other issues.
So I have a video of all this by the way.
If any of you would like to see it, I'd be happy to send it your way.
Thank you.
Romy Aronta is called like Kevin Burton, followed by Lynn et cetera.
Hi, good evening.
I am also talking about F2, the label.
Keep with the mic a little bit.
Yeah.
Hot dog people.
Mainly, I'm Romy, if the GM at Rocco's.
The sanitation issue is awful.
They're using vapes.
They're using their own cellular phones.
They are parking their cars.
There's kids involved.
So we know that the standards that we as operators need to uphold to the public health department.
They are not.
If someone orders a hot dog on front of my bridge, my place and they get sick.
They're going to blame it on us, which is not the case.
They also are very aggressive towards us as operators.
And as all the patriots walking by, they'd have legal trash and grease and water dumping
on the San Vicente side of Rocco's.
And they are like pulsated.
They're just a nuisance to us.
Got this moment.
So thank you.
Kevin Burton, followed by Lynn et cetera, followed by Mito avelas.
If it pleases the mayor, I'd like to request additional 30 seconds.
So that I can add my comments, council members, myers.
Council member, myester, about Carl Cronin.
So see how we go.
Yeah.
Okay.
I just want to also mourn the loss Carl Cronin.
He was the founder along with myself of a local restaurant.
It would be a group of certain volunteers.
We all research.
And I've known him for many years.
And he was a leader of working to train people for emergency response in West Hollywood for many years.
And we're going to have a meeting.
Sirt graduate just tomorrow evening.
And so we will miss his presence.
And I certainly send my condolences to his wife, Toby, and their sons.
So now getting on to my comments that I wanted to make.
I want to draw an issue to the attention of the council.
That's been bothering me for a long time.
That is community awareness of the causes of most of the unnatural deaths in West Hollywood.
That is crashes on our streets involving motor vehicles.
And West Hollywood bicycle coalition worked with public safety commission.
And the shares are over 10 years ago.
To report collisions between cars and pedestrians, cars and bicycles.
To the public safety commission.
Every month with its location and other details.
So the community could be informed.
But most people don't look at that.
Sad thing is when there's a grass the next morning it's all cleaned up.
Most don't know anything ever happened that happened last Friday.
Somebody was killed.
So the bicycle coalition would like to request city council do.
As has done in LA.
And Pasadena erect signage at every location.
Honoring the people who are killed in crashes on West Hollywood streets.
Thank you.
When it's set or off all by me to a view list.
Follow by Rick Walsh.
When it's set or off all by me to a view list.
Follow by Rick Walsh.
When it's set or off west Hollywood.
I attended the no kings rally in March Saturday down town.
There were no poor depoties.
50,000 plus humans.
I've advertised starting at 2 p.m.
During the Clinton Donas don't tell years.
There became leadership requested trend to not call ourselves liberals.
Instead progresses.
I'm an FDR Eleanor Roosevelt liberal.
I find to this day progressives to be regressive.
They talk the talk but don't lock the lock.
Senior citizens disabled women.
Mothers with children and no poor depoties.
After experiencing that a new person to rallies.
Would naturally question who and the hell approve the permit.
What log is this?
It's called discrimination.
The absurdity.
I've been going to rallies for decades.
This was the worst rally I've ever been to in my entire life.
No poor depoties.
What law is there?
I'm so blown away on speechless.
And the rally started it too.
They advertised you could come a little bit.
In the early, at two o'clock, tons of people were still coming and they scarted the march. Like I say, I've been to tons of rallies, and this one was beyond belief, and I'm sick of progressives.
I'm fearless, followed by Rick Watts, followed by Kyle Brazil.
Hi, everyone, my name is Midovila, is resident and also commissioner of art and culture for the city of West Hollywood.
Good evening, Mayor, council members, and staff.
I am honored to serve as a commissioner of the city of West Hollywood Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission.
First, I want to express my deep gratitude for your ongoing support for the arts. You've helped make West Hollywood a city where creativity, expression, and community truly thrive.
And we see that energy come alive every year doing pride.
That's why I'm here tonight to strongly reaffirm item B-13.
The commission's unanimous vote to recommend an $80,000 increase to the 2026 We Hope Pride Arts Festival budget.
This isn't just about numbers. It's about investing in our artists, our local talent, and the cultural heartbeat that defines the city.
The festival continues to grow and so to community expectations.
To maintain the quality, diversity, and accessibility that reflect West Hollywood's values, this additional funding is essential.
I also want to highlight the trolley service mentioned in the staff report, which also was voted unanimously by the commission, a wonderful and much needed idea, but currently without a funding source.
Accessibility and safe inclusion, transportation to and from the festival must be a part of the vision, not an afterthought.
We have something truly special here, and the arts are what connects us across generations, identities and neighborhoods.
Let's make sure our budget reflects that spirit.
Thank you for your continued leadership and for standing with the arts community.
Thank you.
Rick Watts, Hall by Kyle Brazil, Hall by Reed DeVenio.
Thank you, council. Rick Watts City of West Hollywood.
I want to invite you all on behalf of the Disabilities Advisory Board to attend the annual disabilities advisory boards.
Service award, which will be in council chambers right here.
Wednesday night 6 p.m.
Among our honorees is no less than Stephen David Simon, who is head of the city of Los Angeles Department of Disabilities.
Stephen has a long record of service to persons with disabilities of whatever strike.
I'd be seen or unseen disabilities, mobility, cognitive disabilities, sight, hearing, you name it.
I've said this before, but it bears repeating that virtually everybody in this chamber.
And virtually everyone in this city, if we live long enough, we are going to experience or suffer one or more disabilities either temporary or permanent.
And of course, we all know persons who have those disabilities.
And your disability's advisory board serves as a liaison and advocate for persons with disabilities and a voice for council to inform them of the programming and services of the city provides.
And also to provide input and sometimes cast asment, what I said is on the scooters that continue to play us and our sidewalks.
But you folks have done a lot of good work, too.
And I want to give credit where creditives do on those things.
And I hope to see all of you.
We hope to see all of you on Wednesday night.
And I hope to see everybody in this chamber because this is the issues that we deal with,
or at issues that matter to you and to your relatives and friends who deal with disabilities.
Thank you.
Kyle Brazil, called by Reed DeVenio, called by David Eckert.
When I raised the bike lane safety problems in the last council meeting, Mr. Erickson suggested I check my priorities.
Instead of addressing the problems in your plan, you invoke Blake's memorial again and a contemptible effort to distract.
But you'll continue to call you on your bullshit because you can and should improve safety.
Instead, you insist on pushing one careless plan that didn't consider a single option where traffic signals changed.
That's not the safety effort. That's a bike lane project.
The bike coalition similarly misled the public with Venice Boulevard's bike lane.
The city's own review showed immediate failure to reduce speed, reduced collisions,
but it did reduce cyclists and we called that a win.
The acceleration of deaths after the bike lane money improves its continued failure.
You don't care about the 33 or 30 year old cyclists severely injured on that road after the bike lane was added.
Or the 34 year old motorist killed.
Or the 51, 71, or 40 year old pedestrians killed with the latest death just earlier this year.
How many people need to die on roads with bike lanes before you understand they don't work?
Even bike LA admits 15% of cyclists' facilities occur on roads with bike lanes far more than their share of roadway.
Bike lanes increase perceived safety, not real safety.
But this council thinks replacing parked cars with planner boxes for some negligible benefit
from this virus heat island is more important than saving lives.
And you'll pretend this is about equity, ignoring the UCLA study that concluded, quote,
policy makers should consider cars as basic infrastructure for low income households,
and cleaner vehicles are an equitable mitigation strategy to pollution.
Even bike LA's executive director acknowledges autonomous shared vehicles are the key to equity
in his surprising partnership piece with Waymo, the Google ride-hailing company,
where he references his quote, aging parents no longer able to safely ride a bike due to health challenges.
Stop pretending this will save lives, improve the environment or improve equity.
Mr. Erickson is in this for the campaign and fundraising machine that is the bike coalition for his state Senate bid.
But sure, I'm the one that needs to check my priorities.
Greed Devenio, Greed Devenio followed by David Eckert, followed by Alec White,
and then I believe we have one speaker in Zoom.
Good evening, city council.
My name is Anthony Deugenio, a 30 year resident.
Congratulations to the city council members that have been recognized for their services.
And yes, Mayor Erickson anti-Semitism does not belong in West Hollywood,
and will not be tolerated.
There's a viral video going around claiming that I'm racist.
My family or immigrants, we were from Italy.
They were spit on and thrown into the water at Ellis Island.
I get it.
I'm not against illegal immigration or illegal immigration, whatever it may be.
What I am against is unfair business practice.
Every night, I watch over 30 illegal vendors,
disrespectfully poor hot toxic flammable oil into the street,
and sidewalk leaving food debris and trash behind them.
It's unacceptable for us to put the public in harm's way
with explosive devices and toxic garbage with new leadership
like Mr. Hang.
He will not let criminals dictate to him
the terms of their presence.
He's going to take swift action and amputeate this organized criminal element
and make, we hope, safe again.
Can I believe I have that much time left?
My goodness.
Congratulations, Mrs. Meister, for you being recognized
and Mr. Halman, for your lifetime achievement.
You are amazing.
We love you.
You're part of the fabric.
We love our mayor.
Thank you, Mr. Eric.
Mr. Heng.
Mr. Wilson.
We're going to miss you when you leave.
As I told you earlier today, I can't believe we're going to lose you.
But you've been fantastic.
And thank you, Mr. Langer, for closing the deal.
Thank you, everyone.
David Eckert, followed by Alex White.
Good evening, City Council.
David Eckert, resident of West Hollywood.
I want to just as Council Member John Erickson,
so last week there are too many accidents still happening on fountain.
And I just want to point out that the reduced speed doesn't seem to be working
at all from going down from 35 to 30.
I would love the steering committee to look at studying the idea of turning
every intersection into four way stops.
Like Hollywood and East Hollywood,
it's going to be very effective of reducing speeds and accidents.
And on that too, I live on fountain.
In this morning, I watched Athens pick up our trash.
And I watched 15 cards go over the yellow cross line into
oncoming traffic.
And I very concerned that this is going to happen even more
as we continue with this plan.
I just really want the steering committee to continue to look at
how we're going to sell these issues.
And lastly, I just want to say as we come up here a lot on the day,
as many of you just look down and you don't make eye contact with us.
And it's sort of a little disrespectful.
And I'm sorry to say that.
I respect all of you.
And I just would like the common courtesy to acknowledge that we exist.
And our opinions are just as important as everybody else's.
And I tell you, you always make eye contact.
So I thank you for that and saying to Lauren and John.
Thank you.
I like why I believe is our last speaker.
Anyone else wanted to speak?
Please sign up.
No, I'll go to Zoom.
Hello.
May or byers and vice-merhalment members of the City Council.
So we're speaking a couple of hats today.
First off, speaking is the President of the West Side Young Democrats.
I just wanted to thank Council members,
Hang, Narekson and Maribayers for speaking out.
The yes on Prop 50 rally we had on October 11th.
For National Coming Out Day, we were working really hard to go knock doors
and we hope the coalition of Democratic clubs like LA Young Dems,
Stall Young Dems and many of you community leaders.
So if you folks in the audience want to volunteer as well,
we're still doing it.
I'll go to mobilize.us.
You can find a volunteer opportunity or you to get a pass.
And I'll just want to say all the council members.
I'm doing great work to support it.
And Erkson, Byers, and Hang will be more than a body.
The thought was of Prop 50 that they're, you know,
Jerusalem, so I don't want to make sure we say that.
And on another note, taking off my West Side Young Dems hat.
Just to want to speak in support of F4,
the Sunset Strip Music Festival.
I'm just really excited to see how we could bring a lot more revenue
to our local small businesses.
And also get more folks into WeHo,
who can just, you know, again,
to be more consumers for our small businesses and our community.
So I am really excited about that.
On the agenda and love to see it all get passed.
So thanks, our buddy.
I'm a good meeting.
I see Adam, Erimini, and signed up.
And I believe that concludes our in-person comments.
And then we'll go to Zoom next.
Good evening, Adam Eremion.
25 year resident of West Hollywood,
and employee of West Hollywood.
Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council members.
Today I'm here to speak about item F2
for the unpromoted, unlicensed side walkmenders.
I also want to thank Council Member Denny Hang
for bringing this in front of the council.
It's a very important topic that we need to address.
As we all know, there are numerous hot dog vendors
throughout West Hollywood on any busy Friday Saturday Sunday,
or any holiday gay pride situations that may exist.
All those numbers, hot dog vendors that we have,
they are obstructing our sidewalks.
There's, when I say numerous,
there's anywhere from six to eight vendors
who are standing outside,
the sidewalks obstructing the sidewalks,
obstructing our right away,
blocking the entrance to our businesses,
blocking wheelchair access as well.
