Beverly Hills Chamber of Commmerce

Board Resolutions

Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors takes positions on issues affecting local businesses. If the Government Affairs Committee has made a recommendation on the issue, it is presented to the Board of Directors. Board members hold a discussion and pose questions or concerns about the issue. After discussion is held, a resolution is proposed to the Board and after being seconded, it goes to vote.

Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce only takes positions on issues voted by the Board of Directors.
The most recent Board Resolutions are listed below.

Recent Board Resolutions:

MEASURES 2P AND 3P
The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce announced that the Board of Directors has taken a position to oppose Measure 2P and Measure 3P, both of which will be on the March 8, 2011 Beverly Hills election ballot.

Among other provisions, Measure 2P would require the City to provide two hours free parking at City owned facilities that were in operation before June 30, 2008. Measure 3P, would, among other requirements, provide three hours of free parking to Beverly Hills residents and a 50% discount on evening flat rate parking.

The Chamber recognizes and supports providing complimentary parking to shoppers and other visitors to Beverly Hills, based on the premise that free parking helps attract customers and supports retailers and restaurateurs. However, the Chamber strongly believes that the City Council needs the discretion and flexibility to make contemporary decisions about parking fees and their impact on both the City budget and consumer behavior. Measure 2P and Measure 3P would dilute the City Council’s accountability along with their authority.

The Chamber leadership carefully considered input received from the business community, including merchants who now are served by City garages. While the Chamber Board recognizes the importance of providing free parking to all merchants and restaurants, after careful consideration, there was concern that both Measures if adopted would have negative impact on City revenues.

The Chamber urges the City Council to make maintenance and improvements to all the City’s garages and parking facilities a priority as this part of a Beverly Hills consumers’ experience is extremely important and is a significant factor in a consumer’s decision about where to shop, dine and visit.

Approved and Adopted by the Executive Committee on January 25, 2011


MEASURE O
The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce announced that the Board of Directors has voted to take no position on Measure O, will be on the March 8, 2011 Beverly Hills election ballot.

Measure O would revise the current business license tax to impose a flat rate tax of $2000 per well plus 2.5% of the gross receipts from the sale of oil and natural gas extracted from property in the City of Beverly Hills.

The Board of Directors noted that it is unclear how the amount of the new tax was determined and there was concern that the proposed tax rate was not commensurate with rates in surrounding jurisdictions or other cities.

Approved and Adopted by the Executive Committee on January 25, 2011


BOARD RECOMMENDATION ON WESTSIDE SUBWAY
Resolved, The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce urges the Beverly Hills City Council to proactively generate and demonstrate City of Beverly Hills support for the Westside subway by taking the following actions:

(1) The Beverly Hills City Council should formally adopt the Mass Transit Committee’s January 2007 Report and publicly and actively demonstrate the City’s support for a Westside subway to Beverly Hills, Century City and beyond, with two subway portals to be located in Beverly Hills (as outlined in the Mass Transit Committee’s Report);

(2) The City Council should take an advocacy position for the Westside subway project to be included in Metro’s Long Range Transportation Plan;

(3) The City Council should direct City staff to form a “team” of City staff from appropriate City Departments (e.g. Community Development, Public Works, Transportation) to focus on necessary preparations for locating subway portals in Beverly Hills as described in the Mass Transit Committee’s report, including but not limited to, securing the specific locations for the portals and designing the stations. Additionally, the City staff team should interface with Metro staff and leadership as well as the Chamber Subway Committee in order to coordinate work on proposed Beverly Hills subway stations;

(4) The City Council should direct the City’s Traffic and Parking Commission to be the lead Commission in addressing all issues relating to the Westside subway and work together in this regard with the Planning Commission and the Public Works Commission.

Approved and Adopted by the Executive Committee on July 16, 2009


PROPOSITIONS 1A-!F BOARD RESOLUTIONS
That the Government Affairs Committee recommend to the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors take no position on Propositions 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and1F on the May 19, 2009 California special election ballot.

Approved and Adopted by the Executive Committee on April 16, 2009


CRESCENT DRIVE PUBLIC PARKING FACILITY - SUPPORT ON THIRD LEVEL
Whereas the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts will convert the historic Beverly Hills Post Office into a performing arts and cultural facility for the presentation of theater, dance, music, professional children’s theatre and other cultural activities for residents of, and visitors to, Beverly Hills and greater Los Angeles; and

Whereas the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Beverly Hills will provide additional public parking for the business triangle;

Whereas the proposed two-level parking garage on 455 N. Crescent Drive for the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Beverly Hills will provide an estimated 310 parking spaces;

Whereas an expansion to a third-level of the parking garage will provide an additional 153 parking spaces;

Now, therefore, the Board of Directors of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce supports the addition of a third level to the parking facility for the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Beverly Hills.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED October 7, 2008


MEASURE E
Whereas Measure E is a $334 million general obligation bond measure that will provide our students and community with improved and upgraded school facilities that are safe, secure and technologically updated;

Whereas improvements through Measure E will be made to provide safe and modernized school facilities, make necessary structural seismic safety repairs, upgrade, repair, and reconstruct aging classrooms, infrastructure, multi-use rooms;

