Bel Air-Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council · Held
Bel Air-Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council meeting, August 26, 2026
From the minutes: The Bel Air-Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council's board voted on Aug. 26, 2026, to file Community Impact Statements backing Super El Niño preparedness for hillside areas (21-0), City support for SB 1301 on homeowner insurance nonrenewals (21-0), wider access to CERT training (19-0), faster work on local Zone Zero fire rules (19-0) and AB 1853 on election publications if amended (12-4, three abstaining), per its minutes. It also recommended approval of a basement and remodel permit at 9988 W. Reevesbury Drive and took no exception to a guardhouse at 2620 N. Benedict Canyon Drive, each 21-0. The statement filed on AB 1853 reports that vote as 12-3 with five abstentions.
Outcomes for the August 26, 2026 meeting of the Bel Air-Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council come from its posted minutes.
| Where | Online by Zoom |
|---|---|
| Agenda | Official agenda (posted August 22, 2026) |
| Minutes | Official minutes |
| City Council districts | Council District 4, Council District 5 |
The minutes, posted on the council’s board meetings page, list 23 members present and 12 absent, with two of those present ineligible to vote.
9. Basement and remodel at 9988 W. Reevesbury Drive
- What it asks: A position on case ZA-2025-3828-CU1, a Class 1 Conditional Use Permit to legalize an unpermitted basement, add a staircase and convert a garage to a carport. The permit is needed because Reevesbury Drive is 18 feet wide, short of the required 20 (agenda).
- Who brought it: The Planning and Land Use Committee recommended approval 10-0-0 on Aug. 11, on condition that proof of a waiver of dedication is obtained (agenda).
- What happened: The board recommended approval on the same condition, 21-0 with two members ineligible (minutes).
10. Guardhouse at 2620 N. Benedict Canyon Drive
- What it asks: A position on case ZA-2026-1036-ADJ, adjustments for a 122-square-foot guardhouse inside setbacks and an 8-foot front-yard fence (agenda).
- Who brought it: The Planning and Land Use Committee voted 10-0-0 on Aug. 11 to take no exception, subject to corrected plans and findings (agenda).
- What happened: The board voted 21-0, with two members ineligible, to take no exception to the project, subject to corrected plans and findings (minutes).
11. Super El Niño preparedness
- What it asks: Supports CF 26-1169, a motion by Council member Traci Park, seconded by Tim McOsker, on City preparations for a predicted El Niño, and asks that the work include hillside areas, covering road stability, storm drains, mud and debris flows, evacuation and vegetation in fire zones (agenda).
- What happened: Approved 21-0 with two members ineligible. The board added an emphasis on landslide risk from extreme rain (minutes). Filed Sept. 14 with the position “For” and the same vote (CIS).
12. SB 1301 on homeowner insurance nonrenewals
- What it asks: Supports adding SB 1301 (Allen), which would require insurers to explain eliminated or nonrenewed policies, to the City’s 2025-26 state legislative program, CF 25-0002-S132 (agenda).
- What happened: Approved 21-0 with two members ineligible (minutes). Filed Aug. 28 with the position “For” and the same vote (CIS).
- What’s next: The City Council adopted the resolution on Sept. 29, 2026 (CF 25-0002-S132).
13. AB 1853 on content in state election publications
- What it asks: As agendized, supports adding AB 1853 (Pellerin), which would bar hateful or discriminatory content in official state election publications, to the City’s legislative program, CF 25-0002-S129 (agenda).
- What happened: The board first voted 9-8, with three abstentions, to amend the statement so that it asks for limits on candidate statements to be viewpoint-neutral subject categories and for the bill to drop its restriction on “false or misleading claims.” It then approved the amended statement 12-4 with three abstentions and two members ineligible. Maureen Levinson, Lynn Roth, Michael Kemp and Amir Navab voted no; Ellen Evans, Kristie Halsey Holmes and Jonathan Brand abstained (minutes). The statement filed Aug. 28, with the position “For if Amended,” reports the vote as 12-3 with five abstentions and two ineligible (CIS). The two records conflict; the minutes list each member’s vote by name.
- What’s next: The City Council adopted the resolution on Sept. 29, 2026 (CF 25-0002-S129).
14. Local Zone Zero fire rules
- What it asks: A Community Impact Statement asking LAFD and the City Attorney to finish and present the local Zone Zero (ember-resistant zone) regulations the Council directed (agenda). The agenda cites Council File 25-1428 with the title “Zone Zero / State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations / Local Ordinance / Ember-Resistant Zone / Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (Park - McOsker).” The Clerk’s record for CF 25-1428 is titled “AB3074 / Zone 0 Regulations / Vegetation Options / Tree Options,” and the motion the agenda links was presented by Council member John Lee and seconded by Eunisses Hernandez. It instructs LAFD, with the City Attorney, to write the City’s own Zone 0 rules.
- What happened: Approved 19-0 with two members ineligible. The motion as adopted also asks that the rules incorporate the council’s earlier comments on Zone Zero (minutes). No statement from the council was on CF 25-1428 as of Oct. 1, 2026.
15. CERT training access for neighborhood council members
- What it asks: A position on CF 26-0906-S4. On Aug. 19 the Council amended a motion that had explored requiring most neighborhood council board members to hold CERT certification, and instead asked for a report on making CERT training easier to get (agenda).
- What happened: Approved 19-0 with two members ineligible (minutes). Filed Aug. 28 with the position “For,” supporting the amended motion. The statement also asks that the report cover how trained board members connect to their CERT battalion, whether a registry of certified board members should exist, and what role they would have in an activation (CIS).
Every item
| # | Item | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Position on a conditional use permit to legalize a basement and remodel a home at 9988 W. Reevesbury Drive | Recommended approval with a condition, 21-0, two ineligible |
| 10 | Position on setback and fence-height adjustments for a guardhouse at 2620 N. Benedict Canyon Drive | Took no exception, 21-0, two ineligible |
| 11 | Community Impact Statement supporting Super El Niño preparedness, including hillside areas | Approved 21-0, two ineligible |
| 12 | Community Impact Statement supporting City backing of SB 1301 on homeowner insurance nonrenewals | Approved 21-0, two ineligible |
| 13 | Community Impact Statement on City backing of AB 1853, content standards for state election publications | Approved as amended 12-4, three abstaining, two ineligible (minutes roll call); the filed statement reports 12-3, five abstaining |
| 14 | Community Impact Statement asking LAFD and the City Attorney to finish local Zone Zero fire rules | Approved 19-0, two ineligible |
| 15 | Position on making CERT training more accessible to neighborhood council members | Approved 19-0, two ineligible |
| - | Call to order, flag salute and roll call | |
| 1 | Approve the agenda | Adopted without objection |
| 2 | Approve minutes of June 24 and July 22, 2026 | Approved without objection, July 22 minutes as corrected |
| 3 | General public comment | |
| 4 | Updates from elected officials, EmpowerLA, LAPD and LAFD | |
| 5 | President's report and November and December meeting dates | No vote; consensus to meet in person Dec. 16 |
| 6 | Report on public schools and LAUSD application dates | |
| 7 | Approve the July 2026 monthly expenditure report | Approved 21-0, two ineligible |
| 8 | Approve the election form | Approved without objection |
| - | Good of the order and adjournment |