There have been numerous customer complaints
where customers are being sick
from after eating the hot dogs,
they're overpriced.
What is it going to take to make sure
these illegal vendors are not on our streets?
On top of that, we don't only have illegal hot dog vendors,
but now we have illegal alcohol sales.
These illegal alcohol sales are occurring
on Friday Saturdays and Sunday evenings.
It's a hot dog cart similar item like that.
And you only even know she's selling alcohol.
When you approach her, she'll feel you out
and once she knows you're secure,
she'll ask you if you want an alcohol.
She'll also refer that she has a stronger drink
than any borne West Hollywood.
So they are not checking IDs,
they are not being responsible,
and I just asked if for any more deaths
or accidents happen to us.
That would result us.
Thank you.
We'll go to Zoom for any final speakers.
We have just one.
Okay.
Yes, we have Genevieve Morrell.
Can you hear me?
Yeah.
Go ahead.
Good evening, Mayor.
Vice Mayor and seat council members.
I'll be speaking on a later on FQ and F4.
We're really excited about having those items come forward.
Thank you for that.
But right now I'm wearing my hat as Executive Director
for the Sunset Strip to invite all of you
and community and city council to come
through this Saturdays.
The Sunset Strip Business Improvement District Board
invites you to a family-friendly spooky addition
at the Pink Dot parking lot from 12 to 6.
We have vinyl records, spooky memorabilia, DJs,
pumpkin painting, faith painting,
soupy photoots, and lots of activities for the whole family.
And we have it.
And we have a trolling that can stop the various businesses.
There are many, many businesses,
special promotions, and spooky activations, and deals.
Then the next week we're going to be calling
at Halloween on Sunset and we have lots of events
happening in the venues from this Saturday
through November 2nd.
So, for more information, go to the SunsetScript.com and you can see all the activations from our businesses. Thank you.
That will conclude our final public comment. We are now going to go to a 10-minute recess counsel to discuss a few items. We'll be back with the public shortly. Thank you.
Thank you for your patience.
As we get started, just a note. Councilmember Meister has medical emergency. She is okay, but it is going to interfere with her ability to proceed with tonight's meeting.
So she has left the meeting for this evening. As a result, there are a number of items that by her request we kept from consent.
So we will discuss which of those should be tabled. We also have a public hearing that we will discuss moving to a future date.
I believe the November 3rd Council meeting.
I know that councilmember Meister had an item of her own on the agenda that we kept from consent. So perhaps that could also be moved to the November 3rd Council meeting.
One was the other item. The removing infrastructure road blocks item. She requested that we tabled that to November 3rd as well.
Is that okay with everyone here?
Yes.
Why don't we go through it one more time with the agenda?
Sure. Sure.
So starting with item C1, which was the next item that we would hear the public hearing.
We will tabled that item. The public hearing will be tabled. Or I'm sorry, continued until November 3rd Council meeting.
Item E1 also was requested the update to the city's flag policy. I know she had comments on that.
So we will continue that item to the November 3rd Council meeting as well.
The F1 will be continued to November 3rd. That was the removing infrastructure road blocks item.
Then we have F5, which was councilmember Meister's item. So we will continue that as well.
I'm just going to ask if we could do a motion to make sure that the members are all comfortable.
She also had questions about E5, which was the advisory board meeting.
That's right. Thank you.
New there's another.
So we'll continue that one to the third as well.
So with that, we'll take a motion. We have a motion from Vice Mayor.
And a second from Councilmember Erickson. Do we need to repeat that one more time?
Before we go, can I ask the city clerk? Are there any people here who are going to speak on those items?
That's right. There were. We had one individual signed up to speak for the public hearing.
Brendan Zavala.
But Brendan's fine. Brendan will be here in two weeks.
E1. We are tabling. So we had one individual signed up for E1.
E3. We are keeping on the agenda. The equitable building standards. That's staying.
E4 is staying. That one's okay. F1. We had several people signed up to speak for that item.
And that was it. And then F5. We didn't have any.
No.
You mentioned she didn't have any significant.
Oh, that I confused that one of E5. I'm sorry.
I believe E1. We'll talk with her about anything.
Understood.
Me adjustments. But she said it wasn't.
It was E5. I knew that that's what it was.
So E1 is going to stay.
E1 can stay.
So it's C1, E5, F1 and F5.
We'll be.
Double to November 3rd. Okay.
Continue. Yep. Okay.
And if we.
I'm assuming we're going to vote in favor of continuing these items.
If there are people who are unable to come back for those items.
Maybe Melissa, you can check to see many of the speakers.
We can hear them later in the meeting.
That's right. Okay.
Under the second public comment period.
Okay. So there is a motion.
And a second motion from Vice-Marm Heilman.
Second from Council Member Ericsson.
To amend tonight's agenda.
Based on Council Member Meisters Medical Emergency.
And with that, we will take a vote.
And the motion passes for zero.
Thank you.
Thank you. And thank you all so much for your patience understanding.
We are now on item E1 unfinished business.
The update to the city's flag policy.
I'll turn this over to our city manager, David Wilson.
Okay.
City manager is coming. Oh, I'm so sorry.
Yeah, we skipped that.
We didn't do the consent.
That's right.
We're right.
Sorry everyone.
A little jerked around tonight.
We're not quite into that yet.
We.
We've finished.
The public comment just before we broke for recess.
So we're coming back to our city manager's report.
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you.
Maybe Mayor Vice Mayor.
Council members and community members.
Just a few brief updates.
All right.
So Halloween.
What's Holly will be hosting a annual Halloween carnival on Friday, October 31st from 6pm to 11pm.
We'll come out to the Rainbow District to enjoy the costumes created festivals,
festivities at the city businesses and special tribute to the 50th anniversary of the
Rocky Horror Picture Show from the Main Stage.
San Monica Boulevard will be closed from 10am on Friday, October 31st through 6am on Saturday,
November 1st to accommodate the festivities.
The city is now accepting nominations for the 25 Rainbow Key Awards, which recognizes
individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to the LGBTQ plus community.
Since 1993, the city has honored those who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to advancing the LGBTQ plus visibility,
and quality of life, locally, nationally and globally.
We invite you to consider nominating someone who has made a meaningful impact in the LGBTQ plus community,
or to help spread the word about this year's Awards.
Nominations are open through Sunday, November 1st, 25 for nomination forms.
On additional information, please visit WeHo.org slash Rainbow Key.
Finally, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department conducted a scheduled undercover operation on Friday night
in West Hollywood's Rainbow District in response to reports of pickpocketing and other criminal activity.
Several arrests were made, and I'm going to ask our Captain Fannie Lapkin if she can come up and just give a brief overview of that operation.
Good evening, Mayor Vice Mayor Council members.
I can give limited information on the operation that occurred on Friday.
So the operation was a pre-planned operation from complaints.
I'm not complaints, but concerns from our businesses and our community and regards to the pickpocketing to their narcotics,
and also to the illegal vending and some of the criminal activity during the legal vending.
We had several arrests from a specific location where I mentioned any names, but it was not a target specific.
The operation was meant to be in the Rainbow District.
It was supposed to be the whole Rainbow District, so that's what it was to address those issues that have come up.
It's not the first time we've had those operations.
It's not going to be the last time we have those operations because when we have concerns of pickpocketing, we know that that's been a concern.
We have concerns of illegal drug use.
We're going to address those, and then again, as of late is the vendors, and then some of the criminal activity that the street vendors are partaking.
Some of the social media posts indicated that it was ice.
There was no ice involvement in this operation.
If it's all sheriff's department personnel.
Yeah.
We have some questions from Councillor Barrickson.
Thank you. Thank you, Captain.
Thank you for that explanation.
What is the best way in your opinion to help make sure that the message that is being put out there, which is actually inaccurate.
It's actually getting back to the truth because on Sunday I had to tell a lot of people a lot of stuff and they refused to believe me, because I think tensions are really high right now.
But the sheriff's department are used to waiting to fill the PIO position at the We Hostation.
Correct.
And again, it's part of the moratorium.
But we did put out something early Saturday to try to dispel any of those rumors.
Thank you.
And then can you, because there's been some confusion around the wearing of masks given the passage of the state law.
That just happened.
My understanding is that state law doesn't apply until 2026 of January.
Correct.
And I asked one of the supervisors there and that one individual apparently was sick.
And that's the reason why he was wearing the mask.
There was no other individuals that were wearing.
And for my own clarity, just to how I think I follow this process.
These individuals wouldn't need warrants to arrest people because in a lot of the videos you say, well, where's your warrant?
Because I thought it was ice in a lot of ways.
But for this type of an arrest as a result of the operation, they found individuals doing certain things or selling certain things.
And therefore they arrested them on the spot.
Correct.
They don't need a warrant for that.
Thank you.
Any other questions from the council?
Council.
We're hanging.
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you captain.
Can you please clarify what illegal street bending issues were encountered?
So we have complaints of the selling of the alcohol, selling of other.
I want to say paraphernal, but smoking paraphernal.
But mainly is the alcohol from some of the street vendors.
So that was one of the things that we were going to target during this operation as well.
So just to clarify some of the street vendors were selling alcohol, that's why they were detained.
No, on this specific, the people that were detained were not none of them were street vendors.
Got it.
That was the point of the operation is to do that, but we didn't get to that point.
Great.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
I don't have any other questions.
Okay.
Thank you so much.
Okay.
Thank you.
That concludes your report then.
Thank you for your report.
We'll go to the fiscal impact on consent calendar.
Maybe please have the fiscal impact.
Yeah.
Thank you, Mayor.
The fiscal impact on tonight's consent calendar with the addition of item F6 is $429,500 in expenditures,
$5,000 in revenue and $15,760 in waived fees.
There is a motion from Vice Mayor Heilman in a second from Mayor Buyers to approve tonight's consent calendar.
And just for the record, I'm re-cusing myself from item B8.
B8.
Yeah.
The funding grants.
Okay.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
And we will start voting.
And the motion process for zero.
Thank you.
Okay.
Now, on to unfinished business, item E1, the update to the city's flag policy.
I see we have our staff representatives in place.
I know this was held from consent for some questions that I think we have since addressed,
but we can maybe do a quick overview unless my colleagues have any deeper questions.
Okay.
We'll hand it to city manager.
So this item is a resolution to update the city's flag policy,
which outlines the requirements for outdoor public display for the outdoor public display of governmental and non-governmental flags.
And the procedures for flying the flag of the United States at half-staff at city hall and other city properties.
On Wednesday, September 10th, 2025, all flags and what's Hollywood's were lower to half-staff in accordance with the presidential proclamation following the killing of Charity Kirk.
flags continue to fly half-staff through sundown on Sundays of September 14th.
Many community members expressed deep concern about the city's decision to comply with the presidential directive.
In particular, there were significant outrage regarding the lowering of the LGBTQ plus flags,
which are prominently flown in West Hollywood as a symbol of pride, inclusion, and community identity.
Under the US flag code, when flags of the states or cities are flown from adjacent steps,
no such flag should be placed above the flag of the United States.
From accordance with flag protocol, the act of lowering the flag of the United States required that all the other flags be lowered,
including the LGBTQ plus flags.
Historically, the city has followed such presidential protocols to honor the symbolic unity represented by the American flag and to demonstrate.
Distract respect for the institution of government. However, these are complex and unprecedented times, especially in regard to traditional customs and the actions of the current federal administration.
In this context, the city reviewed the existing black policy to ensure it appropriately reflects the core values of West Hollywood and allows the city to adequately
the adequate discretion in when the flags may be lowered. The proposed resolution and policy consolidate the procedures regarding the display of flags and have that protocols into one policy.
The data flag policy maintains the city's existing policy that the city of West Hollywood will follow flag protocols in accordance with the US flag code.
This includes key guidelines for displaying the flag properly and with reference.
The US flag code provides specific instances when the flag shall be flying and shall be flown at half-step upon the death of principal figures such as the president or former president or former president or former officials of the government.
Chief justices, members of the armed forces who die while serving unactive duty and foreign dignitaries.
The city's updated flag policy provides some discretion to the city manager in consultation with the mayor and vice mayor to make local decisions regarding lowering the flag to have staff on occasions that are not specifically identified in the US flag code,
such as the recent occasion of the president or former flag floor to have staff after the death of Charlie Clark.
In addition to the occasions outlined in the US flag code, the city of West Hollywood shall lower flags to have staff upon the death of current or former city council members.
The city manager in consultation with the mayor and vice mayor may also direct staff to flag flags of half-step following the death of certain prominent community members.
However, it is important to note that the flag shall should be displayed at half-step on rare occasions in order to maintain the honor and reference of the solemn act.
When the flag is displayed the half-step, the city will share information about who is being honored for how long and for how long on the city's website and social media platforms.
I do see that we have one member of the public signed up to speak.
I don't see as Allen's crossburg still here.
I don't see him either.
