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THIS ISSUE
What does the future hold for the famed Jack Colker 76 station? 4
The Massry Prize was awarded to three scientists in Beverly Hills. 5
Football turf installation at BHHS is finally done and the Normans will host their first home game tonight. 11 • Health & Wellness • Real Estate • Birthdays
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BLACK & WHITE — The annual Beverly Hills Police Officers Association Black & White Ball was held Tuesday at The Beverly Hilton. Proceeds from the gala go toward the Beverly Hills Police Officers Benevolent Fund. Pictured: BHPD Lt. Scott Dowling, BHPD Chief Sandra Spagnoli and BHPD Sgt. Gregg Mader. For more photos from Tuesday’s event, see page 20. Photo by Victoria Talbot
Beverly Hills JPA Negotiations Reach Critical Turning Point By Laura Coleman For weeks, according to Beverly Hills Unified School District officials, Superintendent Michael Bregy has sought, unsuccessfully, to schedule a City-School District Liaison meeting to discuss the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA), the $9.7 million contract that governs how school facilities are made available to the City. That meeting will likely take place next week. At a Liaison meeting almost four months ago, just before the BHUSD and City voted to extend the JPA, which is currently set to expire Oct. 31, Bregy informed the
City that the school district was looking to increase the JPA to $13.5 million. In existence since 1978, the purpose of the JPA is to provide residents, organizations and groups in Beverly Hills access to BHUSD fields and facilities for programs offered through the City’s Community Services Department. “We will be scheduling a Liaison meeting as soon as we get the Moss Adams peer review report from our consultant which we expect by the end of the week,” (see ‘BEVERLY HILLS JPA’ page 20)
George Christy, Page 6 Bird Photographer Leila Jeffreys, Born In New Guinea, And Now Living In Australia, Became Fascinated By The Exotic Birds And The Wildlife Thereabouts. Her Photographs in Birdland Are Works Of Art
CLASSIFIEDS • Announcements • Real Estate • Rentals • Sales • and More
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October 13, 2017
Fifth Year For City Council Adds Pension Bonus For Friedman, Wunderlich
Lili Bosse celebrated her birthday in style Monday at Walk With The Mayor. 4
Thirteen pound, 1-year-old Misty is this issue’s Adoptable Pet of the Week. 4
SINCE 1965
CONSTRUCTION WOES — The construction on Santa Monica Boulevard has brought many challenges to residents, employees, businesses and tourists alike. This photo from Thursday afternoon shows the seemingy endless line of cars trying to travel eastbound on North Santa Monica, lined up between the Courier’s office and the Lily Pond at Beverly Gardens Park. Photo by Victoria Talbot
By Victoria Talbot Last Tuesday’s vote by the Beverly Hills City Council to take an extra year in office came with a significant perk for the City Council’s two newest members. In addition to adding a fifth year to their term, the Beverly Hills City Council also ensured that both councilmembers Lester Friedman and Robert Wunderlich will benefit from a California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) pension plan that kicks in after five years on the City Council. Councilmembers are elected to serve a term of four years. By choosing the option to add the fifth year, as opposed to another option that would not have added time to their terms, the City Council has awarded the pension benefit that is meant to go to councilmembers elected to more than one
term. The vote to change in election dates came as a result of a need to comply with the California Voter Participation Rights Act (Elections Code Sections 14050-14075) California Senate Bill 415 (SB415), which sets all standalone elections to take place in even years to coincide with statewide elections unless voter turnout on municipal elections meets a threshold of 75 percent in the past four elections. The council normally responds with questions and comments with the councilmember who received the least votes speaking first, in this case, Wunderlich, who stood to gain the most. Wunderlich will not only receive a nice addition to his (see ‘PENSION’ page 19)
9200 Wilshire Boulevard Project Gets Planning Commission Approval By Victoria Talbot Modifications for the 9200 Wilshire Boulevard mixed-use project were been approved with additional conditions Thursday afternoon by the Beverly Hills Planning Commission. The original project was approved in 2007 for a 70-foot building with 54 residential units, 14,000 square feet of retail space and 283 parking spaces with an overlay zone. Last week, the Planning Commission did not approve a modified project that proposed 6,119 square feet of commercial, 180 parking spaces. The
Celebrity Photo Agency/Scott Downie
VOLUME: LII
Commission asked the applicant for an increase of 600 square feet of retail and 40 more subterranean parking spaces, adding 47 spaces more than required. Other conditions included ensuring public access to the courtyard space, modulating the building on the rear-facing facade and prohibiting amplified sound on the roof and in the courtyard. The vote was 4-1, with Commissioner Craig Corman opposed. At the same meeting, the Planning Commission directed (see ‘9200 WILSHIRE’ page 19)
LONGTIME FRIENDS — The Beverly Hills Courier’s George Christy revisited with Catherine Bach (The Dukes of Hazzard) during the launch party hosted by Susie and Brad Krevoy at their estate for Leila Jeffrey’s Birdland. Guests included Colleen and Bradlee Bell, Lauralee Bell, and more. For more photos, see George Christy’s column on page 6.