Whereas Measure E will not raise the present tax rate to resident property owners but it will provide sufficient funds to be used for safety and security upgrades;

Whereas the Beverly Hills residents will benefit from Measure E because in the event of any disaster, the Beverly Hills schools will become the emergency shelters for the community;

Now, therefore, the Board of Directors of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce supports Measure E.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED October 7, 2008


MEASURE H, THE BEVERLY HILTON REVITALIZATION PLAN
Whereas Measure H, the Beverly Hilton Revitalization Project, is projected to bring an average $12 million per year to the City’s budget:

Whereas Measure H will provide additional funds to Beverly Hills needed to maintain the Police, Fire, Schools and other vital city services:

Whereas Measure H will reduce the area of the nine-acre property that is covered by buildings from 67% to 47% and create 4.5 acres gardens, open space, fountains, walkways and arts;

Whereas Measure H will bring a 170 rooms, 5-Star Waldorf Astoria to Beverly Hills and supply much needed luxury condominium housing;

Whereas the Beverly Hilton has committed $5 million to synchronize the lights and make other important improvements;

Whereas the Beverly Hilton will donate 2100 linear feet of property to create two dedicated left turn lanes onto Santa Monica and a new westbound lane on Santa Monica to keep traffic moving;

Now, therefore, the Board of Directors of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce supports Measure H.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED October 7, 2008


WALLIS ANNEBERG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS BEVERLY HILLS
Whereas the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts will convert the historic Beverly Hills Post Office into a performing arts and cultural facility for the presentation of theater, dance, music, professional children’s theatre and other cultural activities for residents of, and visitors to, Beverly Hills and greater Los Angeles; and

Whereas the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Beverly Hills will provide additional public parking for the business triangle;

Whereas the proposed two-level parking garage on 455 N. Crescent Drive for the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Beverly Hills will provide an estimated 310 parking spaces;

Whereas an expansion to a third-level of the parking garage will provide an additional 153 parking spaces;

Now, therefore, the Board of Directors of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce supports the addition of a third level to the parking facility for the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Beverly Hills.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED October 7, 2008


PROPOSED 9876 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD/BEVERLY HILTON REVITALIZATION PROJECT
Whereas, Oasis West Realty proposes to revitalize the Beverly Hilton Hotel located at 9876 Wilshire Boulevard (the “Project”).

Whereas the Project will consist of two hotel components where the existing 352-unit Wilshire Tower will remain, and a new hotel, the Waldorf Astoria, would be constructed at the intersection of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards;

Whereas the existing conference and retail space fronting on Wilshire Boulevard would be removed and replaced with a new 3-story hotel building and conference facilities and two new condominium towers would be constructed along Merv Griffin Way;

Whereas the City has prepared a draft Environmental Impact Report (“DEIR”) prepared by Environmental Science Associates and dated August 2007 which indicated that there are no significant environmental impacts relating to traffic, parking or shade and shadow;

Whereas, at the Government Affairs Committee meeting on September 20, 2007, Oasis West Realty presented the Project to the Government Affairs Committee and Committee members were offered an opportunity to ask questions and make comments;

Following such presentation, after excusing the Oasis West Realty representatives, the Committee deliberated and then voted on the Project as whether to recommend to the Board of Directors of the Chamber to support the Project, not to support the Project, or not to take a position on the Project.

The following is the recommendation of the Committee:

Now, therefore, the Government Affairs Committee of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce recommends to the Board of Directors of the Chamber that the Chamber support the 9876 Wilshire Boulevard/Beverly Hilton revitalization project as described in the DEIR.

APPROVED AND ADOPTED October, 2007


9900 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD (FORMER ROBINSONS-MAY SITE) PROJECT
Whereas, Candy & Candy, Inc proposes to develop and construct a mixed-use project consisting of 252 residential condominium units, including 35 lofts and town homes, and 20,000 square foot restaurant and retail space; two 12-story buildings on the west side, and two four-story loft buildings on the east side of the property; 966 subterranean parking spaces (the “Project”).

Whereas the City has prepared a draft Environmental Impact Report (“DEIR”) prepared by Environmental Science Associates and dated August 2007 which indicated that there are no significant environmental impacts, including no significant traffic impacts if the Project is revitalized;

Whereas the City’s General Plan Committee, who has studied mixed use, (consisting of allowing multi-residential units to be located above retail and/or office uses on the ground floor in commercially zoned areas of the City of Beverly Hills) has concluded that it would be desirable to allow such zoning as a means of reducing traffic and enhancing the diversity of the residences in the City;

Whereas, at the Government Affairs Committee meeting on September 20, 2007, Candy & Candy presented the Project to the Government Affairs Committee and Committee members were offered an opportunity to ask questions and make comments;

Following such presentation, after excusing the Candy & Candy representatives, the Committee deliberated and then voted on the Project as whether to recommend to the Board of Directors of the Chamber to support the Project, not to support the Project, or not to take a position on the Project.

The following is the recommendation of the Committee:

Now, therefore, the Government Affairs Committee of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce recommends to the Board of Directors of the Chamber that the Chamber support the 9900 Wilshire Boulevard project as described in the DEIR.

APPROVED AND ADOPTED October, 2007