Okay, so maybe if there's anybody else who wishes to comment now is the time.
Do we have any questions?
Comments from the council?
Okay?
Not seeing.
Okay.
Thank you very much, Mayor.
Thank you, City Manager.
I know this issue really troubled a lot of people during this horrific time.
I know Vice Mayor Heilman probably when we did these policies way back when.
For the city, never imagined a time where we would have an individual like Charlie Kirk having the flag lowered for him.
It's a gorgeous and horrible and everything and I just know that it really rattled a lot of people.
And that was never the intention of the city and I want to think the comms department for putting out their statement as quickly as possible to get it out there for the community.
But those feelings have to be acknowledged and recognized because it really did a list of a lot of hurt.
And rightfully so.
So I'm really glad the city acted so quickly.
I know might the mayor and I were away at a conference getting a lot of messages and trying to deal with communities.
So thank you very much and thank you David for moving fast and you know at a time when reverence has to be held in the same way you did a really great job.
So thank you very much.
Council number hang.
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you City Manager.
Thank you staff.
I wanted to thank you for your expeditious work on the item.
I'm certainly in favor of it.
It aligns with West Hollywood's core values.
It this update ensures that our flag policies reflects who we are.
The city that champions inclusion diversity community identity.
It also gives us the power to avoid symbolic actions that clash with our values.
That also for me it balances tradition with modern realities.
We continue to honor the U.S. flag code while adopting today's political and social context.
Ensuring our actions reflect both national tradition and our local principles here at home.
It also includes improved transparency and trust.
Publicly sharing wine when the flag is lowered build accountability and strength and community trust with our community members.
It also stream lives and clarifies the policy.
As council member council member it's just said our flag policy was in multitude.
Combined these various flag policies into one document makes the process clear cleaner more accessible and easier to follow for staff and members of the public and residents.
Thank you.
Thank you both. All right. We have a motion to adopt the resolution.
Do you have a second.
Thank you. And as council member Eric said, I appreciate the communities engagement over the last several weeks on this issue as well.
We'll move to item E to our public private partnership with plenary broadband infrastructure.
Thank you.
Good evening mayor.
Please mayor city council members.
My name is Eugene Sipis.
I'm the IT manager for the city with me.
I have our telecommunication consultants.
I have our representative from Plenary.
Area Jamieson vice president.
Tonight the city council will consider taking staff's recommendation to end exclusive negotiation agreement with Plenary to construct and operate a city wide broadband network.
Additionally staff is looking for city council direction on next steps to advance cities goals of expanding access to high speed.
We have a second.
And prepare what's held with future smart city initiatives.
Some of the background in 2016 city council dot the fabric network infrastructure and services.
The strategic plan of my advantages of establishing a fast and affordable broadband network including economic growth.
Improve services support public safety, telehealth and other smart city initiatives.
The city release city wide broadband infrastructure services RFP.
There are fielded for responses and after thorough evaluation staff identified.
Plenary as the preferred partner.
Plenary's original proposal was to form a public private partnership or a P3 to build a city wide network to meet municipal and community goals with minimal city financial contribution.
So in October of 2023 city council authorized the city to enter into exclusive negotiation agreement or ENA with Plenary to pursue the proposal.
As part of the ENA, Plenary conducted market analysis, city wide survey, feasibility design and financial modeling.
And the finding from the ENA determined the city would need to contribute between 25 and 28 million dollars for project to be viable.
So in April of 2025 city council provided direction to proceed with formal negotiation for the implementation of city wide broadband network supported by projected city investment of 25 to 28 million dollars.
Since council direction in April city staff and Plenary work to finalize the business terms paying detailed cost estimates for the outside plan for outside plan construction via the request for called managed by Plenary.
The RFQ thought competitive proposals for select most two select most qualified contractor for the project.
More than 20 pre qualified firms were invited with six completed proposals were received and evaluated.
The contract the RFQ revealed significant challenges.
Several qualified contractors declined to bid citing difficulties complying with city's project labor agreement their PLA, particularly given the project's reliance on specialized construction technique of micro-trenching.
The contractor's the DIT submit proposals provided estimates that were significantly higher than anticipated and had an extended timeline to comply with the PLA requirements.
The latest estimates places the city required contribution at 40 to 42 million dollars with estimated construction timelift of 30 months, which is significantly above previously estimated 25 to 28 million dollars and 14, 18 to 24 months to complete the construction.
He factors the contributed to this escalation include uncertainty related to multi-dwelling unit access, construction cost uncertainty due to absence of a low level design.
Limited contractor interests attributed to PLA requirements and increased construction timeline due to PLA training requirements to certify micro-trenching technicians.
Given the substantial cost escalation and higher city contribution on the current terms staff recommends ending exclusive negotiation of PLA for the construction of the network and recalivating its city's efforts to improve broadband and city.
Leveraging deliverables produced during the NA, city now has the strategic opportunity to refocus the tool and relaunch its efforts to improve broadband and community.
More specifically staff recommends the following steps.
Clareify and optimize the project soap and delivery model.
Reassess the public-private partnership structure and ownership model and hence RFP design and expand marketing engagement to attract better range of proposals.
And last continue to strategically invest into fibre infrastructure.
To wrap this things up, staff remains committed to advancing cities goals of equitable access promoting stronger, more diverse local economy.
And providing city was held for future smart city advancements and that concludes my presentation.
I'll be happy to answer questions.
Thank you so much.
I don't see any members of the public signed up to speak on this so we can come to the council for questions or discussion.
Comforters.
Don't we already have these capabilities based on the conversation we had a few months ago with spectrum being able to provide most of this.
As mentioned, I believe in previous staff report, so spectrum and AT&T certainly has presence in the city.
But certainly the coverage is not ubiquitous and coverage does not always mean quality of service.
And so it's a yes, there's a lot of coverage by these incumbents, but it's not ubiquitous and the quality of their service is something that could be improved.
But they already have the infrastructure to do it now.
Do you want to kind of take that?
Let's do that.
Thank you.
Good evening.
Both spectrum and AT&T have considerable infrastructure in the city as they do in the entire metro area.
What they don't have is fiber to the premises.
So they have a much older infrastructure.
In AT&T's case, primarily copper wiring, twisted pair copper that was originally designed for telephone service.
And then in spectrum, charter case, a hybrid fiber coaxial cable that was originally designed for cable television.
They're both very capable networks.
They both offer good services.
I'm sure they have many satisfied customers, but it's not state of the art.
It's not fiber to the premises.
It's not comparable to what your neighbors in many other communities throughout California and LA County have.
And it's certainly not the standard for best and class communications infrastructure.
Now, either one of those companies could upgrade their networks and they probably will incrementally.
But it is not at the stage.
You ubiquitous best and class infrastructure.
Thank you.
So when you came here before you all, I voted against it for reasons made true now.
Why you bet it on plenary to be able to step in, do the stuff, get it done.
There were the bees knees of what we need to do.
And here we are with them saying, nope.
I'm pretty sure they were here, weren't they?
And they said the same exact thing and now they're gone and out the door.
How much money have we spent on this, David?
So we're going to pay for deliverables, that planary.
I'm going to produce for us as part of this extra strategy in amount of $350,000.
Which includes the study, all the low level designs or high level designs.
So we also spend some money on consulting services from Joanne's team.
Okay.
I am done with questions.
I'll just move into my comments.
I told you so.
I hate to be here again, where we're at.
But this is the type of process where we are just wasting public dollars.
I'm processes that already exist in the infrastructure that's there in order to do it.
I wish we would have listened to these other corporations that actually had been telling us this whole time.
That they could do these things, not just certain levels.
I understand we all need to upgrade our infrastructure.
That's what I say about all the time.
But this process has been going on for a long time.
And we continue to throw money out the door.
It's not our money.
It's taxpayer money.
It's people.
Money that could go to social services, that's money that could go to other funding, that needs to get done. And here we are, I think I was an intern when they started talking broadband, even probably before then. And we have another corporation that everyone bet it and said, oh, they're going to do it. It's going to happen. It's going to get done. We're here. We're finally moving the needle and bup guess. It's like, I just have to say my extreme disappointment, my extreme disappointment with how much money we are wasting on this
in order to go back to the table with the people that can provide it on day one. And they're willing partners. When I had to send this item to people to say, look at where we are now, I mean it was kind of like one of those faded companies, because here we're going to continue to move this forward because two of us are in the minority and three of us in the majority. And it's fine. But I hate to say it was right. And I wish we could do better on this and stop wasting money.
Councilmember Hang? Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, manager, Sipsis. When plenary, first approach to the city was Hollywood, how much was the amount?
So the original proposal was at no cost, maybe some permitting support and stuff like that. So the original proposal was zero.
And then it ballooned up to what cost from zero. Today we're talking, no, no, no, no, the first balloon.
25 to 28 million dollars. So from zero, it went to 25 to 28 million dollars. And then what's the third third increase? Today we're reporting 40 to 42 million dollars.
So we're going from zero and 23 to 48 to 42 million dollars of our cities money. That's what it ballooned up to. And the initial cost was I want to say zero, right? Are you confirming it's zero initially?
It was, but there were some assumptions that the city didn't meet that equated to do money, right? We, the original proposal was assumed we had fiber and sunset fountain.
That project didn't didn't go. And so that was going to be a city's contribution towards planaries. So that's why it was zero initially.
I mean, I understand the spirit of the item, but so it ballooned up from zero to 42 million. So it's actually going to be 42 million 350,000 because we're adding in the studies that were committed.
If the city decides to move forward with it, which is not what I'm recommending that $350,000 would not be paid to planary.
If we end the, the materials that they will produce for us, which will be useful if we choose to proceed in a different and a different way will still be useful. So it's 42 million if we move forward and 3050,000 if you choose not to.
So would it have a, just peer speculation, wouldn't happen cheaper for spectrum just to update their infrastructure slowly and continue to provide service without any type of city involvement?
Yes, for either spectrum or AT&T, there is a more cost-effective way for them to upgrade their infrastructure than any other entity because they don't have to get onto utility poles into underground conduit, negotiate rights of way, et cetera. They have the most cost-effective path.
Just one note though, that is not something that happens all the time without some kind of competitive pressure.
The places where we see the large incumbents upgrading their infrastructure and investing to their credit is where they face competition or they face some kind of other disruptive activities such as a city thinking about its own network that leads them to pay a different level of attention and invest.
Otherwise happens only incrementally. It doesn't happen on a ubiquitous basis and that tends to be the biggest public policy concern that I observe around the country is cities that want to be sure that the entire community has access to the new best in class infrastructure and not only select neighborhoods.
Part of this came from the council initiative that wanted just that there was concerns that we had for the large monopolies with spectrum and with AT&T and they wanted others to get in so the city could provide affordable internet services to those who couldn't afford it.
This is what this affordable cost $42 million through $50,000.
I just wanted to highlight that my colleague and I were in the minority and we were proven right.
Is this what other city has Plenary been successful in implementing this type of program?
So Plenary has not done fiber with the home project so we would be the first giddy pig city to make to go through that process with Plenary.
Plenary is a investor and they've done many public partnerships in other cities.
I think they built a Long Beach Civic Center in a partnership.
They've done some middle-mile projects in North Carolina.
The specific fiber in the home is they haven't done in the city.
And part of the reason why things went the way they are is because of that and experience in this specific type of project.
Well, thank you, Manager. Thank you. So this for me is a reason why we should leave technological updates to the professionals out there who know what they're doing.
Thank you.
Vice Mayor Halman.
Thank you.
I just want to clarify your recommendation is that we end all negotiations with broadband, Plenary broadband that we not enter into any contract with them.
For 10 million, 20 million or 40 million that as a result of the negotiations you've had with them, you've concluded that it isn't financially feasible for us to move forward with a contract with them.
Is that correct?
That is correct.
I just wanted to clarify because my colleagues did throw out numbers and I think members of the public could get frightened that we are in a contract with this entity and that there's been substantial escalation of the contract.
In fact, we have an entered into a contract with them at all and you're recommending that we not do so because of the escalating costs that have arisen during the negotiations.
That is correct.
Based on that, I'm prepared to make a motion to approve your recommendation that we end all negotiations.
The work that has been done I think has been important work and it will guide us hopefully as we look at other ways that we can expand broadband for the community, whether that's through spectrum or AT&T or whether it's not doing anything and allowing the private sector to move forward.
I think it's certainly, I'll second the motion.
I think it's good information that we had but clearly this is not the entity that we need to move forward with.
Thank you.
I would also like to add in so that the city's goal which I think is a valiant goal of ensuring that access is.
As you've been saying ubiquitous, it's available to everyone.
There's an equity component to that that people can have dependable coverage dependable quality at a reasonable cost, which isn't something that the city has control over when it comes to the private market.
This was an effort to ensure that the city itself as cities across this country are doing could make internet a utility provided through the city services.
And I think that is a vision that we should sell hold on to and work towards as I know you'll continue to and I appreciate the lessons you've learned through this process.
