The first phase of the reconstruction

Transcription

1 The Road to Rebuilding Santa Monica Boulevard The first phase of the reconstruction of N. Santa Monica Boulevard, from Wilshire Boulevard to Rodeo Drive, is now underway. The original first segment from Wilshire Blvd. to Alpine Dr. has been divided into two segments to enhance the accessibility to both business and residential areas: Segment #1 from Wilshire Blvd. to Rodeo Dr. and Segment #2 from Rodeo Dr. to Alpine Dr. Although rain has slowed progress, changes have been made to the construction schedule so that both these segments are projected to be complete before the holiday shopping season of Construction on the last Segment #3, from Alpine to Doheny, is scheduled to start in November. Here is an update on Segment #1: hase A is nearing completion, and involves construction on the northern (westbound) side of Santa Monica Boulevard. Activities include replacing the existing curb and gutter, sidewalks, curb ramps, installing new underground utilities, and constructing a bioswale with associated landscape improvements. This phase is expected to be completed in April Two lanes each direction remain open with occasional lane closures. hase B will take place April- May 2017 and involves removing and replacing the curb and gutter, electrical work and traffic signal conduits and landscape improvements on the southern (eastbound) side. Two lanes each direction will be open with occasional lane closures. hase C, while the majority of the road width is demolished and rebuilt, is the shortest phase three weeks in June but involves the greatest impact to traffic. Two westbound lanes will be open and eastbound traffic will be diverted to Wilshire Blvd. and S. Santa Monica Blvd. hase D, which is estimated to start in July 2017 involves rebuilding the remaining pavement. It will last approximately three weeks. Two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane will be open with occasional lane closures. To keep traffic flowing efficiently through the City, and still provide adequate parking, the street parking on S. Santa Monica Boulevard (Little Santa Monica) has been temporarily removed and replacement spaces have been added to the Santa Monica Five parking structures. (See the diagram below.) Note that customer loading and drop-off zones are located on Camden, Bedford and Roxbury drives. (continued on page 2) NO ARKING Removed arking Metered arking Customer Loading Zone

2 The Road to Rebuilding Santa Monica Boulevard (continued from cover) Traffic control measures are in place to minimize impacts to our residential and business communities and will be adjusted as traffic patterns change. The City greatly appreciates your patience as we complete these much-needed improvements. How to contact us During construction, we are committed to keeping you informed and safe. Continue to watch for mailers, social media messages, signage and notification of upcoming meetings. For project updates, visit beverlyhills.org/smblvd. In addition, the City can be reached via the project helpline (424) or the City s ublic Works Customer Service line (310) New Rent Stabilization Measures assed Updated Tenant-Landlord Code restricts rent increases Attention Beverly Hills tenants and landlords: On Feb. 21, the City Council has approved an ordinance updating the Beverly Hills Rent Stabilization Municipal Code with three key changes. The amended code: limits tenant rent increases to a maximum of 3% per year; increases above that require city approval requires landlords to pay a relocation fee for Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 tenants from a range of $6,193 to $12,394 with the issuance of a 60-day no-cause termination notice; creates a database for approximately 8,600 multi-family units and establishes a rental registry program. Or sign up for eblasts at and select the Santa Monica Blvd. (Reconstruction) topic. The City s multifamily rental units are divided into two categories, Chapter 5 and Chapter 6. The new ordinance mainly affects Chapter 6 renters, who occupy the vast majority of units in Beverly Hills. reviously similar restrictions only applied to Chapter 5 tenants, who are defined as those whose most recent lease or rental agreement stipulates a move-in rent of $600 or less per month.) Their rent increases are limited to the consumer price increase. For more information on rent stabilization, please visit rentstabilization. Rent Stabilization Timeline Nov Today The Human Relations Commission holds monthly tenant-landlord forums in order to promote better relations between tenants and landlords and increase awareness of available resources. Meetings hase C, while the majority of the road width is demolished and rebuilt, is the shortest phase three weeks in June but involves the greatest impact to traffic. Two westbound lanes will be open and eastbound traffic will be diverted to Wilshire Blvd. and S. Santa Monica Blvd. Two community meetings to discuss the lane closures and other construction issues have been scheduled: Tuesday, May 9 th 8:30 a.m. Chamber of Commerce Board Room Thursday, May 11 th 7:00 p.m. City Hall Municipal Gallery. Jan The City Council passed a temporary urgency ordinance to address issues identified during the forums, which immediately instituted the rent stabilization changes. The City sent letters to all landlords and tenants notifying them about the adoption of the urgency ordinance and inviting them to future public meetings. Feb. 3 and 16, 2017 The Human Relations Commission held public meetings on Feb. 3 and Feb. 16, where tenants and landlords shared their ideas and concerns about the urgency ordinance. Feb. 21, 2017 The