Beverly Hills Year in Review: Milestones of 2011

I would like to wish the entire Beverly Hills community a very happy holiday season!

Just before we turn the corner into 2012, let's reflect a moment on the accomplishments of the past year. The City Council, staff, and the many dedicated community leaders and volunteers have been busy! We have made tremendous strides in recovering from the recession, we debuted several new Beverly Hills-style events, completed and started important capital projects, and addressed residents’ concerns about the quality of life in their neighborhoods.

Below I have compiled a partial list of the highlights of 2011:

Economic Strength

Beverly Hills began a recovery from the recession with strong increases in transient occupancy tax (TOT) and resurgence in luxury buying.

The City formed four economic development task forces made up of business owners, council members and staff whose charge is to find creative ways to stimulate and nurture business success in Beverly Hills.

• The Southeast Area Task Force is looking at ways to create a more vibrant commercial district in the southeast part of Beverly Hills.
• The Mayor’s Government Efficiency Task Force is helping streamline the permit process for construction projects.
• The Small Business Assistance Task Force is identifying ways to help small businesses succeed in Beverly Hills.
• The Business Improvement and Brand Recognition Task Force will discuss ways to leverage the fame of the Beverly Hills brand.

The City, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and the Visitors Bureau, traveled to New York on a trade mission to strengthen relationships with retailers and recruit new businesses to Beverly Hills.

In spite of the struggling economy, the City has maintained a AAA bond rating from Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch.

High-profile new businesses relocated in the City: MGM Studios, , and United Talent (UTA).

New Projects and Places

City Council approved a that includes updating the library’s lobby, the Children’s Library and building a larger area for teenagers.

The opened on schedule and $7 million under budget, providing ample parking in the north business district and for the future Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.

was completed and is open for business.

Construction is underway on the City-owned building to house offices for the Chamber of Commerce, the Conference and Visitors Bureau and Visitor’s Center.

The , with the help of a dedicated committee of volunteers.

New Technology

Residents are now able to pay their utility bills online.

A new iPhone application guides visitors to public art installations, parking facilities, City buildings, parks and events. A similar application is being developed for Droid phones.

The city’s largest installation of solar panels went online at the Civic Center, generating a significant portion of the library’s electricity.

Events and Branding

The City entered into an agreement with William Morris Endeavor to license the famous Beverly Hills shield and develop branded merchandise.

The Design Review Commission and Architecture Commission held the first to recognize outstanding commercial and residential projects in Beverly Hills.

Several new events debuted in Beverly Hills, bringing new visitors to the City and enhancing the Beverly Hills brand: the , Maison de Luxe Show House at Greystone Estate and the .

Quality of Life

The City Council voted to on the Beverly Hills High School campus when the lease expires at the end of 2016.

The Council amended the city’s noise ordinances to change the enforcement time from .

Two view ordinances were passed to help .

The City approved the establishment of a for residential properties.

The City Council worked with owners and local preservationists to safeguard the designed by renowned architect Richard Neutra.

This blog is intended as a means of keeping the community informed about City government. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of Beverly Hills Patch.