I know the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee has done this work, it's incredible important work that their community has been transformed by.
And a city like West Hollywood should absolutely continue its work and making sure that we can unleash this capacity for our residents as well.
So I appreciate that this may not be the vendor.
We have made vendor choices that have not ended up in the products that we want to see as a city many times.
This is not a sort of parent concern or an agree just moment. It's something that happens throughout process and so I just want to say that to the community as well.
Since there's been some quite a long raised and I just appreciate the work moving forward.
We have a motion to adopt in a second.
May I ask a quick question.
Councilmember Erickson spoke first.
Oh sorry.
Yeah.
Did charter tell you that they hadn't upgrade ready when this whole process started.
Charter was one of the four responders to the RFP and their proposal was what is called a bulk agreement.
So what bulk agreement meant is in the terms they provided include every single non current spectrum customer will be covered under that.
So net new customers that required no construction for spectrum.
So only where they had service so if a one covered area they wouldn't construct under that.
Then they would agree to a certain rate that will be locked in for five years that the city would have to pay for and then charge back the end customer.
It didn't matter whether the customers using service or not once you're in the contract.
The city was on the hook to pay for that.
So they did not commit to any construction and their service improvements in the proposal.
Great.
Thank you.
And you said something really important right away at the beginning.
You say many things because you're very smart.
But you've been with us for a very long time.
However, you said that planetary did not want to abide by the city's PLA.
You said, what did you say we got a PLA?
No, that that's not.
Can you rephrase then so chart so well planary as they as the construction companies started exploring was you know construction proposals.
They they obviously looked into the PLA requirement and so the 40 to 42 million dollar.
That includes what was approved by council as far as scope, including the PLA.
So to comply with the PLA requirements, that's what it would cost.
The planary did create a scenario where the PLA would be modified and what they wanted to modify is they wanted all these companies the construction companies.
They want to use their own microchrenching crews because that is a very specific trait.
It's relatively new and to in order to train labor hall microchrench crews that would take it significant amount of time.
That makes the project longer and more expensive.
So they're not against the PLA, they're fully ready to to comply with the PLA is just to cost balloon more than they even dissipator.
Thank you for clarifying council.
Thank you mayor my apologies earlier.
Would planary consider reimbursing the city back $350,000 for leading us down this.
No construction.
The $250,000 was committed contractually and approved by council.
So I don't know, they produce a lot of work on our behalf, a lot of valuable work.
So I don't know, I can certainly raise it to that, but I don't know if that's appropriate.
I just feel like it went from zero to 2828 million to 48 to 42 million.
So they produce.
Let's not get those costs weren't cost incurred by the city to be clear.
The cost incurred by the city were the $350,000 which was the work that allowed us to come forward with the recommendations today that say there is a series of next steps.
But not with plenary.
And then the $250,000 was city share of the expenses, which is up to 50%.
So planary spend probably as much as not more than $350,000 in their own.
Yeah, none of us up here are suggesting we enter into this agreement.
There are two of us that want to move forward.
Four of us want to get broadband.
Two of us disagree in a different way.
So to vice mayor and the mayor's right point.
Not of us are trying to, well, that's not my intent to alarm people with numbers.
I know it's not my colleagues intent either.
But the fact that again, we said this was never going to work out.
And here we are.
It's alarming.
So come back and hopefully we don't spend more money on this for another program that's going to die.
Thank you for your work on this.
I remain excited about the broadband opportunities in the city and thank you for your work to continue pursuing it.
So we have a motion and a second on the table to end this negotiation.
Thank you.
We'll move to item E3, the update on proposed equitable building performance standards and consideration of extension of benchmarking deadlines and exclusion of condominiums from benchmarking requirements.
Thank you to our team of staff representatives.
We're joining us now.
We'll allow you to get seated and prepared and then take it over whenever you're ready.
Good evening mayor.
Vice mayor and council members.
Nick mayor is a director of community development.
Join by friends.
Go contraris our language planning manager and senior planner.
Christine Shen, who will be giving a brief presentation on the report that's before you.
We know this item came to the council.
Previously was considered and approved on first reading with some additional items that staff will request to investigate.
And so we're coming back to you as a follow up and I will hand it off to Christine.
Thank you.
Sorry, you've been one minute.
All right. Good evening, Mayor. Vice Mayor and council members. I'll be giving a five minute presentation
on updates on the equitable building performance standards, which aim to improve the energy
performance of existing buildings in West Hollywood and is a critical program needed to reach
the city's carbon neutrality goal, while also meeting other city-wide goals for the maintenance
of aging housing stock and public health. On August 4, City Council passed the first reading
of the ordinance and requested staff to provide building cost, prototypes, financial assistance,
considerations for rent-stabilized housing and conduct additional outreach.
Thanks. The presentation has paused for those at home watching and wondering.
Give us just a second to address the tech and we'll be right back.
All right. A quick recap of the ordinance, it would require buildings over 20,000 square
feet to submit their energy data annually, also known as benchmarking. Down the line,
these covered buildings would need to meet and maintain interim and final performance targets.
If those targets can't be achieved, buildings have the option to complete a building performance action plan,
which is a long-term plan on how they will eventually meet the next performance target.
City Council requested cost prototypes and real-world outcomes. The team use results from the
statewide cost effectiveness study, which provides the incremental costs of replacing systems at burnout
for high efficiency and electric options. We applied the incremental cost from the study to
two hypothetical building scenarios of what we would see in West Hollywood, which can be found in
attachment B. The team also found case studies of comprehensive decarbonization projects in the
LA region, which can be found in attachment C. City Council also raised concerns about the potential
of the equitable building performance standard, also known as EBPS, leading to the corporate consolidation
of rent-stabilized housing. To prevent displacement and protect our smaller landlords in the city,
we've spoke to for an equity priority building program, which will offer targeted at reach
technical assistance and financial assistance, specifically to our SO at affordable housing buildings.
And this will be on top of the regular outreach and services the city plans to offer all covered buildings.
In addition, the city is engaging with the following organizations that offer financial and
technical assistance that our rent-stabilized buildings could stack on top of the programming that
we will directly offer to them. Council also directed staff to conduct additional outreach specifically
to condo owners and HOA management companies. In response staff mailed postcards to over
3,800 condo owners and emailed close to 80 HOA management companies. This spurred more dialogue with
new and existing condo stakeholders. From our conversations, the condo owners dress the challenges
they face as a building with multiple owners and financing that's dependent on all owners in the building
being able to pay their dues. Many condo owners, including older adults on fixed incomes,
may face difficulty absorbing increase assessments, especially as some are already in a rears and struggling
to afford their current HOA assessments. Given these unique circumstances, staff has identified
another policy option for how to approach condos. Council could move forward with the draft ordinance
as is, which requires condos common areas to meet performance targets or city council could direct
staff to exclude condos from meeting performance targets, requiring them only to benchmark, which is
reporting their energy usage and addressing condos significant impact with other policies and programs.
Given the significant impacts that greenhouse gas impacts that condos have, the city's approach will
have impacts on its climate goals, which will need to be balanced with the needs of the community.
Here is the policy's greenhouse gas reduction potential under two condos scenarios.
Based on input from the condos, the ordinance that we brought to city council in August
regulated only the common areas of condos. This reduced the policy's greenhouse gas reduction
potential from 45% to 30%. If council would like to remove condos from meeting performance targets
all together, the greenhouse gas impact of the policy would be further reduced to 25%.
To help close the gap in greenhouse gas emissions, the city would explore other policies like
reach codes to meet our goals. In addition to the discussion on condos, staff requests a minor
revision to the ordinance that would allow impacted building owners more time to complete their first
benchmark, and also for the city to support initial compliance efforts.
Here are the recommendations and based on city council's direction on condos, staff may bring back a
revised ordinance for public hearing. That concludes the presentation. Thank you. Thank you very much.
I know we have one member of the public signed up to speak in chambers, so why don't we go there first
and then we'll come back to council discussion deliberation? Kevin Burton, I'm glad you knew it was you.
Kevin Burton, resident of West. Hollywood, I'll have to say that I'm
firstly thankful to staff for all the work they've done on the building performance standards ordinance
and taking into account council's concerns, but I'm a little discouraged by the
wittling away of the positive benefits of the building performance standards ordinance. First,
single family homes were removed. Then condo owners were removed. Now the common areas are being removed.
So it's all being put on rentals, much of which are rent stabilized. The idea that
somehow the renters aren't going to have to pay as absurd because the owners will figure that
at the end of the cost of the market rates that they charge when the units turn over.
Red stabilized buildings, of course the renters are going to pay. So I think it's completely
at the medical to adding this adjective equitable to say only renters and a permanent owner
owners should be paying to help reduce city's carbon emissions through their buildings.
Condo owners should do it. Single family home owners should do it. That would be equitable. And the
city is making admirable efforts to help the financially needy mom and pop a burden owner buildings.
I've witnessed such a building. They deserve help. Absolutely. Those owners, they could do the same
for individual condo owners in a building who need assistance. They could do the same for
single family home owners who need assistance. There are many of the other condos are homes for
decades. Now I'm fixed income for need assistance. But it should apply to everybody to really have
teeth to this program to help the city reach its carbon neutrality goals. Thank you.
Thank you. Come back to the council for discussion. Vice Mayor, were you ready?
I'm sorry. I thought you put your name on. Sure. Thank you. Thank you to Christine and the team for
bringing this forward. I'm wondering if we have looked at some of the items that generate greenhouse
gas like boilers. Some of the condos and some of the apartment buildings have gas powered boilers.
Wouldn't it make sense for us to just adopt new regulations that say if you're replacing the boiler,
it has to be electric. And rather than imposing this, just have new standards for any kind of replacement.
Have you looked at that? Yes. So that would be the policy that we would most likely
bring to council is an existing building reach code that will target the high impact appliances
at the time of replacement. Because I think as Kevin pointed out, somebody pays for this.
Actually existing tenants won't pay because the landlords can't raise the rents on the existing
tenants, but new tenants would have to pay. Condo owners would have to pay. If we extend this to
single family home owners, they would have to pay. And it is expensive. Some of the upgrades that need to be
done. I appreciate that you've removed or you're recommending that we look at removing condos from
this because most condo owners are like single family home owners that they're just in a big building.
And some of the information in the report still seems problematic to me because it seems like they're
still a lack of awareness of how condos actually operate. HVAC systems, for instance,
at least in most buildings, I'm aware of it isn't a building wide system. It may be for hallways,
but individual units have their own individual HVAC systems. So each individual homeowner may
end up replacing their system or upgrading it. I think it makes at least if we are going to
exempt condos, which I support because I've heard the concerns raised, I think we need to update our
standards for replacement equipment so that when new equipment does have to be brought into a building,
it's energy efficient. That was my comment. I'm sure I'll have more after we have discussion.
Vice Mayor, to the point you're making, because I can appreciate the challenge around condominiums.
And that's why I sort of easier to hear from you, somebody who lives this experience,
how often are those appliance upgrades made, though? They're typically made as needed. And all condos
are required to have a, you know, a capital improvement plan that we update every couple of years to
make sure we are putting aside enough money so that if the doors need to be replaced, we have adequate
resources there. If the boiler or the... The room, for the elevator, we just... I was in charge of
that project in my building, we had to replace all of the elevator operating equipment. It was a
more than a million dollar project, but we had been setting aside money each year from our dues to do
that. And we have the same thing in our program for the boiler replacement, because usually the useful
life of that kind of equipment would probably be about 20 years and you put aside a certain amount of
money for that kind of capital replacement. So all of the buildings are likely going to have to update
most of the major equipment. They may not be doing it on the time of the frame that was originally
recommended here. That's helpful information. Are there questions on this council emergency?
Thank you so much for this hard work. I know it seems very well it is very challenging.
I know we have gotten a lot of public correspondence about this and Jennifer sent me a really
nice email about single family homes and why they are excluded, but for the edification of what we have to
do tonight. I know that's a next step in this process. Could you just explain to the public why not now
they're not included in kind of what the process is for that moving forward. So we can tell individuals
who are concerned about the economic aspect about this, but the reasons why it's moving in a certain
direction. Yes. So building performance standards, they target the largest buildings in a city
so that since these buildings have the most greenhouse gas impacts. So typically for single family homes
and other smaller buildings, there are other policies that other cities that cities adopt in order to
decarbonize those buildings. One example is existing building reach codes which would target the
replacement of appliances. So we would in the future bring forward reach codes that would target the
single family as well as building smaller than 20,000 square feet and not regulated by the building
performance standard. Thank you, but it's just a question.
Can some more hang to your questions? No. I tend to agree with the comments from the member of the public that this is about reaching equity.
And this program was one of the hallmarks of the climate action plan that the city approved in 2021, which meant it went through a large amount of community outreach before its passage.
