Human Relations Commission: Budget Reductions, BHPD Briefing

In a bid to maintain city services at their current levels, Beverly Hills has been faced with a number of cutbacks in order to secure its financial future. For the current 2010-2011 fiscal year, the Beverly Hills City Council closed a $9 million gap in its $402 million budget by eliminating more than 25 staff positions along with cuts to the police and fire departments.

On Thursday, the Human Relations Commission was tasked with beginning the conversation of reaching an agreement on budget reduction strategies, including the consideration of reducing the number of annual meetings, and the work load, for the commission staff.

James R. Latta, the commission's administrator, reminded members that former Community Services Director Steve Miller proposed during the May budget negotiations that members consider reducing the number of annual meetings, which are currently held once a month.

"We have one meeting that's dark in August," Latta said. "I think that's the same for the Parks and Recreation and Fine Arts commissions."

All three commissions, plus their ad hoc committees, fall under the direction of the Community Services Department. Interim Director Steve Zoet said the city had been successful in reducing costs over the last couple of years, but he expected "challenges again next year."

Zoet wanted to discuss the possibility of lessening the impact and work load on city staff. He explained that with a reduction in the number of positions and through attrition, the work load has been increased.

"We do quality work for all commission and the city council," Zoet said. "We are committed to working with you as a group."

In response, Commissioner Yar Meshkaty asked if staff had done a cost analysis of the Human Relations Commission and what it actually costs the city.

"We could look into that. Take a look and put a price tag on the commission," Zoet said. "This is just a dialogue today. There is no timeline."

Commissioner Ilona Sherman pointed to the possibility of eliminating the reports that are produced before every meeting for each commission and city staff.

"These reports are very big and heavy," Sherman said. "Could it be a way to cut back and minimize the financial impact to the city?"

Commission Chairwoman Cheri R. Yousem reminded her colleague that it was "our charge to read this cover to cover."

Meanwhile, the commission also received a presentation from Beverly Hills Police Department Capt. Mitch McCann, who reassured members that the city does not have a major problem with MDMA use, also know as ecstasy.

McCann said he had been asked about ecstasy use in the city following media reports of the death of a 15-year-old girl at the Electric Daisy Carnival held last month at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. He told Beverly Hills Patch that the BHPD, along with other law enforcement agencies, have made a number of seizures  and arrests related to MDMA in the past.

McCann also told Meshkaty that his department was in favor of new approaches for outreach to students concerning the dangers of MDMA.

"We are trying to to take D.A.R.E to the 21st century," the veteran captain said. "We want to put it in context so kids can understand it better."

He said the plan was to create a website that would not be a sales pitch, but an actual story of someone's struggle with drug or alcohol addiction. 

In response to a question from Commissioner Tom Pease concerning a rise in home burglaries, McCann said the department has not seen an increase in the number of burglars entering homes through open windows during the hot summer months.

"It's anticipated that we'll see an increase of those types of crimes during the summer," he said. "But crime is still down [citywide]."

With the commission's August meeting canceled, McCann said he would come back in September and update commissioners on the success of the new security system installed last year at Beverly Hills High School, along with other details about the system.