Commission presented findings from the public at the Feb. 21 City Council meeting and the City Council voted to approve the regular ordinance. April 4, 2017 Rent Stabilization Ordinance passed in second reading. Major urple Line Construction Starts Up in Beverly Hills City-Negotiated Agreement Will Help Minimize Noise and Traffic Impacts Construction signage on Wilshire Boulevard. Upon completion, Metro s urple Line Extension is expected to improve mobility on the Westside. But during the subway line s ongoing construction, please be aware that traffic restrictions and other construction-related impacts are anticipated in Beverly Hills. As major construction activity for the station at La Cienega and Wilshire boulevards continues, the City is committed to ensuring the project complies with requirements that minimize impacts to residents and businesses. Based on input from the community and key stakeholders, the City has finalized a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Metro that defines construction hours, lane and street closures, a business mitigation fund and noise limitations Beverly Hills at the Crossroads The Beverly Hills City Council is asking the public to comment on the idea of installing raised continental midblock crosswalks at several intersections adjacent to the Beverly Gardens ark. The City Council has approved generated from the construction. Utility relocation has been completed for the Wilshire/La Cienega station and sound walls have been installed at staging yards at the corners of Wilshire/La Cienega and Wilshire/Gale to mitigate noise. Ongoing construction activities include pre-piling and pot holing activities, primarily behind the k-rail on the south side of Wilshire Boulevard. Some work will extend outside of the work zone under intermittent closures of side streets, as well as sidewalks on Wilshire and La Cienega boulevards. Work hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. 4 p.m. Sidewalk work may occur at night (from 8 p.m. 7 a.m.) or on weekends. The urple Line Extension also involves building a second Beverly Hills station at Wilshire Boulevard and Reeves Drive. The City is currently developing a MOA for construction of that station, where preconstruction activities (including relocation of underground utilities) are expected to begin later this year. Learn More Metro has established a 24-hour hotline (213) and maintains a website with extensive information about the project. The City is continuing public outreach including hosting community meetings and providing additional information and resources about the project. You can sign up for e-notices or get more information through the following: Website: purpleline@beverlyhills.org Sign up for e-blasts at ublic Works Customer Service: (310) Mail: City of Beverly Hills ublic Works Civil Engineering 345 Foothill Rd. Beverly Hills, CA the concept, but wants more feedback from the public before making a final decision. The crosswalks would be installed on streets that intersect Beverly Gardens ark but have no traffic signals. At these intersections, the jogging trail ends several yards away from the regular crosswalks. If approved, the raised crosswalks would be installed as part of the N. Santa Monica Boulevard Reconstruction roject, with the first on Linden Drive. To let us know your thoughts, please send an to transportation@beverlyhills.org or call A rendering of a raised crosswalk. 2 3

3 Burglary revention Tips From The Beverly Hills olice Department With a small amount of preparation, you too can thwart would-be burglars Check Your Locks - In almost half of all residential burglaries, thieves enter through unlocked doors or windows. Lock every door and window every time you re not home. Replace locks on doors and windows with secure devices. ushbutton locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors. Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available. Keep your garage door closed and locked. Secure Obvious Entrances - 94% of successful burglars enter through the ground floor and 70% enter through the front or back door. Consider installing flood lights, deadbolts and peepholes on every entry door. Ditch the hidden key; burglars know where to look for hidden keys. Give your spare key to a neighbor you trust. Make Your lace Look Occupied - Burglars prefer to target residences that are unoccupied. Set interior lights, TVs and stereos on timers. ark your spare vehicle in your driveway instead of the garage. Don't let mail, newspapers or flyers build up. Have the ost Office hold your mail, or ask a friend or neighbor to collect your mail. Have your lawn mowed if you are away for an extended time. Install an Alarm System - A home security system can be a powerful deterrent. In a survey of 400+ career burglars, 83% said they would determine if an alarm was present before attempting a burglary. And if you have an alarm system, use it! Don't Tempt a Thief - Store lawn mowers, barbecues and bicycles out of sight Always lock your garden sheds and garages. Use curtains on garage windows. Never leave notes on your door. Trim trees and shrubs so they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders. Other Tips - A detailed inventory of your valuable possessions will help you recover from a loss, including theft, fire or other disaster. Write a description, date of purchase, original value, and serial numbers. Keep a copy in a safe place away from home. Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques. Ask your insurance company for assistance in keeping your inventory. If Your Home is Broken Into If you come home to find an unexplained open/broken window or door, take these precautions: Do not enter as the perpetrator may still be inside. Use a cell phone or neighbor's phone to call police. Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence. Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles. Note the descriptions of any suspicious persons. And Finally - Be a good neighbor. If you notice suspicious person or activity in your neighborhood, call 911 immediately. Beverly Hills Water Conservation rogram ays Off In 2016, Beverly Hills water customers reduced their water use by 22%. This is especially impressive given that the State of California relaxed water regulations mid-year causing many neighboring cities to lessen their conservation efforts. In January 2017, the City reduced water use by an amazing 42% thanks to residents and businesses who turned off their sprinklers on rainy days! In February water consumption declined 37% and in March 21%. The winter storms have filled California s reservoirs and built up an ample snowpack, but our groundwater aquifers are still low and future rain years are unknown. Furthermore, the state regulators voted in early February to extend the current water conservation rules through late Spring. Water use efficiency is now a way of life in California. An effective way to sustain lower water consumption at your home is to have a water evaluation performed on your landscape. The City s Water Conservation Administrator, Debby Figoni, offers professional audits to residents using more than 80 units of water a billing cycle. The City also offers Water Wise Landscaping Workshops (see schedule) and the Water Tracker rogram ( where you can view your consumption, and be notified in case of continuous water flow For more information, visit bhsaves.org, call or DFigoni@beverlyhills.org The City of Beverly Hills will be hosting FREE Water Wise Landscaping Workshops to help attendees learn how to create beautiful, water wise landscapes. DATE TIME TOIC Wed. April 19 Sun. May 21 All classes are free and will be held at the City of Beverly Hills ublic Works Building at 345 Foothill Road. For more information or to RSV, please contact Debby Figoni at dfigoni@beverlyhills.org or Walk-ins welcome. 6:30 pm to 8:30 am 9:30 am to 11:30 am Composting Backyard & Worm Water Wise Landscaping reparation, Design & lants Help Keep Your Mail Safe From Thieves While the vast majority of mail arrives safely, the United States ostal Service recognizes that mail theft is still a problem. The USS has issued these guidelines for what you can do to protect your mail from thieves: Use the letter slots inside your post office for your outgoing mail, or hand it to a letter carrier. ick up your mail promptly after delivery. Don t leave it in your mailbox overnight. If you're expecting checks, credit cards, or other negotiable items, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail. If you don't receive a check or other valuable mail you're expecting, contact the issuing agency immediately. If you change your address, immediately notify your post office and anyone with whom you do business via the mail. Don t send cash in the mail. Tell your post office when you ll be out of town, so they can hold your mail until you return. Report all suspected mail theft to a U.S. postal inspector. Consider starting a neighborhood watch program. By exchanging work and vacation schedules with trusted friends and neighbors, you can watch each other's mailboxes (as well as homes). If you see a mail thief at work, or if you believe your mail was stolen, call police immediately, then call U.S. postal Inspectors at (press 3). You can also report mail theft on-line at postalinspectors.uspis.gov Mondays at 8:30 a.m. Meet on the Crescent Drive side of City Hall. Share your thoughts and discuss issues affecting the community. Everyone is welcome! 4 5

4 reserving the ast at the Doheny Greystone Estate The Friends of Greystone support a variety of restoration and preservation efforts at the City-owned historic mansion and garden Doheny Greystone Estate has long been a Beverly Hills treasure and it remains so thanks to the generous support and careful stewardship of the Friends of Greystone, whose priorities are to restore, preserve and protect the historic mansion and park. With 55 livable rooms within more than 46,000 square feet of living space, plus extensive grounds and gardens on 18.3 acres, Greystone presents plenty of restoration opportunities. Restoration projects completed in recent years by the Friends of Greystone, with the help of generous private donors, include: Living room historic oil painting. Since the 1940s, an oil painting likely of Italian origin and produced between 1675 and 1825 has hung above the living room fireplace. The painting was successfully repaired and restored by stabilizing flaking paint, mitigating blotchy areas and adding a protective varnish. Boy s north wing bathroom. The bathroom tiles were cleaned and restored. All chrome was cleaned and polished. Main historic kitchen. This project involved restoring the home s original 1928 Magic Chef stove, 1928 Westinghouse icebox, the kitchen island s cabinet along with the island s marble top. Mansion s 100 door knob project. Most of the original door knobs had disappeared over the many years Doheny Greystone Mansion stood unoccupied. Some doors had no hardware, while others had mismatched replacements added piecemeal. The hardware chosen was close to the styles and finishes originally at Doheny Greystone as identified from historic photos and the few remaining originals in the house. The results: All of Doheny Greystone s 164 doors are now beautiful and in working order. ictorial self-guided room tour. Thirty-eight