And so this conversation has been a part of the city's dialogue for many years now that we would get to a place where we would be looking at performance standards across buildings of a certain size.
So while I know we've had this sort of last minute outreach from many condominium owners about the concerns, I feel like it is important step that we take in the direction of moving forward towards the city's goals and we include these condos.
I certainly understand the complications of that, and I think the extension of timelines is helpful to continue on going education.
I appreciate Vice Mayor Haileman's suggestion of appliance upgrades.
And I'm not certain that that would be a significant, you know, reach towards our goals, especially without knowing the sort of timelines that the many buildings are operating and perhaps otherwise imposing a certain different timeline.
You know, if that was the route we were going maybe instead we say by this date that has to happen regardless of what else would have been happening, other maintenance schedules.
And I think either one of those challenges is going to impose a certain cost challenge onto condominium owners that we've already named as a city we feel responsible for stepping up in many ways.
So there's a financial burden that building owners at large are going to be dealing with as they wrap their heads around these changes.
And we are recognizing the way that we as a city may need to play a role in that.
So both routes, I think, come back to the place that financial need as we address the climate concerns we have as a city and the way that we are working to address them.
So I'm not certain that the maintenance, you know, component updates is the best way I do think the route that you've put on the table for us tonight is the the best way to reach this equitable climate goal that we share as a city.
So I'm in support of the ordinance that you brought forward to us tonight.
Are there any other comments or questions from the council? Vice Mayor.
Yeah, I'd ask staff to clarify the ordinance that they're bringing forward to us tonight.
Yeah, thank you. Vice Mayor. So yeah, there is no ordinance before you tonight.
Yeah, we're asking for a direction and the first reading of the ordinance does include excluding individual condo units themselves, but regulating the condo open space.
So if there be no change directed tonight, we would bring back that ordinance on second reading at the next available council meeting.
Along with if you agree to an extension of the deadlines because it's taken us a little bit of time for it to actually get to the second reading of the ordinance itself.
I just wanted to respond to the mayor. I think we are all in agreement that implementing the climate action program is important and reducing greenhouse gases is important.
And we can get there by imposing a mandate on buildings and face a fair amount of resistance or we can get there by working with our building owners and trying to provide incentives trying to provide guidance and financial assistance.
And I would prefer to do it that way rather than imposing something on building owners who are going to then find ways to resist what we're trying to impose.
I think most condo owners want to make sure that they're contributing in the same way that everyone else is to our climate action goals.
But it makes no sense to me to require a condominium that may have just replaced their water heater or their boiler to now replace it yet again.
Or to upgrade a roof that they have recently replaced or to change ducks if they've already done that in the last three years and it just that to me seems like it's imposing a burden on building owners that seems unfair and not equitable to me.
The plan that they brought forward of removing the individual units maintaining the open space requirement. Does that find that balance for you.
No, because the individual owners are still responsible for the common areas so that boiler that has to be replaced or if all of the ducked work in the building now has to be.
That's going to be a burden on all of the individual owners there is no other entity that entity the HOA is all of the homeowners and we have to fund it.
So, maybe for clarity sake. Vicemer home. What are you recommending that we do right now?
I would recommend that we do the total exemption which was the alternative that staff recommended of condo owners but instead exclude condo owners entirely from the ordinance.
But direct staff to come up with programs that would change our building standards and our replacement standards so new items would have to be energy efficient and also direct staff to work at voluntary programs with condos to implement the goals.
Maybe this question but I think I know where you're headed to are there statewide programs available for rebates that people can get.
I'm pretty sure SE and others like SoCal gas have a number clean power our friends with clean power lines have a number of programs that they can get to help homeowners.
I mean I condo owners because I understand there was some numbers that emails via the emails that were coming in and it did seem like a large impact to some of what they were doing.
But we do need to meet our climate goals at the same time so.
I'm just thinking if that's additional direction for the city to come up with.
And I'm also thinking that maybe doing those kind of voluntary programs for the next three or four years with the idea that we could look at doing a mandate after that if we haven't moved forward or condos haven't moved forward with upgrading.
I want to just go to the city clerk.
Yes so the item the recommendation is to receive and file an update on the proposed ordinance.
We if we're making an update to the ordinance this item would have to be reintroduced on first reading.
And so is the intent from staff I'm sorry for asking this question at this late hour obviously to come back and reintroduce this on first reading.
If there are changes to the ordinance yes if there are no changes and there'd be no changes we could bring back a second words.
Actually we are requesting for that extension of time which if the city attorney believes that's.
You know enough to bring it back on first reading.
Can you show me where that I was literally just looking for those time limits in the ordinance I can't find them in the ordinance so that would help us make that determination.
Typically any changes after first reading would require a reintroduction that's a typical rule.
So it's not in the current ordinance because it wasn't it wasn't in the first that was adopted or past.
I had clarified with the other city attorney that it's a non substantial edit to the ordinance since.
And the question is that through our administrative guidelines we could extend the deadlines but we wanted to make that explicit in the ordinance.
So it doesn't have a timeline in here now and you want to add a timeline.
Sorry so the deadline is May 2026 for the first benchmarking.
We're requesting that we allow up to an extension up to 120 days.
That first benchmark deadline.
Okay which is written into the ordinance.
Yes explicitly written into the ordinance even though it is.
And the ordinance doesn't say that we can make changes to the ordinance through a resolution.
Because that's typically how we would make an administrative change in an ordinance.
This is getting a little murky.
So why don't we figure out all the changes that the council wants and then we can figure out the best way to process it.
Moving forward.
Okay so I see a motion on the table from Vice Mayor Heilman and that is to fully exclude the condominiums.
Yes I would be going back on the ordinance and having to look just to be clear.
Yeah I would recommend that we bring this back on first reading that condos be excluded both common areas and individual units.
That staff work to develop updated standards for replacement equipment, not just in condos but all buildings in the city.
And that we try to address the issue of condos by targeting them for some of the grant programs and encouraging voluntary updates to help us meet our climate goals.
And there's a second on the table for that.
Is that enough?
Yes and if we can clarify we we had added an element in their regarding benchmarking for condominiums would that be permitted.
Yes I think the benchmarking is fine.
And also in the motion it would include the extension of time.
Okay okay thank you.
We have a motion in the second I I do believe it's important that we keep those condos included in the open space so we'll be voting against it but I'm very overall supportive of this program and very grateful to staff's time for bringing it.
Thank you so much.
And the motion passes three to one so we will return with a first reading of that.
We'll go to item e4 the city playhouse update on site opportunities.
Thank you to our staff representatives we'll have you take it away when you're ready.
Good evening Mayor vice mayor council members.
Reca Abramson manager of the urban design in our texture studio I'm here with.
Steve Campbell who's our deputy city manager and Ryan Kristen from the coming group who's.
Our owner's rep project management on the project tonight before you is city playhouse update.
Looking at site opportunities that have now arisen based on council's direction to enter into negotiations on the.
I guess we can say former basics restaurant site council originally approved a.
Design on the former coast playhouse site to story plus mezzanine.
Structure for a 99 seed playhouse.
The negotiations to acquire the proper lease and eventually purchase the property next door opens up a few opportunities that we were asked to study.
Moving forward would it be possible to shift and.
Locate the new playhouse on the corner property.
The current design urbanistically sits in an info condition between buildings and yet the design sort of tries to have a sort of iconic presence that speaks to a corner.
So moving the design over actually could have some positive benefits to consider.
The current property which is recalling option A there would be some modifications that are needed to go forward just you know minor modifications to.
Interior and next year's stair. But if the council leaks, we could look at moving the playhouse over to the corner, which we're calling option be the corner playhouse option.
The big difference would be the location of the elevators in some of the circulation to make a more corner appropriate design.
In terms of looking at the massing, the original design had a very articulated frame in the front with a sculptural massing to move to the corner, some of those elements ideally would be retained.
So we had this initial study look at the key elements and moving it to the corner, what would happen.
And basically it's the same interior layout of the major spaces, the only difference being there would be more of a prominent corner element and now a fourth exposure that does not exist right now, which would be on florist street.
It would also allow for potentially a service or freight elevator to move over to florist, which would change how the servicing of the building would take place in terms of loading things like costumes and sets.
But also the everyday maintenance and janitorial, it would be very helpful to explore that on florist.
But I think in looking at that the design team and staff agreed that the way florist is currently configured, it would be difficult to load, so there would have to be some adjustments made it made.
And so the thought is that we could create a bit wider public right of way and integrate a loading or drop zone, which could be valuable not only for the servicing of the facilities say in the morning,
but then during performances could also be very useful for especially seniors or the disabled who might.
Right share or be dropped off, so there would be value in that as well.
So we recognize that florist is a very tight street and this is just one option that was raised, I know you did receive some correspondence that was concerned about this, but I don't think there was an understanding of this notched condition.
So the staff report sort of lays out some of the pros and cons, some of the implications.
It would take a little bit longer, most likely to move the place to the corner there's going to be some public public works effort needed and a new facade to be designed.
But not significant in terms of the overall timeframe and perhaps some additional cost as well again because you have another face of the building and public works primarily.
So we're happy to take council's direction tonight about whether there is a desire to move the place to the corner or leave it where it is and we're happy to answer questions.
Thank you.
We do have one member of the public here to speak in chambers, I don't know that we have anyone online in zoom, so we'll just have Ed please join us at home in.
And then we'll come to the council for discussions deliberations.
You wanted the image on the screen, without you asking for.
I just can't run the timer.
We'll time him.
But I can time you.
Okay, we'll switch back.
You want it for your reference in your comments.
Yes, that's understandable.
We'll time you.
We can do that.
As you're ready, Ed.
Good evening, council members.
Initially, this was not in the staff report that I saw, so I had reservations.
I literally live on the street just above 118 here.
I had concerns that the floor is as too narrow for what you're advised about the drop off and loading and unloading.
I literally measured between the double yellow line and the total surface of the black top.
It was 12 feet.
Delivery trucks are about eight feet.
I measured one.
That's not counting the mirrors.
So you're leaving about four.
Yeah, it's a little.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm leaving about four feet for vehicles to try and get by.
And what's not in this image, it doesn't show the entrance to the little strip model that has the robé and the cleaners and what else is there.
Earth bar.
There's traffic concerns for that because everyone's always trying to turn left into that.
With the curb cutout, I think that would be good.
I was again, concerned because that wasn't any images that I saw to begin with.
So if the curb cutout is added to this, I think I would be okay with it.
If it's not, you've got a big problem with traffic on the street.
I spoke with staff earlier and there is suggesting maybe at the.
I'm not exactly sure if it's on here, but a bump out.
Is that what it's called?
A bump out bump out.
Curb extension for to separate the commercial part of Florida is from the residential part of Florida is because we do have parking issues on the street.
I'm doing study right now to try and get to our daytime parking permit exempt on the street because of the employees parking from the business there.
And what's now coming on the other end of the the bike lane fiasco project is going to put a ton of parking on Florida street.
So those are my concerns about this project moving it to there without that notch.
I don't think it's a very good idea.
Thank you very much.
All right.
No other members of the public signed up to speak will come to council for discussion.
Seeing no one ready to jump in.
Is anyone ready?
No.
Okay.
I was really proud to serve on the sub committee at task force whatever we called it.
It was a joy to be a part of the project planning.
And I think had the site been available.
We even be more excited to have discussed it.
It feels like such an obvious move for this project to make as you said it is a big feature project.
It'll be such a hallmark of the city and our arts functions as we move forward.
And I think the corner makes sense and I was concerned.
But I'm very pleased that a member of the street has now seen it and understands the vision for traffic flow as we would not once that to become a problem.
And those community meetings were certainly a part of sort of configuring how all the drop off and pickups and all those things would function for that playhouse space.
So I'm really pleased with this design and how it came out speaking from the sub committee or committee itself.
To really see it get to this place is very exciting.
And as far as the time it will take, I think the work that's drafted to recognize this opportunity and ensure we weren't moving forward with a project.
That would miss this opportunity was certainly the right move.
I'm very appreciative of that.
Vice Mayor Halman.
Yes.
You know, I've expressed concerns before about how this was originally the rehab of an existing theatre and it then morphed into a
complete new construction and now we're looking at relocating it down the street.
I do think this is the right thing to do though.
It frees up the rest of that block for something in the future and this seems to be a better location for the theatre and I agree with the public speaker.
We can't do this without that cut out because the traffic there is.
It's difficult going to Holloway cleaners the that parking lot often backs up and then if there are also people coming to the theatre it's going to be a nightmare at that corner.
So I fully support this.
I think it's the right thing to do now that we own that corner.
Councilmember Hang.
Thank you, Mayor and thank you staff for the hard work and presentation and I want to thank members of the subcommittee.
I am in support of option B.
It positions the playhouse as a cultural landmark in a more visible spot on that corner.
That's me will lead to enhancements of the visitor experience to our cultural landmark in our city.
