June 3, 2016 | Page 17
BEVERLY HILLS
KATHY REIMS
(Continued from page 1)
Initially, Vice Mayor Krasne named Reims, but in addition, she named, Felsenthal, Pressman, Demeter and attorney Darian Bojeaux. Bosse named Reims as her first choice because of her experience with land use issues, then Robert Wunderlich, an engineer appointed director for the City on the Board of the Metropolitan Water District and Demeter. Wunderlich was automatically disqualified by Gold and Mirisch because he did not sign the pledge not to run for the position when Brien’s term ended in March. Reims was a qualified candidate who was not presently serving on a commission. Bosse was reluctant to take someone off a commission: “That was my first choice,” she said. “I would have supported removing someone to fill the vacancy, even though we then would need to fill that commission spot. . . However, we had Kathy,” she said. In the interviews, each candidate had three minutes to introduce themselves, followed by the standard two questions. Mayor Mirisch asked first, “You will serve for nine months. What are your realistic expectations for that time?” and “What is the City’s most critical problem and how would you solve it?” The order of the interviews was randomly selected by drawing last week, and Reims name was 16th on the list. Following the standard questions, each council member in turn asked their own personal questions of the applicant. For example, Mayor Mirisch often asked applicants, “What place do you think skyscrapers do or do not have in our community, going forward?” Councilmember Bosse asked every applicant whether they had any experience with CUPs (Conditional Use Permits) and EIRs (Environmental Impact Reports). Many candidates said that had no experience. A few had a lot of experience, and Reims was one of those. (The two issues will be forthcoming items for the next nine months at City Council.) Councilmember Gold and Vice Mayor Krasne were more spontaneous in their questions, and when it was Reims’ turn to answer their questions, Councilmember Gold said he had been told to ask a question by “other people.” “Without being disrespectful, with your relationship with Councilmember Bosse, how independent do you think you can be?” asked Gold. “I have had people call me and ask if they should withdraw their applications because it is a done deal.” If the question was intended to throw Reims’ interview off track, she remained poised
and dignified, which added, rather than subtracted, from her performance, said observers. It is common for residents on the City Council to have known each other prior to their service in a City that is only five square miles. In fact, Dr. Gold and former Councilmember Willie Brien had a friendship and a professional relationship prior to their service. According to campaign finance disclosures, Brien supported and contributed to Gold’s election. The two often voted together on important items. Reims and Bosse both served on the Traffic and Parking Commission and on the Planning together. Krasne was also on the Planning Commission with Reims. The two met over 20 years ago at a social gathering when they became involved in forming Police and Community Together (PACT), an organization that promoted the police-community partnership Beverly Hills enjoys today. Both Reims and Bosse found Gold’s question offensive. Said Bosse in an interview, “I was shocked by Julian's questioning of Kathy regarding her ability to be impartial due to our friendship. Kathy has served our community for over 30 years and I for over 20. I believe she and I have earned the respect of our community as being hard-working, fair, balanced and open-minded with tremendous integrity and ethics. We all love our community for its small town “close family” feel; however, after all the years she and I publicly volunteered in our community, it is abundantly obvious that no friendships sway our decision process which has always been transparent, public and demonstrates hours upon hours of giving 120% of ourselves to very hard work to reach a decision.” Reims said some of the questions did come as a surprise. “I expected questions about things that would be germane,” said Reims. “I was surprised it would be about a friendship.” Gold’s colleagues on the council expressed positive feelings about Reims when they in-
terviewed her. “I am very thrilled that you are here today,” said Krasne, who had served with Reims on the Planning Commission. With Gold making a play for one of his three candidates, Bosse dug in on her selection of Reims over any candidates currently serving on a commission. She said that would make such a selection a “distant second choice.” In lieu of her selection of Reims she suggested she would opt for an election rather than choose one of the three commissioners. Gold also said he supported an election, which would not have taken place until November by state law. Mirisch had already settled on Reims, however, so there was a potential majority. Krasne expressed her concern over all the applicants who had spent their time and effort on the process. Finally, she too, settled on Reims rather than an election. Mirisch then asked Gold, “Kathy was not on your list; does that mean you would not feel comfortable with that decision? “The question is, ‘Who would I prefer?'” responded Gold. Reims has been active over three decades in the community, and as a planning commissioner, she and Vice Mayor Krasne insisted that the proposed Montage Hotel must redesign the motor court to accommodate loading functions. The hotel lost rooms and retail space, but it was the right decision, said Reims. “They ended up having a better project. That’s the satisfaction you get.” Looking to the future, Reims is concerned with the Santa Monica Boulevard reconstruction project and traffic flow. “I’m concerned about how to keep traffic moving. I don’t want to suffer loss of sales revenue.” Because of scheduling conflicts, the next City Council meeting will be held on Monday – not Tuesday. Reims will formally be seated and the L’Ermitage Hotel expired CUPs will be one of the items on the agenda.
Cartoon for The Courier by Janet Salter
SUMMER GIVING–Beverly Hills teens earned awards for volunteering at the Salvation Army Westwood Westwood Transitional Village. The 40-unit residential housing facility, which provides support services for homeless families, gave locals Madison Froomer and Sara Okum Teen Leadership Volunteer awards. Sara has been on their teen advisory committee for 4 years. Families can spend up to two years at the Westwood facility while they stabilize and acquire the skills needed for independent living. Approximately 150 individuals live at “The Village”; with families of veterans making up 40 percent of the residential population, and two thirds of the total population being children. The Bessie Pregerson Child Development Center provides licensed childcare to residents as well as low-income families from the surrounding area. Pictured (from left): Madison Froomer, Diane Good, Director of The Salvation Army's Westwood Transitional Village, and Sara Okum.