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BEVERLY HILLS VOLUME: LV
NUMBER 1
www.bhcourier.com
SINCE 1965
January 4, 2019
City Council To Discuss The Peninsula’s Appeal Of Friar’s Club Project Tuesday BEEF BOWL — A Rose Bowl tradition since 1956, the University of Washington and Ohio State University football teams descended upon Beverly Hills last weekend for Lawry’s The Prime Rib’s Beef Bowl. Since 1970, the Beef Bowl has not been an actual competition, but rather a celebratory gathering for the teams. Players are limited to two servings of prime rib each. Pictured left: Ohio State players prepare to dig into some prime rib. Above: Lawry’s CEO Richard Frank (left) and Washington coach Chris Peterson. Photos by John McGillen Photography
THIS ISSUE
GOLDEN GLOBES — It’s that time of year again. On Sunday, Hollywood’s hottest stars on both the big and small screen will congregate at The Beverly Hilton for the 76th annual Golden Globes. Vice leads all nominees with six, but A Star Is Born, The Favourite and Green Book are all favorites to be big winners on Sunday. The Golden Globes are Sunday at 5 p.m. on NBC. For more information on Sunday’s ceremony, see page 9. Pictured left: Golden Globes hosts Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg at The Beverly Hilton. Photo by Magnus Sundholm
Three-year-old Mona is this issue’s Adoptable Pet of the Week. 4
Beverly Hills celebrated “Takeway,” the newest addition to the City’s Public Art Collection. 5
Beverly Hills To Hold Final Water Rate Town Hall Meetings How a chance encounter reunited a Beverly Hills woman with her beloved dog. 5 • • • •
Real Estate Birthdays Classifieds Letters to the Editor
11 14 18 23
George Christy, Page 6 The First New Year’s Celebration Honored The Spring Harvest With The Babylonians 4000 Years Ago. Later Pope Gregory XIII Decreed That January 1 Will Be The Official Date To Begin The New Year
By Matt Lopez & Victoria Talbot The City of Beverly Hills’ final two Town Hall meetings on proposed water rate adjustments are set to take place over the next two weeks. The Town Hall meetings began in late November, with one held on Nov. 29 and a second on Dec. 13. The third Town Hall meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 10 at 6 p.m. in the City Hall Municipal Gallery at 455 N. Rexford Dr. The fourth and final meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. during a public hearing at the City Council meeting at City Hall’s City Council chambers. The new rate changes will affect users differently, but the rate adjustments are part of a restructuring of water rates based on a recent “cost of service” analysis. The City says the rate adjustments will work to “restructure, protect and stabilize the City’s
water system and services.” “We believe this new model will provide water service to residential and commercial customers in a more fair and equitable way,” said Public Works Director Shana Epstein. “Investing in the City’s infrastructure to increase local water production will also provide critical insurance against service interruptions and supply issues.” Customers will receive a Water Rate Adjustment Notice in the mail. The City Council approved water rate increases in 2017 including a Phase 1, fiveyear plan to meet the Water Fund revenue requirements. Those requirements included purchasing water from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD), fixed operating costs for the water system; budgeted capital projects for maintenance, replacement, upgrades and repairs; debt service (see ‘WATER RATES’ page 10)
By Victoria Talbot An appeal of a residential project that was approved by the Planning Commission, located at 9908 Santa Monica Boulevard in a Commercial Zone, is the first item to be considered by the Beverly Hills City Council on Tuesday. The project, commonly referred to as the Friars Club for the iconic building that was previously located on the site, will be heard in a de novo hearing. On Sept. 13, the Planning Commission voted 3-2 to approve the construction of 25 condominiums in a mixed-use building. Commission Chair Andy Licht, Vice Chair Alan Block and Commissioner Joe Shooshani voted to approve the project. Commissioners
Peter Ostroff and Lori Greene Gordon could not make the findings. The project has raised the ire of many residents because, they say, it is an example of “spot zoning.” In this case, they say, there is no compelling reason to create an Overlay Zone in defiance of the General Plan that would carve out a zone to accommodate the 25-unit project in a commercial zone. The appeal was filed by Robert Zarnegin of the Peninsula Hotel on Sept. 24. The five-star luxury hotel owner spent 15 years acquiring properties to build the Peninsula from 16 lots on a 2.2-acre parcel, enough property to make the 45-foot height requirement pencil out. (see ‘FRIAR’S CLUB’ page 10)
Beverly Hills To Celebrate Chinese New Year, ‘Year Of The Pig’ By Matt Lopez The City of Beverly Hills is gearing up to celebrate the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Pig with a pair of big parties in the coming weeks. On January 26, the Beverly Hills Conference and Visitors Bureau (CVB) will partner with the Beijing Association for Culture Exchange, Tianjin Association and Cultural Exchange and Hebei Association for Cultural Exchange to host its eighth annual Chinese New Year celebration at the Saban Theatre. The event will include a variety show curated by Rongqi Wang, famous for his work on major national cultural activities throughout China,
as well as a “Charming JingJin-Ji” photo exhibition. “We always look forward to this time of year when we pay special tribute to our Chinese friends,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Julian Gold, adding, “Beverly Hills loves the energy and vibrancy of the Chinese New Year celebration and each year seems to be more colorful and entertaining.” China remains one of the top feeder markets for Beverly Hills, and the City says it is committed to catering to Chinese visitors. Many local retailers have Mandarin speaking staff, and many local hotels (see ‘YEAR OF THE PIG’ page 10)
CHEERS! — Champagne was the signature drink for the elite in years past. Now that there are affordable varieties of the bubbly, it is the most popular celebratory drink for the New Year. For more photos, see George Christy’s column on page 6.