And, you know, it's it reminds me of how we shape our cultural and economic and economic future in our community by building this place moving into a more visible corner.
Highlights that and I do kind of I do sort of.
Understand where Mr. Holman is coming from with regards to the left turning left into else.
So I can see how that can bring challenges but I'm fully supportive of bringing moving that to the corner option B.
Thank you.
Councilmember Alexander.
Thank you.
And I agree with that area is very tight and you can get very it's I thought it was less than 12 feet.
So thank you for measuring it.
And I hope you did it very safely to say the least at me.
Don't watch.
You weren't in your clown outfit from Sunday so we would not be able to spot you in your Tampa Bay.
Buck in years off at which we love.
But.
Never that's sorry.
I think it's really important because I believe that area also does some valet at night too.
So there's a lot of traffic that goes in and out of there.
Hopefully they'll be using or automated lot or something else.
But I agree with my colleagues and moving this over.
This is a dream that all cities can engage in with the playhouse.
We need to be able to do this at a time right now.
And I want to thank the mayor for her service on that subcommittee.
And if she says it's good to go and she's set through all those meetings and did all of that.
And I'm going to be in full concurrence with that.
And thank you Ed for making sure that that those points were made up to the public.
So I'm in full support as well.
I'm happy to make a motion.
Second.
Thank you.
Give a motion in a second.
And just to clarify the record, this is for option B.
Option B.
Perfect.
Thank you.
See, Ed had the same question.
That's right.
That's fine.
Thank you.
Thank you all very much.
We can move on to new business.
We have a few items that have been continued.
If not F-1.
Tabled.
F-2.
That's correct.
The addressing unpermitted and unlicensed side walk vendors.
Do you see that we had one member of the public signed up to speak although I no longer see him here in council chambers.
So councilmember hang.
We'll turn this over to you to present your item.
Thank you.
I'm here to present item F-2 addressing unpermitted and unlicensed side walk vendors.
This item colleagues this item is about something pretty simple but deeply important.
Keeping our community safe, protecting public health and ensuring fairness for everyone who does business in West Hollywood.
For the past year, the city has received numerous complaints of unpermitted unlicensed side walk food vendors, causing public health, safety and other concerns when operating on the side walks of our community.
As we are all aware, every permitted food business is required to go through a process to obtain their business license, which includes passing the Los Angeles County Public Health inspections to ensure sanitation and safety protocols are followed.
These requirements exist to protect people from getting sick, to prevent food contamination, and to also make sure that the food being served is safe to consume.
When a sidewalk vendor operates without a help permit or city license, that poses very real health and safety risks, not just to the people who buy the food, but also to the broader public.
On top of that, unpermitted side walk vendors have been observed and complained about setting up and prohibited areas and blocking sideways side walks, which create pedestrian safety hazards.
And I believe our own Captain Fanny Latkins at the night that some of our, you know, have been seeing selling alcohol illegally to people in the community, including one public commenters said to minors.
Right now, the city's enforcement tools are limited due to changes made in state law, which only allow for civil fines to be issued, which are often ignored by unpermitted street vendors.
This item simply asks staff to come back with options that might include impounding unpermitted food carts, restricting certain locations, or other legal tools that strengthen our ability to protect public health, public safety and the fairness of our business environment.
This is not about criminalizing, bending or punishing people. It is about creating a level playing field and ensuring that everyone operates under the same standards that keep our communities safe.
West Hollywood prides itself on being welcoming, inclusive, and entrepreneurial, but those values have to be paired with accountability and public safety.
I respectfully ask for your support on this item, so we can take a thoughtful, balanced approach that our residents, supporters of our businesses, support our businesses and keeps our public spaces safe and accessible for everyone.
And colleagues, staff is here to answer any questions.
Thank you. I know we have one member of the public signed up in Zoom, so why don't we go there and then we'll come back to you questions here.
Chair, if you go ahead.
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council members.
I want to thank you so much for bringing this item forward.
We're here tonight to express our support for both the Council members, items, explore the amendments, the municipal code,
to address the unpermanent, unlicensed sidewalk vendors.
We recognize the support of the role that life inside the vendors has in the community.
And the economy, but the growing number of unlawful and uncompetitive vendors, especially during weekend and even access creative real challenges.
You know, even though we have a state law, we still need to require health permits, business license says,
and make sure that 80 is 88 issues, and having that breadth of the sidewalk available, and all the health risks that are happening.
We really are appreciative of you looking at the fairness and the community standards, the justice that you looking into this would allow.
We need to thoughtful approach when the both protect the public safety and supports compliance, businesses, while still respecting the state law.
Providing staff and additional tools for enforcement, such as ability to compound equipment or risk preventing in certain areas, will help maintain a safe and vibrant and equitable environment for everyone.
We've seen the video with these vendors. It's quite a process. What's happening out there?
We do know after talking to our ambassador program, then our sheriff, and co-compliance that when our co-compliance officers walk by, they do recognize the law enforcement is coming.
We also have heard this with a lot of gang activity going on with these vendors, and so we're very very very concerned about what it is imposing in terms of a health issue and public safety issues to our community.
And not just that, but our economic vibrance in our percent more of it, which is that are there in the community.
So we really thank you for addressing this. It couldn't come sooner. Thank you so much.
Thank you. I see I don't think we have any other commenters signed up to speak, so we'll come back to council for discussion vice mayor.
I wanted to thank council member Hank for bringing this forward. I fully support it.
The only thing I might want to add is that this is a problem that state law has created.
And we might want to engage our representatives in Sacramento and let them know the problems that we're facing, and I'm sure other communities are facing too.
So that they could look at perhaps revising or amending state law to make it easier for us to do our job.
Thank you. Danny, could you come on down and maybe fan you just for the fun of it because I love you so much. I always love having you.
A couple of my first questions are while you sit down and and Paul apparently we did this before Paul Nichols.
When do you stop serving food at beaches?
So you serve until four.
Okay. Thank you.
Hi Danny. So can you walk me through kind of average incident with a street car vendor?
They're set up outside. Let's just say mother load, right? So you go there and you notice something happening.
And can you kind of walk me through because I read about it and I hear your reports and I read emails from business members in the public.
But can you kind of.
I've said this five times walk us through what you can do now maybe versus what you could have done before with the state law?
Sure absolutely.
So before we would attempt to make contact with the sidewalk vendor if we were able to acquire their identification or some.
Form of identification then we would issue a warning notice.
And then we would keep track of that and then if there was a subsequent issue with that same vendor after we provided a warning.
Then we would issue a notice to appear in court.
So it's essentially a misdemeanor citation and then that individual would have to appear in court and kind of go through that process.
Currently as a result of state law that removed the ability to issue notice to appear citations.
And now it only allows code enforcement officers the ability to issue administrative citations which are civil fines.
But in addition to that, you know, it's very difficult for the code enforcement officers to even make contact with with sidewalk vendors that are unpermitted because when they do see folks in a uniform.
Code enforcement staff or sheriff's deputies and they will evade they know because there is an inability to kind of address that from a court perspective that you're you're pretty limited in terms of being able to hold anybody accountable for not being able to produce some form of identification.
And do most of the individuals that you encounter are the English speaking or is English their second language or is there a communication barrier.
It varies. It depends on the code enforcement officer if you have somebody that is bilingual and they know that then typically it's been my personal experience that the individual will be able to convert and communicate in English, but you do have a number of individuals that will only speak in Spanish.
Great.
So this was the state law passed in 2019.
2018 and when it went into effect in January.
I remember councilmember, vice mayor, Highellman, when you adopted the update. So I'm trying to go back.
And then Fanny and Danny.
Grimes.
How many complaints or actual?
I don't want to say criminal, but like acts are you getting?
I mean, I know that we get the one email from that guy all the time, which is what it is.
But how many on an average basis?
Code is a complaint based system, right?
So when code gets a complaint, they have to go out.
So how often average, of course, are you saying like weekly you have to go out and deal with hot dog or sorry, whatever street vendors is mostly hot dogs.
But like, well, it smells like hot dogs.
You know, what do you have to get, do?
I mean, how many do you get?
I'd say it's every weekend.
Every weekend we are having reports of unpromoted street bending that is occurring.
You know, it could be from anywhere up to five different individuals that are reporting to code enforcement that has kind of taper off a little bit.
Recently, I'd say within the last three months and that is due to the fact that we've been scheduling code enforcement operations, right, on overtime.
So just adding additional officers that are coming in in the evening, working with sheriff's deputies, etc.
So that's kind of curtailed a little bit of that because I know the folks that are reporting that are within the rainbow district are seeing that presence.
But it's really not effective.
You know, the tools that the code enforcement had are very limited.
And Fanny, are they selling drugs?
Are they selling booze?
Are they knifeing people?
Are they engaging in criminal activity that is being led to believe?
Are there serious criminal reports from street vendors?
Because every time I see someone go up to a street vendor, they're drunk and they want to buy a hot dog.
And then they walk along their merry way.
They can pay in Venmo, all of these things.
So I'm just wondering, like, is there some big rain of crime happening around street vendors that we're not tracking to appear?
No, the only complaint has been the illegal selling of alcohol and that's been the only criminal aspect attached to that that we've received.
But like Daddy mentioned, we do get the complaints of street vendors every weekend.
Okay, those are my questions for it.
Oh, I have one for you before you go sit down though.
You mentioned earlier tonight that this weekend, the rate, you know, the operation at the app or outside in the rainbow district,
was in response to some concerns related to street vending.
You said you didn't detain or arrest any street vendors.
So what I'm hearing though is that there's already tools that allow for LASD to go out and engage with street vendors in a way that would address illegal concerns.
To that extent.
And it isn't it's all based on on complaint base because any time that we do arrest, it would be dependent on the crime and it's the deputies actually see it.
So the one of the biggest complaints that we received is of somebody selling alcohol.
So and other crimes that we have not seen.
So that's why on Friday that was part of the operation to try and identify with the undercover use to see what other illegal activity was happening.
And I mean selling crime or selling alcohol in the streets, especially to minors is certainly something we don't want to see happen.
So I appreciate that on a complaint basis you've responded in that way and lucky we didn't see anything happening that night.
What I think you both, I think that's the question you have any questions.
I'm sorry, mate.
So one of the options in the staff report besides impounding the cards is to create a zone if I'm not mistaken or a zones where they can't sell stuff.
Is that in violation of state law or maybe the author of the item can talk are we allowed to do that?
We are currently you can regulate time, place and manner.
As it relates to sidewalk bending to be in compliance with state law, we do have existing limitations in areas that would preclude folks right from being able to street bend.
I'll use major events as an example so we've established currently in our ordinance so like during Pride and Halloween that's just around the corner within that street closure you're not allowed to street bend at all.
And so anything that you see that's operating in there is actually prohibited.
So I think what the item is suggesting is for staff to revisit that, take a look at that there have been some additional amendments that have been made to state law.
And so just kind of revisiting that and seeing where that goes.
What is the staff time related to this? So let's say we pass this right.
How I mean I you know I enjoy going out and having a drink with friends you know friends on the council all the things I love it and go my friend you know and I understand this is a really important issue.
But I have seen you actually talk to people they go away and then an hour later I should not be out that late there should be at home and bed you know praying or whatever I should do my spare time.
But they're back and so I'm just like what is this like real commitment of staff time when code is already on weekends and the share of some course really stretched.
I mean in terms of addressing if that's something that the city right considered I think the first step would be for us to work with the city attorney's office.
For us to take a look at if there are any sort of alternative options from a legal perspective again to make sure that we're in compliance with state law and then returning back to city council for any considerations.
If there were potential amendments to the code etc.
And then kind of going from there but right now we are I'd say exhausting at least we have two code enforcement officers that are working about eight hour shifts.
Late into the evening hours and so you have about 16 hours just as past weekend 32 or so that we're spent and so we've been doing that almost every weekend.
You know for the past three months so there is a considerable amount of time that's being exhausted currently.
But if there are ways as a part of the benchmarking and working with the city attorney's office to make potential amendments then we would have to take a look at that and more than likely schedule an operation in conjunction with the share of departments similar to what we're doing now.
Thank you.
Sure.
Councilmember Hang.
Thank you.
Councilmember Hang.
You put your name up to see.
My apologies Mayor you know I think I would like to see this item table for the full council since councilmember my sir's not here.
So that would be what I would like to request thank you.
Or can.
Sure.
Vice Mayor howling you'll set some comments.
Well I was just going to clarify because you had asked about illegal activity and I think the intention of the item was to target those who were unlicensed and unpermitted that by itself is illegal activity.
I think you were referring to other illegal activity as part of it.
If councilmember Hang wants to continue this item until councilmember my sir is back.
I'm fine with that.
What I want to say before that the county has suspended its enforcement of public health in light of the immigration rates.
Because it feels like an unnecessary expenditure of resources at a time when the predominant operators who are among the immigrant community are already.