framed room photos from the 1920s and the 1940s, along with historical details about each room, were installed throughout the mansion. The Friends of Greystone s mission includes providing educational programs to the public. Efforts are currently underway to transform the library into a permanent museum of Doheny family artifacts, including family letters and photographs, first edition books, fine china and more. Friends of Greystone is also seeking donors to support future projects including the restoration of two garden pergolas, a breakfast dining set and Mr. Doheny s master bedroom bath. To learn more about restoration and preservation efforts at Greystone, visit Restoration.html. arallel Improvements: Renewing Our Iconic Cactus Garden As the Santa Monica Boulevard upgrade progresses, Beverly Gardens ark, which parallels the boulevard within City limits, is also receiving a face lift. For the past several years, Friends of Beverly Gardens ark (FOBG) has led a fundraising effort to restore park landmarks, including the Beverly Hills Monument Sign and Lily ond and the spectacular Electric Fountain to their former glory. Thanks to a generous $750,000 donation, the time has come to restore the park s spectacular Cactus Garden, which features cacti and succulents from around the globe and is well known among botanists. As of Jan. 30, the garden s rare and fine specimens, such as aloes, agaves, opuntias and dracos, were carefully removed and stored offsite, where they will be cared for during construction. Upon completion, visitors will discover a renewed garden of (continued from previous page) sustainability and splendor with many new species. Restoration of the Cactus Garden block between Camden and Bedford drives is part of a four-block phase of park restoration. Work on the next three blocks between Bedford and Walden drives is expected to begin this spring. For more information about FOBG, visit Thanks to the enthusiasm and generous support of our community, Beverly Hills pooches finally have a dedicated area to run off leash within City limits at the Beverly Hills Community Dog ark at the corner of Foothill Road and Alden Drive. In its first five months between the grand opening on Sept. 6 and Feb. 1 the dog park recorded more than 11,000 visits, with nearly 1,100 dogs registered. Registration, which is required, is open to dogs owned by Beverly Hills residents, employees who work in Beverly Hills, and visitors staying with residents or in Beverly Hills hotels. In keeping with the community-minded spirit of the dog park it was built based on public input and with the support of a grassroots fundraising effort the City recently surveyed community members about their experiences at the park. As of early February, 248 individuals responded, with nearly 60% reporting that they love the dog park. Another 32% said they like the park but believe it needs improvement. (Survey takers had the opportunity to elaborate on their responses.) Nearly 60% of respondents said they visited the park daily or weekly. The survey also asked users to weigh in on the necessity of staffing the park with a ranger. A strong majority supported having a ranger at least some of the time, with 44% suggesting a ranger is needed at all times, 36% suggesting a 6 7 Strong Start for Our Dog ark Beverly Hills Community Dog ark recorded more than 11,000 visits in its first five months, with nearly 1,100 dogs registered ranger is needed only at peak hours and 20% suggesting a ranger is not needed. So far, the most popular times to visit the park have been between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nearly 90% of users said they were satisfied with park hours, which are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. In addition to the survey, the Recreation and arks Commission invited the public to share feedback at its meeting on Feb. 6. The Commission will consider meeting input, along with survey responses, as it makes recommendations to the City Council about future operations of the dog park. To apply for a permit, make a donation and find the most recent info about the Beverly Hills Community Dog ark, go to visit for license information. According to 93% of survey takers, registration is easy!

5 City of Beverly Hills Communications Office 455 North Rexford Drive Beverly Hills, CA OSTMASTER: TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL resorted Standard US ostage A I D ermit #3328 Los Angeles, CA We've Got Connections Connect with your City government on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Visit to find out more. Calendar Walk with the Mayor Every Monday at 8:30 a.m. Meet at the Crescent Drive entrance to City Hall. April Mon. 17 th 5 p.m. City Hall Rm. 280-A Beverly Hills olice Department Recognition Ceremony Mon. 24 th 3 p.m. The Wallis June ie Bake ala Beverly Hills Sun. 11 th 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Farmers Market Mon. 19 th 5 p.m. City Hall Rm. 280-A May rinted on recycled paper City of Beverly Hills 2016 Concours d Elegance Sun. 7 th Greystone Mansion and Estate Community Meeting on Santa Monica Blvd. Reconstruction Tue. 9 th 8:30 a.m. Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce Board Room Community Meeting on Santa Monica Blvd. Reconstruction Thu. 11 th 7 p.m. City Hall Municipal Gallery Mon. 15 th 5 p.m. City Hall Rm. 280-A Summer Class Registration (residents) Mon. 15 th Mon. 22 Summer Class Registration (non-resident) Mon. 22 Beverly Hills artshow Beverly Gardens ark Sat. Sun. 20 th -21 st 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. Memorial Day Mon. 29 th City Hall and Library are closed For a complete listing of City events, go to