In extreme circumstances so I would ask for some consideration around the timing of bringing this back of tabling is what is requested.
Given the county's acknowledgement of the extreme circumstances that the immigrant community is already living in.
And what message this is in fact signaling to that community.
I mean more measures more of staff time more of staff resources to put something out to the immigrant community behind this.
I think is a message that I certainly heard in this item and I wanted to make sure it was addressed tonight as it's a conversation that was started.
And if we're going to consider continuing it for a future date then we can do that.
Councilmember Hang.
Thank you well you know as a child of immigrants as a child of refugee immigrants I completely understand but this isn't about immigration all this is about public health and public safety.
This is this is exactly what this is only what this is about.
If we have operators under city who are paying lots of money and fees to follow the rules why should they be burdened.
Why should they be over burdened with the rules when other people aren't following them.
You know that's kind of where I'm coming from.
So we have operators here that they got their permits.
They're doing what they're supposed to do, but yet other people are not able to do it.
Perhaps this item could come back with a pathway for permitting fee reduction in cost because this
doesn't include anything about pathways for equitable operation. It includes enforcement mechanisms,
which is what the immigrant community is facing and why the county has pulled back. So I
appreciate where you're coming from with this and that clarity and intent. But I do think that if there
are issues around fairness, we could pursue that through a different pathway through city process
that would include reduction of permit fees, education for these vendors to be able to move
through those city pathways. There's a lot of other outreach that could be explored and that's not
what was the intent of this item. I believe the intent of this item was to direct staff to explore
options to come back. Nothing is being decided tonight. What will be decided is when the five of us
look at what staff come back with for this item. So that is the intent of this. There was beyond that.
There was no other intent. Terrific. So we'll table this tonight.
Oh, sure. Councilmember Erickson and then Vice Mayor Helman, you're good. Okay. Councilmember Erickson will be the final
word. Thank you. And I want to thank my colleague. I understand this is a big issue that people are trying
to really get an understanding and a better handle on. I don't believe the argument that businesses on
the strip are losing millions of dollars to hot dog vendors. If you are losing that amount of money
to hot dog vendors and street vendors then we have to talk about a lot of other stuff. However,
working for a Latino immigration organization, I am good conscious cannot vote for this and it's current
form. Because and I would share what my colleague is saying and I know that I think the intent is
trying to get to the good space and I'm happy to continue the conversation. It's to ultimately
try to get us to a place where we could maybe be a model city for this policy. Because I think we want to
be a part of a solution and not continue to a problem. We all agree that it isn't issue but I think
when you look at the idea of impounding someone's cart as a potential issue that's their livelihood.
I don't know what the cost is to get something out of impounding maybe that could come back with that
information and the county did take away those rules and declare a state of emergency because of
some of the issues and I know first hand that people who do have street vending businesses, this is
their only livelihood right now and they're going out with their livelihoods of risk. I don't think
that was your and I get it. I'm not trying to go there with you but I think I would like to find a solution
but I would like to find a pathway to a solution that decrams the idea of taking away livelihood
and promotes education, accountability and for the better part of what is a model policy that we can use
and statewide action. I think that we can get to a place where the city can put out the message
like you want to be a sidewalk vendor. I'm sorry. A street vendor. My bad. You can be a sidewalk vendor too.
A street vendor in this way do it the right way and what's Hollywood. I think it's the same thing
that we did with the massage worker ordinance many, many years ago going into and rolling up our sleeves
and doing that hard work and so I'm willing to work with you on that. I'm willing to make sure that we have
the organizations that represent and make sure street vendors are equitably heard and I'm happy to help in
any way with that as well. Thank you councilmember Hank. Well you have the final word on your item.
Thank you. I think my colleagues up here I appreciate what you're saying but you're expressing
kind of concerns without any actual answers and sight. You don't know what staff's going to come back with
for all you know staff can come back with a solution saying after 30 citations then we will
impound the cart or maybe impound the cart may not even be an option just because it'll listen to
staff report it doesn't mean that that would be what staff is recommending. This is to just
direct staff to come back with options for the full council to decide not just me it's going to be five
people to decide what we feel is fair what we feel is right and with what staff brings back to us.
Thank you. Thank you. Okay thank we should probably do a motion to table if that's what we'd like.
Do you want to are we tabling it to a date certain councilmember Hank do you want it to come back at the next meeting or
may I ask councilmember Hank because I hear what you're trying to say could staff work to get you some
we've done this in the past for items like this that require code fixes could staff come with some
high level ideas versus getting into the I mean if they're not going to need to hire consultants and get a study
you know get I won't make a broad ban joke it's too soon but like you know there won't have to do that I can
I feel like the staff report and I feel like we're all trying to say like how can we make sure the information is provided
if that was possible I know it's table but I would love to see other pathways of things mentioned up here in that way.
Don't only make the staff report better. Yeah based on the comments tonight we could do some very high level looking at what
options are out there now if the councilmember wants to include that in the staff report becomes back
but we because it hasn't been approved I don't want to have assessment a lot of time getting that type of detail
but we can get some high level options and would you be able to bring that back on the third as the council
members that we're going to be a little bit more time so probably the 17th the second meeting I would go ahead and move to
table with the direction that David has suggested and I'll leave it to councilmember hang to determine when
he feels it's appropriate to bring it back. Thank you.
Colleagues I'm a couple of that thank you. Great. Okay so there is a motion from vice-mer-high
men second to from their buyers table the item with direction to staff to do some preliminary
looks into this in return on November 17th or date the councilmember hang is comfortable with.
Thank you so much will start voting.
And the motion passes for zero. We have one more item we are on item F4 our final item on the agenda
the reconceptualization and restoration of a music festival on the sunset strip this is vice-mer-high
councilmember hang is item alternate to vice-mer-high women first. Thank you mayor and thank you to
everyone who stayed this late. This item is recommending that we bring back the sunset strip music festival.
The idea is that it would be different from the previous festival in that there would be a series of events
along sunset to reactivate the sunset's vibrancy that we would culminate the program with a music festival
that would involve a street closure. The idea behind the festival is that we did have a very successful
music festival up there previously but unfortunately financial difficulties caused us to end that festival.
Unlike Christopher Street West or the Pride celebration or Halloween the city really didn't put
substantial resources into the music festival on sunset. So this item is recommending that we ask our staff
to look at providing resources using funding from our arts and advertising program up on sunset.
It also recommends that staff negotiate with a festival producer somebody who has experience with the sunset
strip it could be the previous producer or somebody similar who has experience with the sunset strip.
And I'm available to answer any questions because I have the cold tonight and I don't know what I'm talking about.
No, I'm great. Thank you. Councilmember hang, did you want to jump in and add anything? Is it a co-sponsor?
Thank you. Yeah, I jumped at the chance to co-sponsor this with our vice mayor because I believe that
this is a chance to revitalize a sunset strip. For many years a sunset strip has what I feel has been neglected.
Pride every year, Pride last year had $7.5 million commitment from the city. Halloween had 1.5 million
commitment from the city. The sunset strip really hasn't had any commitment to the city.
If we're going to talk about equity across all districts of the city,
and if we're going to talk about saving our businesses, our hotels, our restaurants, our retail,
on sunset Boulevard, I believe that I whole Harley believe this festival is the vessel is the vehicle to begin to
make that happen. We have an opportunity to seize the moment right now and bring back to West Hollywood
what sunset Boulevard once was. I'm tired of seeing news articles about closed restaurants, about failed
businesses on sunset, and this is a chance for us to rewrite that narrative. So this is a chance for us as
a council to invest into the sunset strip and to make this city a continued success.
We have one speaker signed up in Zoom. I don't think we have anybody in council chambers.
Jennifer, go ahead. Thank you, Madam Clerk. What do you mean mayor? Vice Mayor,
should you councilmember? It's going to be more all serving these right now and be executive director
for the sunset strip business improvement district. We are in strong support of this. I cannot
saying councilmember Harlan and hanging off for this item, and we hope the rest of you support this.
It is frankly about time. I served with the sunset strip on their board, the previous board, during
the music festival. It was a significant frustration that the city never really significantly
invested in the festival. But as I come from the hang said, invested in pride and Halloween
significantly. We are just over the moon. We had a board meeting today with the sunster bid and we
talked about this and just in great support. I know our chair, the chair is in a letter in
of support. This is going to really go far. I agree with how many of the councilmen's assessment
of reimagining it, of what it would look like in terms of a street sort of festival of music and song and
food and festivities on the sunset strip. This is our local economy and returns not only the
honor of the past to help us reignite the energy and foot traffic along the strip. We are especially
pleased to see the recommendation of partner with the qualified promoters who have tried to our
legendary venues. The rock theater was seen in the go-go and the bike room and to leverage existing
city resources creatively, such as the arts and advertising program. I also want to just mention
that for years we hosted the Sunset Strip bill bill board award and might be a significant
addition to recognize the creative bill board policy that you created up there on Sunset that might
tie in nicely with this. But it's exactly the kind of collaboration that strengthens our business community
to spread Hollywood at the forefront of culture and creativity and innovation and thank you for
your return. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Vice Mayor.
Mayor, I apologize. I also wanted to note we did get a valuable comment from a Lisaisenberg
about ensuring that we have the residential community involved in the planning and I took that
very much to heart and I think Lisa is absolutely right. We need to make sure that the neighborhood around
is involved in the planning and execution of any festival. So I'm available and Council Member Hang is
available to answer any questions or concerns you might have. Perfect. Thank you both.
Council Member Erickson. Laura Nick, friends from Development and Economic Development. Come on down.
You're on the prices right. Cleo, come on down for fun too. Just because I love you. I made
many do it. I just love seeing you too. Meg can stay. We love Meg. Yvonne, we'll give you a pass tonight.
Thank you so much. I'm generally in support of this item. I just have a couple of questions and concerns
regarding funding mechanisms for it. Of course, we want to see the Sunset strip revitalize in whatever
way. And Cleo, you were here when we were doing the Sunset strip. That's why I made you come down.
You were in events at that time, still. I just transitioned to an instrumentation. 2009 was the start.
So yeah, thank you. Laura, I think you might recall two or so months ago. I sent you an email
of sending. I'd like to do the Sunset strip music festival again and you told me no.
It was nicer than that but you essentially said the bid doesn't want to do it and we're pursuing
other opportunities. Now, because of our records retention law 30 days, I no longer have access
to set email. That's actually true. So people can understand that I did try to try to start doing
something like this.
Can you to walk me through a little bit more of your much more eloquent, nicer answer than just no, have a great day, council member, Eric, sir?
Certainly. So, good evening, Mayor, council members, Laura Byre director of economic development for the city of West Hollywood.
And ironically, I too was here during the days of the census stress.
That's right, that's right.
I know it was so many years ago. It's hard to remember, here we are again.
The sunset strip business improvement district that is currently the entity that serves the sunset strip businesses up on sunset.
They have recently hired JJLA as an event production company.
And they are working on various events to create excitement and energy along the census strip.
They also hired a lucky break PR as their public relation firm.
And so when we were beginning those conversations prior to those were the entities that they had hired to start really creating that energy and excitement.
At the time they did not have funding mechanisms to do a large scale music festival.
As you recall from the times of the music festival when it happened in its final year, it found itself in a very precarious financial situation.
And we'll just leave it at that.
That's a nice way to put it.
Thank you.
So Nick.
Hello.
Also it's lovely meeting your family on Saturday.
By the way.
And so my big concern with this is that it wants to take, I'm going to say it wrong.
Meema funds.
But the billboard.
Moving image.
Media arts.
But it's like moving image.
Correct.
Thank you.
Okay.
My hearing.
Am I seeing acronyms?
I'm seeing a lot of things.
But the use of meema funds in a different way.
Can you walk me through.
The larger implications for that.
Does that have implications on development agreements moving forward?
And what's the actual impact to the arts budget as a result if you take away these funds?
Or take not take away these funds.
I'm sorry.
Use portions of these funds.
I would love to respond to that.
Actually, I think my colleague Laura.
Well, then Laura.
Back at it.
See that since her.
She walked in.
Right.
A couple of hours ago.
She knew what she was going to be here for.
So there we go.
Good evening.
Again.
All right.
I got it.
Here we go.
So with regard to the moving image.
Media arts.
So that is part of the sunset arts and advertising program.
Our billboard operators that are part of the sunset arts and advertising programs.
So all the different acronyms that we know of.
On a sap.
They participate in development agreements and in those development agreements.
It identifies a percentage of time in which they are dedicating to producing and exhibiting digital art.
That's known as the moving image media art program also known as Mima.
Those development agreements do have a caveat in them in that we can make other recommendations for use of that time.
However, the program and its intent was known as the sunset arts.
An advertising program and we have committed contracts through that program into 2026 already with artists that have been identified and committed to being able to exhibit their art.
Great.
So how much are we talking in this item specifically would be reallocated to help pay for this.
I mean, it's a significant investment to do a festival.
I don't think we want to take away a million dollars of these funds and I know it calls for private sponsorships.
But what is the skit?
I don't have the numbers for me on this in terms of a scale for Mima funds or city attorney or some vicinity management.
And I try to answer this.
First of all, we don't get funds from the Nima program.
We get time.
And so the concept was we could talk to the companies to see rather than taking the full 10 minutes an hour that we're entitled to, we only take eight.
And we allow them to sell the additional two.
But that's not the only source of funds we could use for this.
I'm not committed to that component of it.
If we can find funds from our our reserves to support this, I'm fine with that.
I just thought since most of those billboards are unsuncept.
This is a sunset music and cultural program.
Wouldn't it be a great idea to use the revenue from those sunset billboards,
I'm not the revenues, but potential revenues from them to to support this.
Thank you.
That helps.
Did you want to add anything?
Okay.
Did David's like, no, I do not.
So I want to go back to 2014.
So I've worked all these events as an intern as many remember.
The Lincoln Park one was quite lovely.
What year was that?
2013, 2014?
I don't know.
Was it John right now?
But anyways.
We had 19,000 people in 2014.
Why did, why did the event go by?
That's a good number.
I mean, and I did not ask Priests, you any of these questions.
So you're being put on the spot, so I apologize.
Yes.
And I'm just going to defer to Laura.
As my review is, you know, it's truly related to it.
Just by saying if you want to.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Yeah.
I would just add the reason that they weren't financially successful.
They sold a lot of tickets.
There was no problem with ticket sales.
But the cost of putting on the festival and the cost of getting sort of world-class talent there,
exceeded the revenues that were being generated from sponsorship and ticket sales.
They did get sponsorship.
But it wasn't enough to cover all of the costs.
Great.
The question is actually for Cleo now.
We do not have a direct sponsorship type of policy, right?
Like alcohol, stuff like that, that they couldn't go after.
First sponsorships for this type of festival?
They, the producer or I remember we had this conversation about pride a few months ago.
And one of the, I'm sorry, it was an ice ring conversation about sponsorships and how we could get long-term sponsorship deals.
We don't have a policy that really allows invent producers to do that.
Or we, we have more restrictions on them.
And if I'm wrong, just tell me about that.
I think they were trying to get a sort of a global sponsorship for a series of events rather than an individual event.
That's what we don't particularly allow that self.
The individual producers related to both pride and Halloween.
They are able to seek sponsorship.
If the city itself, it's my understanding, doesn't have a full sponsorship policy or a division that focuses solely on sponsorship.
But it is possible outside of the city at this moment.
And yes, Laura might be able to speak more to that as well.
Yeah, I was just going to add.
So I think the relationship that is being suggested here is different than pride in Halloween.
And those events we hire the producer, so it is a city event.
And then sponsorship starts split between us and the producer.
I believe the intention of this item is we would work some on with someone who has experience doing music festivals and they would put on the music festival.
We wouldn't be hiring them.
We'd be partnering with them.
And so they would get their own sponsors and do that in the city's portion would be the infrastructure closing the streets and all the things public safety, all those things that go with it.
Great.
So I'll just add my comments and I'll let the mayor go.
So I've been taking up a lot of time.
I'm sure we're going to public comment that.
I always do that.
So looking forward to those comments tomorrow.
I guess I generally support this item.
I don't want to use mema funds for it.
So if my colleagues are willing to remove that off the table or be flexible, but we're doing I'm actually willing to actually make investments from city funds because we do have that capability.
And I want to see this event or the sunset strip thrive in this way and it was nice to see some of the hotels and other places on sunset actually support it.
The addition being one of them because it's right there in the corner where a lot of this high impact was.
But I can't take away money from the arts.
Not saying we're doing that.
I know it's a it's a rhetoric thing.
But at this moment if we're not moving in that direction, I will fully support this.
But for the time being and I want to support this because I think it's a really great item and I would love to see this come back because I wanted to come back to and I have months ago but Laura told me no.
And so I, but that's kind of where I'm at currently right now and I'll shut up and turn it to the mirror.
Thank you.
This is a really exciting concept and idea.
I think there's been a lot of thinking about how to revitalize sunset strip.
This feels like an obvious way to go back in time something that worked bring it back in a better stronger way.
I have some concerns though not just regarding what would feel like a departure from our commitment to that.
Meema program and the full time that we would give to artists.
So I do also think that this requires a different sort of funding stream.
My concern is over timing fall 2026 is aggressive we're already in fall 2025.
This council has tried our best to ensure that the priorities going forward are bound to a budget commitment that we are working in a time that makes sense.
And fall 2026 in my mind doesn't just does not make sense for something and I think there's something painful about realizing it may take some more time to get there.
When there's a lot of urgency and excitement around this, but next summer already we have a number of commitments related to the world games coming with a world cup.
We're moving through a three year plan through the Arts and Economic Division around a number of really incredible programming that will activate the city as a whole.
We already have a commitment this year to move forward with the ice rank and I know that that was about a three year commitment to really ensure that things could go off.
Next year that would be happening fall 2026 is already the timeline that the city is opening up and thinking about Halloween.
So there's some concern I have about not only ensuring it happens in 2026, but in that season of fall specifically.
I'll say I have been having discussions and also trying to think about what could activate the sunset strip and there are a number of different points of consideration that I've been trying to make.
That would look past the 28 games leveraging this sort of excitement that we're having as a city with bringing the world stage here and making sure that something.
Could happen on the other side of those games that would revitalize the strip that would really connect all the dots between some of our missing economic engines.
What I know is that in the winter time on the strip there are the hotels right there lower points, so there is sort of a down point in the hotel capacity.
So something not in the fall, but rather winter timeline could make more sense on the strip and bring out more visitors to that time.
So that was one point of consideration and then I think the idea that the sunset strip is not only known for its music history, but also its billboards.
There is some sort of interplay here.
So I like where we're going with the music and the festival, the activation of the venues, the use of the pocket spaces that exist along the strip, shutting down the street as a whole.
And this isn't a surprise or a secret, many folks know, but I've been asking around about the concept of a new year's Eve on sunset strip.
Something that would fully activate the billboards, activate a pedestrian plaza, utilize this feeling of activity in a different way and I think an anchor like a music festival that revitalizes that rock and roll history and really brings it all together.
It could be displayed and powered through the night is where I would lean.
So rather than having competing items, I know I've also been talking to this for a while, I thought I would just sort of throw out there that idea.
But there's just no way we should ask the next year to think about a new year's Eve on the sunset strip.
I do think it's a multi multi year plan that we would start needing to put in place in order to do it well and safely and in the full, you know, less Hollywood way.
So that's where I would want to go. I couldn't support this plan as it currently is for the reason that council member Eric some laid out around the funding not being totally clear.
The timing is truly my bigger concern with how much we're already taking on as a city and wanting to do this well.
And I recognize that this was about sort of partnering and handing off, but we know we want to stay involved and it really comes back down to the resources we have to give to do things well.
So that's the direction I want to head, but I know this isn't my item and I don't want to completely be real us now.
It sounds like there is support for the concept generally that there are concerns about the funding, which again I'm perfectly fine with other source of funding and directing our staff to look at other sources of funding.
And the other concern I'm hearing is around the timing and whether we can do this in a time that that we can get it done and done properly, which I believe we can if we start now.
But whether the right time slot is in the fall or maybe later in the year.
And again I think we can give that direction to our city staff to look at identifying a qualified producer look at other sources of funding and look at what the appropriate timeframe is for this to happen.
And I also agree with the idea of activating the billboards and I've had conversations with one of them about possibly being a sponsor of the festival and they were they were certainly interested in having that conversation.
So I'm comfortable with all of those concerns that have been addressed. So if you're comfortable I can make a motion to direct our staff to move forward with looking at this with.
Looking at identifying a qualified producer, looking at options for funding and looking at the appropriate timing for this event.
My concern that wasn't addressed in your list, which I appreciate, was the timing of it happening next year.
And part of what we've made a commitment as a council is that items that come forward would be included in staff's work plans for the next budget cycle.
So feasibly we couldn't be bringing back something that would move a fall 2026 festival forward until the next budget update.
So staff wouldn't start on that work until it is budgeted for in the next budget update. And so that's where my concern around feasibility and timing come in.
And that's just to stay with the commitment we've been trying to make of not over throwing priorities as exciting as a music festival at staff in about less than a year's notice.
So I guess my response to that is I don't think we can wait with sunset sunset is really more abundant right now and if we don't do something now, we're losing the energy that we could have up there.
And we're we're facing more businesses closing so I understand your concerns and they're quite legitimate, but I don't think we can wait.
Can someone be here tonight? I saw the council more hangs in the queue.
You go. Thank you.
So the way I look at it at this is like I said, we invest heavily in pride and both pride and Halloween.
The investment in the sunset strip is not equitable should we look at this through should we look at this festival through the same lens right and I think the mayor mentioned the new budget cycle the new budget cycle happens when February I believe.
That's fully your budget cycle would be starting July 1 of 2026.
Mid year happens in February the current budget.
I mean, I am an agreement with the vice mayor.
If we push this any longer, I don't want to see any more businesses close on sunset.
I'm not suggesting that that might happen, but you just never know the state of our economy is perilous right now and our community leaders in the chamber and in the bid have been sounding the fire alarm for sunset boulevard for many many many many years and we have a chance to.
Make that happen right now and I think we should still seize the moment. Thank you.
I hear us all wanting to get to some type of agreement, but with regards to what the mayor said.
The next budgetary cycle will be 27 28 right in January if I'm.
That's the mid year for 26 to get an update and then 20 to what you're talking to the process for 27.
Having done events I and I do understand the serious time commitment.
I don't want to commit to a date certain at the moment because I don't feel like that's fair to staff at this point.
But I would like to find a way to give if the mayor would go along with it.
Is there a way in which we could do some type of pop up in some way event at the end of 2026?
I don't know if that looks like and then plan for a larger festival in 2027.
Vice Mayor maybe we should hold this until councilmember mysterious back.
Sure.
Would whatever the council wants to do.
I'm going to move that we table this until the next meeting.
Okay our best decisions are made in five.
Thank you all so much.
Do you need a motion.
Please.
The motion on the floor is to table the item to November.
Terrific.
We are.
Voting.
And the motion passes for zero.
Thank you very much.
We are at the end of our agenda.
Very modified agenda tonight.
We are an excluded consent and we don't have anything that was pulled for that.
So we're in our final period of public comment city clerk did we have anyone sign up for this final public comment period.
I don't have anyone.
No one on to my there.
Okay.
So we can move on to councilmember comments and meeting attendance reports which of us would like to begin.
I attended numerous events of the city.
Thank you very much to the staff at the Halloween carnival.
We use Halloween carnival this past week.
It was wonderful.
And truly just amazing and every year it gets better and better.
So I couldn't disagree.
I couldn't agree more with what members of the community were saying.
A wonderful job to the events team on AIDS walk.
And that's all I have to say right now.
Thank you.
Councilmember vice mayor for paying yourself.
Yes.
I have nothing to report.
I did want to report that I've been in touch with councilmember myster.
She as we know she had a problem with her eye that needed to be attended to.
And she is getting appropriate medical attention.
So hopefully all will be well and she'll be fine tomorrow.
Thank you for the report.
Councilmember.
Thank you mayor.
As far as my meetings at attendance were concerned.
I attended the Art Reception for the unveiling of a new Maryland title.
Calavera Lamentos by Artists Scoot at Skybar at the Monterey hotel.
I attended the AIDS walk Los Angeles with my colleagues here in the dias.
I attended the West Hollywood Youth Halloween carnival.
And I attended the National Prep Day celebrations.
And I'm wishing councilmember myster a speedy recovery.
Thank you.
My attendance.
I attended the La Cosa rent her protections in homelessness prevention committee meeting.
The regular board meeting of La Cosa as well as the human capital committee of La Cosa is a lot of meetings for La Cosa.
I attended the West Side City Council of Governments.
The National League of Cities LGBTQ Caucus meeting.
And of course the League of California cities annual conference.
I was sworn in as the president of the LGBTQ Caucus at the League of California cities.
And I also served on three different panels throughout the conference.
The crisis communications cities support for trans community as well as child care as critical infrastructure.
My comments were also included the AIDS walk.
It was a really terrific morning being out with so many people celebrating the 40th.
I also wanted to congratulate my colleagues on their recognition.
You're welcome.
And wish you all a very great night.
Thank you all for this very short and abbreviated meeting.
We'll go back to Vice Mayor Halman.
One more closing comment.
I also attended the League of California cities conference.
And got to hear our mayor speak and she did a great job representing us.
And I also attended the AIDS walk.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Anything else?
Okay.
We are really done this time.
Thank you all so much.
We'll adjourn the meeting to November 3rd at 6 p.m.
West Hollywood Council Chambers.
We'll see you then.
Happy.